The Rural Voice, 2001-03, Page 14Robert Mercer
Bigger impact from small farms
Small-scale farming doesn't
attract research or government
dollars like large-scale commercial
farm practices, but a recent study
shows that it could be a lot more
valuable to the economy than
previously thought.
In survey findings, where the
small-scale farm was classified as "a
home-based business that provides a
second family income and supports
the rural economy", it was found that
the full economic and social benefits
were not normally reflected in
government or census -style data.
For instance farm production for
family and friends was found to be
far broader based than expected for
this scale of farming. It was also
noted that in many cases farmers on
small lots did not bother to apply for
rural land classification or for farm
tax status.
The study was authored by Mark
Robbins, Regional Agrologist with
BCMAFF, in the Cowichan Valley
area of Vancouver Island. In the
survey area (which was also a census
area) there were 717 lots identified as
small -lot
farming. Of
these 72 usable
replies were
from producing
farms.
The survey
area is one of
mixed
agriculture
where there are
a small number
of large
commodity -
focused farms
dispersed among
many small
mixed farms. It is like many rural
areas of Canada, except the Prairies.
Mark Robbins says that there is a
need shown from the report to help
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10 THE RURAL VOICE
shift small scale farms from the
$5,000 - $10,000 income level, to the
next plateau where benefits are much
more likely to be cash rewarding. He
also noted that in this small scale
sector of agriculture there was no
shortage of "new farmers" with a
steady flow of entrants over the last
15 years.
The study said "small scale farms
provide specialized, differentiated
products that meet local demand, and
these farms are basically no different
from any other form of small
business."
Some of the interesting statistical
insights from this study for farm
organizations and governments were:
• small farms are three times more
labour intensive per dollar units of
sales than large farms.
• close to half of the total farm work
reported in the community is on
small farms.
• the limitations on farm growth were
reported as excessive government
regulations, the lack of auction and
processing facilities and the shortage
of personal time.
• land size or availability were not
seen as limiting factors.
• 40 per cent of the farms relied
totally on farm gate sales. (This, in
part, is the level of production that
can be missed statistically if formal
marketing agencies are only used to
gather production data.)
• only one quarter of the farm
product was sold through farmers'
markets.
• seven'of the top nine commodities
farmed were livestock based.
• growth in small -lot farming has
been characterized by a steady
stream of new farmers over the last
15 years.
The report found that policy
action may be needed to assist small
scale farms in such areas as the
environment, direct marketing,
farmland classification and credit.0
Robert Mercer was editor of the
Broadwater Market Letter and a farm
commentator in Ontario for 25 years.