Hello? Minister Ritz

If you could speak to the Federal Agriculture Minister about the state of Manitoba’s cattle industry, what exactly would you say?

“I am deeply concerned for the future of the cattle industry, Mr. Ritz, and for the future of our young people in agriculture.

We are nearing retirement and our children want to be fifth generation farmers. We want to see our children remain in the cattle business but it is very difficult for parents to encourage this and transfer the farm over to them when there is a feeling of no hope for the future right now.

We don’t want a handout. We want the government to help us fix the industry.
This has gone for five years now and has become progressively worse. The programs that are supposed to help us are absolutely useless. We were given a CAIS payment and then it was taken back.

Our children love to show cattle, especially our son. He wants to continue on but as a parent, I need to know. Is there a future for him in the cattle business?”
- Beverley Abey, Brandon, Manitoba.

“As an industry we are losing our young people. Guys in their 40s are getting out and if things don’t improve in agriculture, there isn’t going to be anybody to take our place. If you look at the age of producers now, many are in their 50s & 60s. All will be gone in next 10 years. So I’m wondering, what is the vision for agriculture in the next 20 years? Right now the question is, how do we survive until the next year. How do you make plans when Canola is $16 in the summer and $10 now?”
- Cow calf & grain producer, Ian Grossart, Brandon

“Cattle producers are in desperate need of support in order to have a future.
And if there isn’t some help for these young kids who want to raise cattle, then there won’t be family farms in this country in the future. Where are we going to get food to feed Canadians?

Our cost of production has gone up drastically over the last few years and the price we receive for our product is dropping every time we turn around.

I think that family farms are very important to the rural communities and they are suffering because the livestock industry in Manitoba is suffering so bad.

Also, the government has to get behind our youth by supporting junior events and shows that bring young people together and teach them new skills.

Our son bought some land and wants to farm but he’s working in the oil fields in Saskatchewan. Even with family support, young people can’t farm today.”
- Purebred Angus breeder, Lois McRae, Brandon

“Take a long hard look at the cattle industry, it’s brutal right now. There are too many people going out of business. And grain isn’t much better. None of the programs seem to work for us. There are so many cows being sold right now it’s terrible.”
- Cattle and grain farmer, Calvin Pizzey, Foxwarren.

“My name is Anthony Lewis. I came from Wales to farm in Canada. I bought my first farm in Sundown, Manitoba in 1996. I have since expanded and moved to the Neepawa area and then in 2003, BSE hit and put a halt to the industry.

In 2004, I received a cheque from CAIS for $4,800 and then in 2006 the government told us they wanted the money back. Why has the government designed a program that gives farmers money and then takes it back?

I am also concerned about the cost of inputs, especially fertilizer. We cannot afford to properly manage our land at the current price.

And when the prices are high the media reports that farmers are making lots of money but then when prices go down, not much is said. There is no effort put forward by the government to educate city people about the importance of farming to this country. The general public doesn’t even realize there is a problem with agriculture.

It would be nice for you to meet with the cattlemen’s association and get this sorted out. I’m sure if you agreed to come to an open meeting here in Manitoba to meet with farmers, there would be a lot of us there.”
- Cow-calf producer, Anthony Lewis, Arden Manitoba.