(OTTAWA) – Farm leaders from the Canadian Federation of Agriculture appeared before the Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture and Forestry today to deliver a presentation on farm incomes, present and future. Addressing the Committee were CFA President Bob Friesen, CFA First Vice President Laurent Pellerin from Quebec, and CFA Second Vice President Marvin Shauf from Saskatchewan.

“Canadian farmers are very concerned with the income situation, both in terms of addressing the immediate, short-term need, and building long-term solutions,” said Bob Friesen, CFA President. “Farm organizations exist to bring these messages from the grassroots to the decision makers. CFA welcomed the opportunity to present these messages to the Senators of the Standing Committee, as they represent an important part of the decision-making process.”

CFA told the Senate Committee Canadian farmers have been calling, through their farm organizations, for the government to commit to a multi-year investment in agriculture to help farmers transition through the short-term while long-term strategies are being developed. The recent budget made a significant financial commitment to agriculture, but farmers are concerned about how that money will flow. Industry needs more information regarding whether the government intends to use inventory valuation to flow the money. Industry has indicated it is willing to work with government to ensure the money reaches those who need it in a timely fashion.

For the long term CFA identified to the senators the need for a strategic approach to agriculture policy and funding – programs and policies that create an environment that attracts investment and promotes initiative. Farm leaders stressed the importance of preserving systems currently in place that work for farmers, such as supply management and the Canadian Wheat Board, as well as looking outside our borders for models that work, such as programs in the U.S. that ‘prime the pump’ for industry growth.

CFA presented its own draft proposals for long-term strategy including its Canadian Farm Bill proposal and draft Canadian Renewable Fuels strategy. Both documents can be found on the CFA web site: www.cfa-fca.ca

“We had a good discussion with the senators of the Committee,” said Friesen. “There is a clear willingness to hear ideas and industry views and to work together collaboratively to move this industry forward.”

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Founded in 1935 to provide Canada's farmers with a single voice in Ottawa, the Canadian Federation of Agriculture is the country's largest farmers' organization. Its members include provincial general farm organizations as well as national and inter-provincial commodity organizations from every province. Through its members, CFA represents over 200,000 Canadian farmers and farm families.