The Rural Voice, 2004-02, Page 11National Farmers Union - Ontario NEWSLETTER
Ontario Office: R.R. 2, Godfrey, ON KOH 1TO - Phone: 613-273-5545
Email: nfuo@rideau.net Website: www.nfu.ca/on
Choice of farm organization critical in fight to save family farms
The year 2003 was one that many
farmers in Ontario wish they could
forget. While the BSE crisis hit the
headlines, Alberta's mad cow was
really just one more in a long line of
factors driving farm families from the
land across the country.
Since the release of NFU's report
"The Farm Crisis, Bigger Farms, and
the Myths of `Competition' and
'Efficiency'," many farmers are
seeing numbers attached to what they
already knew; that poor government
policies and corporate greed have
been forcing thousands of families
off their farms for decades.
At a time when a strong voice for
small and medium sized family farms
is so critical, many farm families are
feeling forgotten by major farm
organizations and commodity groups.
This sentiment was felt again recently
when the Canadian Federation of
Agriculture supported the notion of
increasing the cap on farm program
support payments from $975,000 to
$3 million. This policy, if
implemented, will virtually ensure
that available funds are gobbled up
by Targe corporate operators, shutting
out family operations and eroding
public support for farmers. The NFU
is currently arguing that the
$975,000 cap be reduced to $400,000
which would still cover the vast
majority of farms in Canada.
NFU members were successful
recently in exposing the unhealthy
partnership between Ag Canada and
Monsanto on the development of
genetically modified wheat, and not
coincidentally, this partnership has
since been dissolved.
Some of the other issues the
NFU -O is now working hard on are:
fair compensation and long-term
resolution of the BSE crisis, the loss
of small abattoirs and meat
processors in rural communities,
barriers to beginning farmers, and
corporate consolidation in the beef
and hog sectors.
While the dedicated grassroots
members of many farm
organizatiops are working hard for
the survival of the family farm, there
seems to be a great reluctance by
some provincial and national farm
groups to stand up to the corporate
bullying and resulting government
policies that continue to devastate
farm families.
The members of the National
Farmers' Union -Ontario believe that
family farms must be the cornerstone
of vibrant rural communities and a
sustainable food system. On a local,
national and international level, the
NFU -O works to advocate
government policies and marketing
structures that resist the corporate
control of food. While the NFU -O is
still Ontario's smallest general farm
organization, its members are quickly
proving that the farm voice can and
will be heard by politicians,
bureaucrats and consumers on issues
that affect family farms.
The NFU -O needs more dedicated
members to continue the battle for
family farms. The upcoming farm
registration process will be critical in
shaping the future of farming in
Ontario. For more on the NFU -O,
visit www.nfu.ca/on or contact the
NFU -Ontario Co-ordinator, Don
Mills at 225-2163.0
COMING EVENTS:
February 12 - 7:30 p.m.
A group discussion on the future for family farms in the pork
sector. Exeter Legion, Canadian Room. For more information
contact Dave Lewington, (519) 887-2781 or Don Mills, (519) 225-2163.
February 19 - 7:30 p.m.
Perth/Oxford Local Meeting at George Stever's, Gadshill.
A discussion on the whys and hows of composting.
For information on local meetings contact the following:
Bruce Local - Mathilda Andres 519-368-5675 Grey Local - Bev Schenk 519-799-5584
Huron Local - Stephen Miller 519-236-4958 Perth Oxford Local - Ann Slater 519-349-2448
FEBRUARY 2004 7