Farmers, Feds and Fries - Potato Farming in the St. John Valley

Publisher:  Development Education Resource Services, 1539 Birmingham St., Halifax, N.S., Canada
Year Published:  1977  
Pages:  7pp   Price:  .35  
Resource Type:  Article
Cx Number:  CX469

Abstract:  This pamphlet documents the struggle of farmers in the St. John Valley, New Brunswick. The Canadian-Based multinational corporation, McCain's, controls virtually all aspects of potato production and processing. Farmers buy from McCain's and sell them their produce. In such a process, farmers become in a real sense company employees who work without wages and fringe benefits for the corporation. Through pre-season contracts and control over farm product prices, the free market is eliminated and control over the farmers is exercised. Prices are controlled through a process of manipulating surpluses involving the creation of domestic surpluses and importation.

Government loans and credit policies have encouraged large scale production and competition between producers which pushes out smaller producers. In this context, federal and provincial governments have moved to set up marketing boards aimed at reducing surpluses, controlling production and providing more stable income for farmers. While farmers will undoubtedly accrue some benefits through such action, there are no measures to seriously challenge the larger systemic question. Some of the risks in farming will be reduced but agribusiness can be expected to step up their purchases of land and carry out more of the farming themselves. Without controls on corporate speculation and acquisition, competition for land will continue to increase and more farmers unable to compete, will sell out.