Well, ours is different. We're a multi-generational operation. My grandfather came up from the States in 1901 and started farming in our area. To me it's a little ironic, in that he and his brothers custom-broke land for all the neighbours. There were seven of them. They broke land for neighbours for cash so they could eat. The grain they raised, some was fed to the horses and some was exported at that time.
As my dad farmed.... He was an only son, but my grandfather actually had a couple of side businesses. He bought houses and rented them out in the little town of Acme and sold fertilizer off the train. My dad wanted to be just a farmer. He didn't want to have any side businesses, so he was pretty clear on that.
When I started farming in 1983.... It's kind of ironic to talk about the price of land. My great uncle, who was a bachelor, passed away, and we had a land auction and the half section across the road from where I farm now sold for $1,450 an acre in 1983. When I bought my land, it was for $1,000 an acre in 1983. I've managed to scrape and scrabble along, and I've bought land and sold land. For me, being active in the politics and these kinds of things has been about my daughters and my nephews, to try to find a way forward with some freedom.
I agree with Brian, we don't want the government in every aspect of our business. I think it's frustrating to see others in other areas of Canada and North America get subsidies that we don't get. The fact that dried distillers' grains are coming up to these guys' neighbours from subsidized ethanol plants, and they can't ship their durum south because of rules we have, that's frustrating for me. It's hard for me to really be positive with my nephews and my daughters about it. But at the same time, they really love the industry and want to give it a go. How it works for them, time will tell. It will probably be up to their business acumen, how well it goes.
I think we really have to face the reality of the competitive environment and how hard it is. Once you do that and try to work your way forward, it's easier than wishing for things that maybe aren't possible.