$6.00

THE

Quarterly

Fall 2012 Vol. 18 Issue 3

Photo: As part of the Region 7 (Alberta) Convention held on June 23, 2012, members and guests were treated to a fun train ride from Forestburg to Heisler courtesy of The Battle River Railway. (photo by Kathleen Charpentier) 2 The Union Farmer Quarterly/Fall 2012

Business Risk Management: Off-loading costs by downsizing programs?

— by Cathy Holtslander

n September 12 -14 the federal and provincial sovereignty, we need to have an effective safety net in agriculture ministers will meet in Whitehorse place in order to keep family farmers on the land. O to finalize the next five-year plan for cost- Our analysis has been hampered by the fact that no shared Business Risk Management (BRM) programs specific information about the proposed changes has been that will come into effect April 1, 2013 as part of released – even though GF2 is about the spending of Growing Forward 2 (GF2). public dollars by officials elected by Canadian citizens. The House of Commons Standing Committee on What we have been able to gather though, is that a severe Agriculture held hearings over the winter asking for cut to AgriStability is on the table. If the trigger for the input for GF2. It reported in May, with the NDP and program moves from 85% to 70% (or less) of the reference Liberal Party adding dissenting reports. In April the margin, it will make it so very few, if any, farms will be federal Budget cut Agriculture by 10%, and it is likely eligible for support. Minister Ritz has suggested that such that a significant part of that cut will be felt in the a cut would be a needed to prod livestock producers into BRM programs. A federal spokesperson indicated that taking up a new livestock price insurance scheme. There is funds will be redirected from BRM into strategic also a strong hint that farmers will be encouraged to use initiatives, and that the government wants farmers to futures markets and other hedging schemes to manage manage more of their risk privately. risk. Both are ways to off-load risk and provide for a The NFU has analyzed the impact of the last five years transfer of wealth from farmers into the financial sector, of BRM programs under Growing Forward 1, and has particularly insurance companies and stock brokers. come up with a set of ten recommendations to improve Several provinces have held consultation meetings with them so that they help the majority of farmers, instead of farm organizations and federal representatives, and the giving the lion’s share of support to the tiny minority of NFU has been able to participate in these events. We have farms that make over $1 million in annual revenues. In also provided each of the Ministers with a copy of our brief. our brief, National Farmers Union recommendations After the BRM portion of GF2 is settled, each province regarding Business Risk Management Programs under will meet individually with the federal government to Growing Forward 2, we also point out that many of the decide how to fund and implement various pieces of the risks that farmers are dealing with are created by, or made “strategic initiatives” portion of Growing Forward 2. These worse by federal policies that make trade the top priority, programs will be focused on the areas of regulations, make climate change worse, allow GMOs to be business development, environment, food safety, markets introduced without regard to market impacts, and that fail and trade, and science. The NFU will certainly be reviewing to deal with the extreme imbalance in market power these proposals as they become available as well. between individual farmers and the large domestic and To download our brief on BRMs and the summary global corporations that sell inputs and purchase of 10 recommendations, go to: commodities. In a nutshell, our brief says that until http://www.nfu.ca/story/business-risk-management- agriculture policy in Canada is refocused to support food programs-under-growing-forward-2 —nfu—

union farmer quarterly

Official publication of the National Farmers Union 2717 Wentz Avenue, Saskatoon, SK S7K 4B6 Telephone: 306-652-9465 Fax: 306-664-6226 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.nfu.ca    Printed at St. Peter’s Press, Muenster, SK, Agreement No.40063391, Postage paid at Muenster, Saskatchewan. ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION RATE: Members $ 15.00; Non-Members $25.00; Institutions $35.00

3 The Union Farmer Quarterly/Fall 2012

National President —by Terry Boehm

ugust 1st , 2012 marked the end of the Single We elect governments to act in our collective Desk selling agency, the Canadian Wheat interests, and we believe in the common good. We A Board. In our press release at the time, I said have individual rights, but we also have that the date marked a year in infamy in both public responsibility to society as well. Increasingly, what policy and the function of democracy in this we see in this government is the idea that the country. It really marked years of attack on the individual can do as they want – regardless of CWB by Stephen Harper and his government. They whether it harms the majority or even themselves. issued gag orders on the CWB, changed elector Some farmers expressed this notion clearly when qualifications in director elections during actual they said that they did not care if they made more elections, and then they ignored the legislative money with the CWB, they just wanted it gone. requirement for a farmer vote before changing the We are likely to see a push to enshrine private CWB. In addition, they rammed through the Bill to property rights in the Constitution. We accept this at destroy the CWB without referring it to the our peril because property would then become the Agriculture Committee and did not accept any ultimate measurement of citizenship and what a amendments to the Bill. They also accepted no citizen is. Equality would no longer be the object of amendments to the huge Budget Bill they passed democracy, but rather protecting property and capital earlier this spring. This is typical of this would become the priority. We just have to look at government’s approach. Parliament is only there to CETA (Comprehensive Economic and Trade rubber stamp what the Prime Minister wants. There Agreement) to see this rationale spelled out clearly. is no room for debate, and by extension, no room CETA will eliminate restrictions on the flow of capital for democracy. and will set up extensive investor protection rules that When Stephen Harper held his press conference would prevent governments from legislating in the in Saskatchewan on August 1st marking what he common interest for the common good. These and called “marketing freedom” he was really marking other CETA provisions also allow the squandering of his vision of the world – where individual interests natural resources that should instead be used for trump the common good, our collective future generations. This is what happens when the responsibility to one another, and our collective interests of private investors – that is, property rights – wisdom. To Harper, it does not matter that the are paramount for government, as would be the case if majority of farmers wanted to keep the CWB. property rights were enshrined in the Constitution. Public health care is an example where we recognize Finally I wish to thank all of you for the our collective responsibility to each other. We pay tremendous efforts you put in to save the CWB. It taxes to finance a system that benefits us all in time was your donations, your petitions, and NFU of need. We feel it is part of our responsibility to members who came and organized numerous our fellow citizens. The CWB played a role for campaigns, rallies and protests -- including a railway western farmers which the majority understood blockade just outside my farm. You have done more benefited all farmers, even if some individuals did than defend the CWB, you have defended not like it. The same applies for public health care; democracy in this country! some do not like it as individuals, but the majority support it. In Solidarity, Terry Boehm 4 The Union Farmer Quarterly/Fall 2012

T

Women’s President — by Joan Brady

The Power of Community been taken away from international relief agencies (the Canadian International Development Agency at one ast summer, not far from our home, the town of time matched citizens’ donations to aid organizations) Goderich, Ontario was devastated by a Category 4 and given to corporate interests for “social responsibility L tornado. The town suffered major damage and projects” - often directed at the problems created by one life was lost. It took just seconds for the fabric of life their own industrial processes. to change forever - and only a few minutes more for Other cuts have affected critical and publically people to step forward to help those in need. Emer- supported research, including the monitoring of the state gency care, food, shelter, encouragement and monetary of the environment and our natural resources. The loss of donations streamed in and volunteers were organized this valuable research has alarmed not only Canadians, immediately for clean-up and restoration efforts. but some of our international partners as well. Cuts to The power of the tornado was evident in the uprooted Statistics Canada, including its agricultural surveys, will trees and the buildings that were destroyed or damaged. challenge our ability to understand trends and will lead to The resilience and caring shown by community members missed opportunities and unnoticed threats. Farm-driven was also very powerful, as over time, everyone used their priorities will be diminished as advisory boards and talents and resources to help rebuild the town and secure industry-elected representation are cut from funding the future of its inhabitants. This community empathy agencies and think tanks. On the chopping block is the and spirit is an awesome and constant force, one which is Canadian Agricultural Adaptation Council, led by a evident across the country and has been responsible for farmer/industry board in each province, which has many life-changing experiences and actions. Goderich will administered government funding since 1985. It will be never look the same, but I think that it will be a better place. dissolved and its reduced funding will be administered by Crisis is never welcomed, but usually well met. the federal government. Communities multiply their resources with the passion I am an optimistic person, yet I know that the future and dedication of their residents. The people with the is uncertain and we will all be faced with a number of most at stake often are able to come up with efficient challenges. It will take strong, resilient communities with and innovative solutions to the trials facing their the power to be involved, and in possession of accurate communities. Margaret Mead, a 20th century cultural and useful information to meet the future. Measures to anthropologist says it well: “Never doubt that a small limit citizen’s decision-making capacity and privatize group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the public assets will not be the answer. Agriculture is an world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” economic driver, one which should not be overlooked Yet, much of recent policy and action has been nor sold out to profit-taking investors at the expense of directed at disenfranchising Canadians. The alteration individual entrepreneurs. of the CWB and the disregard of the condition The NFU has always stood for the rights of family requiring a farm vote is still pretty raw, considering the farmers and communities, both rural and urban, and I recent dissolution of the single desk. Farmers have lost am glad to continue to work alongside to strengthen significant power to meet the challenges of the future. our mutual futures. I am also thankful for the NFU Seeing the recent broad sweep of reductions in and its members; I believe we are a small group of government programming and support, I am concerned thoughtful, committed citizens that can change the that the majority of these cuts have been directed world. Perhaps we should remind our governments towards public-based programs and assets. In some cases that it is the only thing that ever has. support once directed at Canadian communities and organizations has been re-directed towards private for- profit interests. For example, the foreign aid dollars have In Union, Joan Brady The Union Farmer Quarterly/Fall 2012 5

