The federal election has been the focus for the last several weeks. We have been trying to bring agriculture to the forefront locally and nationwide. As you know, agriculture has been ignored over the years in this regard. This year, many initiatives pushed forward the low farm income problem to the candidates, making them aware of the crisis in agriculture.
Many meetings were held due to the campaign by politicians, obviously to obtain votes but also an opportunity for farmers to voice their concerns to the various parties involved.
- Locally a successful farm rally was held in Wallaceburg which included tractors and a speaking program.
- Later in December, National leaders came out and spoke with farmers trying to sway the rural ridings.
A local agribusiness organized a meeting with candidates of two ridings to inform them of the issues in agriculture in our area. LFA sponsored a meeting in each of the Lambton ridings (Sarnia-Lambton and Lambton-Kent-Middlesex) to give the parties a chance to meet the producers in the area and for the farmers to question them.
Both these meetings were successful with many questions relating to the Risk Management Program being proposed here in Ontario.
Thus, it has been an eventful beginning to my tenure as president. The phone has been ringing with meeting after meeting to attend on your behalf.
On to the next project, we are involved in organizing a county map which would promote local farm markets and direct farm sales at the retail level. If this is your business, please come out and be part of this initiative.
Remember farming is all about optimism.
Sincerely,
~Debbie Coke~
President, Lambton Federation of Agriculture