2024 National Poll of Farmers and Ranchers
According to the poll, climate change, along with severe weather events, is seen as one of the top challenges facing Canadian agriculture.
Despite these challenges, farmers and ranchers remain committed to environmental stewardship and show strong interest in adopting high resilience, low emissions practices, such as improved nitrogen management, cover cropping, and rotational grazing.
Farmers for Climate Solutions (FCS) commissioned market research firm Leger to conduct a national poll of Canadian producers during the 2024 growing season, to:
Assess climate change perceptions: Understand farmers' and ranchers' concerns and expectations regarding climate change.
Identify environmental priorities: Highlight the key environmental issues that matter most to producers.
Understand support needs: Identify the types of support needed to scale-up sustainable and high resilience, low emissions practices.
Inform policy and program design: Provide actionable data to shape effective, farmer and rancher-driven policies and programs.
The poll, completed by a total of 858 farmers and ranchers, provides valuable insights into their concerns, environmental priorities, and the support they need to strengthen the resilience of their operations.
This report presents key findings from the 2024 poll, offering actionable insights to guide the development of on-farm climate policies and programs that support farmers and ranchers in building resilience while maintaining productivity.
Main Findings
Climate change is a top challenge for the next decade
When farmers and ranchers were asked an open-ended question—at the very beginning of the survey—about the top challenge for the agricultural sector for the next decade, climate change was the number one answer.
Farmers and ranchers are already feeling the impacts of severe weather events
76% of farmers and ranchers report being impacted by severe weather in the past five years.
Farmers and ranchers fear future climate change impacts
Producers are worried that climate change will bring more restrictive policies and regulations, reduce income and yields, and negatively affect their mental health.
Farmers and ranchers view themselves as good environmental stewards
86% of farmers and ranchers consider themselves good stewards of the land, and 46% feel they can do more to improve environmental outcomes on their operations.
Soil health and on-farm resilience are top environmental priorities
Almost 94% of farmers and ranchers see improving soil health as a top priority, while 87% prioritise improving on-farm resilience.
There is strong interest in high resilience, low emissions practices
Interest is high for practices such as improved nitrogen management, no-till/reduced tillage, cover cropping, wildlife habitat conservation, and rotational grazing.
Profitability drives the adoption of new practices
Farmers and ranchers cited economic factors, such as increased profitability and improved productivity, as the top motivations for adopting new practices.
A range of supports is needed
Producers want a range of supports to adopt high resilience, low emissions practices, including technical support and training, financial incentives, risk management tools, and price premiums for sustainable products.
Technical support and training are key
Farmers and ranchers say they learn best from other producers with over 86% citing peers as a source of technical support.
Policy implications
Invest in soil health and on-farm resilience
Given the high priority farmers place on soil health and on-farm resilience, policies should include targeted funding and programs to strengthen these areas, supporting long-term farm viability and environmental sustainability.
Emphasize farmer and rancher-led solutions
Farmers and ranchers are concerned that climate change will lead to restrictive government policies that affect their livelihoods. To build support and encourage adoption of climate solutions, policies should prioritize farmer and rancher-led solutions, proven practices, and peer networks.
Develop supportive policies
Supportive policies that are flexible, incentive-driven, and empower farmers and ranchers will be better received and more effective in promoting sustainability while addressing the economic needs of producers.
Lead with economic benefits
Policies should lead with the economic benefits of practices—such as improved productivity and profitability.
Provide multifaceted support
Producers need a variety of supports to adopt new practices. Policy frameworks should offer a mix of technical assistance, financial incentives, risk management tools, and market-based solutions like price premiums for sustainable products.
Acknowledge regional differences
While the national poll shows broad concern about climate change, regional perspectives highlight the need for policies that address diverse viewpoints. Tailored supports, based on these differences, will ensure policies are effective and relevant.
Methodology
The phone-based poll was commissioned by FCS and conducted by Léger between August 8 and September 4, 2024. A total of 898 farmers and ranchers across Canada answered the survey, with 858 completing it in full. With respondents from a variety of production types, scales, and regions, the poll captures a wide range of perspectives from farmers and ranchers across the country. Poll results have not been weighted against Statistics Canada data. For detailed demographic information, please refer to Appendix 1 of the report.
Margin of error: For comparison purposes, a probability sample of this size yields a margin of error no greater than ±3.3%, with a confidence level of 95% (19 times out of 20). See Appendix 3 for more information regarding the poll development.