Youth President and Youth Vice President Cammie Harbottle Paul Slomp

caucus meeting or otherwise, please be in touch with Come one, come all to me, Cammie, at: [email protected]. We would love to have your input and hope to see you there! National Convention 2012 Convention Bursaries Available his year we are back in Saskatoon for National If you are interested in coming to Convention Convention and we want you to come! The but feeling inhibited by the cost of travel... wait! T agenda is shaping up nicely with interesting Once again, there will be bursaries available to NFU panels, keynotes and workshops. In celebration of the youth to help cover the costs of attending. There will International Year of Co-operatives, the theme Co-ops: be four bursaries of $250.00 available to any youth An Exercise in Democracy will explore the many member from across the country and we would LOVE avenues and possibilities for co-operatives in agriculture. to be able to give out all four. If you are interested in Over the past few years I have been inspired by many applying, please email me at: food and farm-related co-ops and I look forward to [email protected] for more information or an learning more about how they can contribute to a more application form. The deadline for applications is resilient farming community in Canada. And what October 15. The youth are the future of the NFU so better place to discuss co-operatives than the birthplace please encourage any young members to get in touch of the co-op movement in Canada (or one of them), in and come out. And for all of you youth out there...the the heart of the prairies. NFU is working for our futures, so come and be a part I recently attended a symposium for beginner of it (and meet some interesting and inspiring “old” farmers in New Brunswick and was once again inspired farmers - by that I mean farmer- elders, with all due by fellow vegetable farmer Daniel Brisbois of Co- respect)! operative Tourne Sol, a co-operative farm in Quebec. His presentation explained how the co-operative model Silent Auction can and has contributed to the successful start-up and When Kalissa Regier stepped down from the continued viability of their farm as well as providing a Board she told me that even if I didn't organize the quality of life for Daniel and the other members. Co- silent auction, it would happen—and every year, it operatives provide an alternative model which in many does! Thanks to all of you! So once again this year cases is proving to be a positive solution for both begin- there will be a silent auction held throughout the ning and established farms and farm-related businesses. convention as a fun way to raise funds for the NFU It was good food for thought and I look forward to Youth programming. The silent auction is member- continuing these discussions at National Convention. driven so if you have any items, handmade or The National Convention is one of only two otherwise, that you can donate to the auction, we chances that the youth get to meet face to face and is a encourage you to bring them to Convention. Last great time to reconnect with old faces and meet new year, the generosity of members provided funding for young farmers from across the country. We will be our annual youth meetings. Thank you for your holding a youth caucus and have time to get together continued support and I look forward to seeing all of on a less formal basis. the goods as they fill the tables in November! If you have any thoughts or ideas on what you would like to have included on the agenda for the youth Cammie Harbottle and Paul Slomp 6 The Union Farmer Quarterly/Fall 2012

ONE (Prince Edward Island)

Lands Protection Act - The Report

of the Commission on Land and Local Governance

‐ by Randall Affleck recommended that provincial land use policies and

a conservation strategy be developed based on sustainable development principles. Early in the

spring session the PEI Government announced its intention to establish a five-member Policy Task Force on Land Use that will be holding joint public HST - The PEI Government has announced its hearings with the Environmental Advisory Council intention to implement the HST on April 1, and make recommendations. 2013. Edith Ling has been attending anti-HST More recently, an independent commissioner meetings and rallies regarding this policy change. will be appointed to study the Lands Protection The Federation of Agriculture is in favor claiming Act legislation, hold consultations and determine farmers will benefit on average $15,000. The cost what changes, if any, might be needed. of carrying inventory will also go up an additional Agriculture Minister George Webster is in favor 10% for farm supply stores resulting in fewer of changing the current land limits. The PEI parts in stock. Some seem to forget what a farm Potato board is also lobbying for changes to the bookkeeping nuisance Mulroney’s regressive GST limits. In 2011 there were 146 land disclosure was. statements filed with the Island Regulatory Appeals Commission. Disclosure statements are ABP - The PEI Budget announced that it was required whenever land owners are within 75% of capping public funding of the Atlantic Beef the land limits; 1000 acres for individuals and Products plant at $1.5 Million. Last year it 3000 for farm corporations. provided $3.2 Million in funding. Since 2005 the province has invested $40 Million into the plant. NDP Atlantic Caucus - Local President Doug The NFU organized a meeting with ABP Campbell and I attended a meeting with the NDP President, Mike Nabuurs, in April for NFU Atlantic Caucus to discuss agriculture policy with members. They were killing 225 fats and 75 culls an emphasis on supply management. per week. They were having trouble sourcing Representatives from the NFU, Federation of animals. Drovers were unwilling to cut ties with Agriculture, dairy and egg boards attended. Levinoff’s, given all the uncertainty of the ABP’s We tried to lay out the big picture changes to future. Now that Levinoff Meat Packing is in Canadian agriculture and losses to farmers since receivership, there most likely will be more cattle CUSTA and the policy shift towards increasing available to the Borden plant. Logically, with exports. Levinoff’s out of the market the prices to the My dairy colleagues indicated that they were farmers should go up ! happy with Harper’s support for supply management, and were not concerned about TPP Budget Cuts - Provincial Department of or CETA. “Every nation has sensitive sectors” Agriculture has taken some big cuts. Salaries cut, they argued. They also expressed the need to tell $480,000. Hog transportation subsidy, $800,000 supply management’s positive story. cut. continued on page 7…

The Union Farmer Quarterly/Fall 2012 7

(Region 1 PEI, from page 6) the lack of rain. My pastures are really suffering from lack of water now. EI Changes - The Employment Insurance changes stand to cause quite a bit of trouble for farmers in Atlantic Canada. The potato industry GPS Snooze - A young guy planting potatoes in particular will have major challenges sourcing in Kinkora one night this spring fell asleep while the skilled seasonal labour required if the changes the GPS was steering the tractor and planter up come into effect. the long field. At the end of the row the equipment continued on (in sleep mode) between two buildings, but rode up onto a $2,000 Weather and Crop Report - It has been a car parked in the yard, destroying it. Nobody was very dry summer on the Island. All crops are hurt, I believe the tractor was fine and the maturing weeks earlier than normal. The potato community is really enjoying the story. Have yet crop is really stressed as a result, and will likely to hear what the new nickname is! result in a much lower yield than normal. Those who have irrigation equipment have been running it since July. Cereal harvest yields are at an all-time high this year. Toxin levels in milling In Union, Randall Affleck wheat are a non-issue this year. Forage quality is great and yields are relatively high, considering

Randall spoke of the drought conditions this ONE (New Brunswick) summer, land grabbing and the problems this creates. Randall outlined the importance of the supply management system and the threat of trade deal negotiations. Guest speakers were Sally and ‐ by Betty Brown Mark Bernard of Barnyard Organics, Freetown, PEI., recipients of the 2012 Atlantic Outstanding Young Farmer of the Year award. They spoke of the successes and challenges they faced diversifying their farm. The winners of the David Frost Memorial Scholarship, Zachary Coates and Denis armers in New Brunswick have had another Levesque, were announced and Allison Dykstra was challenging year. Lack of winter snow cover, selected as the first winner of the NFU in NB F warm winter temperatures, and a cold, dry Scholarship. Ten resolutions were presented and spring followed by extreme heat, high humidity passed and the slate of elected officers was and little rainfall has caused crops to mature earlier returned for another year. Thanks to Chef Carson than usual — some with good yields and others and his staff for the lunch and tour of his farm. with less than normal. The potato crop is suffering The NFU in NB and the Alliance working with with many varieties dying due to lack of moisture. the Department of Agriculture and Department of Last year we had excessive moisture creating Finance have agreed to changes to the Fuel Tax problems. Exempt Program for the benefit of farmers. NFU in New Brunswick hosted the annual Our membership drive continues, along with Region One meeting, Tuesday, August 7th at the the Buy Local promotion Duneview Inn, in the town of Bouctouche, which Best of luck in the harvest. was well attended, and chaired by Randall Affleck, NFU Regional Coordinator. In Union, Betty Brown

