Grain Dryer - LNN file photo

By Alice McFarlane

Agriculture mentioned in federal budget but short on details

Apr 20, 2021 | 2:16 PM

OTTAWA, ONT. — There wasn’t any specific announcements for agriculture in Monday’s federal budget.

Saskatchewan’s Agricultural Producers Association president, Todd Lewis, noted the carbon tax and agriculture were mentioned but there was not a lot of details.

“We saw a piece about rebating some of the carbon tax back towards farms. It’s not insignificant funding, it’s $100 million – it’ll be interesting to see what’s announced down the road.”

Lewis said there was also word of $50 million to help farmers purchase more energy efficient grain dryers.

There was a promise of $1 billion over six years toward universal broadband to support rural families and farm businesses, which Lewis hopes Saskatchewan can get its share of this new money.

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The National Farmers Union (NFU) was happy to see action being taken toward implementation of a universal childcare program.

The Early Learning and Child Care and Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care program will be allocated $30 billion. The NFU has been advocating for increased childcare spending and a national childcare strategy for many years.

NFU Women’s Vice President Coral Sproule said life for rural families has been especially challenging during the pandemic with many working off farm to support their families.

“With children home from school more often, it has meant some of us had to quit off-farm jobs or work a second job from home without childcare, adding to the stress we already experience that just naturally comes with farming.”

The federal budget committed significant new money to programs to help reduce agricultural greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions including $200 million over two years to fund programs to improve nitrogen fertilizer-use efficiency, accelerate cover crop adoption, and expand rotational grazing.

NFU President Katie Ward said these programs represent much of what the NFU and the Farmers for Climate Solutions (FCS) were asking for.

The Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) was pleased with several key announcements in the budget that recognized a number of the CFA’s pre-budget submission recommendations.

President Mary Robinson said CFA has spoke about the role of agriculture and agri-food for the Canadian economy and as a climate solutions-provider.

“As a truly essential industry, Canadian agriculture has the ability to hit the ground running and be a powerful economic engine for Canada’s recovery.”

Robinson went on to state, “With the proper investments and infrastructure, CFA believes Canadian agriculture is in a unique position of becoming a net carbon sink while being a powerful engine of economic growth for Canada.”