A preliminary economic analysis of multiple jobholding by Manitoba farm operators

Abstract

Primary agricultural production is an industry which has been characterized by many producers deriving low returns in exchange for their labour, managerial skills, and capital investment inputs. In an over simplified sense The Federal Task Force on Agriculture presented essentially two means by which this problematic situation may be resolved; farmers could either expand their current level of operation to a point sufficient to meet necessary farm expenditures and mantain the farm family on an acceptable standard of living, or he could leave agricultural production entirely in favour of some other form of employment. This study pursued an investigation into multiple jobholding by farm operators as a third alternative solution to the low farm income problem. Multiple jobholding by farm operators is simply an employment situation in which the individual is engaged in more than one job for which he receives payment...