Agriculture committee  Mr. Chair, there was mention of beef and pork possibly going under supply management or some type of system. I think a big answer to our problems is managing our supply. When we get caught in overproducing, just like a lot of commodity markets, it drives the bottom out of the market.

Agriculture committee  I really don't think it is. I think it should be, but I think there are far too many producers who don't pay enough attention to their operations and to their costs and their banking. I don't think there are enough out there who do know their costs.

Agriculture committee  Along with that, maybe there could be access to funds and access to using professionals, as I mentioned.

Agriculture committee  Yes, exactly. Some guys need opportunities to figure these things out and need some help. I'm not saying to go out and buy everybody a consultant for a couple of days, but if people want to know their costs of production, they need some enablement to do so. As Nathan said, my grandfather has slips from selling slaughter cattle in 1977, getting $1.88.

Agriculture committee  I would probably have to say it's zero to one.

Agriculture committee  Pretty low; yes, it's really low. With the way the world is today, there are so many different things for young people to do. When they're taught and bred computers in school, when they leave school, obviously that's what they know. It goes along with the average consumer being so far away from the farm.

Agriculture committee  First, I appreciate your compliments, for sure. That's one thing I should note. I know there's lots of talk about the issues we're facing, and the province is facing, but we have lots of optimism. We're here because we see there is a future and we all plan to be part of that future.

Agriculture committee  So we kind of run into a bit of an issue there, but I think that can be overcome with proper information.

Agriculture committee  I believe that.

Agriculture committee  Yes, I think that would be huge. It goes along with the consumer today being misinformed. Not to say that the consumer isn't educated, but it needs to be as clear as possible. As you say, there's just a lack of clarity. It says it's “packaged here” and “processed here”, but it's either from here or it's not.

Agriculture committee  Well, Nathan covered most of the points. I'd just like to add that it's one thing if the imports were produced at anywhere close to the standards that we're forced to produce, but I mean, there's just no way we can compete when we have the CFIA, we have traceability, and we have so many things to account to.