100 years of farming

Humans have been cultivating Quebec’s soil since time immemorial: first the First Nations, later the early settlers of New France, and today our farmers. Before the advent of steam power in the early 20th century, agriculture was what we call subsistence farming, aimed at building up food reserves that would sustain farmers and their families throughout the year. Surviving the harsh winters was the most important goal.

With the dawn of the industrial era and the production of mechanized tools, farming changed radically. Tractors, mills, harrows, harvesters, and other machines replaced animal-drawn and hand-powered tools for harvesting, transportation, and working the land. These new machines meant farmers could accomplish more and increase their production.

As the population of towns and cities grew, farmers started travelling there to sell their goods. The situation was far from ideal, however, as they often couldn’t get a fair price for their products. Fair pricing is ultimately what led Quebec farmers to start organizing.

During the 1920s, the vastly influential Church backed the development of cooperatives, whose values were aligned with Christian principles of sharing and helping others. On October 2, 1924, nearly 2,500 farmers converged on Quebec City and demanded the right to make a decent living from their work, which received support from the clergy. This movement—to unite farmers so they could defend their interests—was led by passionate organizers, namely the agronomists Joseph-Noé Ponton and Firmin Létourneau, who would play a pivotal role in the founding of the Union catholique des cultivateurs (UCC).

This was nothing short of a revolution in Quebec agriculture, and it led in turn to a thorough transformation of agricultural legislation. The time had come for new markets to be developed for Quebec’s farmers, and for them to gain access to markets that had been protected. In the years following the founding of the UCC, Quebec farmers organized around a range of important issues: buying, selling, processing, price negotiation and more. Also during this period, the Union helped farmers develop their knowledge and skills through distance learning courses, study and discussion circles, and other local gatherings. There was so much to do to help farmers advance—but so much was possible!

From day one, the UCC (today the UPA) has helped to advance agriculture and agri-food in Quebec, through its contributions to legislation such as the Farm Credit Act, the Act to promote rural electrification by means of electricity cooperatives (1945), the Act respecting the marketing of agricultural, food and fish products, the Farm Producers Act, and more. Through the strength of collective action, the Union has helped to develop collective marketing tools to ensure that agricultural producers all across Quebec have adequate market access.

Throughout its history, the UPA has worked tirelessly to defend the rights and interests of its members. As provided for in the Farm Producers Act, the UPA is the official voice of all agricultural producers, including those who do not join the organization as members. Without fail, our organization has fought at the front lines of any struggle aimed at building a strong, resilient, and sustainable agriculture sector. It is a sector that is in on the ground floor of tomorrow’s society—a sector in which technologies and resource conservation are the tools used wisely to protect our planet.

As we mark 100 years since the creation of the Union catholique des cultivateurs, this the perfect opportunity to reflect on how far we’ve come. The agricultural sector is now a major economic driver for Quebec’s bio-food sector, which represents 6% of Quebec’s GDP (2021) and employs 56,000 workers each year. Today, 42,265 producers operate 29,380 farm businesses across Quebec. In meeting and exceeding every expectation, their work is what puts food on of our tables. As our society changes, our farmers are adapting. It’s more important than ever that we choose local products and support our agricultural sector to keep alive and thriving.