Climate change one of top challenges facing Canadian agriculture according to 2024 survey

In 2024, Farmers for Climate Solutions (FCS) commissioned market research firm Leger to conduct a national poll of Canadian producers during the 2024 growing season.

The goal was to:

1. Assess climate change perceptions: Understand farmers' and ranchers' concerns and expectations regarding climate change.
2. Identify environmental priorities: Highlight the key environmental issues that matter most to producers.
3. Understand support needs: Identify the types of support needed to scale-up sustainable and high resilience, low emissions practices.
4. Inform policy and program design: Provide actionable data to shape effective, farmer and rancher-driven policies and programs.

The poll, completed by a total of 858 farmers and ranchers, provides valuable insights into their concerns, environmental priorities, and the support they need to strengthen the resilience of their operations.

Main Findings

1. Climate change is a top challenge for the next decade
   • When farmers and ranchers were asked an open-ended question—at the very beginning of the survey—about the top challenge for the agricultural sector for the next decade, climate change was the number one answer. 
2. Farmers and ranchers are already feeling the impacts of severe weather events 
   • 76% of farmers and ranchers report being impacted by severe weather in the past five years. 
3. Farmers and ranchers fear future climate change impacts
   • Producers are worried that climate change will bring more restrictive policies and regulations, reduce income and yields, and negatively affect their mental health.
4. Farmers and ranchers view themselves as good environmental stewards
   • 86% of farmers and ranchers consider themselves good stewards of the land, and 46% feel they can do more to improve environmental outcomes on their operations.
5. Soil health and on-farm resilience are top environmental priorities 
   • Almost 94% of farmers and ranchers see improving soil health as a top priority, while 87% prioritise improving on-farm resilience.
6. There is strong interest in high resilience, low emissions practices
   • Interest is high for practices such as improved nitrogen management, no-till/reduced tillage, cover cropping, wildlife habitat conservation, and rotational grazing.
7. Profitability drives the adoption of new practices
   • Farmers and ranchers cited economic factors, such as increased profitability and improved productivity, as the top motivations for adopting new practices.
8. A range of supports is needed
   • Producers want a range of supports to adopt high resilience, low emissions practices, including technical support and training, financial incentives, risk management tools, and price premiums for sustainable products.
9. Technical support and training are key
   • Farmers and ranchers say they learn best from other producers with over 86% citing peers as a source of technical support.

Policy implications

• Invest in soil health and on-farm resilience
  • Given the high priority farmers place on soil health and on-farm resilience, policies should include targeted funding and programs to strengthen these areas, supporting long-term farm viability and environmental sustainability.
• Emphasize farmer and rancher-led solutions
  • Farmers and ranchers are concerned that climate change will lead to restrictive government policies that affect their livelihoods. To build support and encourage adoption of climate solutions, policies should prioritize farmer and rancher-led solutions, proven practices, and peer networks. 
• Develop supportive policies 
  • Supportive policies that are flexible, incentive-driven, and empower farmers and ranchers will be better received and more effective in promoting sustainability while addressing the economic needs of producers. 
• Lead with economic benefits
  • Policies should lead with the economic benefits of practices—such as improved productivity and profitability. 
• Provide multifaceted support 
  • Producers need a variety of supports to adopt new practices. Policy frameworks should offer a mix of technical assistance, financial incentives, risk management tools, and market-based solutions like price premiums for sustainable products.
• Acknowledge regional differences
  • While the national poll shows broad concern about climate change, regional perspectives highlight the need for policies that address diverse viewpoints. Tailored supports, based on these differences, will ensure policies are effective and relevant.

The phone-based poll was commissioned by FCS and conducted by Léger between August 8 and September 4, 2024.

A total of 898 farmers and ranchers across Canada answered the survey, with 858 completing it in full.