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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLucknow Sentinel, 2009-03-04, Page 19Lucknow Sentinel, Wednesday, March 4, 2009 - Page 19 Disparities with U.S. farmers: bane of existence • • • from page 18 activists" towards certain farm sectors. In urging the governments to work towards responsible and user-friendly farm programs, Black reports that all too often aid for those seeking "to' retrain is aimed at the white collar and skilled - trades sector. "Not everybody can be computer -pro- grammers or engineers," says Black. Disparities remain Wayne Hamilton, in speaking on behalf of the Farm Finance Committee, reports disparities with U.S. farmers continue to be a bane of existence for Canadian farm- ers. "How do we compete. against that?" says Hamilton, noting the U.S. recently introduced an acre program that pays out $200 an acre to its farmers. He also notes support programs in the south are better streamlined than those in Canada. Hamilton says AgriStability and Agri - Invest programs aren't. exactly popular with a number of farmers. "The old CAIS program just didn't cut it," lie "They've replaced it now with, apparently, something worse." f luron-Bruce MP Ben Lobb says it would be foolhardy to pledge to match the type of supports seen south of the bor- der. "We can't compete with the U,S.. on farm money. It's fiscally impossible," says Lobb. He points to more changes coming to the suite of AgriFlex and AgriStability Programs, and believes farmers will bd pleased with how they roll out. "AgriFlex is proactive," he says. Huron -Bruce MPP Carol Mitchell reminded ag stakeholders that the federal government; has yet to take up the com- mitment • to fund the Business Risk Management, Program, an insurance package formulated by fanners. She adds a number of other provinces, including Alberta and Quebec, are also asking .the feds to get on line with RMP. Larry Lynn expressed thanks.. to Mitchell for her government's support of RMP. "Ben, I hope you're paying attention •to what Carol has said," he said. "We are business people. We need support." • Lynn adds there is a perception farmers had a banner year because crop prices were on the uptake earlier this year. But, says Lynn, the truth is the upward trend is over : and farmers continue to do battle with increasing operating costs. "The auto industry is getting support, will government support agriculture?" he asked. Lobb notes the government is commit- ting to short-term loans for the auto sector and that' his government " is taking a "proactive' step with program reviews. "These will be monies that will, hope- fully, actually get out the door," he said in reference to promises, made by the former federal Liberal government that were never delivered. Environment friendly Paul Klopp, a Zurich -area farmer and former NDP MPP, says one of the prob- lems with newly introduced ag-support . programs is the money is earmarked for environmental programs and not opera- tional matters. "The fanners aren't arguing for the sake of arguing," he says. "It's really the fact it's $3 for corn and it's $4.50 to grow it." He adds it is important for the govern- ment to aid farmers when there's a short- fall. HCFA member Wayne Hamilton says, "The feds are dragging their feet, as usual, on direct -payment programs." Huron -Bruce's MPP, meanwhile, notes the province bas been meeting its finan- cial commitments to farmers. A good year The White Bean Producers report 2008 was a kinder, gentler one. Pointing to the success of the producer- supported breeding program and the con- stant introduction of new varieties, . Bob Fotheringham reports the markets have grown. Indeed, the white and coloured bean boards have pledged $50,000 per year for the next five to keep a bean breeder years stationed at the University of Guelph. Bean producers also purchased a new combine, valued at $270,000, for Huron Research. Dairy report Huron's dairy farmers are ,pleasedwith the governments' ongoing comnlitinent to supply management as well as the federal government's quest for balanced trade during the World : Trade organization (WTO) talks. Ellen Nyland notes that the demand for organic tnilk is waning leading to new producers being put on stand-by lists. She also reports the dairy industry is looking into a 100 per . cent Canadian - milk promotion. Nyland gave kudos to the government for endorsing. Buy Local initiatives and notes there is a growingconsumer trend towards purchasing locally grown and raised `goods and produce. She ' adds the industry would like to see the gQ mment revisit industry standards for yogurt. Huron -Bruce's MPP gave thanks to dairy producers for their ongoing com- mitment to providing milk to local schools. increasing costs Farmer Joe Vermunt says escalating input costs and a global push to keep prices lowcontinue to negatively impact Canadian farmers. "A farmer's portion of a loaf of bread is still the same as it was in the 1980s," he says. "When our costs keep escalating, government programs need to help us." Vermunt says it's particularly unfair that •a lot of the global prices on goods are the dumping price. Vermunt says it continues to be dis- heartening that consumers are not aware of the issues impacting agriculture. We are regulated to death almost," he says, noting it is unfair that many of the countries importing goods to Canada con- tinue to use chemicals banned here. Zurich -area farmer Paul Klopp expressed fear that the Risk Management Program will fall by the wayside if the feds do not step on board. "The world price of corn is $2 but can't be grown for that price here," he says. Huron -Bruce MPP Carol Mitchell says it is becoming increasingly important for the feds to commit to RMP since farmers are now facing the prospect of . dealing with banks that are increasingly reluctant to hand out loans. "My position is we need to need it (RMP)," she says. Clean Water Act Larry Lynn, speaking on behalf of the HCFA's AG CARE group, reports the Clean Water Act is putting the scare into farmers since many are left wondering who is -going to foot.. the tab for the many legislative changes being enacted. Farmer Joe Vermunt says there peedskto be assistance to help stakeholders meet the standards. He adds that "Yes, it looks like a bit. of empire building on the Conservation Authority side of things. Supporting reselirch Marilyn Broadfoot, speaking on behalf of the HCFA's public -relations mmit- tee, says it's important for consumers to do their research when purchasing goods at the local grocery store. She notes that while some of the more mature population has ; a difficult time reading labels to discern where products come from, there is an easy solution. "Walk away," she suggests. Varna -area fanner Bev Hill, mean- while, suggest affixing warning labels on imported foods to let consumers know the product was treated with chenucals: banned in Canada. "Obviously the Liberal government is concerned with the a potential implication of .pesticide use," he says. "Shouldn't this be spelled out?" Huron -Bruce MPP Carol Mitchell notes the suggestion would fall under the feder- al government's .purview. In praising Buy Local campaigns, fanner Joe Vermunt notes one of the problems with `Produced in' and 'Made in Canada' labeling is they can mislead the public. "We're not buying the product because of the jar or where it's packaged," he says. "Could the Ontario Government push the feds?" "The consumer has the power but the consumer needs to be educated," he says. Huron -Bruce's MPP notes the province is investing $56 million over five -years with the Pick Ontario First campaign. range eggs. Durst notes there are many varieties of eggs, including organic, Omega 3, brown and free range, all of which are produced in Huron County. He says it's important for the govern- ments to respect the consumers' choice and not to bow to the pressure of small - interest groups: "We will fight very hard in the future to keep consumers having that choice,It he says. y_Huron-Bruce's _MPP paid . tribute to Durst for being an excellent tour guide during a recent = Liberal caucus .meeting held at the B enmiller Inn. She says from switchsrass to supply management to pork and beef farms to visits to the Port of Goderich and wind turbines, the caucus was given a first-rate tour. Tough Grant Love, president of the Huron. County Pork Producers : Association, reports it "was another tough year for the price of. gi s" p. Indeed, pigs were fetching $2 less than last year and there . is a falling demand south of the border due to the U.S.'s County-Of-Origin-Llibeling (COOL) rul- ing. Love notes a producer needs to make $1.65 per 100 kilograms, to break even. "As you can see, we're at the $126 mark," he says. Other ` -factors hurting the indu include a volatile exchange rate and esca biting feed prices. Imported, r_at+e also hurting local producers. "Read those labels. There are a lot of Vermont hams there," he says. . Love adds it is the producers hope the Maple Leaf plant in Burlington continues to be operational. "We need that plan to stay open," he says. A lack of . federal support is another issue, he says, as is the number of subsi- dized farms in Quebec. Pork producer Jack Crowes notes the hog industry is going through a "major restructuring," and that Huron County favours the open -marketing concept with Ontario Pork as the driver instead :.of the marketing commission. Cattlemen's report 2008 has been a year of ups and downs for cattlemen. While the market is again sliding, input costs continue to rise. The Association reports the beef herd is down 8 per cent iii Canada and 15 per cent in Ontario. Keeping packing in Ontario is a major need, says the Cattlemen's representative. A short-term cash infusion is also nec- essary to ensure long-term survival, reports the 'Association, which notes Alberta has helped out its producers. The Association also seeks changes are needed to the feds' AgriStability program. Further, producers are (loping for more than a one-year extension on grants in order ,to overcome the financial hurdles now being facers. ;.: Were determined to have a beef industry in Ontario and we are not mov- ing to Mexico," says an Association rep. Egg,, ceJlent Iowa Bryan Durst reports things are shaping up well for the egg industry. Shell -egg sales are up four per cent, Canada wide and five per cent in Ontario. Durst notes the rationale behind the rise is eggs are seen as a healthy source of ener- gy and there is value in a dozen eggs. Trade considerations, especially with the WTO, continue to concern egg pro- ducers as does a growing trend that is see- ing activists push for the sale of only free-