The Rural Voice, 2002-10, Page 60HURON
Box 429, Clinton, Ontario NOM 1L0
519-482-9642 or 1-800-511-1135 Website: www.ofa.on.ca/huron Email: huron@ofa.on.ca
CThe Rural Voice is provided to all farmers
County Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER
in Huron County by the HCFA.
APF clouds Ag Canada's safety net agenda
By Wayne Hamilton, HCFA
Much of the discussion of The
Agriculture Policy Framework (APF)
has been on its first four "pillars":
food safety and quality, the
environment, skills and renewal,
science and innovation. Ag Canada's
proposed agenda for the fifth pillar,
risk management (safety nets) is to
eliminate all companion (eg. MRI)
and disaster aid (CFIP) and move to a
"Super NISA" program. That will be
a hot issue for the next few months.
Listed below are some of my
reasons why a NISA-only program is
not a fair long-term policy.
1. NISA support is a function of
price. Price decline = decline in
support.
If your commodity price has had a
long-term price decline or injury
because of U.S. and E.U. support,
then you would receive less support.
There is nothing in a NISA-only
policy which would mitigate the
effects of high foreign agriculture
subsidies.
The solution is a targeted counter
cyclical program. eg. cost of
production MRI
2. NISA support is based on revenues
HURON COUNTY FEDERATION
OF AGRICULTURE
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56 THE RURAL VOICE
= (price x volume). Again, those with
highest net sales or ENS would get
the most support.
At a recent event, I had the
opportunity to ask Lyle Vanclief the
following question: By distributing
the APF transition funding directly to
farmers using ENS as a formula, the
farmer with the healthiest ENS will
get the most money. Can the minister
explain how this formula will target
the money to those facing the greatest
economic hurt? Every politician
should be required to answer that
question.
The balanced solution is to use a
targeted program to target need, not a
whole farm program.
3. NISA only, can favour certain
sectors or commodities that may
never need assistance or already
have, (according to OECD) stats
more than a level playing field with
their competitors.
In effect, a NISA-only system
would become a reward system that
could alter production of some
commodities.
The list is not complete, however I
hope the above will initiate further
discussion in the farm community as
we continue to discuss a NISA-only
approach of farm support.0
If anyone has resolutions to go
to OFA November Convention
- please forward them to our
County office before
September 30, 2002.
ANNUAL/REGIONAL MEETING
HURON FEDERATION OF AGRICULTURE
Friday, October 4, 2002
Goderich Twp. Hall, Holmesville
Dinner 7 p.m. Tickets $12
Helen Johns has been invited
Huron Farm Hiker Tour
goes to the Bayfield Area
Come to the Bayfield area where the whole
family will enjoy visiting local farm operations
including: Beef -Dairy -Pigs -Honey House -
Tree Nursery -Greenhouses
on October 6, 2002
Pick up your tour program and map at the Stanley Township complex
in Varna on County Road #3 between 12 noon and 3:00 p.m.
For more information or advance meal tickets call
Karen Greaves 519-565-5999 or Mary Anne Doyle 519-482-5724
After the tour (5:00 p.m.) enjoy a homemade Country Harvest Supper
made with fresh Huron County produce
Adults - $10 / Children 10 and under - $5