Farms.com Home › Ag Industry News

Feds support ag well-being initiatives

Nov 21, 2018

Subscribe to our Newsletters

Canadian government backs efforts to improve mental and physical health of industry members

Lauren Arva

Staff Writer

Farms.com

The government of Canada is helping ag industry members protect their overall well-being.

Lawrence MacAulay, minister of agriculture and agri-food, has authorized Farm Credit Canada (FCC) to “work with and support like-minded organizations to assist Canadian producers with mental health issues through greater awareness and knowledge dissemination,” a Tuesday Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) release said. FCC will ensure services and supports for mental and physical health become more accessible in rural Canada.

The initiative stems from the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food’s recent “Mental Health Challenges that Canadian Farmers, Ranchers, and Producers Face” study and its report based on testimonies from industry members.

FCC, in association with 4-H Canada and other industry partners, is developing a nation-wide 4-H Healthy Living Initiative to support the physical and mental health of youth. FCC will donate $50,000 to the program, which will be accessible to over 7,700 volunteer leaders and 25,000 4-H members in the country.

“This is an investment in young people who will play a large role in shaping the future of Canadian agriculture,” said Michael Hoffort, FCC president and CEO, in the release. “To help them reach their full potential, we are supporting a program that contributes to the mental and physical well-being of our next generation of farmers, and agribusiness professionals.”

FCC has also partnered with experts in mental health to develop a collection of stress and anxiety management resources titled Rooted in Strength.

AAFC is also working with Farm Management Canada to explore the connection between farm business management choices and mental health.

Farms.com has reached out to producers for comment.

shotbydave/iStock/Getty Images Plus photo

Video: Canada's Agriculture Day 2025

Let's celebrate Canadian agriculture.

Well, number one, you don't eat without farmers. Farmers put food on the table. And what could be more important than that?

Well, I think it's important that Canadians understand exactly what takes place, what happens to produce this food, no matter what sector you're talking about.

An awful lot of work goes into that. It's important to understand that meat does not come out of a showcase, and milk does not come out of a bottle. It's produced by farmers and hard work.

Canada has the best farmers in the world. And agriculture is vital to Canada.

In 2024, our agriculture and agri-food sector represented $150 billion of Canada's GDP, nearly $100 billion of our exports, and one in nine jobs.

From grains to fruits to dairy and beef, we are truly blessed with an incredible bounty. Having spent my whole life in agriculture, I see so much potential for the sector.

This time last year, I was proud to open our first-ever agriculture and trade office in the Indo-Pacific, the world’s fastest-growing economy, to cement our presence in the region and grow our exports even more. We've also been making historic investments to help our farmers to boost their yields, protect the planet, and earn a fair living.

The world wants more top-quality, sustainable food, and I know our Canadian farmers can deliver. And it's so important that you do that with pride. We need you.

Quite simply, you eat the most top quality food in the world. You do that because of the quality of farmers and ranchers you have in this country.

Just say thank you to a farmer or a rancher. They work very hard, yes, for a living, but also with a sense of pride in what they produce.

That's what Canada's Agriculture Day is all about.