The National Farmers Union has increased in size for the first time in
20 years.
Stewart Wells, NFU president and a farmer from southwestern
Saskatchewan, said several factors played a role.
“Pressure to leave the farm in the face of globalization. Lack of
representation by governments. Unfair competition by large corporate
farms. Other farm organizations showing their true colours and who they
really represent. All these things and hard work by our membership are
at fault really…. It is an increase in small- and medium-sized
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federal government proposed several months ago to increase the compensation rate from 80 to 90 per cent and double the maximum payment from $3 million to $6 million
farmers choosing to seek representation and a voice.”
Wells and more than 70 other farmers from across Canada met at the
union’s 33rd annual convention in Saskatoon last week to pass
resolutions and elect a new executive.
Fred Tait, an NFU vice-president and Rossendale, Man., farmer, said: “I
guess it is a celebration of sorts, but the increase in members
unfortunately goes against the trend that we’ve followed since the
1970s. Fewer farmers, fewer members. The ones that are left are
starting to realize they have to work together if our families are
going to stay on the land.”
The NFU doesn’t make public its membership numbers, but counts them “in
the thousands, with a modest increase this year,” said Wells.
In Ontario, the membership more than doubled, according to NFU
statements at hearings in that province earlier this year.
The NFU is often seen as the radical left fringe of the rural political
spectrum. Once famous for its demonstrations, protests and farmgate
defences, the group has become low key and policy oriented. Farm groups
on the political right have taken to demonstrations and law breaking to
make themselves heard.
Wells said the NFU has changed over the years and that may have
something to do with its renewed popularity.
“We’re very, very active these days, in a different way,” he said.
Ken Sigurdson, a Swan River, Man., farmer, said many “middle aged and
younger” farmers are considered “too small by government and industry”
but are by far the majority of farmers and represent most of the land.
“For us the NFU is the only farm organization that lobbies on behalf of
our issues so it makes sense to belong.”
But Shannon Storey, a former women’s president of the NFU, said women
members on the board are at a 10-year low and women’s memberships are
slipping, “because, like me they are having to take on off-farm jobs to
keep their farms alive and don’t have time to be involved.”
Saskatchewan agriculture minister Clay Serby congratulated the group in
a speech Nov. 22.
“(You) stand for farm families sharing common goals …. recognizing
that every family member contributes to the farm,” said Serby.
The minister and the NFU agreed on many issues, including the need for
caution about genetically modified wheat and affordable crop insurance
programs.
“You have a voice of reason when it comes to crop insurance … and you
place people at the table with me and others who present a reasoned
approach for long-term sustainable crop insurance programs. Together
we’ve managed to fight others to keep and strengthen crop insurance …
we agree on the need for a strong Canadian Wheat Board and I expect
we’ll both be fighting hard to make sure it is maintained,” said Serby.
Wells challenged Serby to maintain crop insurance.
“Other farm groups … policy groups, they’re fighting to eliminate
crop insurance in favour of entering more trade deals,” Wells said.
Storey echoed other members’ criticism of the province’s initiatives to
expand the intensive livestock industry and said the “poor quality of
jobs it is bringing to rural Canada are hurting local farmers and
families instead of helping them. So poor are these jobs that we have
to bring in people from other countries on temporary permits to do
them.”
Issues such as intensive livestock, agricultural labour rights and the
Kyoto environmental accord brought debate between delegates on and off
the convention floor.
While some members called for improvements to labour legislation in the
areas of safety standards and imported seasonal workers, others said
these items would add costs to their farms.
Similar economic arguments occurred over Kyoto requirements for cuts to
greenhouse gases and the effect it might have on fuel, fertilizer and
other farm inputs.
Mostly the NFU’s resolutions called for federal responsibility for
agricultural support and for methods of maintaining traditionally sized
farms.
Elections returned Wells for another term. Storey stepped aside as
women’s president and was replaced by Cut Knife, Sask., farmer Karen
Pederson, a former youth president. Martha Robbins of Laura, Sask., was
retained as youth president.
