Thanks for the invitation to speak to you today.
My husband, David, and I are both fifth-generation farmers from Mossbank, Saskatchewan. We both left our farm to pursue higher education and gain some life experience, but it didn't take us long to realize that the grass wasn't greener on the other side and we headed back to the farm. And of course after all the rain we've had, the grass isn't only greener; it's about a foot long.
Personally, we think agriculture is the industry to be in. It already has most things young people are looking for these days, and with the right messaging I think all the components are there. Agriculture is high tech, from the GPS equipment we use in our tractors, to the incredible genetics found in seed production, to the sophisticated new methods of grain storage and handling. Farms are now run by a computer, not a pitchfork, and the technological advances we are seeing in agriculture are enough to excite anyone about the future, and most of all the upcoming generation of young tech-savvy students.
Agriculture inspires the entrepreneurial spirit. Aside from some regulatory burdens, which we'll touch on later, farmers are free to be their own bosses and run their farms as they see fit. Big or small, agriculture offers young people the freedom to niche market, to bulk export, to add value, or to specialize.
Agriculture is green. Many young people nowadays are concerned about the environmental footprint they're leaving on the planet. Historically, farmers have been good stewards of the land. You don't get to be a fifth-generation farmer unless that's the case. And the good news is that our practices are getting even better. Moving to zero-till from cultivation is one way our practices are getting better. And we're improving soil and water conservation. Using modern genetics has allowed us to reduce our pesticide use and cut our fuel consumption. Promising new technology will soon allow us to reduce our fertilizer use and make better use of available water. Also, as the ongoing oil spill disaster in the gulf has shown, producing fuel from crops can be an environmentally friendly alternative.
Agriculture can be profitable. Young people want and need to make money. No one, least of all young people, wants to enter a career that is dependent on subsidies or has no potential to be profitable. Making money farming is something we're proud of, and we intend to find new and unique ways to increase our profitability as it fits our family's goals and aspirations.
The world needs food. With a rising global population and increasing incomes in Asia and other parts of the world, the demand for grain and meat is going to rise even more. The long-term prospects for our industry are good, especially when you consider the limited opportunities to bring new, arable land into production. What it means is that those of us on the land now are going to be asked to increase our output per acre.
Young people want to be part of the food solution, and agriculture is a logical avenue. For these reasons, among others, we're rather bullish about the outlook for the commodities we grow, despite today's disappointing grain prices.
So there you have it. You're wondering how the government can attract young people to this incredible industry, and we're saying that the components are already there. What we suggest, as a young farming couple, is that rather than trying to do more, you do less.
Less market interference—let the marketplace figure it out. The marketplace is the only way we can get the proper signals we need to make the best decisions.
Less political posturing—we need science-based policy decisions, not politically based policy positions.
Less time needed to get new products to market—Canadian producers are historically early adopters of new technology, and despite our long distance to many markets, we've been able to compete because of the use of our innovation.
Less government interference—I would be remiss if I did not specifically mention the issue of the Wheat Board monopoly. As David will explain, our farm is part of an integrated value chain that produces, supplies, processes, and exports our commodities. The monopoly is interfering with our business, and we ask that the government treat us like all other business owners in Canada and let us be free to sell our product to the buyer of our choice at the price we negotiate without the administration and the bureaucracy the current monopolistic system entails.
As I mentioned in my opening remarks, the enthusiasm and willingness of young people to come back to the family farm is often already there, but due to some existing barriers to entry and some regulatory issues, it's often difficult for them to have a smooth transition.
I'll turn it over to David to discuss some of our personal issues.