Further to what is happening in Alberta with the closure of the last private poultry processing which family farms could access, it means that only large agribusiness are in charge, a monopoly, of the entire process.
We have heard that the auctioning of animals is quite different than what it was some years ago, being more of a ghost town than something that represents bustling agriculture.
One farmer told us the price to buy yearlings was so prohibitive he has had to forgo that and is now growing his own animals now. As far as we know he has to wait a few years before those babies are ready to go to market. Can you imagine what it would be like to not have an income for a few years while you wait for your animals to mature?
Many of the farmers we have spoken to all have 2 and 3 jobs to keep their farms running. You have to know running their farms is a labour of love!
Family farms need our support.
You Tube - a look at farming issues in Australia
This video popped up on my desktop and because it is so similar to what is happening here in Alberta I thought it fantastic and easy to understand. Here is a quote from her youtube:
Who Controls Your Meat? One Farmer’s Bold Solution
In this eye-opening episode of Farm Learning with Tim Thompson, we meet Tammi Jonas, a leading voice in food sovereignty and one of Australia’s pioneers in on-farm meat processing. As multinational corporations like JBS and Cargill tighten their grip on the Australian meat industry, farmers like Tammi are fighting back — by building micro abattoirs that put power back in the hands of local farmers and communities. We tour Tammy’s regenerative farm in Daylesford, VIC and uncover: Why local abattoirs are vanishing How regulations crush small-scale meat producers What a fully off-grid, animal-welfare-focused micro abattoir looks like How this farm supports 7 full-time livelihoods on just 70 acres If you care about food security, ethical meat, and community-based agriculture, this is the video you need to see.
We have Emery here in Alberta, the first person I know of who is taking a stand and building their own abattoir…