In the aftermath of the shift from the Progressive Conservatives to the NDP as the party in power in Alberta, speculation was widespread about who among the new caucus had the background to lead the agriculture industry through the transition and into the future.
Many also foretold changes among the public servants charged with shaping agriculture policy for the past number of years.
The appointment of Oneil Carlier as minister of agriculture and forestry has brought clarity on both fronts. Saskatchewan farm-raised, with extensive experience as a geotechnical technician with Agriculture Canada and a regional representative for the Public Service Alliance of Canada, minister Carlier has stated that his department will remain intact.
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With grain prices depressed, returns per acre are looking dismal on all the major crops with some significantly worse than others.
While stability is welcome, minister Carlier also needs to remain open to making changes and taking advantage of opportunities to move the industry forward.
Agriculture has had some good years, but issues do exist.
Producers are worried that significant rainfall events (drought or deluge, depending on Mother Nature’s whims) and late frosts will threaten both pasture and crop production this year.
Rail transportation still has service shortfalls, consolidation continues on both the supply and marketing sides of production, commitment to publicly funded research has waned, non-producer ownership of farmland has increased and supply-managed industries may be in jeopardy in Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations. As issues that transcend Alberta boundaries, AFA continues to advocate on these concerns with other provincial general farm organizations through our membership in the Canadian Federation of Agriculture.
We applaud the NDP agriculture platform that emphasizes diversification, including value-added agriculture, food processing, alternative energy and small Alberta brewing.
In seeking opportunities to diversify, minister Carlier may want to consider restoring the $200 million Agriculture and Food Innovation Endowment announced to great fanfare in the spring of 2014 by the Conservative government with the statement “innovation and diversification are essential to ensuring the long-term sustainability and competitiveness of our agriculture industry.”
Sadly, before the year was through it appeared those qualities were no longer essential; the endowment was quietly eliminated.
On the energy front, our members have expressed concern about the current 8.75 percent guaranteed rate of return granted to electrical distribution and transmission utilities. They would like to see a requirement for a needs assessment, at developers’ cost, before new wind turbine licences are granted to ensure the additional generation capacity is needed at that specific site and the additional electrical system reinforcement costs are justified.
Our members would like rule changes that allow micro-electrical generators to produce energy unlimited by the single site generation cap with the ability to sell into the grid at cost effective rates.
We hope the new government will tackle these concerns as their mandate progresses.
Minister Carlier has indicated that mandatory farm worker insurance coverage — either WCB or other insurance programs — is not at the top of his agenda.
Only time will tell. In the interim, recognition seems to be growing among producers that it is only a matter of time, the argument being that farm worker insurance not only provides for ongoing remuneration and medical coverage for injured employees, but may negate the right of employees to litigate against the employer.
This is an immense benefit: lengthy litigation can cripple a farm operation. Farm worker insurance thus becomes a valid business risk management tool as well as being morally admirable.
These diverse issues are the tip of a very large iceberg of agricultural concerns which minister Carlier will need to address. AFA looks to assist by continuing to present our members’ views in an unbiased and non-partisan manner.
A moment of opportunity for agriculture? Absolutely.
Lynne Jacobson is the president of the Alberta Federation of Agriculture.
