Island farmland feeling squeeze

The (Prince Edward) Island Nature Trust may find itself one-day preserving more than just wetlands for ducks and scenic views for public enjoyment.

The preservation of farmland has become a significant issue in other parts of the country and hit home here Thursday (Nov. 13).

The PEI A.D.A.P.T. council held a one-day session on finding ways to ensure that farmssometimes more valued for their property than their productive red soilremain part of the landscape.

With older farmers retiring and new farmers unable to purchase a property, its becoming a difficult process, said Melissa Watkins, executive director of the Ontario Farmland Trust.

Were having trouble finding ways to preserve farmland that is disappearing daily.

The disappearance of farmland might conjure up disbelief on this fair isle, however, Thursdays session, hosted by A.D.A.P.T. chairman Elmer MacDonald, was packed with farmers, academics, environmentalists and consumers, who not only support farmland preservation, but local food preservation as well.

And like the back-to-the-landers who came decades ago for an alternative lifestyle, Professor Tim Carroll suggests the farmers of the future will come from the city.

The new farmers will come from an urban background seeking a rural lifestyle, suggested the UPEI business instructor who advocated a real estate income trust model for preserving farmland.

And if they are well managed and relevant they will succeed and it wont matter if they have a big farm or a small farm ... size doesnt matter.

The session focused on investment options, trusts and ownership structures that might be employed to ensure baby boomer farmers can retire and newcomers can take over without million dollar buy-in debts.

Some options came close to recreating the days of PEIs tenant farmer slavery as outlined by historian Boyde Beck during the morning session.

The Guardian will provide more in-depth coverage on the issues raised in the days ahead, but it was Chris Payne and a program developed in Nova Scotia nine years ago that ignited the most fire.

We have a program that provides tax incentives to invest locally and we now have $27 million in assets, said the manager of the N.S. Community Economic Development Investment Fund.

Instead of all those mutual and investment funds leaving our region, weve found a way to get people to support their local economies. The Guardian