Little something I've been working on.
Paying it Forward: Lost in the New Generation of Farmers?
Why helping the community and each other is more important now than ever before.
The commodity run up that started in 2008 was unprecedented, analysts called it part of a commodity super cycle – it increased the bottom line of nearly every grain farm in Western Canada to record highs. It caused an entire generation to rethink their plans and start into agriculture, wether that was staying at home and helping (eventually taking over) their parents’ operation, or venturing out and starting their own agribusiness. It bred a new generation of hard working pull-myself-up-by-my-bootstrap men and women that experienced a full decade of good prices, good yields, correspondingly high returns and relatively “easy†times. As that cycle ends, and we return to historically normal [low] returns, something is missing in this new generation of producers, and that is understanding the value of a good neighbour and a supportive community.
We hear so much about mental health in agriculture today; stress, self-doubt, and depression can be caused by many things on a farm, wether it be financial, weather, or family related. In the younger generation, many have until now only experienced the “good†times of the past decade and today’s commodity pricing and weather reality is a rude awakening. It is time to sit back and re-evaluate what is most important in life, and I’ve come to the conclusion that it isn’t farming that extra quarter, or upgrading that tractor, or growing an extra 5 bushels an acre – while those are admirable goals, one of the most important is something we’ve [partially] lost from our forefathers – creating and nurturing friendships, good neighbourhood relations, and a strong sense of community in our industry.
Rural communities are getting smaller. In the latest 2016 Census, Canada only has 193,492 farms; down nearly 6% from the last 2011 census. On top of that, today, only roughly 9% of that total is under the age of 40; in 1991 that share was nearly 30%. Adding to that startling trend, young producers today are generally covering larger acreages and have higher workloads (fairly often including an off-farm job). With so much to do, and the same 24 hours per day to do it in, social structures, neighbourly interaction, and community get togethers suffer as we simply “don’t have time for thatâ€.
Generations past had barn raising bees, helped each other break land, bartered goods and services to help each other out, and in general worked together for a common goal – a strong community. We hear heart warming stories, like producers shipping hay across the country to drought or fire ravaged regions, show our inherent willingness to help and the compassion of the human condition. However, those causes are extremely severe and we need to bring that compassion and willingness to help down to the local level.
Today, most of us in the under 40 category have expertise – we usually have post secondary education, be it a trade, or an ag degree, or what have you; this equips us to be more valuable to each other than any generation before. At the same time, we’re more stressed, and deal with more mental issues than generations past. We need to step back from our own troubles for a moment and think about the [local] greater good.
As an example, if a neighbour is out silaging and short of drivers, go help him for a few days. Likely, he doesn’t have much to combine, and later on will return the favor and give you a hand during harvest. Maybe you’ve got that neighbour that works a 14/7 or a 20/10 shift – offer to keep an eye on his fields while he’s at work; maybe schedules work out that he can do the same while you’re at work or on a much needed holiday. Harvest is a busy time, is it quicker and more efficient to maybe have two combines, a truck, and a grain cart go from field to field, than having one guy try to harvest by himself on each farm? If your neighbour gets stuck, and you’re a mile away… unhook your tractor, pop over, and pull him out – it’ll probably be a lot quicker, and surely a lot safer than him heading home and grabbing another one of his. Who knows, you might be stuck tomorrow and need the same help.
Maybe you’re a welder by trade, and that fella down the road broke his air drill in half. He’s an agronomist… or a plumber… or an electrician… and you’ll need some help in his area of expertise in the future. If nothing else, another set of hands when you need to pull the rotor in your combine.
Simply offering a lending hand, or checking in and letting them know you care can make someone’s day or save a life. You don’t know if that neighbour was having dark thoughts. Giving a neighbour a ride back to his yard, or a different field to grab a piece of equipment – little things like this have a huge impact in building a flourishing neighbourhood, a sense of community, and a support network. In tough times, like those we beginning to experience now, that is far more important than just our perceived personal success.
Today, take a moment to think about the greater good, in our neighbourhood, our community, and our industry. Let’s reach out and make sure those around us know we’re there for them when they need help. Let’s lend a hand to the fellow across the fence so we can all finish our work safely and successfully. Finally, let’s put the common success of our industry and our community above our personal goals, because the former will definitely help you with the latter.
