The Rural Voice, 1990-06, Page 82BRUCE
446 10th St., Hanover, Ontario N4N 1P9
519-364-3050
•
County Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER The Rural Voice is provided to Bruce
County federation members by the BCFA.
OPINION
HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL - OR DOES IT?
The financial crisis that has been
ravaging the farm community since the
late '70s is not over yet. That shouldn't
surprise anyone, considering the high
interest rates and low commodity prices
we're seeing this year. Officials with
the Farm Debt Review Board in all parts
of the country report that the situation on
many farms is critical and applications
to the board are once again on the rise.
While Saskatchewan wheat farmers
and red meat producers make up the
bulk of failing enterprises, even the
usually strong, supply -managed sectors
are feeling the pinch. The chairman of
the Quebec FDRB says dairy farm eq-
uity is diminishing year after year.
"Farmers try to wait out the erosion of
equity, hoping the financial situation
will improve."
But will the situation improve? To
hope for better times even when things
are at their worst is admirable, but there
is also something to be said for facing
reality. The reality of farm finances is
grim, and it's time for a sober assess-
ment.
Since it was first elected in 1984, the
Mulroney government has blamed farm
problems on the international scene: the
subsidy war between the U.S. and the
EEC. A new deal with the Americans
and successful GATT negotiations
would, they said, create a "level playing
field" and cause prices to rise.
Dream on! GATT negotiations are
deadlocked — further from resolving
the issue of agricultural subsidies than
ever before. Not even the staunchest
supporters of the Free Trade Agreement
can point to some benefit for Canadian
farmers. Red meat producers now have
the worst of both worlds, decreased
volume and low prices. The most direct
and tangible effect of the FTA has been
to undermine previously healthy com-
modities like eggs and milk.
We are not on the road to recovery,
and to "hope" for improvement when
our leaders are still stuck on the hopeless
idea of competitiveness is to delude
ourselves. Recovery will begin only
when we recognize that allowing agri-
culture to be ruled by economics is in-
evitably disastrous.
Agriculture is primarily biological;
it uses and maintains the world's most
essential natural resources. Secondar-
ily, it is a cultural and social arrange-
ment of unique importance. These are
the factors that should be of the highest
priority, the considerations that a pru-
dent society would use in planning a
course for agriculture.
But under the present mind -set these
are non -issues, and we sacrifice every
other objective to the god of "competi-
tiveness."
Farmers should not wait and hope
while more of their colleagues go under.
They should unite now to demand a
radical change in direction.°
Note: Each month this page will
contain an opinion on a current farm
issue. We would like to know what you
think. If your opinion differs from the
one you have read here, or if you support
our view, call the office at 364-3050.
The winner of the one-year free OFA membership at the
Chesley Agri -Fair was Russell Halliday, R. R. 2, Chesley.
BRUCE COUNTY EXECUTIVE 1989-90
Past president Ron Garland
President
1st Vice
2nd Vice
Bill Davis
Allan Smith
Tony Morris
Regional Directors
Bruce North Ken Kelly
Bruce West Grant Collins
Bruce South Byron Monk
R. R. 2, Cargill NOG 1J0
Dobbinton NOH 1L0
R. R. 2, Tara NOH 2N0
R. R. 2, Mildmay NOG 2J0
R. R. 5, Paisley NOG 2N0
R. R. 1, Kincardine N2Z 2N0
R. R. 2, Elmwood NOG 2S0
366-9934
353-5446
934-2928
367-2136
389-5347
395-5131
363-2109
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PROSE AND POETRY
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more information, contact Jim Fitzgerald or Lise Gunby at:
Box 37, Goderich, Ontario N7A 3Y5, telephone and fax: (519) 524-7668
78 THE RURAL VOICE