April 24, 2015
Bev Shipley
Lambton – Middlesex – Kent
Patricia Davidson
Sarnia-Lambton
Dear Mr. Shipley,
On behalf of the Lambton Federation of Agriculture I extend thanks to you for meeting with me and fellow Ontario farmers to discuss our key issues and concerns.
As we approach the next federal election farmers will increasingly engage with you and look for a commitment to the policies that will enable our farm businesses to grow and prosper. Your interest in these issues is very much appreciated.
Our group of farmers visited Parliament Hill to discuss a number of key issues necessary for Ontario agriculture to continue serving as a key economic driver in the province. Our safe and nutritious food supply is not only critical to our health but also our economic well-being. The policies we advocate for will enable farmers to sustain viable farming businesses, providing economic stimulus in Ontario.
In today’s fast paced and competitive marketplace, rural Ontario counts on a strong federal contribution to rural infrastructure. This includes the traditional roads and bridges capable of handling farm implements and of transporting our inputs and outputs to market.
Increasingly, infrastructure needs include access to high speed internet to support our businesses and our communities. Small farming businesses cannot survive today without access to the web for agronomic knowledge, market information, sales and a host of other activities. Rural families and communities also need access to keep and attract businesses and families.
It has also been determined that development of a natural gas pipeline network across rural Ontario, as part of an infrastructure investment, could be the greatest single rural investment governments could make. Access for just 60% of rural residents and businesses could free over $600 million in new disposable income. It would spur new investment in rural businesses, reduce green house gases and stimulate the development of an Ontario biofuels industry.
To recap, the policies we spoke of included the need for improved business risk management programs, developed in close consultation with farmers. The current suite of program has been reduced to the point of ineffectually managing risk in the current period of low commodity prices. We require more responsive and more predictable programs that will support farmers in a volatile market.
We note that, there is a need for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada to reinvest in and rebuild the agricultural research program. Total spending has gone from $2.6 billion in fiscal 2009 to planned spending of $2.28 billion in both 2014 and 2015. On an inflation adjusted basis this is a decline of about 24% in real spending.
Public investment in agricultural research has a long history of paying dividends. To secure our competitiveness, innovating to capture more domestic and global markets and to sustain our environment while increasing productivity requires a world class research program. We need to immediately begin the rebuilding process.
In our subsequent discussion, we also touched on the increasing number of retiring scientists at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the high cost of renting land, input costs in relation to commodity prices and the need for additional leadership courses in the agricultural community.
Again, we thank you for your time. We very much appreciate your interest in our industry and interest in working with us to ensure a competitive and sustainable food industry across Ontario and our country.
Sincerely,
~Dave Ferguson~
President, Lambton Federation of Agriculture