Discouraged

[tersta]

It seems you've made the right choices by getting into oil. I agree with you totally about keeping the day job. I don't think small scale farming, without diversified income is feasible, no matter where you are.

[cakadu]

Cowman, I'm not saying that we should forget about the commodities that have gotten big and still need some support. What I would like to see is similar opportunities afforded to the smaller player so that they too could feasibly get off the ground. No one wants hand outs - it doesn't really solve anything.

For me, it would be great if we could put infrastructure in place that would allow for things to happen i.e. a plant that wasn't geared up to do 1,000 of gallons, pounds whatever in a day - something that could handle smaller volumes.

What would also make a lot of sense is beneficial practices for these groups and not regulations that tie your hands beyond belief. How about organizations that will help the smaller player instead of being focused on the bigger guy? How is someone operating a market garden any less important than the fellow who is growing vegetables for export? Both are trying to make a living as best they can.

Some of those crops you mention do grow well here. Shouldn't we be looking at alternative crops, given the climactic changes we've been witnessing over the past 3 or 4 years? Would you have ever dreamt that corn would grow up in these parts (central Alberta)?

There have been significant changes in crops over the past several years so maybe there are enough heat units to grow things we never even thought of before. If the drought conditions continue, we'll have to take a look at growing other things.

A fellow once told me that you're not a true grazier until you can get through a drought. It seems to me that we are going to have to shift our thinking and work towards the extremes we are seeing versus planning for the average.

Prodcuts that have value are the future - we just have to work towards it. Is it going to be easy - probably not - are we going to have to take risks - quite likely - will it take beyond the short term - I have no doubt. I do see a brighter future, when we make the shift.

[tersta]

Cakadu, here's a link that might interest you: http://www.agr.gc.ca/progser/card_e.phtml

The Celebrating the Successes of CARD page gives a bit more detail:
http://www.agr.gc.ca/policy/adapt/success_stories/success_stories.phtml

Down at the bottom there are links to previously supported projects.

I think that if you can come up with The Plan for a small-scale processing plant, you can make it happen. Check out the 'Alberta Value Chain Strategic Initiative' outline on the Regional Success Stories page. That group is on its way. You could either tap into what they're doing, or get their advice on preparing your own proposal.

[cowman]

Linda: I agree that more needs to be done to kick start our growing ag industries. And maybe that doesn't mean direct government money but some legislation to promote and protect fledgling industries. Tough to do now that we have NAFTA!
Maybe some seed money to get a grower owned co-op manufacturing plant up and running for things like berries, veggies, herbs etc.? I suspect that with a fairly secure market these industries could flourish?
The US seems to have no trouble violating the spirit of NAFTA if not the law and so I see no reason we can't do the same.
And of course we all need to do our part...buy the local produce over the imported! Ask your local supermarket manager what is grown here and what isn't. Tell him you prefer local produce.