8 The Union Farmer Quarterly/Fall 2012

( ) banner year with high commodity prices, a drought THREE Ontario in the midwest States and good crops in Ontario. The response to our concerns from the Ag Minister and other farm organizations was that programs

such as crop insurance were in place to deal with ‐ by Ann Slater weather challenges and that it was too early to talk about disaster relief because the harvest had not taken place. The NFU pointed out the harvest of first and second-cut hay was over, pastures were dried out and some corn fields were already a

write-off. By the end of July, the Ag Minister had come to astures are parched was the message from the realization farmers in parts of Ontario were farmers across Ontario in early July. With dealing with a drought, and on July 30 he sent the P pastures drying up, many farmers were federal minister a formal request for an assessment feeding first cut hay soon after it was baled. under AgriRecovery. It is now nearing the end of Despite the dry spring, frost damage, army worms August. Some rain in August helped those fields of and alfalfa weevil, at least there was a first cut. oats and barley germinate, but the days are getting Second cut was another story – I am sure I saw shorter. Farmers wonder how they will make it some farmers in the fields with a broom and a dust through the year. No word so far from either of the pan. ministers about the disaster assessment. Livestock farmers have been hit particularly Renfrew County NFU has been at the forefront hard. With little to no pasture for much of the of the call for disaster relief and in telling the story summer they have been forced to feed limited to the media and to politicians. They need to be supplies of winter hay. Once the winter wheat and commended for their quick action and hard work spring grains were off, a lot of fields were quickly on behalf of family farmers. replanted to oats or barley as a fall forage alternative. Crop insurance protocols have created Limestone Organic Creamery Opens challenges for farmers trying to salvage some forage The spring issue of UFQ included a story about from poor fields of corn. Beef and sheep farmers NFU members, Francis, Kathie, Olivia and Patrick are selling breeding stock because they cannot Groenewegen and their plans for an on-farm dairy. afford to feed them. Limestone Organic Creamery opened on July 7. It is not only livestock farmers feeling the The milk from their cows is processed on their effects of the drought. Corn and soybean fields farm just north of Kingston and is sold in glass vary from one part of the province to another – bottles from the creamery by home delivery and at sometimes from one road to the next – from total some local retail stores. A range of other food write-offs to potentially bumper crops. It all products from their own farm, other local farms depends on whether or not some moisture came and Organic Meadow Co-op are available at the along at just the right time or you happen to be in creamery. one of those few lucky locations with regular Limestone Organic Creamery is one of three rainfalls. Market gardeners have struggled to keep on-farm dairies which opened this summer under a market stands and CSA boxes full and some honey Dairy Farmers of Ontario pilot project to promote producers are seeing a decrease in their harvest. small-scale on-farm milk processing. Miller's Dairy

near Creemore and Sheldon Creek Dairy near NFU Calls for Disaster Relief Orangeville, are also selling milk in glass bottles at Regional Council sent a letter to the Ontario the farm and to local retail outlets. Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs on July 16, making the NFU the first organization to alert the minister and the media to the emerging In Union, Ann Slater disaster. At that point, OMAFRA field specialists were still saying Ontario farmers were looking at a

The Union Farmer Quarterly/Fall 2012 9

( ) high value attached to the Canadian brand. FIVE Manitoba Without the CWB to measure what the market demands the work of the Committee will change, and the Canadian brand will be lost if inferior wheat varieties are grown. ‐ by Ian Robson Without the CWB involved in marketing according to buyer specifications, farmers are going to end up growing middle to low-quality wheat. The seed companies are more interested in volume than quality. They are pushing for regulatory changes that will allow them to force s federal farm policy designed with “farmers farmers to pay royalties on cereals — not only on first” in mind as claimed? After the loss of the seed, but when the harvest is delivered to the I democratic, farmer-directed Canadian Wheat elevator as well. The government wants farmers to Board and cuts from the federal budget we now set up wheat and barley councils funded by check- know what “farmer first” means. It means that offs, which would then support these changes first the farmer pays more for the same or worse under the guise of support for research. Farmers rail service, more for questionable private would pay the check-off and then get to pay larger marketing service, more for elevation, more for royalties for less measurable benefit. basis, more for brokers, more for livestock ICE Futures Canada Exchange started up a tractability, more for not much different food wheat futures contract to trade Canadian wheat. safety, more for accountants and lawyers, more for Guess what? Most of the trade is being done using tree shelter belts, more for pastures, more for Minneapolis or Chicago exchanges, meaning that research, more for seed, and … well, you get the the trade wants to buy Canadian wheat without feeling that farmers are being left all on their own paying a premium. Currently, wheat market price to fend for themselves, whilst traders consolidate is up due to drought conditions of the USA corn power. crop. With our farmer-directed CWB we would Farmers need a translator to interpret Canada's have been able to benefit from these price “government speak” when listening to this federal increases. Now anyone who has a contract is government regarding trade. It is not the farmer required to deliver at locked-in prices to an who gains -- the corporate trader is getting the elevator that dictates the quality conditions. Not advantages. The NFU has shown the increasing much freedom or choice in that equation. value of the exports and farm production is Region 5’s Convention was held July 14. We contributing less to our net farm income. Farm heard from Terry Boehm on the trade deals. Peter support programs have been, and continue to be Eggers spoke about Australia GMOs and the cut, leaving only the large-scale farmers and Australian Wheat Board, as well as chemistry and dwindled communities, making it ever harder to biology to support healthy crops while using less support local services. fertilizer. Agriculture Minister Ron Kostyshyn We hope that Bev Stow will be allowed to spoke about Growing Forward 2 farm support continue sitting on the Canadian Grain programs. Why do farmers have to be dependent Commission’s Wheat Standards Sub Committee. upon insurance schemes to make an income from The government says the Committee is too large, the work we do? so it no longer needs an NFU representative. Is a All farmers have questions about why the smaller committee going to decide in the interests market works as it does and why our incomes have of producers if fewer farmers are represented? Or not kept pace with those of fellow Canadians. If you would the corporate plant-breeders rights holders are willing to tackle these questions then you receive greater favour? The Wheat Standards Sub should belong to the NFU. Please join to work with Committee discusses each aspect of the new your farming neighbours to build a better wheat varieties that the industry will select or agriculture future. dismiss. Farmers and the markets have obtained great benefits as a result of its work, as seen by the In Union, Ian Robson 10 The Union Farmer Quarterly/Fall 2012

(Saskatchewan) Last month we had one national conference call, SIX which as well attended. We talked about building the membership. If every member signs up two new members, it would help the bottom line of our

union. Members are the lifeblood of the NFU.

