The agricultural industry of Nueva Scotia has not obtained profits in almost a decade, and last year lost more than $ 41 million, a reflection of the economic challenges that are related to the leaders of the industry in the province.
The numbers are not shocking for the Amy Hill farm, whose farm came out of the red in 2024 for the first time in 15 years.
“I’m not doing a decent salary … My husband has to work outside the farm for this to work,” he said.
The hill runs the Granja de Ríos Nevados, a small operation in Cooks Brook, NS, with grill and layer chickens, pigs, a variety of vegetable crops and a beloved cow and its calf.
Hill began the farm with her husband, and for many years they tried to grow the operation. With each important investment, such as new barns and greenhouses, he said there was always hope that it was worth it in the future. But they could never make the numbers work.
She said the difference last year that allowed a small gain was a decision to reduce. Her husband restarted a race outside the farm as a carpenter in 2023. Hill obtained $ 6,000 in 2024.
“It means that we grow less for our community, and I’m really disappointed from that,” he said. “But we wanted the farm to survive itself, then we had to make some changes.”
New Scotland An Atypical
The gains or losses of the farm in each province are calculated annually by Statistics Canada. The agency published 2024 figures at the end of May.
New Scotland is not the only province where farms suffered losses last year, but it is the only province where this has been a continuous problem for so long. New Scotland farms, in general, have not been profitable since 2016.
Alicia King, president of the New Scotland Agriculture Federation, said there is no clear response of why New Scotland farms have been constantly fighting, while farms in other parts of Canada have not done so.
“That is one of the questions we have, and we want to dig a little,” King said.
She said Extreme climate and harsh growth seasons In recent years they have contributed, although they do not explain the trend completely.
King said there are some good news. New Scotland farms are growing, somehow.
Statistics Canada figures show that agricultural sales increase in the last five years, a total of 35 percent from 2020 to 2024. However, that growth has not followed the rhythm of the increase in the cost of operations.
“We are feeling a pressure, there is no doubt about that,” King said.
The New Scotland Agriculture Federation organized a meeting last month with leaders of more than a dozen groups that represent different types of agriculture and a handful of provincial cabinet ministers.
King said that economic tension in Farmers in Nueva Scotia was one of the main issues. The others were bringing more local food to the new school lunch program in the province and protecting agricultural land, King said.
Strategy in process
King said that the Federation is working in a long -term strategy that hopes will guide farmers to better finances. She said the strategy should be complete in next year to 18 months.
Meanwhile, he is encouraging farmers to direct more attention to their results.
“We are business owners and we have to make decisions with that lens all the time,” he said. “And sometimes that is a bit more difficult because … there is also a passion. And sometimes we let our passion annul a commercial decision.”
Greg Morrow, Minister of Agriculture of New Scotland, rejected an interview request. His department sent a statement that recognized “some challenging times for farmers.”
The statement says that New Scotland is working with federal and provincial colleagues and the industry to find solutions. He pointed out a recent recharge of $ 7 million to a program that helps fruit and vegetable producers buy equipment extended for the season, things like greenhouses, irrigation, lighting and cold storage.
Hill said that temporary assistance target programs can be useful, but believes that money should go for labor if any level of government subsidizes agriculture in some way.
Hill has two part -time employees this year, whose salaries are partially covered through a federal employment program. If I could hire more people, he said, he could grow more food.
“We need bodies helping with this production,” said Hill.
The number of agricultural workers in Nueva Scotia has been reduced and the Federation projects a shortage of 2,600 agricultural workers for the end of the decade.
