Ag Ministers Seal Your Doom

[perfecho]

do believe the ultimate problem is that government’s mandate cheap food, and farmers want/deserve a standard of living comparable to their peers. There have been many policies and allowances of letting offshore products in when certain prices get too high domestically.
The powers to be would rather pay out subsidies than have the masses vote them out due to high food prices. Have been in different meetings with gov officials, and although not official, they do mention a low food cost policy.

[ASRG]

mbratrud: That seems to be the program for a lot of guys on here?
Not knocking the guys who want to go back to a simpler way of life, but some of these guys are over 80 years old and they are going to keep farming....no matter what....until they are dead!

[fjlip]

Father-in-law did just that, died baling straw.
He loved what he did for 80 years, wanted to go with his boots on.

[Choice2U]

I've always wondered what policies governments have that result in the "cheap" food policy that some people talk about. Could someone please elaborate on this as the policies I see are free trade and the inverse, protecting supply management which is as far from being a cheap food policy as you can get.

[perfecho]

Free trade, financially helping the imports of Irish cattle in the 70's, lowering standards on corn imports when barley hit $3/bus, CWB. AFSC. FCC, Growing Forward, Agristability,,,,when the big push was on to diversify into tourism, etc.....because farmers, in many cases, couldn't make it farming!

[mbratrud]

I know ASRG, my comments are very
tounge and cheek.

[charliep]

One thing I will highlight is some of the comments about livestock and grain price insurance programs and potential to provide coverage in this area. Alberta has lead the way with CPIP (cattle price insurance program) and HPIP (hog price insurance). Livestock guys will comment on their experience. Alberta has the Spring Price Endorsement which has some flaws (time between when coverage prices are established, premiums are calculated and farmer participation decisions are made) but has potential to be modified similar to the livestock products.

An area I would follow and if you support, provide input to your provincial governments.

[ASRG]

Charlie: The so called "cattle insurance program" for cow/calf producers was a complete joke? The banks who had guys by the balls were all for it but in reality it was a complete joke?
Like 30 cents below the market? Yea....good deal....pay the premium so you can get the shaft! Waste of time....idiot government program...for the bankers!

[Choice2U]

I don't perceive free trade or lowering limits on corn as a cheap food policy. How can you say that opening up your markets to the world is a "cheap" food policy. It is good business to have open borders with the world. The alternative is closed borders, less trade, less farmers but the handful left are more profitable and I would agree that this could be called a "expensive" food policy. I don't see how Agstability, FCC, etc are resulting in a cheap food policy...maybe a higher taxation policy.

[perfecho]

The FCC, etc., were set up because farmers couldn’t get money in the real world.....their cash flow would not support it.

[Choice2U]

I agree with you but still don't understand how it results in a cheap food policy?

[perfecho]

Virtually a subsidy....if the real markets were allowed; there would be many who could not operate, eventually causing a rise in prices.
One I personally dealt with and the Nexen bid reminded me of it, I am not allowed to sell my land to a developer if it has been designated as good farm land. If we truly had a "market" system, I should be able to sell to the highest bidder, or at least have the same amount of dollars in lieu of, however that is not the case. Farmland is protected, decreasing the value in comparison to development land or rec land. Realistically, if food was that important or valuable, it should command a higher value, and be allowed to compete. That is not the case; we have to protect it.....a policy.
(PS, I am not in favor of not being in control of our natural resources, Nexen just reminded me.)