By Brandy Harrison

REGINA, SASKATCHEWAN — While a majority of Canadians are tightening their belts in anticipation of financial hardship on the horizon, Ontario farmers are looking at the same economic indicators and envisioning a brighter future for their businesses.

High commodity prices, favourable interest rates, and equity due to increased land values have pushed farmer optimism to a five-year high, according to the annual FCC national vision panel survey. Online discussions revealed the need to feed a growing global population and progress reducing their debt load was also responsible for some of that sunny thinking.

The survey, which included 4,551 producers and agri-businesses, found that eight in 10 producers nation-wide and 81 per cent of Ontario farmers expect their farm to be better off in five years. Optimism among Ontario farmers was up six per cent over last year and their cheery outlook was only outmatched in Saskatchewan, where 82 per cent of producers were feeling similarly positive looking down the road.

Ontario farmers, banking on good times ahead ,are also prepared to put their money where their mouth is: 65 per cent indicated they will expand, diversify or both in the next five years.

But survey respondents were quick to temper that optimism with a dash of realism, acknowledging many factors are beyond their control, such as weather, economic conditions, and increasing input and machinery costs. Farmers also expressed concern many Canadians don’t understand the work that goes into the food on their grocery store shelves.

While a love of the farming lifestyle made many Ontario farmers willing to recommend a career in primary production (71 per cent), they also said starting from scratch, without a family business to build on, is nearly impossible. Ontario farmers were more keen to recommend a career in an agriculture-related field, with stable incomes and fixed hours giving the broadened category the edge with 81 per cent.