January 7, 2010, For immediate release - Charlottetown

The PEI Federation of Agriculture is pleased to see that the recommendations from the Commission on Land and Local Governance include a review and expansion of the ALUS program and that the budget be adjusted accordingly.  Farmers are contributing to the environmental health and sustainability of our environment by the many positive farming practices they implement.  Many times these activities are done at a cost to the Farmer which is a cost of running their business however, in many cases these positive actions also contribute to the overall health of the land and water which benefits a larger part of society.  ALUS pays the farmer to offset some of the costs of these activities through public dollars.  Expansion of this program will permit greater activity and encourage greater farmer participation in the program.

Other recommendations in the report include the retention of the current 15 meter buffer zones around all watercourses on PEI. These buffer-zones should be covered under the expanded ALUS program.  If Farmers are expected to give up this land because it is of benefit to the Island community to do so then it should be an activity that is eligible for payment under the ALUS program.   “There are likely some areas in agriculture production on PEI that could benefit from a wider buffer and other areas that do no need 15 meters.  We are still not convinced that a 15 meter blanket approach is the most beneficial’ says PEIFA president Ernie Mutch.  “Why not implement a true ALUS approach and pay farmers to remove land from the most sensitive areas under ALUS and leave the areas that do not need a 15 buffer zone to a more reasonable buffer?”

The removal of environmentally sensitive lands from the land holding limits is a positive step and the Federation was pleased to have seen this implemented.  The recommendation stating the current limits under the Lands Protection Act should remain unchanged is not in the best interest of Island Farmers.  It is the position of the Federation of Agriculture that the current limits of 1000 and 3000 acres limits of arable land for individual and corporate farms respectively should be reviewed to determine if they place our farmers at a disadvantage.  It is time to revisit this legislation and review it to determine if the current limits are creating disadvantages for Island farms.  Many farmers are unaware that the limits include rented and leased land which may be placing them close to or over the current allowable limits.  Perhaps a cap is necessary but the question is if the current amounts for this cap should be changed.

-30-

For more information contact:

PEI Federation of Agriculture