Search
Better Farming OntarioBetter PorkBetter Farming Prairies

Better Farming Ontario Featured Articles

Better Farming Ontario magazine is published 11 times per year. After each edition is published, we share featured articles online.


Canadian position weak at WTO talks: New Zealand farm leader

Thursday, February 21, 2008

by MARY BAXTER

Alistair Polson, president of the New Zealand Federated Farmers, said Canada was one of the three worst regions of the world - the U.S. and Europe being the others - in terms of difficulty in establishing a market for New Zealand milk exports because of tariffs.

Even though Canada has shown a “strong interest” in opening its markets, its continued support of supply management gives “Canada a rather interesting position,” which ultimately reduces the country’s impact on trade talks, he said.

“I am not debating the rights or wrongs of supply management,” he said, but warned that with a 150-country position favouring more open markets, a reduction in tariffs would be likely.

Moreover, tight controls work both ways, he later pointed out, noting world dairy prices have gone from 25 cents U.S. a litre to 30-40 (cents) and “they (Canadian producers) can’t export,” explaining other countries have “kicked” them out of their markets because of supply management.

Mostly, however, Polson used a soft sell approach to drum up interest in what farming might look like without government subsidization while at the recent Innovative Farmers Association of Ontario conference.

He described a major transition in New Zealand’s agricultural sector in the mid-1980s that did away with government supports for farming.

Previously, “there were subsidies on just about everything,” he said, estimating about 50 per cent of the average farmer’s income came from this source. Other reforms in the agricultural sector included privatizing the advisory sector and introducing a cost recovery program for government services such as meat inspections. The government remains responsible for legislative framework and some basic research.

“It was a difficult time,” Polson said, identifying one of the toughest aspects of the period as a sense of urgency many farmers felt. People “felt they had to think of everything (concerning the transition) right away.”

Farms were lost but as the reforms were introduced, other costs, such as those for inputs also came down. Over the next few years a new focus on finding and serving niche markets breathed new life into the country’s agricultural sector.

Today, agriculture is thriving, he said, noting it counted for 17 per cent of New Zealand’s gross national product with most of the emphasis being on export.

Major products include dairy products, kiwifruit, sheep, wool and beef. Diversification into ventures such as vineyards, olive orchards, honey, hunting, fishing and adventure tourism is also growing.

On-farm, there have been significant improvements in terms of production, which he related to nutrition, breeding and pasture management innovations.

Despite some recent hard times, Polson said few producers would want to return to the subsidy arrangements of the 1970s and early 1980s.

“We feel we have a strong future,” he said. BF

Current Issue

April 2025

Better Farming Magazine

Farms.com Breaking News

New Alcohol Trade Freedom in Ontario

Thursday, April 17, 2025

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) has welcomed Ontario’s bold step in eliminating trade barriers and allowing direct alcohol sales to consumers. This new legislation aims to ease internal trade across provinces and support small businesses. One of the key changes... Read this article online

New board members for Ontario Pork

Wednesday, April 16, 2025

Ontario Pork, an association representing the 1,898 pork farms that market 5.9 million hogs in the province, has announced its new board lineup for 2025. As a Guelph, Ontario-headquartered organization, Ontario Pork is engaged in the areas of research, government representation,... Read this article online

You know you want it…

Monday, April 14, 2025

On April 28, 2025, Aumann Auctions, Inc. is set to auction what is being called the GOAT (greatest of all time) John Deere sign of all time. This recently discovered will be one of the featured highlights of the . See... Read this article online

Health Fair Supports Migrant Workers

Monday, April 14, 2025

A community-driven Health and Information Fair dedicated to supporting migrant and temporary foreign workers was recently held in Leamington, Ontario. Organized by the Migrant Workers Community Program (MWCP), the event took place at the Roma Club on April 13th and welcomed hundreds of... Read this article online

BF logo

It's farming. And it's better.

 

a Farms.com Company

Subscriptions

Subscriber inquiries, change of address, or USA and international orders, please email: subscriptions@betterfarming.com or call 888-248-4893 x 281.


Article Ideas & Media Releases

Have a story idea or media release? If you want coverage of an ag issue, trend, or company news, please email us.

Follow us on Social Media

 

Sign up to a Farms.com Newsletter

 

DisclaimerPrivacy Policy2025 ©AgMedia Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Back To Top