PE: Meat farmers demand less talk, more action

[CHARLOTTETOWN, PE] — A working group, made up of federal, provincial and industry leaders, will explore options to deal with the current crisis in the red meat sector.

But a leading P.E.I. cattle farmer says the time for talk is over.

Peter Verleun, chairman of the P.E.I. Cattle Producers Board, says farmers need cash now.

P.E.I. Agriculture Minister George Webster and Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Gerry Ritz met in Ottawa last week to discuss issues facing the Prince Edward Island red meat sector, including farmers who produce hogs, cattle, sheep, lamb and goats for the Canadian market.

The ministers agreed on the need for flexible programming. They also agreed to form a working group, including federal, provincial and industry representatives from the region, to explore options to deal with current issues facing the red meat sector. That group will discuss possible programming under the recently announced $500-million Agricultural Flexibility Fund.

Verleun, a cattle producer near Montague, said Prince Edward Island farmers, particularly those in the red meat sector, are suffering. He said the number of cattle is down more than 30 per cent across the Island.

“We don’t need another working group,” said Verleun. “We need cash now.”

At Verleun’s farm, his herd is down by 75 per cent. He used to have more than 100 head of cattle on his farm. He now has 25. The pig barn, meanwhile, sits empty.

Verleun has been forced to work off the farm just to make ends meet.

“I’ve been in this business more than 30 years,” he said. “It’s the worst I’ve seen it.”

Canadian farmers feel they are at a disadvantage because their input costs are significantly higher than their U.S. counterparts. That’s because of Canadian regulations.

Politicians remain hopeful that a solution can be found.

“The Government of Canada is working hard to help our farmers keep their competitive edge and increase their profitability,” said Ritz.

Added Webster: “We will continue to explore mechanisms through which policies can be tailored to work better for our producers.”

But back at Verleun’s farm that sense of hopefulness being touted by the politicians is hard to find. The talk is not about policies and working groups, but about cash.

Verleun said that’s the only way the industry — or what’s left with it — is going to survive. He said if it doesn’t, it will be the Canadian consumer who will pay the price with significant increases in the price of meat, and questions about where that meat is coming from.

“It’s been downhill for a very long time,” said Verleun. “I wish they’d just buckle down and do something.”