New farmers often step into agriculture with two goals: caring for the environment and nourishing their communities. However, starting or taking over a farm requires strong business skills and the ability to adapt to changing markets, climate pressures, and shifting rural demographics.
To address these challenges, the Young Agrarians Business Mentorship Network (BMN) has been supporting new and young farmers since 2015. The program began in British Columbia, expanded to the prairie provinces in 2023, and now accepts applications from across Canada. Its mission is to connect experienced mentors with beginning farmers to build confidence, knowledge, and resilience.
So far, the program has worked with 199 farmers on 136 farms, guided by 81 mentors. The results are striking: farmers report an average 81% increase in revenues, a 61% increase in production, and a 61% increase in land use after completing a mentorship year compared to the previous season.
The BMN program is designed for farmers in their first 1 to 10 years of business, whether launching a new operation, expanding an existing one, or taking over a family farm. Experienced farmers also play a vital role as paid mentors, providing guidance and sharing lessons learned from years in the field.
Over the course of a year, participants receive 30 hours of direct one-on-one mentorship, attend peer meetups, join a farm business webinar series, and gain access to valuable resources. The program covers practical business topics such as record keeping, cash flow, marketing, and startup basics. It is inclusive of many production types, from vegetables and mushrooms to livestock, flowers, and mixed operations.
Funded by the Government of Canada and Vancity, the program aims to foster strong rural communities and a future generation of confident, skilled farmers. Applications for new mentees and mentors open in October, with details available on the Young Agrarians website.
The mentorship network continues to demonstrate that peer support and shared knowledge are key to growing resilient farms and stronger rural communities.