Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs’ Post

Here at Carbon8 we know small farm's count to Australia’s agricultural landscape and communities a WHOLE lot, because we are some of them! But Young Farmers Connect are making sure that our communities and governments know this too, by conducting a nation-wide survey to gather a comprehensive picture of the sector, to inform conversations about support and policy for farmers. Why do small farms count? 🥬 Food security - unforeseen weather or economic events cause less disruption to localised systems. During the pandemic it was small farms, food retailers and distributors that were able to pivot their models rapidly in response to the emerging crisis and support their communities. Smaller scale enterprises also hedge their success on producing a diverse range of crops and livestock, building local resilience further and improving the environment. 📈 Local economies - small scale farms circulate funds back into their local economy and community. They employ residents, provide opportunities for the next generation and spend money with other local businesses. This creates a ripple effect across communities 🌀 🌳 Impact - small farms make up a huge part of the Australian landscape, and often in highly valued ecosystem areas. Their contribution to ecosystem function is imperative to soil health, waterways and native biodiversity. Help Young Farmer's Connect paint a clearer picture of the men and women who are contributing to our food systems out of their love for the land. Farmers of all ranges of experience are encouraged to complete the short survey, whether you're new to the game, just closed up shop or an aspiring farmer - head to the survey now. The survey takes about 15 minutes to complete and is anonymous. https://lnkd.in/eRk6SnET #SmallFarmsCount #FoodSystems #AustralianAgriculture

ICYMI, #Ontarian LIF especially, #Ontarians overall -- please read & share widely! -- MCK. ~~~~~ " ... In the past couple of weeks, it has come to light that Wilmot Township, the Region of Waterloo, and the provincial government (through the provincial agency, the Ontario Realty Corporation), have contracted a US-based consulting company to threaten affected farmers and landowners with expropriation should they refuse to sell their land for the development of an industrial site. The 770 acres of prime farmland slated for industrial development are home to vegetable, grain, and dairy operations as well as two significant creeks that flow into the Nith River. To date, the process has been unfair to farmers, undemocratic, and has lacked public transparency. Reports of farmers being threatened with expropriation if they do not accept the offers presented to them is nothing short of intimidation tactics used by the consultants, Canacre Ltd. These threats and fast-tracked timelines impose undue hardship on farmers during this critical period of time in the farming calendar. The success and sustainability of their livelihoods hinge directly on the efforts they invest in their farms now, making such pressures particularly detrimental. We stand with the half-dozen farmers and landowners being pressured into this farmland loss, as well as with concerned farmers and community members in Wilmot Township, Waterloo Region and all those across Ontario who are joining together to call for farmland protection and for the immediate pause of this land assembly in Wilmot Township. In addition this particular site poses potential risks to the health of the region’s water systems. Given that there are two creeks on the land proposed for development and that underground aquifers account for 80% of the region’s water supply, we demand that the Region of Waterloo and Wilmot Township solicit the expertise of the Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) regarding potential impacts on the region’s water and ecological health. Speeding up development assessment processes and disregarding the precautionary principle could result in major public health concerns and permanent ecological damage ..." #DougFord #Conservatives #expropriation #transparency #accountability #farmers #farmland #aquifers #environment #watersupply #ecology #conservation #flora #fauna #habitats #homegrown #foodsupply #foodsecurity #publichealth #greenspace #environmentalprotection #stewardship #legacy #TOpoli #GTHApoli #onpoli #cdnpoli #globalpoli #globalimpact

💛 Today we see the start of #FarmSafetyWeek let's SHARE the socks 🧦 off of the Farm Safety Foundation (Yellow Wellies) posts.

In a world where the sustainability of our food systems and the vitality of our rural communities are increasingly under threat, the role of small farms has never been more critical. Today, I'm excited to share a piece that goes to the heart of Revert Foods' mission and reflects our deep commitment to championing the unsung heroes of British agriculture: our small farmers. This blog post, 'Reviving the Heart of Britain: The Call to Support Our Small Farms,' delves into the myriad ways small farms enrich our environment, bolster our communities, and sustain our local economies. It's a celebration of their resilience, a reflection on their challenges, and, most importantly, a call to action for all of us to support these vital pillars of the British countryside. As we navigate the challenges of modernity and face the pressing issues highlighted by recent European protests, it's imperative that we rally behind the small farms that form the backbone of our agricultural heritage. I invite you to read, reflect, and join us in this crucial mission to nurture a sustainable, equitable, and thriving future for British agriculture. https://lnkd.in/e3d7ja_d

