"AgriFlex" hope turned out to be an "Agriflop"

Here’s the lowdown on the agricultural flexibility component of the federal budget:

• The federal budget contains a $500-million, five-year commitment for flexible funding of agriculture programs “that will help the sector adapt to pressures and improve its competitiveness.”


• BUT business risk management programs are specifically excluded from the flexible funding envelope.


• From Page 167 of the 2009 Federal Budget:
  
  “Budget 2009 announces new measures to build on this strong foundation.
  The Government will implement a five-year, $500 million agricultural flexibility program that will facilitate the implementation of new initiatives, both federally and in partnership with provinces, territories and industry.
  
  This program will help the sector adapt to pressures and improve its competitiveness by funding non-business risk-management measures such as those that will reduce costs of production, improve environmental sustainability, promote innovation and respond to market challenges.
  
  Budget 2009 allocates $190 million over two years to support the agricultural flexibility program. The balance will be funded from existing unallocated Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada resources.”

So what now? More than 41,000 farm families will continue to lobby for companion programs with regional flexibility. And they'll need to carry this lesson forward to the next election.