It seems more and more farmers are seeding ‐ by Ed Sagan more winter wheat. Our seed plant has been very busy for the last month. We are having a television interview with the local TV station with some former Directors of CWB and Friends of CWB. We will discuss the pring seeding season was a wet one this year, court case against the Canadian government. It with more rain in the eastern part of should be very interesting, by the way. S Saskatchewan. Many farmers seeded their On August 1, 2012 the moisture test for tough crop until the deadline of June 20, 2012. We have grain will go from 14.5 to 14.0. This means it will take had 23 inches of rain this summer in this area. an additional day to get dry grain, and it will be a cost From June 20 through 22, I attended the Farm to the farmers for the convenience of the buyers. Progress Show in Regina. While there, I attended the Canadian Wheat Board’s annual breakfast meeting and also helped Friends of CWB with their In Solidarity, Ed Sagan booth. Dixie Green and Glenn Tait were also in attendance. Glenn Tait, Region 6 Board Member On June 27 and 28, we had a successful Regional Convention at St Michael’s Retreat Centre. Our uck always confounds me. I guess that's why guest speakers were Dr. Jim Harding and Hon. Ralph they call it luck and not fate. There's the Goodale. Harding spoke about the long-standing good luck of the nice couple up the road nuclear agenda that has been carried out by different L from me who just won the big Lotto Max last year, governments in Saskatchewan since the 1940s. and for whom I have nothing but warm wishes -- Harding is the author of “Canada's Deadly Secret - and then there's the good luck Gerry Ritz has had. Saskatchewan Uranium and the Global Nuclear Gerry's luck has helped him cost the prairie System.” Goodale spoke about the destruction of the economy millions of dollars. Wheat Board and his belief that it indicates the When Gerry was campaigning to destroy the current federal government’s deep-seated hostility Canadian Wheat Board he would often point to towards democracy and the rule of law. Australia and say how much wheat acreage had Dixie Green has decided to step down from the increased since the loss of the Australian Wheat NFU Board, and Matt Gehl was elected to fill her Board. He did not mention this, but as luck would spot next year. I’m looking forward to working with have it, Australian wheat exports were up because Matt, and I really appreciated working with Dixie. they had just come out of a very long and severe She has done a lot of work for the NFU. drought. Now that Gerry has destroyed our Wheat On July 14, I attended Region 5’s convention in Board his personal luck continues, with a huge Onanole, along with Terry Boehm and Peter Eggers. drought in the U.S. pushing up prices here. On July 30 – 31, Kyle Korneychuk and I motored In 2008, the CWB used a market rally to garner to Winnipeg for a conference call and interview in western Canadian farmers about $1.25/bu more than front of the CWB building. We were glad to see the our counterparts across the border averaged. Right now street theatre protest in front of the building, with we are too busy struggling to get a harvest off in a wet NFU members Ian Robson, Dean Harder and other and difficult year to do the calculations, but if my farmers and non-farmer supporters making some CWB was still doing what it was supposed to be doing, good points and getting lots of TV coverage. It was I wonder how much extra it could make on this rally? disgusting to see the old sign of Canadian Wheat Board taken down and replaced with a new “CWB” sign. In Union, Glenn Tait The Union Farmer Quarterly/Spring 2012 11

degradable. Due to its claim of safety and EIGHT (B.C./Peace River) effectiveness, this product is the best-selling herbicide worldwide. It is used on over 296 million acres annually. However, the claim of it being biodegradable has been invalidated. In fact, research shows that glyphosate stays in the soil ‐ by Peter Eggers much longer than what Monsanto claims. There has been lots of research completed by various, credible institutions in North America, including Agriculture Canada, Perdue University, and the US Department of Agriculture. Research n 2004, Ronald Wright's "A Short History of shows various problems with the use of glyphosate. Progress" was featured in CBC's Massey In 2004 on two fields on our farm in La Glace, ILectures. In this lecture he described the idea of Alberta I saw that there was something wrong with "progress traps" and how they have led to the this chemical. Now that has been validated by decline and fall of civilizations. For example, he research. After 10 to 15 years of annual use of said that irrigation by the Sumerian people of the about 1 litre per acre, corn and soya bean crops in historical southern Mesopotamia region, now the US can die prematurely - this is known as known as Iraq, was a progress trap. They irrigated "Sudden Death Syndrome". The glyphosate chelates with water from the Euphrates and Tigris rivers and the manganese in the soil. it overloaded the soil with minerals, including salt, Chelation is Greek for "clawing". Manganese is which effectively turned the land into a desert. The then rendered unavailable. When this happens entire Sumerian civilization vanished from the face iron is also rendered unavailable. Researchers think of the earth. that the land is ruined forever. The Greeks, as we heard at the 2011 NFU Approximately 40 plant diseases are linked to convention, farmed their hillsides, which caused the use of glyphosate, including fusarium, which soil erosion and the loss of fertility that caused the has had an enormous impact on Canadian prairie Greek civilization to collapse. Greece has not farming. The more glyphosate used, the greater the recovered from the loss of their biological capital to intensity of the fusarium disease. Chelation due to this day. glyphosate starts at 1/16 of the label application I am writing about this because I was thinking rate. At this point it looks to me that what is about and observing prairie farming and wondered supposed to save our soil and is being touted as the if prairie farmers would run into such a progress thing to do is going to destroy the soil much faster trap. The Dirty Thirties gave us an indication of than any other technology we have used to date. what tilling in combination with drought can do to By carefully looking at the research, I have our prairie soil. Wind and water erosion can still be stumbled upon many things that cause me to worry. a problem today, and we thought that it might The land is #1 - our future depends on it. eventually disable farming on the prairies. Now We should also ask the question of how much many of us have adopted direct seeding or grain we need. 70% of the grain grown in North minimum tillage. This has decreased soil America is used to feed herbivores. 75% of the degradation by erosion. The soil has become a lot cattle in Alberta are locked up in confinement. It more stable, with crops mimicking the natural looks like we have quite a few potential progress grassland ecosystem. There is one big caveat with traps. We should be cautious about technological this: we use chemicals to control weeds in annual ideas as fixes and instead maybe look at nature for cropping systems. At this point I wonder if there is guidance. any land in this area not sprayed with glyphosate at "A nation which destroys its soils, destroys itself". least once a year! - Franklin D. Roosevelt We have been told that glyphosate was completely harmless and it would break down in the soil as soon as it hits it, or as they say, bio- In Solidarity, Peter Eggers 12 The Union Farmer Quarterly/Fall 2012

NFU National Convention 2012 — Democracy in Action

o-ops: An Exercise in Democracy is the Korneychuk; BC-based “foodshed animator”, Abra theme of this year’s National Convention, Brynne; Muskoday First Nation worker co-op C which will be in Saskatoon November 22 – leader, Harvey Knight; and Glenn Harris, founding 24. The Board chose the theme not only because member of the Landis Elevator Co-operative. 2012 is the United Nations’ International Year of In addition to our co-op panels we will have Cooperatives, but also to take a closer look at the presentations on pressing agriculture policy issues; potential for co-ops to act as an accessible and including UPOV ’91 seed issues, international democratic alternative to corporations in our trade agreements, the Canadian Wheat Board increasingly “super-sized” and globally-focussed court cases, and supply management. The economy. Convention schedule also includes meeting time There are many types of co-operatives but all for our Women’s, Youth and International are owned by the members who use the co-op. Program Committees. Everyone is welcome to Members can participate in decision-making participate in these sessions. through their elected boards. Co-operatives have Andrew Nikiforuk, the acclaimed Canadian proven to be an important tool for building journalist and author will speak about the influence economic power for farmers in Canada; however of the petro-state on our democracy at our there have also been failures and weaknesses in our Thursday evening public event. His new book, The co-ops. At Convention we will have the Energy of Slaves: Oil and the New Servitude, will be opportunity to critically examine co-operatives, and available for sale and signing. will look at some of the lessons learned from the This year we are offering a workshop on the past as well as from successful food and farm- convention procedures late Thursday morning. The related co-ops from across Canada today. NFU Convention uses Parliamentary Procedure at On Thursday morning before the formal a Glance by O. Garfield Jones. Some of you may opening of Convention, Fred Khonje, a co-op not be familiar with these rules, and it can be developer with the Saskatchewan Co-operative confusing if you are used to other ways of Association, will lead a workshop on how to start a conducting debate and making group decisions. co-operative. If you think a co-op might be the We want to help first-time convention-goers to right way to organize your business, plan to arrive understand how our rules work so that everyone early, as this session will help you with your feels comfortable participating. decision, and provide you with some valuable Convention is not all work, of course! The NFU organizing tools. Youth will have their annual silent auction Three of our panels will be focussed on the fundraiser – pack some irresistible bid-magnets to theme of co-operatives and democracy. Confirmed donate, and plan to take home some unique prizes speakers include Michael Gertler from the Centre yourself. The winners of the Beingessner essay for the Study of Cooperatives at the University of contest will be announced, and the Grassroots Saskatchewan; Harold Chapman, author of Sharing Activist awards for each Region will be presented at My Life: Building the Cooperative Movement; the banquet. The dance will follow Friday night’s agrologist, co-op economist and avid blogger, banquet, so bring your dancing shoes too! —nfu— Wendy Holm; community organizer and sustainability expert, Yuill Herbert; April For more information check the website at Bourgeois, co-founder and former publisher of http://www.nfu.ca/about/conventions Planet S and Prairiedog (both run by co-ops); former Saskatchewan Wheat Pool director, Kyle The Union Farmer Quarterly/Fall 2012 13 Action against CETA in Ontario – NFU members making a difference ‐by Ann Slater