This morning I was surprised to find it was May already! For me, April was all about the launch of Small Farms Count survey with Young Farmers Connect, and I'm sure others can empathise with how fast work time can go when a campaign is live! The survey is still running, so I thought I'd share a little insight into one of the common questions we get asked before farmers take the survey. 🐮so...how SMALL is a small farm?🍏 TL;DR: definitions are complex and Australian farmers need scale appropriate support and policy, so we encourage all farmers to OPT IN to the Small Farms Count survey so we can work together. The longer version: The small scale farming sector is diverse and complex. There are multiple indicators used to define who is small and who isn’t. Sometimes, farms that produce for localised distribution can be viewed as less important than commodity farming enterprises. Does the farmer self identify as a small scale farmer? What is the physical size of the farm? What is the value of the farm's agricultural operations? Does the farm contribute to local food and fibre system? Who defines how far ‘local’ stretches? Are just some of the questions that need to be asked, but in a way that brings us together rather than divides farms and farmers. At Young Farmers Connect, and for the #smallfarmscount survey, our approach is to be inclusive - it's by working together that we will build a resilient and productive small farm sector. In 2020-21 the small farm sector (as defined by ABARES) represented at least 38% of the farms in Australia, when defined by the value of their agricultural production (ABARES data; EVAO of <$50K to $150K). In real numbers that's 32,791 farms contributing $521,372,099 to the economy. 🌱 That is a significant industry 🌱 with real environmental and social outcomes - 🎙and a voice that needs to be amplified.🎙 Opt in to the survey today www.smallfarmscount.com Find out more about Young Farmers Connect at https://lnkd.in/gTTu3QBJ

Great ideas are a time a dozen... Bringing them to fruition is something else. Hats off to my Restorative Farms co-founder, Owen Lynch, Larry Henderson (DART (Dallas Area Rapid Transit) and Jenny Eyer (American Heart Association) for getting this project off the ground....and to our stalwart Restorative Farms team of farmers and food system practioners who really make it happen. And while, I'm at it...thank you, Nadine S. Lee for your ongoing support. This innovative farmers market could be the stepping stone toward something even more impactful—permanent local produce stores in our most underserved communities. We view the DART line as an “artery”.. bringing aspiring urban farmers and comminity shoppers to our Hatcher Station Training Farm.. it also serves as a potential conduit to bring fresh produce directly to communities with limited access to healthy food. This pilot farmers market not only addresses immediate nutritional needs but also demonstrates the demand for fresh, locally grown options. As this pilot program gains traction, it can pave the way for sustainable, long-term solutions such as establishing permanent produce stores and provide consistent access to nutritious food, empowering residents to make healthier choices while supporting local agriculture. This market is a practical, on-the-ground model that works. With DART’s reach, could eventually become a network of local food hubs, transforming Dallas food deserts into thriving, food-secure communities.

Thanks to the team at Farmers for Climate Action for sharing this link in light of National Reconciliation week. Farmers for Climate Action started when about 10 farmers signed a public petition seeking acknowledgment of climate change impacting our farms almost 10 years ago, now telling much the same stories and successes we set out to do with the initial Farmer Letter. Here’s to those that saw the change and acted boldly. And in the spirit of Reconciliation Week- Now More Than Ever do we need mob sharing stories as part of these yarns. #climatechange #NRW2024 #reconciliation #change #environment #sustainability

Farmers can be heroes too! The national collective and led by Ben Ensor who chats about the challenges facing catchment groups now is insightful. What weve discovered in the last 5 yrs is that devotion, local knowledge,intricate systems understanding and a number 8 wire approach that leads to locally led groups getting stuff done faster, cheaper and with targeted precision can save public dollars and lead to genuine outcomes for nature, however as Ben noted: “The ability of the local groups to understand their landscape intimately and take an integrated approach can deliver more specific, well-invested solutions is essential. Ensor is also aiming to ensure the umbrella group gives more voice to rural communities in helping shape regulation and make them practical. “It is very much about having to work with government.” We all need to see environmental management continue to improve and get some of agriculture’s wicked problems controlled. “We still need regulations, but catchment groups can connect with a broad range of people and go further, faster than just regulations can.” he has plenty of first-hand experience with unworkable environmentally focused regulations on his own property…. “The worst ones for us have been the certified farm plans as they were proposed. With auditing the cost would have been horrendous.” He also hopes the collective can help build a national “dashboard” that provides at-a-glance information on how the farming sector is going on key environmental indicators for areas.

Tomorrow's Foundation's agricultural program is sowing resilience in vulnerable communities and empowering marginalized farmers. Together, we're cultivating a future of food security for 7500 farmers. #SustainableAg #EmpowerFarmers #FoodSecurity #SDG1NoPoverty #SDG3GoodHealthandWellBeing #SDG13ClimateAction #SDG15LifeonLand

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