MINIOTA, Man. – Tim Flannery shakes his head and scoffs at the latest farm income forecast out of Ottawa.
The forecast predicts a rise in farm income across the Prairies in the 2000 calendar year.
Flannery, who farms in western Manitoba, wonders how that prediction can be right.
“I don’t know where they get these statistics from,” he said while threading some twine through his round baler.
“We’re living from day to day here. It’s as nerve-wracking as hell.”
Agriculture Canada last week predicted farm incomes will rise this year because of cattle and hogs, the supply-managed sectors and direct government payments to farmers.
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The realized net farm income in Alberta will be more than three times what it was last year, according to Agriculture Canada. The realized net income for Manitoba and Saskat-chewan farmers will double.
Realized net income includes payments received by producers minus farm expenses paid in the same year. Depreciation is taken into account.
Direct government payments will stand out among the income gains made by Saskatchewan farmers, according to the federal department.
With more than $1 billion in direct payments going to Saskatchewan this year, a senior economist with Agriculture Canada extended a pat on the back to his boss, federal agriculture minister Lyle Vanclief.
Randy Kroeker said the 2000 farm income forecast shows that government support to farmers is going where it’s needed most.
“The minister went to bat and literally saved the day for farmers,” Kroeker said.
Again Flannery scoffed.
He had $5,000 in taxable income last year, he said. He expects this year’s bottom line to be much the same.
He did not qualify for the Agricultural Income Disaster Assistance program in 1999. Nor did he draw from the Net Income Stabilization Account.
Even with dairy cattle, beef cattle and 1,100 acres of grain and canola, he wonders whether farming is a career his sons should pursue.
“It’s totally a disease as far as I’m concerned. It’s like drinking. It’s something you get into and you’re too stubborn to quit.”
Moosomin, Sask., farmer Peter McMullen hopes the farm income forecast holds true. At the same time, he shares Flannery’s skepticism.
McMullen grows mainly grain and keeps a small herd of cattle. He and his wife work off the farm for added income.
“I’m going to lose money again this year (on farming),” he said. “I know it.
“Why do I farm? Just because I’ve always done it. I’ve just grown up with it. But I hate working for nothing. Something will have to change.”
