by BETTER FARMING STAFF
Canadian provincial, territorial and federal agriculture ministers have set September as the deadline to sign on to a new agricultural policy framework scheduled to take effect April 2013.
But federal agriculture minister Gerry Ritz has quashed any lingering hopes that the new framework would contain federal support for Ontario’s industry developed risk management program.
Speaking to media Friday following the ministers’ meeting in Gatineau Quebec, Ritz explained that Canada’s neighbours to the south have warned the country could face trade challenges because of the program. The program uses provincial and producer contributions to provide protection from market downturns. It applies to several livestock commodities as well as to grains and oilseeds and horticulture.
The National Pork Producers Council recently used the provincial program to exemplify what it described as Canadian “trade-distorting federal and provincial programs” in an open letter to members of the U.S. Congress. The March 26 letter cites research that suggests the program would increase Ontario hog production by 600,000 pigs, which in turn would displace production elsewhere in Canada and North America, “likely reducing U.S. pork exports.”
The provincial government introduced the program last year with the goal of obtaining federal buy-in. However, in March, Ted McMeekin, the province’s agriculture minister, said they had abandoned that goal and planned to rework the program. Changes would take effect in the next fiscal year. The program remains the same for this fiscal year (2012-2013).
Ritz noted the new national policy framework will place greater emphasis on science, research and innovation. Speaking in the context of past support programs, he observed farmers should look to the "marketplace" rather than the "mailbox." Farmers currently enjoy good production levels and cost returns, he said. He later noted an approach to the policy's business risk programming had not been finalized.
“Just as farmers constantly adjust their farm practices to suit changing market or weather conditions, so too must governments review and adapt programs so they continue to support the evolving needs of the industry,” he said.
Securing access to international markets also continues to be a priority. At the same time, the government remains “steadfast” in maintaining its supply-managed industries, he said.
The ministers meet again September 12 to 14 in Whitehorse, Yukon. BF
Comments
And supply management continues,. young farmers are screwed, pension aged farmers have got greedy. politics is distroying Canada
Its not just the milk , its also the egg ,chicken and turkey. The farmers out there doesn,t matter how old is very greedy and will do anything to try and control whatever they are into. Its time the goverment gets back to family farms not families farm or industry farms.
Farmers are finally speaking out that they need a price for their product that covers their expenses just like any other business. Pitting the young against the old is a divide and conquer technique that's been successful too often.
All farmers should fight for their rights.
I do not want pickles from India, strawberries from Mexico, etc. but would like
continue to have more choices for local products when in season.
While Ritz touts the "marketplace" over the "mailbox", he steadfastly refuses to admit that both ethanol and supply management have absolutely nothing to do with any sort of open marketplace, but have absolutely everything to do with the "mailbox". Stephen Thompson, Clinton ON
Glad to see some good posts on this subject
RMP was doomed from day one, no matter if the theory was flawed and wrong as Stephen talks, the farm leaders of grain allowed it to be screwed up from day one. All you have to do is look back to see the flaws of leadership and look forward to more the same. We have big problems and politics , farmer personal greed is screwing the next generation farmer. The next generation farmer has a potential problem of following present farmer greed.
Couple civil servant employment tenure protection, MPPs married to party politics building poor legislation and reglations, with greedy middle age farmers in control of self serving farm organizations and you have a reciept for continued failure. It is time to wake up.
I hope BF does not consider this a cheap shoot but would be proactive on stories to cheak some injustice
Its not just the middle age farmers that are greedy. There is just as many young or old farmers out there ,that is as greedy.
There has been greed around for as long as we been around.The only different with the farmers that are left is there are not as many so its easier to notice.
Post new comment