I would like to take this opportunity to thank the committee for allowing me to appear today.
My name is Colin Schulhauser. I farm with my father in the Cupar district of Regina. I have been farming since I was 19, and the farm has been in the family for four generations.
The issue of how best to encourage young farmers to enter the agriculture industry is a very important one, because there are many changes and challenges facing agriculture today. Land prices are skyrocketing, out-of-province land ownership is increasing, and trade challenges such as closure of European borders to Canadian products are all making it difficult for young farmers to enter the agriculture industry. In addition, these same challenges also inhibit succession planning and transfer of farm ownership from one generation to the next.
There is no magic bullet, no single answer to the question of how best to encourage young farmers to enter the field. From a practical standpoint, I would suggest that a loan program for land and equipment be introduced that would incorporate low down payments and no interest payments for up to two years. This kind of financial program would allow young farmers an opportunity to get established and free up working capital.
As a way to protect the government's investment, the person would be required to have some education or a course in agronomy, accounting, or general agriculture. By this I mean to say that young farmers with this kind of education would demonstrate a long-term commitment to agriculture. Such a financial program would be designed to encourage a progressive, forward-thinking young farmer, not meant as a subsidy.
On the related matter of succession planning, with the transfer of a farm from one generation to the next, I feel the most important element here is family and the idea that the young farmer must learn from his father or grandfather. Young farmers today are facing challenges that were unknown to their fathers and grandfathers. There are food safety requirements, trade challenges, trade stability issues, and changes to food policy. In addition, there are many financial challenges, such as skyrocketing land prices, increases in land rent, and an ever higher number of out-of-province landowners.
I'm happy to see the Standing Committee on Agriculture is addressing issues related to young farmers and development of the agriculture industry in Canada at this critical moment in history. There are very important changes occurring in the industry these days, and these challenges need to be addressed.
I thank the committee for allowing me to appear before it today.