The family farm
Published March 26, 2010
It seems that the only constant is that things will change. During the 'Bear Pit’ session at the recent Alberta Association of Municipal Districts and Counties (AAMD&C) Convention, Premier Ed Stelmach was asked by a delegate what he was going to do to protect the family farm?
The family farm many people dream of is the farm of the 1950's where you could survive on a quarter section, have a few head of cattle, maybe some chickens and a couple of hogs and that would feed the family and keep them on the farm. I would love that fairy tale but, it is a fairy tale.
The wants of the farm family have changed, which are no different from that of any other family. We are no longer satisfied with one phone in a home or one television. The price of land is well beyond the $1000 an acre range. Farming today is a business. Margins are tight and you need volume to make a living. No longer can someone decide to milk a cow and sell the milk to their neighbours, sell their wheat to a local bakery or survive by raising and selling a few animals let alone support an entire family.
It's always easy to say that's the way we would like things to be - to have things remain the same but that's not reality. The consumer, not the government, should dictate what a farmer produces and how it is produced and unless the consumer is willing to pay substantially more for his food, the family farm must change. No longer do you see ‘Mom and Pop’ convenience stores. Instead we have supermarkets and big box stores. To think that farms that have to deal with skyrocketing land prices and quota systems can remain as small family farms and survive is absurd!
The family farm has become a hobby. Just like the supermarket, the farm must become a corporate entity to meet the demands of the public. The question should be "how do we attract and retain young people as farmers?" Certainly they must love the lifestyle but they also have to be able to make a living at farming. The Premier, through his response, demonstrated that he is very aware of the reality of farming.
The 'Bear Pit' session provides delegates with the opportunity to ask cabinet ministers questions and to expect answers to questions on current issues. Councillor Wlodarzak used the session to ask when we could expect the release of the GreenTrip funds. Others took the opportunity to profile issues specific to their municipalities. At times ministers use the session to educate their colleagues and there is no one who does this better, than Minister Iris Evans. Having delegates raise their hands to see who would be interested in reaching alternative markets by registering their products she not only presented an idea, she was able to let all other ministers see that she had overwhelming support for such a concept. Whatever the question(s) the ‘Bear Pit’ session not only provides food for thought, it often leads to action which in turn can lead to change. It's often the highlight of any conference.
Jacquie Fenske
Councillor, Ward 5
780-464-8147
fenske@strathcona.ab.ca
Last updated: Friday, April 09, 2010
Page ID: 5407