Agriculture leaders hope more stable funding could strengthen the industry’s voice
Alberta’s new NDP government may be the catalyst for uniting the province’s fractured agriculture industry, says the chair of the Alberta Federation of Agriculture.
For years, the general farm organization has asked agriculture ministers for stable funding, but it was always rejected, said Lynn Jacobson.
Jacobson hopes a new government will provide that funding and allow a united farm organization to thrive in Alberta.
“I think the opportunity is there,” said Jacobson, who is concerned about the fragmentation of agriculture in Alberta.
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“Let the commissions concentrate on their areas of expertise of marketing and research and development, and the other things belong to a general farm organization.”
Canola and wheat commissions shouldn’t be expected to spend their time lobbying politicians, he added.
Jacobson said it wasn’t uncommon for previous agriculture ministers to meet with 16 farm organizations in a week, each of them ex-pressing different and sometimes conflicting opinions.
The government picked its favourite agriculture industry to the detriment of others, said Jacobson.
With agriculture united under one umbrella, like the Keystone Agricultural Producers in Manitoba, there would be greater ability to bring forward an agenda that would benefit the entire agriculture community.
There was little mention of agriculture in the election campaign by any political party, so Jacobson said it’s time to meet with government and bring forth an agriculture agenda that recognizes its place in economic diversification.
Doug Scott, Alberta regional co-ordinator of the National Farmers Union, said he was thrilled with the election outcome.
“I thought it was wonderful. It was time in Alberta politics when we needed a change,” said the Waskatenau farmer. “It’s a diverse group, a young group.”
Scott said it will take everyone time to digest the changes and premier Rachel Notley will not likely make any radical changes.
“Agriculture is a very complicated business and a complicated portfolio. I hope Rachel Notley looks to a broad base for information,” said Scott.
He said he hopes the new agriculture minister will look beyond a select group of commodity groups for advice.
“I am hoping we will see more broad consultation and less partisanship,” he said.
“The Alberta Wheat Commission has become a resting home for the people who wanted to destroy the wheat board and were given patronage appointments.”
Scott is opposed to creating a single general farm organization. He thinks Alberta should use Ontario’s model, where all farmers must belong to a farm organization but have a choice regarding which one: Ontario Federation of Agriculture, the Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario or the NFU.
Al Kemmere, president of the Alberta Association of Municipal Districts and Counties, said he was surprised by the election results.
“We now have a new party at the table and we will do our best to bring our perspective forward. We will have to build a relationship,” said Kemmere.
The association wants to meet with the premier and cabinet to explain the rural perspective and get an understanding of the government’s perspective.
“They have a lot of people with strong abilities to lean on. It’s up to us as an agriculture industry to engage them and bring them up to speed on agriculture.”
The organization has always worked closely with the PC government, and Kemmere said he sees this as a fresh start.
“We’re starting from ground zero, and we will have to build relationships. It will take time on both sides.”
