national
farmers union
national
farmers union
SASKATOON, Sask.-"Adjusted for inflation, per-farm realized net income in Saskatchewan has returned to levels not seen since the 1930s," said NFU Saskatchewan Coordinator Stewart Wells.
[Picture 1] In the 1940s through 1980s-with the exception of some unusually-high levels in the 1970s-realized net income, adjusted for inflation, has consistently ranged between $10,000 and $30,000 per Saskatchewan farm. It is projected to be just $3,408 in 1998 and $3,047 in 1999.
"$3,047 is the lowest per-farm realized net incomerecorded since Statistics Canada began keeping records in 1926. It means that before the farm family pays themselves a single dollar for labour, management, or return on equity, the farm has already lost money," stated Wells.
"This farm income crisis is hitting Saskatchewan harder than any other province. The drop in income threatens not just rural Saskatchewan, but urban areas as well. The recent announcement of prolonged lay-offs at Flexi-coil in Saskatoon are just one indication of how bad times in the country can quickly spread to the city," concluded Wells
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