I’ve just returned from touring Québec, just as I do every year. And to tell you that our people – leaders of the agricultural cooperative movement and its next generation – have a bad case of the blues would be an understatement. They’re fed up with mad cow, hydroelectric rates, property taxes, shiploads of American corn, ridiculously low pork prices and so on.

You know me well enough to know that when you’re depressed, I’m depressed. So, on a lighter note, this article will only address positive issues. And believe it or not, there is good news in the agricultural sector in these times of crisis and frigid weather.

For example, let’s talk farm production. According to Statistics Canada, production rates have jumped by 5.6% this year! Is this really that good? Ab-so-lu-te-ly! It’s the single highest figure in the economy, all sectors combined. Increased productivity usually translates into lower production costs and increased wealth. Then again, prices paid by producers should remain stable and other factors, such as taxes, debts, environment, and fuel shouldn’t be all consuming. But, we all agree, this doesn’t hold true today. And in fact, what I meant to illustrate was how bad things would be if productivity hadn’t progressed!

Besides, the economy is doing well, in spite of a handful of losers. Interest rates are low, inflation is taking a nap, and growth rates seem to be dancing a jig pretty much all over the world. Moreover, consumers seem happier: great news for sales of our succulent chicken breasts, pungently aromatic cheeses and savoury deli meats.

By the way, I’d like to remind you that our consumers did not give up on us during the mad cow disaster. Contrary to what was happening in Europe, they did not yield to panic and continued to shop and buy loads of roasts and ribs. Imagine the horror had they chosen not to support our industry?

I must admit that something else makes me happy, and that is the return to more stringent management principles within agricultural operations. Thank goodness the jerks who blindly advised producers to finance quotas over 25 years, stating that their value could only increase, have lost their powers of persuasion in the farming community. Bottom line is if incurring debt is a pre-requisite to realizing a dream project, then it should also reflect the dreamers’ ability to pay it back.

But above all else, I would like to say that beyond individual efforts, we’re starting to hear interesting things during our meetings. There are always a few complaints, but on the whole, people are proposing concrete solutions to come out of this crisis that much stronger. Such as? Well, supply cooperatives are actively working to optimize the network of mills for the purpose of reducing the cost of feed. The Fédération des producteurs de lait is considering scenarios to reduce the price of quotas. Pork producers are seeking an association with Olymel to increase their market strength. The Fédérée, in collaboration with the Fédération des producteurs de cultures commerciales du Québec, is considering different means of reducing American corn imports. Add to this, the WTO negotiations are at a dead-end and the picture is complete.

And there you have it! Things aren’t that bad. The current situation, even if it is rather distressing will eventually come to pass. Just like all the others we’ve laboured through.

I believe that the great Chinese philosopher, Confucius, once said, “In depressed and uncertain times, it is better to light a small candle than to damn the dark!”