"I hope you enjoy the pictures because you won't see a field of gold here next year," he says, regarding the 16 hectares (40 acres) of canola spread out behind him. "You will see a for sale sign."
After 20 years of farming and attempting to build up his AgriBioFuels business in Onslow, (Nova Scotia) MacHattie is both disheartened and frustrated at government roadblocks that stand in his way.
There is enough canola in his fields to produce 15,000 litres of canola oil, which he would like to sell at such places as the Truro Farmers' Market.
"I'd love to grow it local and sell it local and keep the money local," he says.
MacHattie would also like to acquire the used fryer oils from local restaurants to convert into bio-diesel fuel. But, once again, he says his efforts are hamstrung by what he sees as ridiculous, double-standard regulations.
"What we'd like to do is crush it and sell it as canola oil and ask people to bring their waste oil back and we'll convert that into bio-diesel to grow more canola, he says. "So we'd make bio-diesel out of waste oil."
In order to produce bio-diesel fuel from canola oil to sell, MacHattie says he would be required to grow a minimum of five million litres in order to be able to collect the necessary fuel tax.
"We're not of the size we can do that," he says. "It's like not having a liquor license and selling liquor. And then you are bootlegging."
His preference is to simply produce the canola oil and sell it as a food product, but he is restricted from doing so because his operation just isn't large enough.
"For my small stock I can't put in a federally inspected food plant (for processing)," he says.
Even the press he uses for processing his canola does not meet Canadian standards, he says, because it is not constructed of stainless steel.
But the irony of his situation, is that if he were producing from another country, he could use the same equipment and still export his product to Nova Scotia.
"I know other countries use the same presses and then import their oil into Canada but I'm not allowed to use it in this country so I've got to go buy a stainless steel one from Germany for $50,000.
"All of a sudden my 15,000 litres can't justify that. But that's what food inspection requires in Canada. But the frustrating thing is they don't require that from other countries to import into Canada. Honestly, I could take my press and go down to the Dominican Republic and press palm oil and sell it to Nova Scotia. And I could do that tomorrow. But I can't leave my press here (and produce domestic oil)."
That process, he says, leaves few practical options.
"I mean, I can hang on for five more years and then all of a sudden the bank will tell me I have to sell because they are foreclosing on you," he says.
MacHattie fully expects that this year's canola crop will be heading down the highway. After that, things are in the air.
"My wife says we'll sell the crop to Quebec and then when it's done, we'll sell the farm, because there's no way to make money off it," he says.
"It's like there's no minor leagues here, you have to be in the NHL or not at all. I don't know how you get good to be there but..."
Truro Daily News
READERS COMMENTS
About the article : Onslow farmer prohibited from selling canola oil as a food product
From : Ken McChesney
Text : This is so like our government, when will they learn that bigger is not always better, And the lowest price is not always the best deal also.
About the article : Onslow farmer prohibited from selling canola oil as a food product
From : hhb
Text : I have no sympathy for this guy. These are all facts he should have checked out before starting out on this venture, and really they're all common sense. Of course you need food grade stainless steel equipment to produce food products - I wouldn't have it any other way. So what's wrong with making it a cash crop then and selling it to larger producers who do have the proper equipment? Of course, 16 acres isn't very much so his return wouldn't be great. Even if he could make bio diesel from it, 15,000 litres isn't enough to make a living. It's a hobby at best. Besides, bio fuels is just a dumb idea that sounded great and all eco friendly, but in reality we should never be burning food as fuel, it's a slippery slope that has affected food prices in the USA and by association, Canada. 10% of grain grown in the USA is used for ethanol when it should be grown for eating. The energy required to make bio fuels offsets any perceived benefits. Sounds like sour grapes to me because he can't make a living off of 16 acres of cheap product - no kidding there buddy.
About the article : Onslow farmer prohibited from selling canola oil as a food product
From : Alex
Text : I feel for you and your wife, I tried similar endeavors only to be discouraged by the "double standards" process. You would think that anyone that the Government would be more than grateful to have people like you to try and reduce the environmental impact. Just look at the Gulf and the fantastic job BP has done??
About the article : Onslow farmer prohibited from selling canola oil as a food product
From : Gus
Text : Talk to Darrell Dexter he likes to help small farmers stay in Nova Scotia good luck. (Don't waste your time)
