Media Clipping — Thursday July.31st, 2008, Truro Daily News

More Farmland Protection Needed

For several months, danger warnings regarding the inability of Nova Scotia farmers to compete against the flood of cheaper imports have been sounded.

Farmers have said on several occasions this province is running the risk of being unable to feed itself during a time of crisis.

Unfortunately, no one has been listening and consumers, more interested in lower prices than where the food they eat originates, have been oblivious to the fact most of the food stocking grocery shelves in Nova Scotia is from another province or country.

With the release of a report Wednesday by the Halifax-based non-profit group GPI Atlantic, it appears as though there's something else we should be worried about.

The report suggests Nova Scotia could have the ability to feed itself, but it must do more to protect farm land. In the face of rising commodity, fuel and transportation costs, GPI Atlantic feels the province should not allow its best growing land fall into the hands of developers.

Jennifer Scott, who prepared the report, said the desire to reduce dependence on imports is rekindling interest in healthy local food systems, but there are problems finding enough land on which to grow crops.

The ongoing crisis in agriculture has resulted in many farmers walking away from the industry and the land being sold to developers.

While it has become a major issue in the Annapolis Valley, it has the potential to become a thorny issue in Colchester County as well.

Farmers must be given a way to compete. That includes making sure they have a chance to receive fair market value for their products.

At the same time, it's up to the province to begin setting aside land designated for agricultural use so that when one generation of farmers retires, there'll be something there for younger generations.

Right now, there's nothing there for older farmers or younger farmers and that spells bad news for the industry and for the province.

Copyright © 2008, Truro Daily News