Two big points in the article: 1. Age of farmers given as major issue, with no explanation as to why. In actual fact, farmers have always been older than the average worker because they live where they work. They will work as long as they are physically able, and people are living longer. Next generation is being encouraged to get higher education and only come back to farm when they have a backup career, because more and more farmers need second incomes to survive. Poinr 2, is from Minister of Ag Steve Thomson, who was the BC Ag Council chair before entering politics. He is quite right that the situation will only improve for new entrants to farming when the economic situation for agriculture improves. The disconnect between urbanites and farmers is all the more evident when they really don't have any clue as to why farmers are getting older, and what it means.
Two big points in the article: 1. Age of farmers given as major issue, with no explanation as to why. In actual fact, farmers have always been older than the average worker because they live where they work. They will work as long as they are physically able, and people are living longer. Next generation is being encouraged to get higher education and only come back to farm when they have a backup career, because more and more farmers need second incomes to survive. Poinr 2, is from Minister of Ag Steve Thomson, who was the BC Ag Council chair before entering politics. He is quite right that the situation will only improve for new entrants to farming when the economic situation for agriculture improves. The disconnect between urbanites and farmers is all the more evident when they really don't have any clue as to why farmers are getting older, and what it means.
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