anadian and European negotiators have negotiations. Presentations and letters from NFU been meeting monthly in their attempt to members and locals have helped sway county and C finalize the Canada-EU Comprehensive municipal councils to take action, and have raised Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) by the the awareness of CETA among local, provincial and end of 2012. However, a recent report to civil federal elected representatives. society from Department of Foreign Affairs and NFU members and locals in Ontario are also International Trade Canada indicates there are still working to make the general public and other farmers a number of sticking points, including market aware of how other aspects of CETA will affect their access for beef, pork and cheese, intellectual lives and livelihoods. In 2011 and 2012, NFU property rights and services and investment. A year president Terry Boehm spoke at public events ago the Canadian government said it expected to organized by Region 3 locals in Walkerton, St. Marys, finalize CETA by the end of 2011. Belleville and Kingston. NFU members put CETA on Ever since the NFU launched our national the table for discussion at local meetings of other farm campaign against CETA in 2010, Region 3 (Ontario) organizations like the Grain Farmers of Ontario, and NFU members have been speaking out about the have written about CETA for newsletters like negative implications of CETA on the future of family Ecological Farming in Ontario. The NFU’s Why We farms, rural communities and our democracy. There is Don't Want CETA brochure has been handed out at a lot of public support in Ontario to push hospitals, countless shows, fairs, ploughing matches and universities, schools and the province to purchase conferences across the province. more local food as a way to support Ontario farmers Regional Council has also worked to keep CETA in and provide citizens with healthy food. The Ontario the minds of provincial politicians and provincial government has invested money in programs designed organizations working on food issues. An April letter to to help institutions put local food procurement the Premier of Ontario attracted media attention, but policies and practices into place. This support for local as of August 26, there has been no response from him. food purchasing has provided a platform to initiate A first draft of an Institutional Procurement discussions on CETA with the public and with Backgrounder written by Sustain Ontario as part of its farmers. Along with other organizations, including the submission to the Ontario government regarding a local Council of Canadians and District Labour Councils, food act suggested that trade agreements do not NFU members and locals have worked to make present barriers to public institutions sourcing more municipalities aware of how CETA will undermine food locally. Following feedback from the NFU, a later local purchasing policies, whether that be local food draft recommends that the Ontario government en- procurement policies or policies to support other local sure trade agreements do not adversely impact institu- providers of goods and services. tional procurement of local, fresh and ecological food. In June 2012, the Council of Canadians reported The grassroots efforts to protect our seed, our that over 30 local governments across Canada had farms and our democratic rights from being bar- passed resolutions requesting that they be exempt gained away in CETA continue. As I was writing this from CETA. Over half of these municipalities are article, Grey Local was working on a press release to located in Ontario, including large cities such as send to their community. The Canadian government Toronto, Hamilton, and London, rural townships has not yet finalized this deal which will give unprece- such as Asphodel-Norwood and Drummond/North dented power to a few corporations. In conjunction Elmsley and the counties of Brant and Essex. A with other Trade Justice Network partners, NFU similar number of municipal governments and members and locals will continue to encourage school boards have asked the federal government for municipalities, other organizations, farmers and eaters more information and a greater say in CETA to take a stand against CETA. —nfu— 14 The Union Farmer Quarterly/Fall 2012

Rio + 20: “The Future We Want” ….NOT ‐by Nettie Wiebe

“Commodification, economic growth, financial abstractions, corporate power: aren't these the processes driving the environmental crisis? Now we are told that to save the biosphere we need more of them.” ‐ George Monbiot,, The Guardian, August 7, 2012

wenty years after the first United Nations “Earth Summit” in Rio de Janeiro (1992), Working as a Via Campesina delegate in Rio, I T governments gathered again in Brazil in would have come back from Brazil profoundly June, 2012 to assess progress and make further depressed if I had only gone to the official summit commitments on reducing environmental harm events. Fortunately, governments and the corporate and achieving sustainable development. sector (which has gained a strong foothold in some But little of that happened. key parts of the UN system) were not the only ‘show In the face of worsening ecological crises, energy in town’. and food crises, accelerating loss of biodiversity and In the centre of Rio, occupying an enormous climate change, the summit agreed to a weak park along the ocean front, more than 20,000 document, “The Future We Want” [available at: people were gathered in the People’s Summit. www.uncsd2012.org/thefuturewewant.html] with Thousands of popular, social, indigenous, no firm commitments, no targets and no timelines. women’s, labour, peasant, forestry, environmental Instead, the official summit focused on promoting and student organizations from Brazil and around the ‘Green Economy’, a strategy to integrate all the world converged in self-organized and remaining natural resources and ecological systems collective venues for discussions, demonstrations, into the market economy. Putting a price on all cultural events and actions. The energy, living matter and so-called “ecosystem services” commitment, knowledge, diversity, colour and opens vast new markets for financial investment sheer numbers of participants were astonishing. and speculative capital. But far from promoting “an And the shared determination to protect the economically, socially and environmentally earth and the basis of all life inspired hope. sustainable future for our planet and for present The more than 3000 peasants from Via and future generations…and eradicating poverty”, Campesina Brazil, along with several hundred the green economy does the very opposite. international Via Campesina particpants, had a strong presence in the People’s Summit. We provided effective leadership in food sovereignty, agroecology and climate change forums, as well as engaging in targeted direct actions. As I marched into a central square in Rio de Janeiro on June 20th as one among some 80,000 people (according to Rio news reports) in the People’s Summit mobilization, I felt buoyed by the knowledge that despite the collusion of powerful interests trying to control, manipulate and profit from all of nature, there is a tremendous, worldwide Photo: Nettie Wiebe (front) marching with tens of thousands in counterforce of people who are struggling Rio demanding respect, rights and safety for women. for social and environmental justice, Banner inscription: Fed up with violence against women. peace and life. —nfu— NO TO THE FALSE SOLUTIONS OF GREEN CAPITALISM! PEASANT AND FAMILY FARM AGRICULTURE NOW!

THE FALSE SOLUTIONS OF THE GREEN ECONOMY

Ever since the economic crisis of 2008, the dominant system has been trying to find new ways to maintain itself. In this context governments, corporations and UN agencies have constructed the myth of the “green economy” and the “greening of technology,” which they put forth as solutions to the environmental crisis, equating the capitalist economy with caring for the Earth. But behind the rhetoric what we find is yet another strategy to advance vested economic interests.

This “green capitalism” targets rural areas, and we have seen terrible impacts in terms of land grabbing and the relentless and ongoing privatization of fresh water, oceans, indigenous territories, national parks and biological reserves.

This is how the false solutions are put forth:

1. Carbon credits and biodiversity bonds: 5. “Water use restrictions”: Under the pretext These are based on the principle that whoever has of conserving scarce water, we are told to enough money can keep on polluting and offsetting. concentrate irrigation on “high value crops.” That In other words, richer countries and large companies means that our finite irrigation resources should can contaminate and destroy ecosystems as long as go to export crops, agrofuels and other industrial they pay money to someone else, thereby supposedly crops, while we stop watering the food crops that conserving biodiversity in some remote corner of the feed us and our families. planet. 6. “Technological fixes”: These are among the 2. REDD (Reducing Emissions from most dangerous options, such as geoengineering Deforestation and Forest Degradation): We are and transgenic crops. None of the proposed told that this is a system for reducing the greenhouse geoengineering solutions, like fertilizing the sea, gases that are emitted through deforestation and forest has shown any real potential for solving the climate degradation. But in reality management plans are crisis. Yet they are so potentially dangerous that imposed on local communities that deny local people an international moratorium has already been declared. and families the right to access their own lands, forests and water sources in exchange for miniscule, offensively small payments. At the same time corporations gain 7. “Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB)”: Under this model all of unlimited access to community forests, leading to Nature (water and rainfall, biodiversity, landscape, biopiracy and other abuses. fauna, seeds, etc.) has a price, leading invariably to privatization and subsequent charges for use. 3. Energy from “biomass”: Agrofuels and the This is the final assault on Nature and life itself, conversion of plants, algae and organic wastes into not to mention the livelihoods of people who farm, energy sources to substitute for petroleum have meant that millions of hectares that should be either hunt and fish. When communities contract out covered with trees or used to grow food for people, their ecosystems in exchange for payments from are instead being used to feed automobiles. So-called corporations, the latter will end up dominating our biomass conversion is nothing more than agrofuels territories. in new forms and with new technologies. 8. “Renewable energy”: Capital is showing a tremendous interest in creating new markets for 4. “Climate Smart Agriculture”: Corporations and supposedly sustainable energy sources like wind governments are using the pretext of adapting farming methods to a changing climate as a means to impose power, solar and others. Transnational corporations like supposedly drought-tolerant GMO seeds and new Siemens are making huge investments in these agrochemicals on farmers. We may lose control over businesses, which turn out not to be all that our land, crops, ecosystems, and water, producing toxic sustainable, while the wasteful energy practices used foods and putting the population at risk. in many industries–like mining-continue unabated. THE REAL SOLUTION IS PEASANT AND FAMILY FARM AGRICULTURE

Peasant, family farm and indigenous agriculture actually offer the best solution to cool the planet. Studies show these practices have the ability to absorb or prevent up to two thirds of all annual greenhouse gas emissions. With minimal environmental impacts, family farm, peasant and indigenous families produce more than half of the food in today’s world, while occupying a scant 20% of the world’s arable land.

