The numbers are surprising

[GOODRUM]

https://www.thechronicleherald.ca/business/local-business/the-danger-of-expecting-a-miracle-447600/

[TOM4CWB]

https://www.thechronicleherald.ca/business/local-business/the-danger-of-expecting-a-miracle-447600/

Dear Goodrum;

Actually... the Canadian Government response to Covid-19 Pandemic damage... to our food supply.... is both insulting and show a frightening lack of leadership in Ottawa:

After Ottawa is spending over $250B on Covid-19... $2.5B was not unreasonable to help Agriculture through the Pandemic. $252M for a Federal Government response for our food supply...is a 10% down payment on preventing a disaster that will hurt all Canadians... and threaten the Global food supply as we knew it.
SYLVAIN CHARLEBOIS: The danger of expecting a miracle
Sylvain Charlebois
Published: May 08 at 3:03 p.m.
Updated: May 08 at 3:17 p.m.
The Chronicle Herald:
"The Canadian Federation of Agriculture really set the bar high with its $2.6 billion ask last week. With the government's response of a program barely worth $252 million, the disappointment felt throughout the farming community was not surprising. Funds were indeed underwhelming, and it will not be enough to get some of those on the precipice to stick around. Many will exit the industry, regrettably. Before the announcement, we were expecting to lose as many as 15 per cent of our farms due to COVID-19, and Ottawa’s plans will not change that.
The $125-million program to support livestock raises a variety of questions. Executing the program will take time, something producers do not have. Few details were given about the role of provinces, or how much farmers will receive. Measures presented will likely not prevent more animals from being euthanized in days to come and killing farm animals for no reason is never a good thing. Along with the milk dumping, COVID-19 is clearly serving up animal activists many great case studies on a silver platter. Such a shame for our farmers.
Losing farms will not compromise our nation’s food security, obviously. Farmland never disappears as it can always be exploited by someone else, but the most significant concern is how we create jobs and wealth in rural economies located far from urban centres. This should be a priority for Ottawa. Occupying our vast nation’s topography should be top of mind, from coast, to coast, to coast. Ottawa rarely bothered to show any evidence that it cared about rural communities – or agriculture, for that matter – but it should before it’s too late.
The response from Ottawa regarding help for agriculture was unsurprisingly slow as well. In the United States and Europe, most governments provided financial aid directly to farmers weeks ago so they can deal with the aftermath of CODIV-19. In the United States, every American is providing $86 in support for agriculture by way of government-sanctioned programs. In Europe, it is over $90 per capita. Each Canadian is giving $6 to support agriculture. Six tiny dollars. Farmers have every right to be disappointed. Trudeau mentioned that this was a first step. Let us hope it is, for the sake of the sector.
There were interesting elements to the plan and Ottawa should be credited for these. The recognition that the Canadian Dairy Commission is the ideal agent for dealing with the surplus was the right decision. The $100-million credit was given to the Crown corporation responsible for making sure that milk surpluses are managed properly. This was a very good decision.
..."https://www.thechronicleherald.ca/…/the-danger-of-expectin…/

[GOODRUM]

United States and Europe, most governments provided financial aid directly to farmers weeks ago so they can deal with the aftermath of CODIV-19. In the United States, every American is providing $86 in support for agriculture by way of government-sanctioned programs. In Europe, it is over $90 per capita. Each Canadian is giving $6 to support agriculture. Six tiny dollars. Farmers have every right to be disappointed. Trudeau mentioned that this was a first step. Let us hope it is, for the sake of the sector.

These are the numbers surprising,

[bucket]

The problem is most canadians don't see the value of agriculture to the economy...

In other countries ...the population eat the produce...we export more than we consume and as long as their is food on the shelves Canadians don't care...until they go hungry.....then its too late....

There is also the fact that someone will always farm the land in Canada because the policy at FCC is to make larger farms...

[hobbyfrmr]

The problem is most canadians don't see the value of agriculture to the economy...

In other countries ...the population eat the produce...we export more than we consume and as long as their is food on the shelves Canadians don't care...until they go hungry.....then its too late....

There is also the fact that someone will always farm the land in Canada because the policy at FCC is to make larger farms...

Precisely.

[FarmJunkie]

Right on Bucket. I’ve been saying it for years. Don’t plant a crop and see if the city folk notice. Most probably won’t care but they will eventually. Trouble is most farmers drank the koolaid and gotta pay the leases and mortgages that are 4-5 times bigger than 15 years ago. Necks in the noose.

[bucket]

If we had real leadership in the farm community ...the drills would be parked until farmers seen the same adhocs that every other industry and other countries' farmers have seen.