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Farm Viability and Economic Capacity in Nova Scotia

Media Coverage

December 2003, The CornerPost, Vol. 26, No.10

Measuring Progress

“ Economists do it. Accountants do it. The tax man does it. But when they do it, they all measure results in different ways. Most financial and economic measurements are concerned with indicators such as the Gross Domestic Product, farm cash receipts, net margins, capital assets and so on. They are vital tools for measuring the health of economies, farm operations and other financial activities. ¶ No matter how useful these tools, however, they fail to measure other critical assets which are vital to the sustainability of societies. What is measured is usually a sign of what is valued by a society. If critical social and ecological assets are not counted and valued in a measure of progress, they will not receive sufficient attention from policy makers and industry participants. ”

October 2001, Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture News and Views ~ Laurence Nason

4 out of 5 - Cheating the Law of Averages

“ If anyone has any doubt with respect to seriousness of the challenges being faced by the farm community in Nova Scotia they have only to turn to a report released earlier this year by GPI Atlantic (The Nova Scotia Genuine Progress Index Soils and Agriculture Accounts Part 1: Farm Viability and Economic Capacity in Nova Scotia, April 2001.) That report, more accurately than anyone realized when the report was released, predicts the collapse of a number of our agricultural sectors if agricultural policy in Nova Scotia is not revamped. ”

May 5, 2001, The Halifax Herald ~ Ralph Surette

Down on the farm, before it’s gone

“ The GPI Atlantic report on farm viability in Nova Scotia released last week put a sharp point on it. Alarms have been ringing about dying farms since the 1950s, but GPI’s elaborate "genuine progress" measurements for 1971-99 makes a compelling case that if nothing changes "the future of Nova Scotia agriculture is clearly at risk" - with apple and beef farmers, working way under the cost of production, at greatest risk. ¶ Although total farm receipts have risen slightly in that time, net farm income - what the farmer keeps after expenses - has declined 46 per cent. ”

Nova Scotia farmers face tough choices
Apr. 30, 2001, The Halifax Herald

Apr. 27, 2001, The Kentville Advertiser ~ Brent Fox

Harder to make a living on the farm

“ The 71-page report - "Farm Viability and Economic Capacity In Nova Scotia" - was unveiled at an April 24 news conference hold at the Sheffield Mills community hall and attended by a number of farmers and the provincial media. The study is the first part of an on-going accounting of the province’s genuine index of soils and agriculture. ¶ GPI researcher Jennifer Scott said, "if you’re not economically viable it would be very difficult to produce food." To date, how ever, "our farmers have been very productive. They are producing more and producing better food." ¶ Scott noted, however, that "net farm income has declined, which affects viability." ”

And the farmers say...
Apr. 27, 2001, The Kentville Advertiser ~ Brent Fox
“ Kings County Federation of Agriculture president Hank Bosveld told The Advertiser that though some government statistics are generally questionable, the picture presented by the report "is somewhat realistic." Overall, "I’m quite sure it is bad as is being predicted." ”

Nova Scotians must pay more to keep farms afloat – report
Apr. 25, 2001, The Halifax Daily News
“ Nova Scotians will have to pay more for the food they eat if they want to keep many of the province’s farmers in business, a new report says. ¶ Rising debt loads coupled with stagnate earnings has forced many farmers to take second jobs or cut corners on safety and soil protection, according to the study. ”

Apr. 25, 2001, The Globe and Mail

Nova Scotia farmers’ debts outpace income

“ Halifax — For the first time, Nova Scotia farmers owe more than they grow, according to a new study of farm viability in the province. ¶ Farmers in the province have debts of about $410-million but their total annual farm income is only $385-million, according to a study by GPI Atlantic, a non-profit research group that does studies on sustainable development. The report says many farmers are strapped with rising production costs and low commodity prices and their net income has dropped 46 per cent since 1971. ”
Copyright © 2001, The Globe and Mail

N.S. farmers going broke
Apr. 25, 2001, The Halifax Herald

Are We Making “Genuine Progress” In Agriculture?
Fall 1999, Between The Issues ~ Jennifer Scott
“ Using soil organic matter as her example, Jennifer Scott shows us the sort of background information we need to build a Genuine Progress Index. ”

The Nova Scotia GPI Soils & Agriculture Accounts Part 1: Farm Viability and Economic Capacity in Nova Scotia
April 2001	Natural Capital ~ Soils and Agriculture
Author: Jennifer Scott, MES
Economic viability and capacity of the agricultural sector in Nova Scotia including trends in farm debt, income, costs, and a range of indicators of financial viability.
Abstract	Executive Summary 5 pages 152K PDF
ISBN 0-9731035-3-1	Full Report 71 pages 572K PDF
Press Release	Media Coverage

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