Our real challenge is to (re)discover another way of relating to Nature and to one another. It is both our obligation and our right, and so we call on all goodhearted women and men to continue the struggle for food sovereignty, genuine agrarian reform, and for the defense and recuperation of indigenous territories. We want to put an end to the environmental and social violence of capitalism, and rebuild peasant, family farm and indigenous food systems based on agroecology.

Our proposals are at the heart of the changes that we need, and offer a real path toward feeding all of humanity with healthy food while reducing the impacts of climate change.

1. Food Sovereignty: By doing away with 3. Support for Peasant and Family Farm monocultures and promoting peasant farming Agriculture: Human scale farming, artisanal fishing, systems based on agroecology, which are more rotational grazing, etc. should all be supported by public intensive and productive, we can generate more sector budgets without conditions that put their very rural employment, care for the soil and grow viability in question. So-called market mechanisms like healthy and diverse food. With localized carbon trading and payments for environmental production, marketing and processing we can services should be immediately dismantled and respect the Earth as that which sustains life. replaced with real support mechanisms. Nobody should be allowed to evade their obligation to stop polluting by buying the rights of others. 2. Agrarian Reform: Farming must once again 4. A Different Energy Model: The shameless be the work of peasants, family farmers and discourse that posits the permanent need to generate ever indigenous people. To make this a reality we more energy hides both the real destructive costs of urgently need genuine and broad agrarian unlimited energy waste and the true motives behind these reforms that can put an end to extreme and arguments, which are nothing less than the continued growing land concentration, a phenomenon concentration of economic power and the destruction of that negatively affects all of humanity. the planet. We need an end to waste and we need decentralized, low impact and renewable energy sources that are affordable and under local peoples’ control.

La Via Campesina in THE PEOPLES’ SUMMIT The Union Farmer Quarterly/Fall 2012 17 Practical Applications of Renewable Energy ‐by Cathy Holtslander

his has been a year of weather extremes. term operating costs and not just the capital and Farms have been affected all across installation cost of each system. Their experience T Canada – the devastating drought in also showed that their passive solar heated house eastern Ontario (and most of the USA), early built 30 years ago had very low ongoing costs. spring warming followed by killing frost in To come up with baseline numbers, Karen southern Ontario’s orchard country, excess rain calculated each option’s life-time costs and flooding in parts of the prairies, frequent (summarized in the graph on the next page) using tornados and high winds, excess moisture and current price for fuels, electricity and replacement intensive storm activity in BC. Disease outbreaks, furnaces. She used the interest rate they got on insect infestation and physical damage are all their 15-year financing, and did not factor in taking a toll. The effects of the excess greenhouse general inflation or government grants. She fully gases in the atmosphere are becoming more and expects the prices of fuels, electricity and more dramatic and costly. replacement furnaces to rise in the future. While While farmers are on the front lines when it the interest rate is likely to rise from current lows comes to global warming impacts, farmers like the as well, that is less predictable. Pedersen family - Karen, Ed, Gil and Marcella – NFU members from Cut Knife, Saskatchewan, are also on the front lines when it comes to finding Solar Evacuated Tube Heating ways to reduce fossil fuel consumption. In February 2012 they held an open house – co- Evacuated tubes are hollow cylinders made of sponsored by the NFU – to demonstrate their a double layer of glass with a vacuum solar and wind systems and share what they between the layers. The inner layer is a dark colour so it absorbs heat. The tubes are learned from installing and operating the farm mounted side by side on panels. Copper pipe with renewable energy. filled with a 50‐50 water/glycol mix runs In 2008, the Pedersens had a heating problem through the tubes. The liquid absorbs heat to solve when their old coal-fired furnace wore and is pumped into a series of two insulated out. They wanted to reduce their farm’s GHG storage tanks indoors where heat is absorbed emissions, and they needed to make sure their by 8000 litres of water. The storage tank energy system would make good economic sense. temperatures range from 30 to 70 degrees They use heat to process their honey and to heat a Celsius. The tubes are so efficient that even on 7000 ft2 honey processing and storage building and a cloudy day the water reservoir was warmed two houses. After pencilling it all out, they up by 3 degrees. A control panel regulates the decided to install an active solar hot-water heating pumps and monitors the system. A second system, a photovoltaic electricity panel and four pipe system picks up heat from the storage small wind turbines. While preparing to make the tanks and circulates it through the in‐floor investment in equipment they figured out ways to heating tubes in the buildings. reduce their electricity and heating needs dramatically. Now their farm produces less CO2 A photovoltaic panel supplies electricity and acts as a back‐up system to run the pumps than before, plus their heating and electricity costs that circulate water/glycol through the tubes will not only be lower, but also more predictable. and prevent the system from boiling over if The first step was to examine the economics of the provincial power grid fails on a sunny day. the various heating options. They looked at The amount of solar energy that would boil installing a natural gas system, using geothermal the panels is enough to generate the needed heat, or installing a solar system. Karen backup electricity. emphasized that it is essential to look at the long- continued on page 18… 18 The Union Farmer Quarterly/Fall 2012

System Costs over 25 Years at Current Prices (not accounting for inflation or grants) Installation Operation Interest

$300,000

$250,000

$200,000

$150,000

$100,000

$50,000

$- Coal & Natural Gas Geothermal Solar Thermal Conservation Propane

Karen was surprised to learn how heavily Otherwise, they would have purchased a system geothermal heating depends upon electricity. It is that was bigger than necessary and paid excess cheaper to install than solar thermal, but much costs for capital, installation, interest and more expensive to run. It would only reduce GHG maintenance over the life of the system. emissions if the electricity source was renewable, The Pedersens chose evacuated tube active so it may not be any more environmentally sound solar technology, not only because it was the most than coal or natural gas. While coal & propane economical, but also because they can service it and natural gas appear less expensive, as these themselves, unlike gas and geothermal. They fuels’ prices rise, operating and installation costs already had a central hydronic (radiant heat from will increase -- plus they contribute to global hot water) heating system, so they could just warming, and in the case of natural gas from change the heat source from coal to solar. The fracking, it causes water pollution as well. Clearly, new system does not require daily maintenance as the most cost-effective energy upgrade is the coal system did. There is no fire risk, and the conservation. farm’s GHG emissions are significantly reduced. Once the decision was made to install the Probably the biggest plus is that they do not have renewable energy system, the Pedersens did an to worry about the increasing cost of energy – the energy audit of the buildings and installed sun is very generous with its rays! conservation measures. About $30,000 went into In addition to the photovoltaic panel for insulation, new windows, weather-stripping and emergency power to the solar heating system’s even duct tape to seal doors that are not used in pumps, the Pedersens installed four small wind winter. Once they started becoming more turbines to supply general farm electricity. It is conscious of heat leakage they noticed all sorts of hooked up to Saskatchewan’s net metering ways they could easily reduce losses. program, which allows small power producers to It was important to do energy conservation feed into the main grid when they are producing upgrades before buying the new equipment. more than they need, and to draw upon the grid

continued on page 19… The Union Farmer Quarterly/Fall 2012 19 when they need more than they are producing. speeds, and the cost is about the same as for one The program allows a small producer to offset up large turbine. They had no concerns about space, to 100% of their annual electricity costs, but as they used a hilly spot on pasture land where the unlike the feed-in tariff system used in some cows happily graze right up to the pillars. The jurisdictions, it does not pay them if they produce windmills have not been as trouble-free as more than they use. expected, however. In future, if the farm needs Similar to the preparation for the solar heating more electricity they will install more photovoltaic installation, the first step in setting up the wind panels, which will provide a better return on turbines was conservation. They started weekly investment. monitoring of their electricity use in September The Pedersens were able to direct 100% of their 2009. They borrowed a “Kill-a-Watt” – a gadget purchasing dollars for this project to Saskatchewan that tells how much electricity each circuit draws. and Alberta small businesses. The system cost That information allowed them to focus their about $150,000 and was partially offset by grants efforts and make good decisions about how to use under programs that the provincial and federal less electricity. Between then and February 2012 governments have since cut. We can be sure that their annual usage dropped from 35,000 to 20,000 fossil fuel prices will increase in the future. kilowatts per year. Alternative energy source prices will probably go By installing four small turbines instead of one up as well, due to the fossil fuels used in big one they will still have some electricity during manufacturing components. As a result of putting routine maintenance or break-downs. If one is off in this renewable energy system now the Pedersens line, the other three will keep spinning. The believe their farm will be as competitive as smaller turbines also start working at lower wind possible into the future. —nfu—

