by SUSAN MANN
If the name of a new Dairy Farmers of Canada website sounds familiar, there’s a reason.
Launched Wednesday, yourmilk.ca is intended to dispel misinformation about Canada’s dairy industry and its successful supply management system, says the national organization’s spokesperson Therese Beaulieu.
The name of the site is deliberately similar to FreeYourMilk.ca, a website operated by one of Canada’s most vocal critics of supply management – the Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association. That way, if people are searching for the association’s site they will find the industry’s site too, Beaulieu explains.
The association launched its site last fall to air concerns about the cost of dairy products and encourage consumers to petition the federal government to change dairy policies.
Dairy Farmers launched its site to respond to criticisms about the supply management system this past fall and to inform new federal government representatives elected in last year’s election. “Now we’re going ahead and being proactive and this website is part of that,” she says.
The website will be updated regularly with videos, commentaries and other content during the year. A feature of the website, “busting myths,” explains Dairy Farmers’ point of view that supply management isn’t stopping Canada from signing trade deals, or help stop foreign trade subsidies.
Beaulieu says there’s space for dairy farmers who want to write letters or blogs. BF
Comments
The length to which Canadian dairy farmers will go to pretend that supply management is not a square peg in a world full of round holes, is simply staggering, and always completely preposterous.
However, the problem supply management dares not address, because like all entities with absolute power, they simply cannot believe anyone would resent their power, is that they are not well-liked by the rest of the farm community, particularly by younger non-supply managed farmers.
No amount of blogs and web-sites can, or will, stem the inevitable tide of demographic changes, already well-underway in the farm community.
Stephen Thompson, Clinton ON
Non-supply managed farmers need to be careful what they wish for.No one knew 40 years ago that quota would be worth what it is today anymore than farm land values.There is very little supply management in our area and we are not involved.When I drive by a chicken or dairy farm I don,t hope for their demise. I think good for them.I wish grandpa had kept cows or chickens.If supply managed farmers can,t buy quota it,s their problem to sort out. If quota is wound down as flue tobacco quota was where do you think the money will go?Straight into land values.We need to stop attacking ourselves over supply management,ethanol,turbines,etc.Be happy with your neighbour,s and your own success.Don,t fall into the trap of the whiner industry. It,s the same people complaining all the time.A young farmer today without family help cannot make any enterprise work.That is not supply management,s fault.
-- DAVE TOWNSEND BLENHEIM
supply managements success has there ever been an unsuccessful monopoly
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