The River John farmer was astounded to learn $260,000 from the Community Development Trust would be used to attract new producers to set up farming operations in Nova Scotia.
"I don't think it's right," he said. "They haven't helped any of the farmers that were already here and we've lost so many farmers."
He said when he immigrated from Scotland and moved to the area in 1997 there were about 15 farms operating on the Louisville Road. That number has dwindled in recent years to about five.
He said Nova Scotia's farmers continue to face hardships every day and while he has diversified to promote the sustainability of his family's sheep farm, that move made it more difficult for him to access some government programs because he no longer fits into the cookie-cutter description of a Nova Scotia farm.
The newly announced funding by the Department of Agriculture and the Nova Scotia Office of Immigration is earmarked to attract experienced producers who are interested in immigrating and setting up sustainable farming operations.
The initiative also will include developing detailed agriculture-sector profiles, a website and a database of available farmland in Nova Scotia, as well as hosting information sessions in targeted countries.
The Office of Immigration will support the initiative by creating an Agri-food Sector Pilot stream as part of the Nova Scotia Nominee Program.
"Even if it does attract farmers, they'll come here with all these bright ideas and then they'll face the harsh realities that everyone else here is already facing," said Crawford. "It's going to keep people in jobs working for the Department of Agriculture, not supporting the farmers.
"I just hate to see money being spent the way they are spending it."
Lifelong beef farmer Jack Ferguson of Pictou doesn't feel the program is what is needed in the province to strengthen the agriculture industry.
"There is not enough return at the farm gate," Ferguson. "I understand where the government is concerned because agriculture numbers are decreasing but the younger generation doesn't see a future in farming."
He said spending long hours doing hard work for little or no return is not appealing to young people who want to develop a lifelong career.
"We're getting pretty scarce," he said. "The government has come up with this scheme but the biggest problem in agriculture is the farm gate and the government is not going to address that."
Funding for the project is provided through the Community Development Trust Fund, a $34.9 million program established in 2008 by the federal government to help communities and sectors experiencing economic challenges.
New Glasgow Daily News
