Not a simple failure

Quite frankly, this is a nightmare.

Hundreds of jobs and thousands of people affected in our county.

After 400 years - at least since the Expulsion of 1755- the Valley's agriculture industry is being pasted like never before.

Farmer, agri-businessman, Advertiser columnist and former environment minister Glenn Ells is on target when he says the current series of crises constitute a “bomb.�?

The pork industry had been battered by continuing low prices, a recent bout of pig wasting disease and now is in dire financial straits as it prepares long-term plans - without additional help.

The producers' rally in Halifax earlier this month failed to draw much public attention or support apart, from the usual platitudes.

Then, last week, we were hit by Maple Leaf, shutting down its Canard poultry processing plant. The affect on chicken producers who supply the Maple Leaf plant has yet to be ascertained. Maple Leaf plans to keep its poultry market share - though it won't likely be coming from Kings County or Nova Scotia farms.

Now we learn that the weird weather may take its toll on the coming apple season.

As Berwick Mayor John Prall said of a potential loss of the Larsen’s plant in his town, it's like Stora Enso pulling out of the Canso Strait area.

Agriculture is different from other sectors. It is made up of small holders who don't have the resources to wait out the dry spells. It involves infrastructure that costs to maintain. Both producers and processors are also responsible for increasing food safety and security regulations and costs. As well, agri-food processors are tied to immediate markets and market shares.

Even with the potential loss of pork production, the agriculture industry was concerned about critical mass - and resulting higher costs, or downright unavailability of feed and veterinary services.

Add to this: transportation for everything coming in or going out has been truncated in the Valley for more than a decade because of a lack of rail service and the slow progress of twinning Highway 101.

We can point to instances of political failure - if it were only that simple.

Worst of all, it's now very clear people - the consuming public - just don't care. That has been going on for longer than any government - federal or provincial - has been in power.

The environment is the biggest thing on people's minds, say the polls. It's very fashionable in urban and urbane circles.

Well, nothing is closer to the environment than the agriculture industry and the rural communities in which it's located. But all we hear is fashionable folks crapping on fossil fuels.

If people won't listen, other measures have to be taken to ensure rural concerns, including agriculture, are heard.

So, before it's too late - and it may well already be - provincially and federally 51 per cent of Legislature and House of Commons seats should represent rural ridings. That is the only way to ensure at least political support - though that's not always a given.

Over time, however, the public has to learn rural Canada is more than just a nice place to canoe and ski. It's where our collective bread is grown, processed and buttered.