Agriculture & Rural Policy
Farming in Saskatchewan is part of who we are. It's our history, it's also our future. Given the proper support and attention to development, farming is also one of the industries with the greatest potential for stability and sustainability. Those who make their living farming this land love it and do their utmost to conserve it. Only in caring for the land can we expect that it will care for us, now and into the future.
The Squeeze
For decades the farmers of Saskatchewan have made steady improvements in their production methods, their efficiency and their soil management. While farmers get smarter each year, each year it gets harder to make a living. Corporate concentration in fertilizer, herbicides and pesticides, transport and purchasing has resulted in farmers being continually squeezed to the extent where food production is now extremely lucrative for large corporate players but not for the farmer.
We must undertake a full analysis of the whole food production chain, from inputs to transport to processing and retail, and see where we can work with farmers to make sure that more of the revenue produced on the farm and in rural communities stays on the farm and in those communities.
We can find creative strategies to address these issues, particularly in areas of distributed energy production, maintenance and expansion of rail transit, and marketing boards. I am committed to supporting the majority of wheat and barley producers who have stated clearly and repeatedly that they want a strong Canadian Wheat Board with single desk selling. The wheat board is an effective world marketer that plays a vital role in securing the best prices for farmers. We will work to maintain a strong, single-desk Canadian Wheat Board.
Conventional Agriculture
By the early 1970s, traditional farming methods had reduced the organic matter in Saskatchewan soils to near disastrous levels. We were in danger of creating deserts in the prairies. Soil scientists and soil conservation groups, working together with creative farmers and agricultural engineers, developed the concepts and practices of zero and minimum tillage farming. Modern fertilizers and chemicals made these practices possible. Our soils are no longer being eroded by wind and rain at the rates they were in the past. However, these methods are not without their environmental risks. We need to continue to research the methods that will enable productive and sustainable agricultural practices.
Environmental farm stewardship programs can be expanded to improve the efficiency and sustainability of all farm operations.
We should also explore an Ecological Goods and Services compensation model to recognize the contributions of those who care for the land that supports us all.
Organic Agriculture
Saskatchewan is home to a third of the organic producers in the country and over 60% of the land currently in organic production. With growing demand for organic foods and a recognition of the environmental benefits of organic agriculture, we should seek to promote this industry further by:
- providing support for farmers who convert to organic farming on a per acre basis for each of the three transition years, and/or covering a significant portion of the annual certification fees for each organic producer and processor (this would have to be done in consultation with existing organic farmers to ensure that transition did not take place on such a scale that it would make organic farming unprofitable for current producers).
- working with organic farmers to further develop markets for their products
- promoting the development of organic (and conventional) processing facilities for grains, meat and dairy;
- creating a dedicated organic check-off fund to support the Organic Crop Production Research Chair and fund research at the University of Saskatchewan to advance the study of organic fertilizer, intercropping, weed and pest control, zero tillage and plant breeding.
Closing the Loop
In Saskatchewan we export nearly everything we grow and import nearly everything we eat. While our small population and immense agricultural productivity ensures we will always have a large food surplus to export, we should work to close the loop wherever we can. More local consumption means more local processing and jobs, better prices for commodities and decreased greenhouse gas production.
We can make major strides in closing the loop by:
- establishing local marketing boards that connect producers to consumers in order to help Saskatchewan farmers provide food for restaurants, retail outlets, consumers and programs such as the Child Hunger and Education Project;
- promoting multiple Community Supported Agriculture networks that directly connect consumers and producers, an arrangement that can improve prices for both parties and improve the quality of food;
- introducing a Saskatchewan Made procurement policy for all government food services, making sure that whenever possible, hospitals, schools, the legislative cafeteria and other facilities serve food grown in Saskatchewan;
- taking food security into account, making sure that access to healthy food is available to all communities in the province by supporting initiatives such as the Good Food Junction to be located at Station 20 West, Good Food Box programs and other local ideas to provide healthy food at a reasonable cost for all people.
Livestock
Saskatchewan has a comparative advantage over much of the country in livestock production. We have vast areas of land that are not suitable for cultivation and yet are excellent for grazing. However, livestock prices are depressed and there is no sign that they are going to improve quickly. In order to meet world food needs and market demands, we must ensure that our livestock sector receives the support necessary to survive this dry period. Slaughter and processing facilities must be supported and markets must be developed to make this industry less vulnerable to market fluctuations. Ranchers need the combined support of the province and the federal government if they are to survive.
Trade
With our abundance of land and our small population, we will always be part of an export economy. We have a role to play in feeding the world. The issues of subsidies must be addressed as we seek to build a fair and just system of trade where all nations have the opportunity to provide a livelihood for their rural citizens.
It is vital that we do what we can as a province and a nation to see that nations in the developing world have fair opportunities to participate in the world economy. Farmers and the public must be empowered to help shape that economy with consideration not just for some corporate or national bottom line, but with clear consideration for the environment and community development.
Building a healthy society requires agriculture policy that ensures our agricultural practices are good for farmers, good for the land, good for the environment and good for the people of Saskatchewan.
Rural Renewal
While farming is an important aspect of rural life, it certainly is not the whole story. The NDP recognizes the importance of rural and remote communities, regardless of size, and is committed to supporting rural economic and social development initiatives. We can do this by working alongside local citizens to create opportunities that will bring prosperity and opportunity to their communities.
We must have policies that reflect the diversity of rural experience and that support health and social services, accessible education, community economic development, and arts and culture. For example, if we introduce feed-in tariffs for small-scale energy production from wind, solar, and other renewable sources, rural communities can produce their own power and generate their own wealth.
With creative solutions such as the community school model, more towns can keep their schools as a centre for rural life. The best way to develop these policies is through democratic renewal that provides a means for the people of rural Saskatchewan to have meaningful participation in policy development.
The Saskatchewan story is so much more than a tale of two cities. Our future together as a province requires a network of thriving communities throughout the province.
