Climate Change Top Challenge for Agriculture: Survey

Climate change will be the top challenge for Canadian agriculture over the next decade, according to a survey of farmers. 

Almost 18% of the more than 850 farmers surveyed cited climate change as the as sector’s primary challenge, putting it ahead of other major concerns including input costs (17.2%), government policy and regulations (11.5%), and market uncertainty and commodity price volatility (9.8%). Severe weather events were identified by a further 6% of respondents, meaning weather was on the mind of almost one-quarter of those surveyed. 

Commissioned Farmers for Climate Solutions and undertaken by market research firm Leger, the survey was carried out between Aug. 8 and Sept. 4. 

Over 76% of respondents reported being impacted by severe weather in the past five years, while a significant portion anticipates that climate change will lead to stricter policies, lower incomes, and increased mental health challenges. 

“These concerns highlight the multifaceted challenges that climate change poses to the agriculture sector, affecting both economic outcomes and the well-being of farmers, ranchers, and their communities,” the survey report said. 

But while climate change ranks as a top challenge nationwide, its importance varies regionally. For example, in Eastern Canada (Ontario, Quebec, and Atlantic Canada), climate change was by far the top concern, cited by about 14% of respondents, with input costs and government policies next in order.  In Western Canada - BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba - input costs and government policies were seen as the top challenges, with climate change ranking third, cited by about 4% of respondents. 

Other key findings of the survey: 

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. 

Almost 94% of farmers and ranchers see improving soil health as a top priority, while 87% prioritize improving on-farm resilience. 

Interest is high for practices such as improved nitrogen management, no-till/reduced tillage, cover cropping, wildlife habitat conservation, and rotational grazing. 

FCS is a national farmer and rancher-led coalition advancing practical solutions that support producers in making the transition to high resilience, low emissions approaches to agriculture.