Farmers cynical about when they’ll see money

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Published: June 27, 2002

CARBERRY, Man. – A long shadow trails out behind Don Dickson’s tractor

as he tows his sprayer across a field of wheat.

The sun is sinking and a gentle breeze can barely find the ambition to

take a slow meander across the field.

The warm, lazy summer day has buoyed Dickson’s spirits after a spring

of cold weather, persistent winds and little moisture.

Adding to his enthusiasm for farming is the improved outlook for

oilseed prices and the possibility that grain prices could turn better.

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The federal government’s announcement last week of a $5.2 billion farm

package gives him another reason for hope. But like other prairie

farmers, Dickson wonders how much of that will eventually reach

producers in his region.

“Anything is better than nothing,” he said.

While the funding won’t solve all the problems in farming, Dickson

regards it as a step in the right direction.

At the same time, he hopes the programs that deliver the funding to

farmers are straightforward and will get the money to producers quickly.

His mood darkens briefly when he thinks about the Agricultural Income

Disaster Assistance program, a farm aid program that came packaged with

so much red tape, he didn’t bother applying for it.

He also bristles at the Manitoba government’s reluctance last week to

chip in funding to match support from Ottawa.

“They’ve got as much at stake as the federal government, if not more.

Agriculture is the bread and butter of a lot of communities.”

In Alberta, Kenton Ziegler, a grains and oilseeds producer, was trying

to concentrate on the upside of last week’s announcement, although he

also harbours concerns.

The bridge funding, meant to address some of the most immediate

financial woes in the farming community, was welcome news for the

producer from Beiseker, northeast of Calgary.

“The other option is zero dollars. At least there’s something coming to

the industry.”

He is also grateful that the Alberta government already has said it

will share part of the cost for the funding with the federal

government. Other provinces in Western Canada were holding out last

week.

Ziegler is keen to know how the program delivering the money to farmers

will be designed. At this point, he’s not counting on something that’s

practical.

“The people designing these programs are the same people who designed

the GST and gun control.”

Last week’s announcement also included the federal government’s

commitment to the Agricultural Policy Framework, or APF, which will put

an emphasis on things like food safety, the environment, and science

and innovation.

Ziegler is reserving judgment on the APF until more of the details are

worked out. In the meantime, some of his greatest frustration arises

from events outside Canada, namely the hefty subsidies paid to

producers in the United States and Europe.

“Personally, I’m getting tired of being the target of economic

terrorism.”

In Saskatchewan, last week’s announcement was met with cynicism by

Norbert Gossner, a grains and oilseeds producer near Muenster.

His children have left home to pursue other careers. With roughly $1

million invested in farming, he said he has been barely able to scratch

out a living during the past four years.

“By the time the farmers get something from the government, it will be

next Christmas or later,” he said.

Like Dickson and Ziegler, Gossner wonders how much of the money will

make it to prairie farmers. He figures a good chunk will be spent on

administering the programs.

About the author

Ian Bell

Brandon bureau

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