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MacAulay Announces New Starter Loan Program

On Wednesday, Federal Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay announced a new Farm Credit Canada (FCC) starter loan program.

The loans will offer special rates and no fees for farmers or entrepreneurs between the ages of 18 and 25.

MacAulay made the announcement at the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) AGM in Ottawa.

"There are now more young farmers under the age of 35 than there has been for the last quarter of a century and over the next decade 114,000 jobs will open up in this industry," he said. "To be a farmer today you'll have to be innovative and educated. It's so good to see young people so passionate about agriculture, we certainly need that. But to fulfill their dreams, they also need capital."

The new starter loans will offer up to $50,000 to help start and grow an ag-related business.

Source : Steinbachonline

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Canada's Agriculture Day 2025

Video: Canada's Agriculture Day 2025

Let's celebrate Canadian agriculture.

Well, number one, you don't eat without farmers. Farmers put food on the table. And what could be more important than that?

Well, I think it's important that Canadians understand exactly what takes place, what happens to produce this food, no matter what sector you're talking about.

An awful lot of work goes into that. It's important to understand that meat does not come out of a showcase, and milk does not come out of a bottle. It's produced by farmers and hard work.

Canada has the best farmers in the world. And agriculture is vital to Canada.

In 2024, our agriculture and agri-food sector represented $150 billion of Canada's GDP, nearly $100 billion of our exports, and one in nine jobs.

From grains to fruits to dairy and beef, we are truly blessed with an incredible bounty. Having spent my whole life in agriculture, I see so much potential for the sector.

This time last year, I was proud to open our first-ever agriculture and trade office in the Indo-Pacific, the world’s fastest-growing economy, to cement our presence in the region and grow our exports even more. We've also been making historic investments to help our farmers to boost their yields, protect the planet, and earn a fair living.

The world wants more top-quality, sustainable food, and I know our Canadian farmers can deliver. And it's so important that you do that with pride. We need you.

Quite simply, you eat the most top quality food in the world. You do that because of the quality of farmers and ranchers you have in this country.

Just say thank you to a farmer or a rancher. They work very hard, yes, for a living, but also with a sense of pride in what they produce.

That's what Canada's Agriculture Day is all about.