Our farmers are in need of support

Last week, tractors, tractor-trailers, farmers and media converged on Guelph for what I count as the seventh large farm protest in the last 12 months to wake this government from its practice of rural neglect and deal with the farm crises right outside its door.

As farm frustration grows across Ontario, it’s high time for the provincial government to step up to the plate for agriculture with more than just lip-service legislation.

I found it ironic that as farmers gather for rural rallies demanding government action, the Liberal government introduced a Private Members Bill to, “celebrate and recognize rural Ontario”. Quite simply, thanks to government neglect and lacking farm support, there is little to celebrate. Instead of introducing another designated agriculture day, the government might want to first begin to recognize and act on the rural Ontario problems they’ve been ignoring since they came to office.

One year, seven tractor rallies and zero action – quite simply, for farmers and rural Ontarians, it just doesn’t add up.

Our friends and neighbours have been pushed to the edge of bankruptcy – in fact a large number have gone under already. Nearly all agriculture sectors are in crisis – cash crop, beef, tobacco, horticulture, cull-cow, dairy heifer exports, deer and elk and even beekeepers.

As Agriculture Critic for the Official Opposition, I question the Agriculture Minister regularly on a need for action. Minister Dombrowsky has acknowledged there is a problem, and yet we have not seen a solution. In fact, during an Estimates Committee meeting in October the minister stated, “CAIS (the Canadian Agricultural Income Stabilization Program) has not worked well for grains and oilseeds.”

That statement was made five months ago and yet the only thing we’ve seen is an Act to celebrate and recognize Rural Ontario.

What Ontario’s farmers need is not another day – in addition to agriculture week and other related days - to celebrate rural Ontario. What they need is financial assistance. I have yet to see a sign at one of these farm rallies asking for a designated day - they are asking for equity with US farmers. They are holding signs that say “Farmers Feed Cities”; in fact I saw a huge tanker truck with “Equity with US Farmers” painted on both sides.

US farmers are currently receiving $123 an acre for their corn – a local farmer told me he got $7 an acre. How do farmers in Ontario compete on the Chicago market? It’s like sending David to Goliath without a slingshot. US farmers have had their best three years in 2003-2005. Ontario farmers had their worst three years.

Farmers and agribusiness don’t want to keep holding rallies, yet there is no alternative. While we have seen two recent federal announcements of support for Grain and Oilseeds, we have seen nothing from the provincial government. How many more rallies must they organize before something is done?

The line in the sand grows deeper each day this government fails to act. Farmers at the rally laid out an ultimatum. They want a risk management program by March 9.

One year, seven tractor rallies and zero action – quite simply, for farmers and rural Ontarians, it just doesn’t add up.