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This story was first published on RealAgriculture.com on Dec. 5, 2025.
by Amber Bell
The National Farmers Union (NFU) held its annual convention in Moncton, New Brunswick, last month where delegates from across the country gathered, debating and adopting policy resolutions.
Among the items that drew national attention this year was a proposal supporting the exploration of a guaranteed annual income for farmers.
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NFU vice president of policy Phil Mount explains that resolutions originate at local or regional levels before being brought to the convention for discussion.
One of this year’s submissions came from Prince Edward Island, reflecting concerns about the barriers young and new farmers face during their first decade in the industry.
Rising land prices and the financial instability of early farm years, Mount says, continue to make it difficult for new entrants to stay viable.
The resolution identifies $50,000 as an initial benchmark for an income floor. Mount says that “the resolution is the first step in a process… the number itself is going to be relative,” noting that a living wage varies by region and the specifics of any pilot would need to be developed.
He also highlights gaps in existing federal and provincial support programs, which he says tend to benefit large agribusinesses over small and mid-sized farms.
Looking ahead, the NFU is considering whether a pilot project should be municipal, provincial, or national, and how long-term funding might be secured.
Mount describes the proposal as part of “a nation building project that focuses on rebuilding the heart of agriculture,” particularly by supporting new and young farmers pursuing ecologically regenerative production.
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