Need for off-farm incomes grows

Jun 29, 2023

From trucking to teaching, seed or chemical sales, off-farm jobs are nothing new for many agriculture operations. The need for supplemental income seems to be increasing, according to the latest data.

In a December 2022 report from the USDA, the mean household income on a farm was $135,281 in 2021, the highest ever recorded. However, more than $100,000 of that was coming from non-farm sources. Based on averages, less than 25% of a farm’s income came from the farm itself.

“In those record-setting years, nearly 50% of our farmers, ranchers and producers lost money,” U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack said during an address at Commodity Classic in March. “Another 40% of those make some money, but the majority of the money they make comes from off-farm income.”

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Video: Independent Seed, National Impact | On The Brink: Episode 9

A survey of 200 independent seed businesses reveals what Canada's seed sector actually contributes — and what it stands to lose.

On the Brink, Justin Funk, a third-generation agri-marketer, shares the findings of a national survey conducted in early 2026. The numbers reframe the conversation: independent seed companies in Canada represent upwards of $1.7 billion in dedicated seed infrastructure, approximately 3,000 full-time equivalent jobs in rural communities, and an estimated $20 million in annual community contributions. And roughly 90% of Canada's cereals, pulses, and other small pollinated crops flow through them.

The survey also asked how dependent these businesses are on public plant breeding to survive. The answer was unambiguous. For policymakers evaluating the future of publicly funded breeding programs, Funk argues the economic case for this sector and the case for public plant breeding are the same argument.

On the Brink is a cross-country video series exploring the future of plant breeding in Canada. Each episode features voices from across the industry in an open, ongoing conversation about innovation and long-term investment in Canadian agriculture.