Roots of Resilience: A Canadian Farmer’s Struggle for Survival

Lucas Benoit, a fourth-generation farmer from Saskatchewan, started his day at 5 a.m. as usual. The sprawling 400-acre farm his family had worked on for over a century stretched out before him. Wheat fields swayed gently in the early morning breeze, but the peace of the moment belied the storm of uncertainty brewing in Lucas’s life.

For years, Lucas had known the struggles of farming, but this season felt different. Rising costs, erratic weather, and the weight of debt were suffocating his dreams of passing on a thriving family business to his two young children.

A Farmer’s Finances

Lucas ran a small mixed farm, growing wheat and raising a herd of 50 beef cattle. The financial landscape for his operation painted a grim picture:

• Net Income: In a good year, Lucas’s farm earned CAD $45,000, barely enough to cover household and operational costs.
• Subsidies: Government programs like AgriStability and AgriInvest accounted for nearly 30% of his farm’s income in lean years, providing a lifeline when markets faltered or crops failed.
• Debt: A loan for a new combine, combined with rising feed and fertilizer costs, had pushed his total farm debt to CAD $800,000.

Without subsidies or access to loans, Lucas knew his farm would be in dire straits.

The Breaking Point

Lucas’s challenges intensified during a severe drought that reduced his wheat yield by half. He received a crop insurance payout, but it barely covered the cost of seeds and fertilizer for the next season. The feed for his cattle skyrocketed in price, forcing Lucas to borrow even more to keep his livestock fed through the winter.

He spent countless sleepless nights at the kitchen table, poring over spreadsheets. No matter how many ways he adjusted the numbers, the outcome was the same: without government support or another loan, his farm would be unable to continue.

One afternoon, Lucas took a rare break to watch his children, Ella and Max, playing near the barn. As they laughed and chased each other around, he was struck by the weight of what he might lose. The farm wasn’t just a business, it was their home, their heritage, and their connection to the land.

The Bigger Picture

Lucas’s story is far from unique. Across Canada:

• Small Farms: Like Lucas’s, 70–80% of small farms would be considered “broke” without subsidies or borrowed money.
• Medium Farms: Even mid-sized grain and dairy farms face challenges, with 30–50% relying on external support to maintain operations.
• Large Farms: Larger-scale operations, while more profitable, are not immune. Roughly 10–20% would struggle without access to loans or government programs.

This means that 50–60% of all Canadian farmers could be classified as financially insolvent without external support.

The Cost of Losing Family Farms

The loss of family farms like Lucas’s would ripple across Canada:

• Food Security: Canada’s agricultural output would decline, increasing reliance on imports and driving up food prices.
• Local Economies: Rural communities depend on farming to sustain businesses, schools, and infrastructure.
• Heritage: Family farms are the backbone of Canada’s agricultural identity, representing generations of hard work and a deep connection to the land.

Resilience Through Community

Determined to find solutions, Lucas turned to his local farming network. Together, they discussed ways to diversify income streams, share equipment, and reduce costs. Lucas also explored programs under Canada’s climate initiatives, seeking grants to improve soil health and reduce emissions on his farm.

Through collaboration and sheer grit, Lucas began to see glimmers of hope. While the challenges remained daunting, he knew the fight to keep his farm wasn’t just about survival, it was about protecting a way of life.

A Call to Action

Lucas’s journey underscores the urgent need for support in Canada’s agricultural sector. As a nation, we must ask:

• How can we strengthen financial safety nets for farmers?
• What innovations can help farmers reduce costs and increase resilience?
• How do we balance sustainability goals with the economic realities of farming?

The answers to these questions will determine the future of Canadian agriculture and the legacy of family farms like Lucas’s.

Because for farmers, their land isn’t just where they work, it’s where they live, dream, and build the foundation of our nation’s food security.