Dear Editor,
In light of the recent devastation that has been occurring in Bristol around the 6th Line, a fire has been lit in me. It is high time to stand up to the abuse that multi-million dollar agriculture companies are ravaging on our countryside. The flip side of the story reveals . . .
that, as these industrial agriculture companies are being applauded by the UPA, young organic farmers using sustainable practices are still being pushed to the back burner.
The UPA (L’Union des producteur agricoles) who declares it represents all farmers and holds a monopoly over the agriculture system in Quebec is partially to blame, along with our municipal, provincial and federal governments. This was vividly put before me at two AGMs I attended this week, one UPA and the other Union Paysanne respectfully.
Apparently farm land can be bought, cleared, sprayed with copious amounts of chemicals and watered with an irrigation system to provide green sod. This sod will be used to cover other farmland that has been rezoned around Gatineau/Ottawa to build ticky tacky houses. Meanwhile neighbouring farms are struggling to grow enough hay for livestock.
Apparently it’s okay for someone with ties outside the province to buy huge plots of farmland, not live on it and clear it for we do not know what, meanwhile the new young farmer can’t even find 50 acres that they are allowed to build on. Small producers get no quota even after applying for it consecutive years in a row, while the industrial animal farms seem to be building more barns every year.
The idea that the Canadian government right down to the UPA is encouraging small organic farms or green practices is one of the biggest lies of the century. I am tired of hearing words and not seeing action. I kindly ask those of you who care about these issues to stand up with the new generation of farmers and speak up. We cannot fight this battle alone.
Joshua Wayner
Clarendon, Que.
