Québec Farmer union is going to the barricades again

[Mid Range]

There are some rumors up here in Québec that farmers are talking of a possible movement that they will block any access to their properties to snowmobilers next season.Again it is a battle between some Farmer's union against the Québec government where the snowmobilers will be taken as hostages.There is a press release but unfortunately it is french but it gives you a good grasp of the situation.

http://www.laction.com/Actualites/2010-07-15/article-1569937/Les-agriculteurs-en-colere/1

Le Syndicat des producteurs de cultures commerciales de la région de Lanaudière, Outaouais-Laurentides (SPCC) menace de mettre sur pied un vaste mouvement de boycottage de l'accès des sentiers de VHR et motoneiges.

Ce moyen de pression est présentement à l'étude et pourrait être effectif si la Financière agricole et le ministre québécois de l'Agriculture refusent de réviser leur décision à l'égard des mesures de resserrement au programme assurance stabilisation des revenus agricoles (ASRA).

L'ASRA est un programme d'une importance capitale pour les agriculteurs puisqu'il garantit un revenu annuel net aux entreprises. Une compensation est versée lorsque le prix moyen de vente d'un produit est inférieur au revenu stabilisé.

Les mesures de resserrement du programme auront pour conséquence que seuls les producteurs les plus efficaces reçoivent des compensations.

Plusieurs agriculteurs craignent le pire. «Ces mesures auront des impacts négatifs et ne pourront que mettre en péril bon nombre d'exploitations agricoles», soutient le président du SPCC, Gilles Brisson.

Le Syndicat est cependant bien décidé à ne pas se laisser faire. «S'il est jugé, tel qu'exprimé par le ministre de l'Agriculture, M. Claude Béchard, que les budgets de la Financière agricole représentent un bar ouvert et qu'il faut maintenant y mettre un terme, alors que dans plusieurs secteurs de production de l'agriculture québécoise, la situation va de mal en pis, le bar ouvert de l'accès aux terres agricoles sera également chose du passé», assure Gilles Brisson.

[MichiganRev]

There are some rumors up here in Québec that farmers are talking of a possible movement that they will block any access to their properties to snowmobilers next season.Again it is a battle between some Farmer's union against the Québec government where the snowmobilers will be taken as hostages.There is a press release but unfortunately it is french but it gives you a good grasp of the situation.

http://www.laction.com/Actualites/2010-07-15/article-1569937/Les-agriculteurs-en-colere/1

Le Syndicat des producteurs de cultures commerciales de la région de Lanaudière, Outaouais-Laurentides (SPCC) menace de mettre sur pied un vaste mouvement de boycottage de l'accès des sentiers de VHR et motoneiges.

Ce moyen de pression est présentement à l'étude et pourrait être effectif si la Financière agricole et le ministre québécois de l'Agriculture refusent de réviser leur décision à l'égard des mesures de resserrement au programme assurance stabilisation des revenus agricoles (ASRA).

L'ASRA est un programme d'une importance capitale pour les agriculteurs puisqu'il garantit un revenu annuel net aux entreprises. Une compensation est versée lorsque le prix moyen de vente d'un produit est inférieur au revenu stabilisé.

Les mesures de resserrement du programme auront pour conséquence que seuls les producteurs les plus efficaces reçoivent des compensations.

Plusieurs agriculteurs craignent le pire. «Ces mesures auront des impacts négatifs et ne pourront que mettre en péril bon nombre d'exploitations agricoles», soutient le président du SPCC, Gilles Brisson.

Le Syndicat est cependant bien décidé à ne pas se laisser faire. «S'il est jugé, tel qu'exprimé par le ministre de l'Agriculture, M. Claude Béchard, que les budgets de la Financière agricole représentent un bar ouvert et qu'il faut maintenant y mettre un terme, alors que dans plusieurs secteurs de production de l'agriculture québécoise, la situation va de mal en pis, le bar ouvert de l'accès aux terres agricoles sera également chose du passé», assure Gilles Brisson.

