Workshop Aims to Help Tobacco farmers

Source from:  By John Paul Zronik Local News - Saturday, April 07, 2007 04/10/2007

Tobacco farmers facing the collapse of their industry and looking for a way out need somewhere to turn. Mike Fidler is helping to give them that. Fidler, who operates the Simcoe-based counseling service Mike Fidler and Associates, has organized a day-long workshop on Wednesday called Practical Tools for Farmers in Economic Transition. It will feature representatives from about 15 local organizations that can help farmers move into a new livelihood, including the Canadian Farm Business Management Council, Enterprise Brant and Fanshawe Employment Services. The day will also include a talk by Elaine Froese, a farm coach and prairie farmer, who will discuss how agricultural producers can stay positive in the face of economic challenges. Fidler said tobacco farmers face a complicated situation in trying to exit their industry and can use a helping hand. "Tobacco farmers do not have an easy set of farming alternatives," he said. "It's not like they can transition to (another crop) and everything will be fine. They have to deal with a whole set of other problems. " Most tobacco farmers are in their 50s and facing the loss of equity they've built during a life in farming, Fidler said. On average, 40 per cent of farmers carry a debt load of $400,000 and 70 per cent of farmers are dependent on some sort of off-farm income. "Then you've got the massive drop in the value of their land, buildings and machinery, which they've invested in. When most of us plan for our retirement, we don't expect we'll lose two-thirds of the value of what we've created." Fidler was recently awarded a grant from the community transitions program - a government program that assists tobacco-growing communities - to council struggling farmers and farm labourers, as well as host next week's event. Counselling can lessen the stress on farmers and workers who are in a period of transition, he said. During the next two years, he will use the funding to provide farmers with knowledge about programs, grants and organizations that can help them transition to a new crop or job. The information will be useful not just to tobacco farmers, Fidler said, but to all farmers who need to explore options for the future. "We want to make the program for all farmers who want to bolster their farm income," Fidler said. One way Fiddler plans to reach farmers is through an e-mail newsletter. "Part of the project is outreach to the tobacco farming community," he said. "What we're attempting to do is provide them easy access to programs available locally, provincially and federally to assist them with their transition initiatives. "There are so many government programs out there it's hard to know what they all are and how they can work for (farmers)." Fidler said tobacco growers are frustrated that government isn't responding to the dire situation they face by coming forward with an industry buyout. Growers say a total tobacco buyout, meaning all growers would exit the industry, would cost about $1 billion. "There's a level of anger that the government is willing to accept (tobacco) taxes but isn't willing to help beleaguered farmers," Fidler said. "The growers have really had their eye on the ball for a buyout. That's where their energy has been. At the present time, the government isn't responding. "We've also got a farm population that has contributed a tremendous amount to local economies and the government through the taxation of their product. This same government is fully supportive of programs that limit tobacco use. These farmers feel they have a legislative claim for some sort of assistance to get out of production." Even without a buyout, Fidler said farmers need to realize they have options for the future and there's help available to explore them. "There's a life to be lived after tobacco," he said. Enditem