National Farmers Union (NFU) president Jenn Pfenning says Canadian farmers need greater support for domestic food production as uncertainty over tariffs continues to disrupt trade.
"We in Canada have focused a lot of our efforts in agriculture around export markets. Successive governments have pushed Canadian farmers to scale up to meet export demand, largely outside our borders."
That focus, she says, has increased reliance on imported food, leaving the country vulnerable to supply chain disruptions.
Pfenning points to storage crops as an example of how Canada can produce more local food throughout the year.
"I'm a vegetable farmer, and we've still got roots in storage that we're packing and selling. There needs to be more of that."
Tariffs, she adds, make life more expensive for everyone, as costs are passed down to consumers.
"That 25 per cent doesn't come out of the government's pocket. It comes out of my pocket, your pocket, and the consumers' pockets. It’s essentially a tax on the people."
She warns that trade uncertainty, particularly with the U.S., creates volatility for Canadian producers. Greenhouses along the border, for example, rely heavily on exports and may struggle to redirect surplus production into the domestic market if tariffs remain.
"We do need to refocus. When a farm business is set up for export, it’s not easy to pivot overnight."
Pfenning also defends Canada’s supply management system, which regulates production of dairy, eggs and poultry to prevent market fluctuations.
"The system ensures farmers can plan and that markets remain stable. Without it, we’d see overproduction, then shortages, causing prices to crash and driving farmers into bankruptcy."
She argues that maintaining supply management is essential, despite U.S. criticism.
"Trump has repeatedly said he wants it gone, but it’s what allows farmers in Canada to earn a stable living."
Pfenning says ensuring food sovereignty is key to maintaining Canada’s independence.
"If we can’t feed ourselves, we can’t hope to remain a sovereign nation. We’re at the mercy of whatever country we’re getting food from, and they can dictate the price."
She urges governments to support farmers in diversifying their markets and prioritizing local food production.
"Looking to our own backyard and making sure we can supply ourselves doesn’t mean shutting out the rest of the world," she said. "It means being more strategic about where we get our food and how much comes from outside our borders."
Source : Pembinavalley online