CALGARY – Alberta cattle producers gave the province’s newest farm safety net program a unanimous thumbs down at last week’s Western Stock Growers’ Association meeting in Calgary.
Even though agriculture minister Walter Paszkowski told them the program is a disaster program and not an income support scheme, the cattle producers wanted none of it. On the final day of their centennial convention, they passed a resolution that said they would accept it only if it was fully producer funded and completely voluntary.
The cattle producers fear trade retaliation from the United States if producers receive money from the program in a year when cattle prices drive their incomes below average. Paszkowski told them as far as he’s concerned the Farm Income Stability Program fits world trade rules. Government representatives are meeting with officials in Geneva and Washington to seek assurances the program won’t be subject to countervail action.
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“From the responses we have received we feel comfortable that (FISP) is acceptable with world trade policy,” he said.
FISP is voluntary. Government help kicks in when total farm income drops below 70 percent of average.
“We feel proud that we are the first province in Canada to come up with a program that meets the criteria and as a result we can be there in cases of wrecks or cases of disaster,” said Paszkowski.
For the stock growers there was general concern about putting taxpayers’ money in a farm program that is estimated to cost about $70 million a year. Paszkowski countered the money is half of what has been spent on government programs in the past.
Paszkowski said any program offered has to be available to all farmers even though Alberta’s cattle producers have said repeatedly they don’t want a program.
It’s also meant to protect Albertans when other provinces institute programs. However, British Columbia Cattlemen’s Association president John Morrison said ranchers in his province receive no government support.
Dennis Laycraft, executive vice president of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association also expressed doubts about the program. He said the program has thrown a wild card into talks with Ottawa over safety nets. Alberta has steadfastly objected to the Net Income Stabilization Account becoming a universal farm program.
