Agriculture Minister John MacDonell believes "Buying Local" will extract more returns from the value chain for Nova Scotia farmers.
MacDonell told the Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture’s annual, after chairing a recent meeting with major retailers to secure more shelf space for local products, he felt they are feeling more pressure to buy local. "They really listen to their customers and their customers are telling them they want to see more high value local food in their establishments."
The minister hoped to continue meeting with retailers—Sobeys, Loblaws and Co-op Atlantic—to keep the lines of communication open to them.
He also saw a need to build capacity for the beef industry and wants to increase access to a federally-inspected kill line for provincial beef. There will be a feasibility study to determine where it might be located and its initial capacity.
MacDonell believed more local sales and slaughtering will restore profitability to the beef industry. He noted his department has committed more than $4.5-million to strategic infrastructure development; it is important to support industry product development.
In response to NS Cattle Producers Chairman Dave Oulton asked about short-term support for the beef industry. The minister replied: "I have a template of where I want to go." He expected cabinet would approve or reject his funding request within a few weeks.
Cape Breton beef farmer Robert Richards, who said he received only 22¢ per pound for a healthy, late-born calf, insisted, "Short-term help has to come to the beef industry, otherwise there will be no industry to sustain."
MacDonell said something is coming "but I can’t guaranteed they (producers) will be bouncing for joy on their verandas."
NSCP Vice-Chairman John Tilley countered that millions of government dollars can be found for stimulus and subsidization for infrastructure building; "but none of it reaches the farm gate."
The beef industry faces long-term collapse, he said. "I don’t want to feel my issue doesn’t count."
Noting the industry’s strategic plans asks that 25 per cent of the beef consumed in Nova Scotia be produced in the province, Tilley concluded: "That will not happen. This is not just another tough year."
MacDonell responded, "Long term, I can’t support you by giving you a cheque."
Hants County dairy farmer and wild blueberry grower Barron Blois wondered if creating an Atlantic trading bloc might be the factor in deciding the long-term sustainability of regional agriculture. "If we don’t maintain processing in this region; we are all done in the long run," Blois stated.
MacDonell said he had received no indication from his regional ministerial counterparts about interest in a regional trading bloc.
NSFA delegates also expressed concerns about land use issues. Cumberland Co. dairy farmer Doug Bacon insisted farmers need time to have their questions answered about wetlands and dykelands as their industry will bear a lot of the costs arising from any policy changes.
Kings Co. producer Gerry Fulton added, "We’re being asked to support the cost of these wetlands without compensation."
Kings Co, apple grower Andy Parker was concerned the proposed environmental strategy for wetlands will negate any more agricultural development. Another Kings Co. delegate expressed concern about the biases of some of the members of the committee reviewing agricultural land use.
MacDonell stressed the committee is not a committee of one and he did not want to lead its members by the nose. Any policy they draft will be based on public input, he added. "They won’t have to wear it: I will."
On other issues, MacDonell noted his department is working on regional service delivery and strengthening extension services by increasing staff to work with farmers. The department is also committed to implementing a new governance model for the Nova Scotia Agricultural College to ensure farmers can take better advantage of opportunities as they arise.
"We can no longer afford quick fixes to help the industry through another bad year," he commented. "Safety nets are only designed for short-term blips in the market cycle."
The department is also developing a 10-year strategy for agriculture to guide its business design to make the industry stronger in the future. "It’s well-advanced... I have great optimism we can build a strong, vibrant agriculture in this province."
Source: cbc.com
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