(Twitter/@cfibsk)

By Alice McFarlane

Agriculture Ministers Meet

Several issues for ag ministers to address in Ottawa

Dec 16, 2019 | 5:07 PM

A new poll conducted by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) said farming is among the most respected professions in Canada.

CFIB vice president of western Canada and agri-business Marilynn Braun-Pollon said despite the results, farmers face signficant challenges this winter and tomorrow’s federal, provincial and territorial agriculture ministers meeting needs to address several of these concerns.

“We certainly need the ag ministers to be discussing policies that help improve the bottom line of our producers,” she said. “We hear a lot about the carbon tax and when farmers had been impacted by trade disputes and delayed harvest and now significant cost of drying their grain, the last thing they need are additional costs.”

Braun-Pollon said she is aware fuel for on-farm use is exempted under the federal backstop but the significant cost of the carbon tax is having a major impact on the bottom line of producers.

“We’re asking and recommending that exemptions for farmers should be extended to include natural gas and propane that is used for drying grain, but also heating poultry and dairy facilities,” she said. “Seventy-seven per cent of farmers said that they will not be able to pass on any additional costs from the carbon tax to their customers.”

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Braun-Pollon said other issues that need to be addressed are trade of agricultural goods and ways to improve market access for Canadian ag products.

“We’re pleased to see market access restored for pork and beef with China. We need to remain diligent and continue the work to open up the Chinese market for Canadian canola, but also work to expand new markets for canola and all other ag commodities, pulses and soybeans,” she said.

Braun-Pollon said governments must continuing to reduce the burden of red tape on farmers so they have more time to grow and expand their business.

“Saskatchewan has done a very good job of reducing red tape and have introduced a number of measures that have improved the bottom line of, not only farmers, but also small business owners,” she said. “But I think, federally, there’s just a lot of extra red tape that is unnecessary red tape. So, that’s an issue that we’d like them to look at.”

Succession continues to be a challenge. Braun-Pollon encouraged the federal government to make it easier for producers to transfer or sell family farms to family members or others.

“We have a good chunk of our members that are planning to retire and transferring or selling their business to a family member. And right now, the unfair tax rules are making it really tough for for maintaining the family farms.”

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alice.mcfarlane@jpbg

On Twitter: @AliceMcF