KAP suggests land set-aside

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Published: November 4, 1999

Ian Wishart has an idea that he thinks could put some salve on the wounds of farmers reeling from low commodity prices.

The Portage la Prairie, Man., farmer has suggested taking 20 percent of Manitoba’s grain land out of production.

The idea, presented at a general council meeting of Keystone Agricultural Producers, would see farmers paid an average of $30 for each acre taken out of production. Wishart said such a program could put $45-$55 million into the pockets of producers every year.

“I know it doesn’t address all the hurt in the past,” he said.

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“But it is something that could help in the future.”

Wishart said the acreage set-aside program would create a guaranteed annual income for farmers.

Participation in the program would be voluntary, Wishart said, and producers could alternate which acres are set aside each year.

The fate of the concept hinges partly on whether Ottawa would be willing to help pay for it. If the program went ahead, Wishart would like to see it funded with “new money” and not at the expense of existing safety nets.

Chuck Fossay, a KAP delegate from Starbuck, Man., liked the idea. He believes it would be trade neutral, especially since a similar program exists in the United States.

“It’s very similar to what the Americans have, so they shouldn’t complain.”

Fossay said the program would also benefit wildlife and the environment, which would make it an easier sell to politicians.

Ron Rutherford, a delegate from Melita, Man., thinks an acreage set-aside program would show foreign competitors that Canada is serious about trimming its production of export grains.

A glut of grain on the world market continues to keep wheat prices low. The depressed prices have added to the income crisis sweeping through Western Canada’s farm community this year.

Although the program would see 20 percent of crop land taken out of production, Wishart said it would not translate into a 20 percent drop in Manitoba’s grain production.

Based on the American experience with the Conservation Reserve Program, he estimates it would curb production by only five to eight percent. Farmers would likely choose to set aside their least productive acres.

The proposal would see farmland temporarily idled, but not completely excluded from agricultural use.

Land covered under the program could still be available in years when hay or pasture was scarce, he said, citing a drought year as an example. Limits would be placed on how much haying or grazing was allowed. Farmers using the idled land would see their payments reduced.

At the outset, all farmers would have the option of setting aside 20 percent of their crop land.

If some farmers chose not to participate, their share could be picked up by other producers. That would be especially beneficial to older farmers wanting to scale back their operations, Wishart said.

KAP delegates approved a resolution last week to explore the idea further.

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Ian Bell

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