The Future of Farming in Hastings County, Ontario

The Future of Farming in Hastings County: Report for the community and local policy-makers, by Dr. Peter Andrée and Kim Bitterman with Ken Meter and Louise Livingstone, is the product of a research partnership between Carleton University and Harvest Hastings that begin in 2016. The report notes ten major findings and includes a list of 14 recommendations to local governments and community organizations. While the report is grounded in the context of Hastings County, it also provides insights for other rural areas experiencing a transitioning agricultural sector.

Dr. Peter Andrée and Louise Livingstone also reflect on the nature of their community-based research partnership in the Good Food Solutions by FLEdGE webinar, “Supporting Farmer Livelihoods: Research Partnerships for Action.”

Executive Summary

This research is grounded in over 30 interviews with farmers from Hastings County and public officials with responsibilities that include Hastings County, as well as data available through the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Hastings County, and Statistics Canada. It is also informed by discussions at three public presentations and two asset-mapping workshops (see Appendix A) and policy recommendations prepared by community-based food system consultant Ken Meter.

This report identifies ten major findings about the state of farming in the County, followed by a set of recommendations for both the community and local governments. (Recommendations to provincial and federal governments are pending). As context, we recognize that powerful outside forces, such as international trade agreements, rising energy costs, government and corporate policies and a changing climate, all restrict options for Hastings County farmers. However, some external forces, for example shifting consumer demands, also create opportunities.

Ten Major Findings

1. The strong ethic of sustainability: An ethic of sustainable agriculture is strong amongst farmers in Hastings: soil health, community well-being, and economic stability are all important.
2. The critical challenge of achieving sustainable farm livelihoods:  The environmental and social sustainability of farming in Hastings County depends on farmers making a viable livelihood. As costs rise and farm receipts decline, all farmers face this challenge of making a reasonable living.
3. Three farmer types:  We have identified three, overlapping, categories of farmers with specific goals and needs. These categories do not capture all the ways of farming in Hastings County but help to clarify our findings and recommendations. While their farms and farming practices are different, they are all increasingly dependent on one another as neighbours and as members of the farming community:
   • Adaptive farmers: specialized commodity producers adapting to changing circumstances and surviving by getting bigger when conditions permit; producing corn, soybeans, dairy, poultry, cows and calves, as well as hogs.
   • Entrepreneurs: diversified producers, selling at farmers’ markets, to restaurants, and through community shared agriculture. Many also add value through processing for local and regional markets.
   • Heritage farmers: commodity or diversified producers working at a small or medium scale. They are primarily motivated by a commitment to the land, family, community and traditional farming lifestyles.
4. Off-farm income is both a lifeline and curse: Off-farm income represents an important economic survival strategy for most Hastings County farms, but many farmers wish they did not need it to the extent that they do. Off-farm income is particularly critical for small farms of all types.
5. The challenge of inter-generational succession: Succession causes challenges for each generation involved. This is especially the case for the large Adaptive farmers with high debt load.
6. The need to welcome and support new farmers:  Retirement of farmers can create opportunities for new farmers. However, there is a need to integrate new, non-traditional, farmers into the rural community and to capitalize on their other experiences and skills.
7. Community-based food system development: an opportunity for collaboration Hastings County offers opportunities for new, small farm-based businesses serving local and regional markets because of relatively low land prices (to buy or rent) and relatively small parcel sizes. These farmers need capital, mentorship and infrastructure (e.g. farmers markets and food hubs) to take advantage of processing and niche market opportunities.
8. Regulatory and zoning challenges inhibit growth: While governments do formally support agriculture in various ways, local, provincial and federal laws, regulations and standards can present major barriers to farmers of all types.
9. Opportunities for peer-to-peer learning: Many Hastings County farmers rely on self-sufficiency strategies, used or shared equipment and direct marketing. Peer-to-peer learning opportunities that allow them to share their strategies and lessons can really help these farmers thrive.
10. Hope lies in natural assets, community knowledge, resources, and networks: Hope for the future comes from the substantial natural assets the agricultural sector can draw upon, as well as the knowledge base, resources and community networks found in Hastings County, supported by all levels of government.

Read the full report.