New farm aid program

[grassfarmer]

Yep, just another subsidy for Alberta producers.

[grassfarmer]

Although just having looked at the program details I guess I won't qualify. "Based on the 2004 claim year, reference margins will be increased by 25 per cent of the fuel and fertilizer costs and there will be a general reference margin increase of 15 per cent." How many people will qualify for any assistance?

[coppertop]

AAFRD is saying that 20,000 will qualify.

[cowman]

The fact is all these "ad hoc" programs are literally a joke?
The fact is we just can't get enough out of the market to justify continueing in agriculture?
Look at it this way: In 1973 my Dad had 640 acres/mixed farm and he made a very decent living? Cattle and grain? Fast forward 29 years. 1280 acres and the darned place can hardly pay the bills!
Actually we don't live a lot better, at least on the farm income!
Maybe I just don't see it right or something...but things just don't add up?
My son has this idea of being(someday) an independent, stay at home farmer, by GOD)...personally I think he is nuts? But then maybe that is just me? I never was to cozy with the idea that I was supposed to work for free! My own personal philosophy is let the city slickers starve if that is their choice?
We bought another quarter this year. The price was completely retarded...unless you looked ahead to what it would be worth in the future? How can anyone justify $480K...unlees you sell it at a profit?
But...it was a sweet piece of land adjacent to us...and who knows what kind of dipstick we might have had for a neighbor? And no, I didn't have the cash to buy it! We had a healthy down payment but sure needed to borrow a few shekels!
Of course...to use it we need to buy more cattle. We are working on a deal for some really impressive purebred Angus cattle...but Oh the price!
Maybe I'm crazy?