MARCH 14, 2001
FARM RALLIES DEMONSTRATE
FAILURE OF CANADIAN FARM POLICY
SWIFT CURRENT, Sask.--"Today's rallies demonstrate farmers' almost universal recognition that Canada's agricultural policy is a disaster. Farmers need additional money immediately to see them through to better times. But unless the federal government dramatically alters its agricultural policy, those better times will never come," said NFU Board member Stewart Wells. Wells was speaking to the rally in Swift Current.
"Farmers face the lowest net incomes since the 1930s despite our extraordinary successes. Over the past 25 years, farmers have increased their gross income three-fold; helped increase agri-food exports five-fold; expanded our acreage; switched to high-value crops and exotic livestock; and adopted high-tech seeding, harvesting, and marketing tools," said Wells.
He continued: "Every indicator demonstrates farmers' overwhelming success: every indicator except net farm income. The farmers at today's rallies have come to understand that the system doesn't work for us. We can invest and adapt and expand and the system will not reward us: it will punish us."
NFU Vice-President Fred Tait observed: "With the exception of our successful supply-managed sectors, Canadian agricultural policy urges increased production and exports. It encourages larger and fewer farms. It ignores key aspects of the agricultural system such as the lack of competition among agribusiness. For farm families and rural communities, Canadian agricultural policy is a failure. Today's rallies demonstrate farmers' rejection of an agricultural policy that is eating them alive to feed profit-hungry agribusiness transnationals."
"Farmers want a change. Only a fool or an ideologue would believe that the next new technology, new trade deal, or doubling of agri-food exports will restore prosperity to our farms. World prices are low, yet Ottawa's main policy thrust is to double and redouble exports--to dump more goods onto a market signaling it wants less," said Tait.
NFU President Cory Ollikka pointed out that there are clear alternatives:
"While prices farmers receive in Canadian markets are not overgenerous, Canada offers farmers some of the highest, most stable food prices in the world--especially when transportation costs are factored in. Why sign trade deals that turn that market over to other nations while we pursue low-price, volatile markets in distant lands?" asked Ollikka.
"Input manufacturers have merged to the point that their market power allows them to snatch away any extra dollars farmers might earn. Why is the government funding transnational seed and chemical companies rather than funding research into organic and reduced-input agriculture that would help farmers escape the grip of powerful transnationals?" asked Ollikka.
"A small reduction in world grain supplies would trigger rapid price increases. Why is our government funneling billions to programs that promote increased production?" asked Ollikka.
He concluded: "The farmers rallying today know why: Canadian agricultural policy is designed by, and for the benefit of, agribusiness. While it has been a tremendous success for agribusiness, with corporate profits near record highs, Canadian agricultural policy is destroying family farm agriculture."
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For More Information:
Stewart Wells, NFU Board member: (306) 773-6852
Cory Ollikka, NFU President: (780) 383-2148 OR (780) 499-4805
Fred Tait, Vice-President: (204) 252-2773
Darrin Qualman, Exec. Sec.: (306) 652-9465