Good morning, Mr. Chairman, members of Parliament, and fellow guests. My name is Robert Godbout. I'm a grain and oilseeds producer from Grand Falls, New Brunswick. I'm also the director of the Atlantic Grains Council. With me today is Monique McTiernan, our executive director.
First, I would like to thank you for the opportunity to be here today and to share our thoughts with you on the future of farming and young farmers.
As you can see, I do not quite fit this category. The reason I'm presenting is that there are few young farmers to be found in the grain and oilseeds sector and this is probably one of the busiest times of the year for producers.
Since incorporation in 1984, the Atlantic Grains Council has been the only regional voice representing grain and oilseeds producers on a regional and national basis. Membership consists of five full members and eight associate members, representing grain and oilseeds producers, processors, handlers, traders, input suppliers, and researchers.
The council has a very active research foundation. It is a founding member of the Grain Growers of Canada and a voting member of the Canadian Grain Commission eastern standards committee.
Issues need to be addressed to ensure that young farmers will have a future in the grain and oilseeds sector. Following a written request to Minister Ritz in September 2009 seeking funding solutions for cultivar research for the region, a reply from the minister was received by our chairman, Allan Ling, on November 18, 2009, stating that the Atlantic Grains Council could also apply for funding under the Growing Canadian Agri-Innovations program, through the Canadian Agri-Science Clusters initiative, or through the Developing Innovative Agri-Products initiative.
Following this encouraging advice from the minister, the council, with seven partners and three provincial governments, and support across the eastern Canada region, Ontario east, formed a coalition and submitted a cluster proposal in December 2009, looking at increasing the economic impact of the canola and soybean industries in eastern Canada for producers and processors. This would be accomplished by helping to obtain germplasm to address the need to improve functional foods' agronomic value; develop techniques to simplify breeding and selection for large populations; evaluate new lines of short-season varieties; and implement new value-added GM and non-GM oilseed food products.
This was a $9.6-million project involving AFC breeders, with $2.5 million committed by the private sector. The Eastern Canada Oilseeds Development Alliance Inc. was very disappointed to receive a letter from Dr. Johnston, director of the innovation directorate of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, on April 12, informing that the eastern Canada oilseeds development cluster was not approved.
The council is wondering why eastern Canada has been shut out of the cluster program. We have pretty well lost our livestock industry and are trying to find alternative crops to grow. The new crops will need to rotate well with potatoes, and this cluster would have looked at that issue. If one of their reasons is too many applicants and lack of funding, I think it demonstrates the need for more research. A second round of projects and funding should be initiated.
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada has played an immense role in the development of agriculture in this region and for the past century has been the key research institute in the region, having small grain and oilseeds work done at four research stations in the region, but we have seen an erosion of this service, going from 28 research scientists to five. At the moment, the only research station doing any cereal and oilseed work is in Charlottetown, and there is only one scientist in the region. This erosion cannot continue.
Since 1994 we have seen a drop of over 40% in government funding for research in grain and oilseeds. We are a small region with a very specific maritime climate. Varieties that may do well in the west, or even in Quebec and Ontario, may not do well or may become more disease-susceptible here. Your policy must support public research—more specifically, A-based funding of AgCanada research stations and scientists in the grain and oilseeds sector to ensure that the region has varieties that will thrive in our region so that farmers can continue growing grain and oilseeds profitably.
Without long-term research goals, our young farmers may not continue to farm. An investment in research is an investment in youth.
The disease fusarium head blight thrives very well in our cold, moist climate and has the potential to destroy our small grains industry in the Maritimes if not brought under control. The region is in the fourth year of an epidemic level. Unfortunately, we have the 3-Ac-DON, or 3-acetyl-deoxynivalenol, which produces higher levels than the 15-ac-DON found in western Canada.
Long term, it would be controlled by having resistant varieties, but we all know the length of time required to breed varieties. All new work needs to be considered as part of the important frontal attack. Education is another avenue that must be addressed.
Without viable cereal grains options, again, our young people are reluctant to farm.
Our infrastructure used to be updated. With grain prices having been low for such a long period of time, the producers have been unable to upgrade their facilities. Upgrading will allow producers to not only properly condition and store their products but to participate in new value-added opportunities.
The council had the opportunity to meet with Minister Ritz in Halifax in February 2009. He informed the council that infrastructure funding was available, but we are still wondering how to access these funds.
In conclusion, the council feels that there is a future for young farmers in the region, but things need to change. On the plus side, we would like to acknowledge the support young farmers from across Canada receive from the Canadian Young Farmers' Forum. This is an excellent organization that gives young farmers the opportunity to connect several times a year to discuss issues of policy and share information.
First, our youth need to see a firm commitment on public research that deals with some of our key agronomic problems. We are a feed-deficient region of Canada, yet we have the potential to do so much more.
Second, they need to see safety nets that work, especially in the beginning years of a farming career, when one doesn't have the resources or capital to withstand a bad year.
Third, they want to see a vision of commitment from the federal government so that they can commit their lives to this industry. The government will be their partner for the long term.
The planting farmers are innovative and entrepreneurial. They do not believe government owes them a living, but they do believe the government owes them a policy and regulatory environment in which they can make an honest living, which does not include selling crops below the cost of production. Our youth need a reason to farm, and they are hopeful that your commitment will make a solid recommendation that encourages them to do so.
Thank you for the opportunity to be here today and for allowing us to share our concerns. We look forward to your questions.