Report says harmonizing national farm data is critical to building a modern risk management system
Farm Management Canada is encouraging Canadian agriculture to adopt a forward-looking approach to risk management. In its new report, Striking the Balance: Proactive Strategy versus Reactive Response, the group emphasizes that the future of Canadian farming depends on preparation rather than reaction.
The report highlights that current agricultural policies often create heavy reliance on traditional Business Risk Management programs. While these programs provide important support after disasters, they can discourage farmers from exploring proactive methods.
Farm Management Canada is recommending a national strategy that balances proactive planning with reactive measures to create lasting strength for the sector.
A key part of the report is a practical farm-wide framework covering People, Finance, Markets, Production, Business Environment, and Business Strategy.
This model encourages governments, industry partners, and farmers to focus on prevention and preparedness. By doing so, farmers can reduce stress, improve performance, and achieve better long-term returns.
Key findings show that investments in research, knowledge transfer, infrastructure, and marketing have fallen, weakening the country’s ability to manage risk in advance. The report also stresses that harmonizing national farm data is critical to building a modern risk management system.
Farmers are described as the first line of defense. By investing in proactive strategies, Canada can build a resilient and confident agricultural sector that is ready for both challenges and opportunities.
As the report explains, “a well-balanced strategy prioritizes proactive measures to reduce dependency on reactive responses,” ensuring Canadian agriculture remains strong today and in the future.