Paying it Forward: Lost in the New Generation of Farmers?
Why helping the community and each other is more important now than ever before.
The commodity run up that started in 2008 was unprecedented, analysts called it part of a commodity super cycle – it increased the bottom line of nearly every grain farm in Western Canada to record highs. It caused an entire generation to rethink their plans and start into agriculture, wether that was staying at home and helping (eventually taking over) their parents’ operation, or venturing out and starting their own agribusiness. It bred a new generation of hard working pull-myself-up-by-my-bootstrap men and women that experienced a full decade of good prices, good yields, correspondingly high returns and relatively “easy†times. As that cycle ends, and we return to historically normal [low] returns, something is missing in this new generation of producers, and that is understanding the value of a good neighbour and a supportive community.
We hear so much about mental health in agriculture today; stress, self-doubt, and depression can be caused by many things on a farm, wether it be financial, weather, or family related. In the younger generation, many have until now only experienced the “good†times of the past decade and today’s commodity pricing and weather reality is a rude awakening. It is time to sit back and re-evaluate what is most important in life, and I’ve come to the conclusion that it isn’t farming that extra quarter, or upgrading that tractor, or growing an extra 5 bushels an acre – while those are admirable goals, one of the most important is something we’ve [partially] lost from our forefathers – creating and nurturing friendships, good neighbourhood relations, and a strong sense of community in our industry.
Rural communities are getting smaller. In the latest 2016 Census, Canada only has 193,492 farms; down nearly 6% from the last 2011 census. On top of that, today, only roughly 9% of that total is under the age of 40; in 1991 that share was nearly 30%. Adding to that startling trend, young producers today are generally covering larger acreages and have higher workloads (fairly often including an off-farm job). With so much to do, and the same 24 hours per day to do it in, social structures, neighbourly interaction, and community get togethers suffer as we simply “don’t have time for thatâ€.
Generations past had barn raising bees, helped each other break land, bartered goods and services to help each other out, and in general worked together for a common goal – a strong community. We hear heart warming stories, like producers shipping hay across the country to drought or fire ravaged regions, show our inherent willingness to help and the compassion of the human condition. However, those causes are extremely severe and we need to bring that compassion and willingness to help down to the local level.
Today, most of us in the under 40 category have expertise – we usually have post secondary education, be it a trade, or an ag degree, or what have you; this equips us to be more valuable to each other than any generation before. At the same time, we’re more stressed, and deal with more mental issues than generations past. We need to step back from our own troubles for a moment and think about the [local] greater good.
As an example, if a neighbour is out silaging and short of drivers, go help him for a few days. Likely, he doesn’t have much to combine, and later on will return the favor and give you a hand during harvest. Maybe you’ve got that neighbour that works a 14/7 or a 20/10 shift – offer to keep an eye on his fields while he’s at work; maybe schedules work out that he can do the same while you’re at work or on a much needed holiday. Harvest is a busy time, is it quicker and more efficient to maybe have two combines, a truck, and a grain cart go from field to field, than having one guy try to harvest by himself on each farm? If your neighbour gets stuck, and you’re a mile away… unhook your tractor, pop over, and pull him out – it’ll probably be a lot quicker, and surely a lot safer than him heading home and grabbing another one of his. Who knows, you might be stuck tomorrow and need the same help.
Maybe you’re a welder by trade, and that fella down the road broke his air drill in half. He’s an agronomist… or a plumber… or an electrician… and you’ll need some help in his area of expertise in the future. If nothing else, another set of hands when you need to pull the rotor in your combine.
Simply offering a lending hand, or checking in and letting them know you care can make someone’s day or save a life. You don’t know if that neighbour was having dark thoughts. Giving a neighbour a ride back to his yard, or a different field to grab a piece of equipment – little things like this have a huge impact in building a flourishing neighbourhood, a sense of community, and a support network. In tough times, like those we beginning to experience now, that is far more important than just our perceived personal success.
Today, take a moment to think about the greater good, in our neighbourhood, our community, and our industry. Let’s reach out and make sure those around us know we’re there for them when they need help. Let’s lend a hand to the fellow across the fence so we can all finish our work safely and successfully. Finally, let’s put the common success of our industry and our community above our personal goals, because the former will definitely help you with the latter.
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