Photo: Karen Pedersen in front of the honey house. Evacuated tubes are mounted on the wall, and the photovoltaic panel is mounted on a stand next to the doorway. Karen would be happy to talk with anyone interested in their project – phone: (306) 398-3633 or email: [email protected] 20 The Union Farmer Quarterly/Fall 2012 Dear Friends of the Canadian Wheat Board

Thank you to all of you who have registered to join our class action and constitutional challenge to restore the wheat board. We are immensely grateful to those who have donated money towards financing our legal challenges. As well as a big “thank you”, this report is an update about our activities and our expectations for the coming months.

“Parliament can make laws, Parliament can change laws, and Parliament can repeal laws, but Parliament cannot break the law.” - Allen Oberg, farmer-elected Chairperson of the Canadian Wheat Board, October 2011

A BRIEF HISTORY December 6 and 7, 2011: Justice Campbell listened to verbal arguments put forward by the 2007: The Friends of the Canadian Wheat Board FCWB, the CWB, and other interveners (the (FCWB) was formed in order to take the federal Producer Car Shippers of Canada, the Council of government to court over the illegal use of a secret Canadians, and the ETC Group, PSAC, and Food Cabinet order to remove barley from the jurisdiction Secure Canada) and counter arguments from the of the CWB. We were successful with this legal Federal Government. On December 7, Justice action in the Federal Court, and we successfully Campbell ruled in our favour, and wrote that the defended our victory in the Federal Court of Appeal actions of the Minister of Agriculture (Gerry Ritz) were in Winnipeg in February of 2008. “an affront to the rule of law.” According to a peer-reviewed study by two professors based in the United States who had access December 15 and 16: Just days after introducing to the CWB’s internal sales data, the single desk Bill C-18 into Parliament, the Harper government used marketing of barley brought an extra $107 million into extra-ordinary procedural moves to bypass full farmers’ pockets each year. So the FCWB victories democratic Parliamentary debate. The Bill was signed (your victories) on barley amounted to $535 million into law on the night of December 15, 2011. The over the last 5 years. Your actions made over ½ a farmer-elected Directors were immediately dismissed billion dollars extra for farmers! and the assets of the Wheat Board were seized.

The following morning, December 16, the former December 2010: 4 out of 5 Directors elected to Directors appeared before Justice Perlmutter in the the CWB Board supported single desk selling, giving Manitoba Court of Queen’s Bench asking for a stay of a majority of 8 out of 10 farmer-elected Directors implementation of the Bill pending a resolution of all who supported the single desk, yet within a year the outstanding court proceedings, as the government had Federal Government introduced legislation to end already announced that it would appeal the December our single desk Wheat Board. 7 ruling. Justice Perlmutter refused to grant the stay of implementation but set January 17 and 18 for a further June 2011: The FCWB filed legal documents hearing on the matter. with the Federal Court focused on Section 47.1 of the 1998 CWB Act. This law stipulated that before January 2012: The FCWB incorporated to the Minister could introduce legislation into formalize its direction by the main supporting Parliament affecting the CWB, the Minister was organizations and individuals — including the former required to allow farmers to vote if a grain was to be single desk supporting elected Directors, the Canadian removed from or added to the CWB’s mandate. The Wheat Board Alliance, the National Farmers Union, CWB itself (under the direction of its farmer- the earlier version of the FCWB, and the Producer Car elected Board) filed a similar action and the Federal Shippers Association of Canada. Court combined the two. continued on page 21… The Union Farmer Quarterly/Fall 2012 21

January 17 and 18, 2012: The FCWB May 23, 2012: The Federal Court of Appeal con- supported the former elected Directors in front of vened in Ottawa and heard the appeal of the December Justice Perlmutter making our case for a stay of 7 ruling. Only 3 ½ hours were allotted to hear from 4 sets implementation until a ruling about the actual of lawyers, and about two weeks later this court over- validity of the Bill was determined. The newly turned the December 7 ruling of Justice Campbell and appointed Judge took 5 weeks to rule against us. sided with the federal government.

February 15, 2012: The FCWB launched a July 26, 2012: Both the former elected Directors and comprehensive constitutional challenge based on the FCWB announced they had instructed their the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and a class respective legal counsels to seek leave to appeal to the action suit against the federal government. This Supreme Court of Canada regarding a Federal Court of class action calls for the restoration of the single Appeal ruling overturning a December 6, 2011 ruling by desk, OR for more than $17 Billion in damages Federal Justice Campbell. In that ruling Justice and compensation paid to the farmers of western Campbell found that the Federal Agriculture Minister Canada. had broken the law by introducing legislation ending the single desk selling responsibilities of the CWB.

STAND WITH US TO PRESERVE DEMOCRATIC FARMER CONTROL & THE RULE OF LAW Farmers and non-farmers alike have donated literally thousands of hours of volunteer time in order to stand up to the reckless and irresponsible actions of the federal government. Ottawa has ripped up the 1998 partnership agreement that created the farmer-controlled Wheat Board, and walked away with the farmers’ assets. In destroying the world’s largest marketer of wheat and barley, the government has taken wealth and market power away from western Canadian farmers. Working with coalitions is always demanding work, but throwing in three different court proceedings and four different legal firms has naturally added to the time required. One thing that has never changed is the FCWB’s focus on farmers and basic Canadian democratic principles including that no one - not even the Prime Minister or Parliament - is above the rule of law. All of this conflict could have been avoided if the government had simply obeyed the law and respected Section 47.1 of the 1998 CWB Act by holding a fair and democratic farmer vote.

WHAT CAN YOU DO AT THIS POINT? HERE ARE A FEW SUGGESTIONS:

1. Contact us with good ideas: [email protected] or mail to: Box 41, Brookdale, MB R0K 0G0.

2. Sign up in support of the $17 Billion class action. It creates no legal obligation on you. Simply go to the website at www.cwbclassaction.ca or download the form from www.friendsofcwb.ca or ask us to mail a form to you.

3. Inform your friends and neighbours (regardless of whether or not they are farmers) and let them know that we are still taking the fight to the government.

4. Donate towards our work ‐ if you know people who haven’t yet supported us financially, please ask them to do so, or send us their contact information and we will contact them directly. Send your donation to the NFU, but mark “CWB legal fund” on the cheque.

And once again, thank you for your ongoing support of basic Canadian democratic principles and the FCWB.

