Got an updated version of the NFU "Free trade: Is it working for farmers?" flyer first released 2002. It explains many of the things we see happening in our rural communities.
Comparing 1988 to 2010:
Exports have tripled,
Farm Debt has tripled,
Realized net farm income for Canada's farmers has dropped from $3.9 billion to a forecast $0.3 billion in 2010. The latter figure after taxpayer funded support payments of $3.8 billion are factored in.
Canada has lost 80,000 farms since 1988, we now have 70% less farmers under 35, the number of hog farms has dropped 80%.
Retail prices have risen - ground beef and bread both more than doubled yet feeder calves are at the same price, culls cows 14% cheaper and wheat 20% cheaper.
Farm input costs have doubled, tripled or more for most inputs.
Corporate concentration and market power has risen yet the wages paid to those working in the agri-food processing sector have dropped considerably.
The conclusion is clear - Trade agreements have given global companies enormous market power to increase profits by raising farmer input costs while lowering farm product prices. The result is increased profitability of multinational corporations at the expense of Canadian farmers.
So much for free trade - and yet the buzz words of our politicians and most commodity groups are "increasing market access" as a means to improve producers bottom line. And the definition of insanity is.....?
Comparing 1988 to 2010:
Exports have tripled,
Farm Debt has tripled,
Realized net farm income for Canada's farmers has dropped from $3.9 billion to a forecast $0.3 billion in 2010. The latter figure after taxpayer funded support payments of $3.8 billion are factored in.
Canada has lost 80,000 farms since 1988, we now have 70% less farmers under 35, the number of hog farms has dropped 80%.
Retail prices have risen - ground beef and bread both more than doubled yet feeder calves are at the same price, culls cows 14% cheaper and wheat 20% cheaper.
Farm input costs have doubled, tripled or more for most inputs.
Corporate concentration and market power has risen yet the wages paid to those working in the agri-food processing sector have dropped considerably.
The conclusion is clear - Trade agreements have given global companies enormous market power to increase profits by raising farmer input costs while lowering farm product prices. The result is increased profitability of multinational corporations at the expense of Canadian farmers.
So much for free trade - and yet the buzz words of our politicians and most commodity groups are "increasing market access" as a means to improve producers bottom line. And the definition of insanity is.....?
Comment