Trump is coming after Canada’s dairy farmers, so I want a leader who stands up for us.
First Person columns are personal stories and experiences from kids written in their own words. For more information and to learn how to submit your own piece, scroll to the bottom of the page.
My name is Zachary.
I live in Marshfield, P.E.I., on a dairy farm on a beautiful property with a stunning view of the Hillsborough River.
I have been involved in our family farm from a young age. The cow barn has always been a safe space for me. It’s quiet and peaceful, and the cows keep me company if I need to cheer up.
Even though I’m too young to vote in the 2025 federal election, I’m motivated to speak out because I want to have a government that respects and works for small family farms and other small businesses and the work they do to build our communities and economies.
Zachary Wood’s family has about 60 cows in Marshfield, P.E.I. (Image submitted by Zachary Wood)
Growing up on my farm
We have about 60 cows and two full-time workers.
My dad gave me my first job on the farm feeding bottles of milk to the baby calves, and as time went on, I got more involved and continued to increase my skills.
I progressed to new jobs like milking cows, driving the corn cart and even giving cows a needle.
After a few years of working part-time, I knew that this is where I want to spend the rest of my life.
I couldn’t ask for a better place to live and a better job to have.
For me, farming is a job that gives me purpose because I think it will give me values that last a lifetime, like hard work and perseverance, and I also get to serve my community delicious and nutritious food.
As a young person considering farming as a career, there are lots of concerns I have when it comes to the future of my family farm and the future of the dairy industry.
Farms like mine could be greatly affected by decisions around managing tariffs, the housing crisis and any re-negotiation of North American trade.
Zachary has been working on his family farm since he was a kid. He’s now old enough to drive the tractor. (Image credit: Jill Wood)
Tariffs and counter-tariffs
The tariffs imposed by the U.S. on Canada are causing big economic uncertainty, and while I understand the need to push back against these unfair practices, counter tariffs have the potential to harm as well.
The cost of things like farm equipment and parts and supplies like grass and corn seed could go up.
The Liberals, Conservatives and NDP have all endorsed counter tariffs, but I like the idea of other measures to fight the U.S. plans.
I think it would be more beneficial to make our economy stronger and more self-reliant, to “Trump proof” our economy, as Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre and NDP leader Jagmeet Singh put it.
The future of dairy
U.S. President Donald Trump has also made it clear he doesn’t like our dairy supply management system.
He has called it “deeply unfair.”
The supply management system is complex, but in short, it controls prices to keep them predictable for Canadian dairy farmers and restricts the supply of milk in the Canadian market, leaving little room for American dairy to come into Canada.
Zachary helps out on the family dairy farm. His plan is to take it over one day. (Image submitted by Zachary Wood)
If we don’t have a strong leader to reject Trump’s desire to get into our market, Canadian dairy farmers like my family could be hurt by cheaper American products.
Liberals, Conservatives and NDP have all said supply management will be off the negotiating table.
However, Liberal Leader Mark Carney hasn’t committed to passing a law banning future market concessions.
This makes me wonder how serious he is about protecting farmers.
Housing and land
Furthermore, the housing crisis has contributed to the skyrocketing price of land.
While building more housing is necessary, it cannot be done at the expense of good agricultural land.
I want the government to protect farmland and respect rural communities.
Zachary, a few years ago, taking part in his local 4-H club. (Image submitted by Jill Wood)
The Conservatives want to require cities to build more homes and speed up the rate at which they build homes every year.
I would like to see that happen without cities looking to expand their boundaries.
The building must occur upwards, not outwards into neighbouring rural communities like mine.
Farmers need land to grow crops and raise cattle.
In the future, farming will need to expand to meet growing demand, and I would like to be able to expand one day.
If the land keeps getting more expensive and unaffordable, expanding will be impossible.
I remain optimistic about the future of my family farm, but we need strong leadership to stand up for us over the next four years. And we must remember, no farmers means no food.
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