“The greatest achievement through the centuries in the evolution of democratic governance has been constitutionalism and the rule of law. The rule of law is not the rule by laws where citizens are bound to comply with the laws but government is not.” - Alberta Chief Justice Fraser Thanks again, Stewart Wells 22 The Union Farmer Quarterly/Fall 2012

JOHN WILCOX We Remember … November 9, 1941 – June 15, 2012

We are sad to announce that John Wilcox passed away very suddenly late this spring. John was a long-time member and supporter of the NFU and The Farmers’ Institute of BC. John and his partner, Sue Earle, often hosted NFU members, including NFU Vice-President Colleen Ross on a recent organizing trip to BC and the 2011 NFU youth summer Food Sovereignty Youth Retreat. John and Sue were gracious and giving hosts. Known as a “farmbudsman”, John was always an engaged citizen. He was born in Windsor, Ontario, and raised by his grandparents on their six-generation family farm. He studied agriculture at Ridgetown College, and after graduating in 1961, he volunteered in a Ghandian Village Devel- opment in rural India. Being the first agricultural volunteer, he became a founding member of Canadian Overseas Volunteers (now CUSO-VSO). Back in Ontario, he wrote farm news for the Department of Agriculture. He ‘emigrated’ to BC in 1964 and worked for four years in Land Use Planning with the BC government in Victoria. John moved to Salt Spring Island in 1973 to fulfill a lifelong dream to bring 25 acres of farmland into production, and worked on coastal tugs to help make ends meet. In 1990 he bought Duck Creek Farm, and today it is a productive, beautiful, peaceful place where good wholesome food is produced while young and old alike come to learn and relax. John Wilcox, is also very well known as “Johnny Canuck” for his anti-Free Trade mission in 1988 when he drove his 1941 Chevy truck with a maple leaf painted on it across Canada and back. John’s contribution to agriculture, farming and community on Salt Spring Island and beyond is a testament to his dedication to humanity and selfless giving to others. John is missed and remembered by family, his farming community, and friends across Canada.

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VIOLET AUGUSTA ROSE RICKARDS Life Member of NFU Local 316 (Frontenac, Lennox-Addington and Kingston in Ontario)

Violet Rickards passed away on May 25, 2012, in her ninetieth year. Violet was a Local Director and President in the 1960s and 70s. Her contribution to the Union and farm community was recognized by the National Board in 1989 with one of the organization's Twentieth Anniversary awards. Violet (Vi, Viney, Buttercup) was a daughter, a sister, a wife, a mom, a grandma, a great-grandma and a friend. She was a farmer, a teacher, a politician and an amazing cook and homemaker. Violet loved her family and understood that the land fed them. Indeed, her love and respect for the land attracted others to her family farm. She understood economics from a very intelligent perspective, and she practiced what she preached, with Photo: Violet Rickards with granddaughters, compassion for everyday people and a passion for social justice Andrea Cumpson (left) and Lisa Cumpson, in the world. She talked with and listened to other farmers. She during the Margaret Atwood Prison Farm Rally read widely about very serious issues, and understood and in Kingston, Ontario, June, 2010. could clearly articulate these issues. She remained a strong supporter of the NFU, getting frequent updates and reports from her granddaughter, Andrea Cumpson, and others. She read The Union Farmer cover to cover and wrote letters to the editor of her local newspaper on farm and food issues. In 2010, she single-handedly organized fellow residents at Rideaucrest Home in opposition to the federal government's decision to close Canada's prison farms. She collected signatures and presented them in person to her MP, Peter Milliken. She also attended the Margaret Atwood prison farm rally in Kingston and marched to Correctional Service of Canada's Ontario headquarters in the protest against the closings. Violet wrote her own obituary, and in it asked family and friends to make donations to NFU Local 316 to support the ongoing work of building a more sustainable local food system where people matter -- Violet's life-long work. As a result, her community contributed over $2,000. Andrea Cumpson, former president of Local 316, said, “Grandma had a spunky fun side that drew people to her. Directly and indirectly, her strong essence and spirit will inspire us as we continue with our journey through this life.” 23 The Union Farmer Quarterly/Fall 2012

The Paul Beingessner Award for Excellence in Writing

The Beingessner Award is named after Paul Beingessner of Truax, Saskatchewan, who passed away in the spring of 2009 in a tragic farm accident. Paul was born on April 26, 1954, and returned to the family farm after obtaining his BA (Hon) in Psychology in 1976 and working with youth in Regina for a few years. Described as the “godfather of modern shortline railways” by former NFU President Stewart Wells, Paul was instrumental in the founding of Saskatchewan’s first shortline railway, Southern Rails Co‐operative, and served as general manager from 1991 to 1997. When he left Southern Rails, he stayed on as a board member, and worked with the Ministry of Highways Short Line Advisory Unit supporting other efforts of farmers to start shortline railways. Since 1991, Paul wrote a weekly column on farming and transportation issues with a social justice focus featured in papers across Western Canada. After leaving the government in 1999, his expertise on transportation issues resulted in consulting work across Western Canada and the United States. Beingessner also served as a Saskatchewan Wheat Pool Delegate from 1996 to 1998, and was an ardent supporter of the CWB and ran for the position of director in 2008.

Working with the family of Paul Beingessner, the National Farmers Union has established an annual literary prize in honour of Paul and his contribution to rural and agricultural journalism. Paul Beingessner was a farmer, an activist, and a writer who defended Canada’s family farms until his tragic death in a farm accident in the spring of 2009. His widely‐read and respected weekly columns brought a fresh and progressive perspective to rural and farm issues.

Young writers are encouraged to submit their work to the Paul Beingessner Award for Excellence in Writing.

Award Criteria and Details:

• There will be two age categories – 15 years and under, and 16 years to 21 years. An award in the amount of $500 will be awarded to one essay in each age category for a non‐fiction letter or essay 500‐1000 words in length.

• The theme for 2012 is Co‐operatives: An Exercise in Democracy.

• Deadline for entries is October 15, 2012.

• The prizes of $500.00 will be awarded at the NFU Convention in November 2012.

All or some entries may be published by the National Farmers Union.

Send entries to the National Farmers Union: By email: [email protected] OR By mail to: National Farmers Union, 2717 Wentz Ave., Saskatoon, SK, S7K 4B6

We will confirm that we received your email submission within a week. If you do not get a confirmation email, please resend your entry or phone the office at (306) 652‐9465. NFU BOARD MEMBERS AND OFFICES

Regional Offices: Region 1: Tax: 559 Route 390, Rowena, NB E7H 4N2 Ph: (506) 273‐4328 Financial Services: 120 Bishop Dr., Summerside, PEI C1N 5Z8 Ph: (902) 436‐1872 Region 3: 5420 Hwy 6 N., RR 5, Guelph, ON N1H 6J2 Ph: (888) 832‐9638 Region 5: Newdale Shopping Centre, Room 209, 2989 Pembina Hwy., Winnipeg, MB R3T 2H5 Ph: (204) 261‐0500 Region 6: 2717 Wentz Avenue, Saskatoon, SK S7K 4B6 Ph: (306) 652‐9465

National Officers and Directors: Terry Boehm, President, Allan, SK; Colleen Ross, 1st Vice President (Policy), Iroquois, ON; Don Mills, 2nd Vice President (Operations), Granton, ON; Joan Brady, Women’s President, Dashwood, ON; Kathleen Charpentier, Women’s Vice President, Castor, AB; Cammie Harbottle, Youth President, Tatamagouche, NS; Paul Slomp, Youth Vice President, Ottawa, ON; Randall Affleck, Region 1 Coordinator, Bedeque, PEI; Betty Brown, Region 1 Board Member, Summerfield, NB; Ann Slater, Region 3 Coordinator, Lakeside, ON; Joe Dama, Region 3 Board Member, Leamington, ON; Alvaro Venturelli, Region 3 Board Member, Branchton, ON; Ian Robson, Region 5 Coordinator, Deleau, MB; Bev Stow, Region 5 Board Member; Ed Sagan, Region 6 Coordinator, Melville, SK; Glenn Tait, Region 6 Board Member, Meota, SK; Dixie Green, Region 6 Board Member, Swift Current, SK; Jan Slomp, Region 7 Coordinator, Rimbey, AB; Doug Scott, Region 7 Board Member, Waskatenau, AB; Peter Eggers, Region 8 Coordinator, La Glace, AB; Neil Peacock, Region 8 Board Member, Sexsmith, AB.

Women’s Advisory Committee: Marion Drummond, Freetown, PE; Karen Eatwell, Denfield, ON; Kate Storey, Grandview, MB; Marcella Pedersen, Cut Knife, SK; Joyce Ollikka, Newbrook, AB.

Youth Advisory Committee: Farrah Carter, Sackville, NB; Coral Sproule, Perth, ON; Annalisa Schoppe, Poplar Point, MB; Brenda Bakken, Archerwill, SK; Blake Hall, Castor, AB; Lisa Lundgard, Grimshaw, AB.

rd NFU 43 Annual Convention

Co-ops: An Exercise in Democracy nd th November 22 to 24 , 2012 Hilton Garden Inn Downtown 90- 22nd Street East, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Reserve your hotel room today. A block of rooms is being held, but only until October 19, 2012. (Be sure to say it is for the NFU Convention when booking.)

Room rates are $164 (king or 2 queens, includes parking)

To make your reservations: CALL 1-306-244-2311