MACKAY SIDING, N.S. – Dairy farmers in the province are bracing for more competition and impacted sales when the Trans-Pacific Partnership comes into effect.
Canada is set to allow 3.25 per cent more foreign dairy sector imports.
More imports of eggs, turkey, chicken, and broiler hatching eggs will also be allowed.
At the same time, other markets are opening for other Canadian sectors, “such as beef, and grains, and so on,” said Chris van den Heuvel, president of the Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture President, on the phone.
“It’s kind of a mixed message from our members. We’ve got some that are very pleased with the outcome and some that are understandably a little bit apprehensive.”
The federal government is promising to give affected farmers 100 per cent income protection for 10 years after the deal comes into effect. Some level of income support will also be made available for five years after that.
Vissers, whose farm has introduced robots to help cut costs, said he’s happy to see the income relief from the government.
“To me, it’s positive, there’s some recognition from the government on that side. So, we’ll see where it goes from there,” he said.
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