Farmers are worried about their future — and say Quebec needs to invest more

Running a dairy farm with her husband in L'Avenir, Que., 180 kilometres southwest of Quebec City, the chair of Quebec's federation for young farmers has been working a part-time job for the past six years to make ends meet.

"That's the same situation for 44 per cent of the young farmers," said Bissonnette. "It's not because we want to work outside, it's because we need this money."

Bissonnette says the rising cost of living and the impact of climate change on their growing seasons have slammed farmers across the province over the past few years.

Farmers were hoping for relief when Quebec's 2024-25 budget was tabled last week. But the $380 million in funding over five years announced to support the agricultural sector is falling short of some farmers' expectations.

Bissonnette says young farmers, like herself, need more support.

"There's nothing for us in the budget for now about what we are living," Bissonnette said.

"It's a lot of pressure on the shoulders of the young farmer."