Agricultural matchmaking – a new way to play the field
WINNIPEG – When you hear the word “matchmaking”, chances are your first thought might be in regards to playing the field in affairs of the heart.
However, there’s also matchmaking as it relates to agriculture. NO – not a dating service or pair-matching for the farm critters, and no animal husbandry involved.
Matchmaking in agriculture is all business.
The owner of a matchmaking service for farm owners and prospective farmers across Canada says there’s no shortage of young people armed with business plans who want to get into farming
Christie Young of Farmlink says there’s also plenty of older farmers who want to see their land farmed by a new generation when they retire.
Many farmers have borrowed against the rising value of their farms, which means they need to sell their properties for full market value in order to retire.
That’s where Farmlink comes in, to help owners and young farmers set up partnerships that begin years before the owners retire, such as lease-to-own arrangements that can allow a new farmer to start small and expand.
From the pages of FarmIlink matchmaker: