The Rural Voice, 1978-04, Page 4411NEWSLEVIE.10
Huron County Federation
of Agriculture
Area Office, Venerate, Bei 1129 C' n ,n, Ont
Continued from pg. 43
CONCERNS OF CANADIAN FARMERS
Farmers across Canada, particularly those in Ontario, have been
telling the Federal Government for years now that the farming
. industry is on the c+ecline and, because of this decline, the economy
of Canada is suffering in total. Reduction in the number of farming
enterprises and farming activity has a spin-off effect in other
industries that has caused the closing of plants, the reduction of
employment, the reduction of economic activity, the development of
an adverse balance of payments on the international trading scene,
all to the financial and economic detriment of the whole nation,
Farmers have been telling the Government that a prosperous,
thriving farming industry is basic to the economic health of the
nation. Some members of the Federal Government have been
listening and have worked very hard to put into place legislation and
financial policies that help the farming community to survive.
However, there are elements of the Government whose voice seems
to be gaining credibility and achieving greater prominence with
regard to Government policy development and their positions are
diametrically opposed to the interests of the farming community,
The most basic need of the farm community is an improvement in
the net farm income of farmers so that they may have the means
whereby they can purchase their requirements for improving,
expanding, and modernizing the farming industry in Canada.
Statistics Canada has told us that realized net farm income in real
terms declined 20 percent in 1976 and 18 percent in 1977, and they
are projecting a decline of 11 percent in 1978. This accumulated
decline in farm income of 42 percent is reflected in the economic
difficulties being experienced by the farm machinery industry, by
the farm supply industries, and their effect on employment and the
costs to the Federal Treasury for Unemployment Insurance
payments.
It's very alarming to see farm debts in Ontario alone, skyrocket to
over two billion dollars --up about 25 percent from the previous year.
The signs for a collapse of the industry are very visible in these
figures. The current increase in farmer -debt has not been for
expansion and modernization but for survival.
Falling farm prices and rising input costs have put the farmer in a
cost -price squeeze that is unacceptable and •••iuld not be accepted by
any other segment of our society.
1. The tirst action required for a healthy agrici Lure is that markets
for farm products must be expanded both at home and abroad!
Our greatest current problem in Canadian agriculture is our
potential for over -production. Because of inequitable tariff and trade
protection primarily, our domestic and export markets are
stagnating. If agriculture is ever to be healthy, it must have
expanded markets.
This action must be accomplished by extensive "Buy Canadian"
campaigns, by Provincial and Federal Government food
purchasing policies stipulating Canadian foods only, and by a much
firmer commitment to agriculture in GATT negotiations, bilateral
agreements, and commodity agreements.
The fruit and vegetable industry must receive not only seasonal
protection, but must have tariffs in place •equal to those in other
countries which are our natural competitors in the world market.
Markets must be improved for the dairy industry. While Canada
has lost large export cheese markets when Britain joined the EEC,
and while the U.S. limits our cheese exports to only about one million
pounds, we have been increasing the cheese allowed into Canada.
The cheese import quota must be reduced to 35 million pounds per
PG. 44. THE RURAL VOICE/APRIL 1978.
year to be fair to dairy producers.
The beef industry has lost hundreds of millions of dollars in the
last three years and needs action now if it is to continue and expand.
All other beef -producing nations protect their beef producers, and
we demand that the Federal Government implement immediately a
beef import law that will be an effective means of providing the
Canadian beef producer with a fair share of his own market, as well
as encouragement to develop export markets.
Canadian farmers also need greater access to foreign markets in
many other food products. Canadian farmers can and will produce
more of almost every food product now produced in Canada. But
markets are necessary first.
2. Secondly, the federal government must unequivocally proclaim its
permanent support for the right of farmers to market their products
collectively.
There is a division in government regarding Marketing Boards
which creates considerable unease and lack of confidence in the
farming community. For too long now, we have heard so-called
consumer advocates, bureaucrats, and Cabinet Ministers,
advocating removal of marketing board powers in the areas of supply
management and pricing.
Net farm incomes are falling, farm gate prices are down and, yet,
the price of food at the retail level continues to rise. Surely intelligent
Canadians must see that marketing boards are not creating the
problem that consumers are faced with, and that those who are
attacking them should direct their attention to areas where a
problem exists.
Since the number of buyers of farm products has become
increasingly centralized, farmer -run marketing boards are the only
mechanism we have to create a more equal balance in the market
place. They must be maintained and supported for those products
where farmers require them.
3. Thirdly the government of Canada must disassociate itself
publicly from open pronouncement by some cabinet ministers that
the policy of this nation shall be cheap food and must abandon plans
to limit the price of food.
Food producers must receive equitable returns for their
investment and labour, so that they can continue to produce an
abundance of food and so that they can be a significant financial
contributor to the economic health of Canada.
Mechanisms being contemplated by the Government to keep food
prices low will ultimately be borne by the weakest link in the
chain --the producer. This approach is unacceptable. Producers
should not have to subsidize a high standard of living for the rest of
Canada. Justice and equity demand a fair return for farmers.
4. The federal and provincial government must implement effective
co-ordinated and meaningful stabilization and/or income assurance
programs.
Food is a strategic commodity. We cannot do/without it. The food
industry is the nation's most important industry. Where all other
measures fail to provide adequate returns to producers, then farm
incomes must be supported by co-ordinated Federal and Provincial
Stabilization plans so that farmers can continue to make their
valuable contribution to this country.
HURON COUNTY FEDERATION
OF AGRICULTURE
MONTHLY MEETING
Thursday, April 6, 1978.
8:30 P.M. SHARP
GREY CENTRAL SCHOOL, ETHEL
SPEAKER: MR. MEL MacINTYRE
ONT. MUTUAL INSURANCE ASSOCIATION