Messages to support Agriculture’s economic importance:
- Agricultural Land is essential to the start-up and growth of every farm. Nova Scotia has substantial opportunity to increase production with acres of under-utilized agriculture classed soils. Bringing agricultural land into production has the potential to increase the GDP in Nova Scotia.
- In rural Nova Scotia, we’re experiencing a labour gap. If met, the gap could contribute an addition $33 million to our GDP. Farms are adjusting to this by using new technologies that don’t require as much labour or hiring through the Temporary Foreign Worker and the Seasonal Agriculture Worker Programs.
- Under the current tax system, a company get’s a better tax break when buying my farm than a family member who buys the farm. Also, because of capital intensity of owning a farm, the capital gains exemption is quickly used up when a new entrant buys into the farm. We are looking for government support to help us make farm transitions easier so they stay in the family.
- We have been facing more severe weather events with Hurricane Dorian being the most recent. The cost-shared programs between the federal and provincial government help farmers when margins are tight because of these storms and other unpredictable events.
Don’t forget to share your own farm story