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Farming in crisis, say Ontario producers |
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(L) MPP Bill Murdoch, MP & Chair of the Federal Standing Committee of Agriculture, MP Larry Miller, Vice-President of Bruce County Federation of Agriculture, John Gillespie, Conservative MP Ben Lobb, MPP & Minister of Agriculture, Carol Mitchell |
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Approximately 30 representatives from every sector of agriculture and levels of government came together on Saturday, March 13 in Chepstow. It was an opportunity for farmers to sit down with government officials and air their concerns. MPs Larry Miller and Ben Lobb were present along with MPPs Bill Murdoch and Carol Mitchell. Miller, Conservative representative of Bruce Grey Owen Sound, was also recently re-elected as Chair of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-food at the Federal level, while Mitchell was recently appointed provincial Minister of Agriculture. In addition, there were several mayors, including Ron Oswald of Aaran-Elderslie, Charlie Bagnato of Walkerton, Mike Smith of Saugeen Shores and Warden of Bruce County and Bill Goetz of South Bruce. There were representatives from the Grey Bruce Pork Producers, Bruce County Cattlemen's Association, Ontario Sheep Marketing Agency, Ontario Dairy Goat Co-operative, Chicken Farmers of Ontario, Bruce County Soil and Crop Improvement Association, among others that make up the Ontario Agricultural Sustainability Coalition (OASC).
Despite the fact that their industries are diverse, there were common
threads running around the table ... they are concerned about
imported foods displacing locally grown produce, about the apparent lack
of government leadership in the 'food chain' sector and the lack of
funding that has put farming into crisis. According to the Bruce
County Federation of Agriculture
According to the OASC, all producers, including beef, pork, veal and
horticulture have all suffered with below cost of production losses and
need an immediate short-term infusioln of $300 million. It
was suggested that the funds, previously allocated to Grains and
Oilseeds but not used, could be re-allocated to the other sectors.
One of the hardest hit sectors is that of the hog producer. Since
the fall of 2006, hog producers have consistently been losing money and
now average losses of $30 for each hog for a total loss over three years
of $468 million.
According to farmers like Alan Margerison, "We are on the brink of a
complete breakdown in the industry. I spent 40 years accumulating
wealth so that I could invest in the agriculture of this country
and, today, I am angry because I am going to lose my farm! How bad
does it have to get? How many have to drown before we get any
action? We rely on cheap imports from Chile and California that
don't have to follow the standards that our own producers have to
maintain. We don't even know what we are eating. The whole system
is falling down around our ears ... within 20 years, there will be no
farmers left."
MP Larry Miller explained that whatever programs are put in place have
to be done across the country and not just in one province. "There
are some provinces, such as Alberta, Saskatchewan and Quebec, that
choose to support agriculture. If the Federal Government however,
gives something to an Ontario farmer, it has to do the same across the
country. Until all provinces agree about risk management programs,
you are not going to see it happen."
MPP Carol Mitchell said that the provincial government has said that the
'feds' have to come to the table. "When it comes to risk
management, the only commodities who have brought forward mature plans
are t In he grains and oil seed.
Robert Emmerson, who brought forward the National Food Strategy, asked,
"Why has the Minister of Agriculture and AgriFood, Gerry Ritz, been so
adamantly against participating in this kind of discussion? In
Ontario, agriculture is the most complex of all the provinces and one
solution does not fit all. The reality is there is no federal
government participation and the Agriculture Stability program will
expire in 2013.
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"We are prepared to support agriculture," said MP Ben Lobb, "but it's
not as easy as snapping your fingers. Discussions are on-going and
that's why it's Ontario's opportunity to put forward a plan around risk
management. In many sectors, it has just not been fleshed out
enough. "Well I hear at every meeting," said Mitchell, "that the programs are not working despite significant investment in the Agriculture Stability program. That's why we are at the table - to try to get things working. What are the programs that are in place or what should they be? The only way we can anywhere is with cooperation between the Feds and the Province. "I think the main problem," said Lobb, "is red tape. You have to be an accountant or nuclear engineering to figure out how to fill out some of the Stability forms or records. Miller asked Mitchell if she had any indication from other provincial ministers as to what programs were working. "I believe there is consensus around the table that agrees on things like negative margins?" Paul Wettlaufer, Director with the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) wanted to know why, with the failing beef and hog commodities and the fact that Ontario has the largest population, beef and hogs were being brought in from Quebec. "I have a number of issues with Quebec," Miller replied "Is there a way without closing the borders that we can put more value on Ontario commodities? I'm no trade lawyer, but inter-provincial trade is being looked at because we have a number of trade agreements. I believe Ontario is unique and we have a lot of opportunity that other provinces don't in adding value and in processing." The recent initiative of Foodland Ontario that encourages consumers to readjust their thinking and buy local product was popular around the table and most felt it would serve the producers well down the road.
Arran-Elderslie Mayor, Ron Oswald (L) and South Bruce Mayor Bill Goetz "As a farmer," said Oswald, "I remember when farmers had a strong agricultural presence and speakers. Unfortunately, agriculture does not ranking to far up on any cabinet table and, on day, someone is going to say, why wasn't something done'? I am only glad that we have a Minister in Carol Mitchell who, although she has a lot on her plate, will speak for the rural communities." |
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