What could the government do
about drought?

The government needs to hear the plight of the Farmers, especially right now with the drought. I am not sure if they listen closely but I think they are trying their best. Now, is that good enough for the industry? I don't know. I do know that there’s a lot of lobbying going on right now.

So, what could the government do differently? For one, I believe, they need to rethink some of the safety nets. When you are dealing with perishable goods you are always at risk, because your crop could be doing well, suddenly there is no moisture and it is gone. They need to be more timely, more sensitive to what the needs are, and maybe modify the existing programs that producers don’t use because they are not realistic.

There is a program called “Aggers stability” . This program was basically good but a lot of the producers rejected it. They did so because the requirements to meet the payout is strenuous. I mean it’s a big haul trying to make it. And, it is not only that but when there’s a payout, the trouble is the timing of it. Regardless, of you needing that money today, you will not receive those funds for at least a year or two. There’s a lot of administration, bureaucracy and things like that involved in delaying the payout, Right now the provinces and the federal government are trying to renegotiate those programs.

It’s the bureaucracy in all of these things that result in them never working well. It is a safety net, but I don’t think it’s intended purpose is there anymore, especially on the timing of receiving the funds.

I look forward to next week when I'll be talking about How could the government update their relief programs.

Fred Mertz
Fred@thevoiceofagriculture.ca