Young farmer optimistic about agricultural future
By Geoff Dale
September 01, 2010
Photo by Geoff Dale
NEWARK, ON – Since taking on the role as swine herdsman on the family farm in 2006, Graham Learn has brought both a new way of looking at the business and computer technology skills to the job.
“I look at things like commodity futures and value-added products,” says the 24-year-old third-generation farmer. “Part of our cash crops is IP beans which get a premium and are marketed overseas and in countries like Japan.
“As for the computer, I started up a sow program online and as of last year all our business accounting is on software. It makes for a more efficient system that we can keep track of properly.”
Raised on the family farm, Richmar Farms, just outside of the community of Newark, he is the youngest of three offspring of Richard and Marlene. His 28-year-old brother Adam works with him while his 31-year-old sister Amy is a nurse.
Graham Learn at the computer
A graduate of Norwich District High School, which closed down recently, he moved on to Ridgetown College where he received a two-year agricultural diploma in Animal Sciences. He has been a member of the Junior Farmers Association of Ontario for the past three years and an integral part of the popular Embro Tractor Pull for two years.
Adam and Graham Learn
“You can say that farming is in-bred in me,” he adds. “It can be looked at as either a job or a way of life but I see it as both. This is not 9-5 work. This is something that takes up your time seven days a week, 365 days a year.”
Prior to coming onboard, the family operation had 100 sows farrow to finish. Now there are 350 sows with 600 acres of cash crop – wheat, IP beans and corn. There are another 180 acres for the farm and they own 50 more acres on their grandfather’s property.
In 2006 both Graham and Adam joined the business. His older brother, working alongside, brings another set of important skills to his position, such as planting in the spring and looking after mechanical aspects of the operation.
“I took a year of studies at the University of Guelph,” says Adam. “Then I went into construction. It was great getting back to the farm with Graham in 2006. I think we work well together and with my parents.”
Graham’s short term goal is to help ensure the farm is running efficiently and is working well for the family, noting you have to be both “efficient and disciplined” in today’s agricultural economy.
Adam and Graham Learn
“My long term goal involves my brother,” explains Graham, who was married to Allison on August 21 of this year. “When my parents retire, we will hopefully run the farm, looking at areas of expansion and more diversification, which is a very important consideration in farming.”
He says education is a key for new young farmers to become successful in the business, stressing this generation and the next has to keep on top of all developments, understand the constantly changing technologies and study all aspects of the business.
“I would also like to see agriculture brought back into the schooling system,” he adds. “It is ironic because my high school, before it closed down, had introduced such a course. It’s necessary because there is so much misinformation out there about farming. We need to educate both the rural and urban sectors about what really goes on.
“It’s becoming a very urbanized population and we need to demonstrate just how important farming is to everyone and we must address some of the negatives that are out there.”
He also cites the importance of family ties – those with his parents and his brother. His wife, employed as a poultry research assistant with Shur Grain Research Farm, will also be a key member of the family business.
A member of the Oxford County Pork Board and the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, he says associations like these are vital for new and established farmers because they are the first line of communication for the sector.
And with capital expense costs growing, he says it is important that new farmers understand their fiscal situation and the direction the operation is taking both in the short term and long term.
“Your bank also needs to know about your operation,” he adds. “If the bank doesn’t know why you’re spending X number of dollars, there will be questions. You have to have a good and up-to-date working relationship with the bank.”
Both Graham and Adam enjoy the work and lifestyle, saying agriculture is still very much a viable industry for young people to get involved in.
“Farming is still viable,” says Graham. “There will be plenty of opportunities in the sector for upcoming generations from general labour to management positions. There will be challenges, for example in the areas of skilled labour and capital costs, but it is still a great place to make a living and to enjoy the accompanying lifestyle.”