Maybe groomer can translate for us, Thanks groomer, Dave

[artcat900]

Maybe groomer can translate for us, Thanks groomer, Dave

Bable fish translation from yahoo

The Trade union of the producers of commercial cultures of the area of Lanaudière, Outaouais-Laurentides (SPCC) threat to set up a vast movement of boycotting of l' access of the paths of VHR and motoneiges. This means of pressure is at present with l' study and could be effective if the Financial agricultural one and the Québécois minister of l' Agriculture refuse to revise their decision with l' regard of measurements of tightening to the program insurance stabilization of the agricultural incomes (ASRA). L' ASRA is a program d' an major importance for the farmers puisqu' it guarantees an annual income Net with the companies. A compensation is versed when the average costs of sale d' a product is lower than the stabilized income. Measurements of tightening of the program will have as a consequence that only the most effective producers receive compensations. Several farmers fear the worst. “These measurements will have negative impacts and will be able only to put in danger good d' number; farms”, supports the president of the SPCC, Gilles Brisson. The Trade union is however well decided not to let itself make. “S' he is judged, such qu' expressed by the minister of l' Agriculture, Mr. Claude Béchard, that the budgets of Financial agricultural represent an open bar and qu' he is now necessary to put a term at it, whereas in several manufacturing sectors of l' Québécois agriculture, the situation goes from evil in worse, the open bar of l' access to the arable lands will be also thing of the past”, ensures Gilles Brisson.

[revct1]

Why are the snowmobile and ATV trails the bargaining chip?

I know it is politics but the snowmobile industry contributes a tremendous amount of money to the economy. How does not giving permission to use farm land for the trail system give the farmer's leveage with the Government? I realize I'm looking at it from a snowmobiler's persepctive but I really don't understand the whole thing.

Wouldn't the farmers be better off using food as a bargaining chip? Hold back on food and the whole country will be screaming and not just a handful of snomobilers.

Just my 2¢ worth.

Jack

[scorpionbowl]

It seems like this stuff would only hurt the neighbors of the farmers...the Stores, Gas Stations, Restaraunts, Motels, and locals who won't have trails. Everyone else will be riding on the 15k miles of trails still open.

[Mid Range]

Why are the snowmobile and ATV trails the bargaining chip?

I know it is politics but the snowmobile industry contributes a tremendous amount of money to the economy. How does not giving permission to use farm land for the trail system give the farmer's leveage with the Government? I realize I'm looking at it from a snowmobiler's persepctive but I really don't understand the whole thing.

Wouldn't the farmers be better off using food as a bargaining chip? Hold back on food and the whole country will be screaming and not just a handful of snomobilers.

Just my 2¢ worth.

Jack

Why snowmobilers??? I would assume it is a manner of putting pressure on the Government so they're holding'em by the balls.too early to tell if this movement will be followed Provincialwide but I can tell you that one farmer in my area has already giving permission to our local club any access to his lands.

The FCMQ has issued a Press release regarding this.It's on the french version of their website.It mainly says that FCMQ is deeply worried of their decision unlike 2005 where she was supporting the farmers.You don't bite the hand that feeds you(Government)

[revct1]

It seems like this stuff would only hurt the neighbors of the farmers...the Stores, Gas Stations, Restaraunts, Motels, and locals who won't have trails. Everyone else will be riding on the 15k miles of trails still open.

Yes I agree that the local riders would feel it more than those of us who trailer. We can trailer to the areas that are less farmland and more pipelines and logging roads. But still they will be areas that may be tougher to connect with.

Jack

[Mid Range]

according to an article found on the internet...Saguenay Lac-St-Jean will join the boycott movement by not allowing any access to their lands to protest against the Québec government.

here's the story.....unfortunately it is in french.

Boycott: le Saguenay embarque!

jeudi 16 sep, 14 h 37

SAGUENAY-LAC-SAINT-JEAN (RC) - La menace qui pesait depuis plusieurs semaines sur les sentiers de motoneiges dans les secteurs agricoles est finalement mise à exécution.

La Fédération de l'Union des producteurs agricoles (UPA) du Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean a décidé, mercredi, de ne plus accorder de droits de passage sur les terres des producteurs aux clubs de motoneiges et de motoquads.

Les agriculteurs dénoncent depuis un an les nouvelles règles de l'assurance stabilisation des revenus agricoles (ASRA) de la Financière agricoles du Québec qui font en sorte que le quart des producteurs les moins efficaces seront éliminés du calcul de la moyenne pour établir le montant des compensations financières auquel ils auront droit à compter de 2011.

Les producteurs ont fait plusieurs moyens de pression au cours des derniers mois, sans réussir à faire fléchir le gouvernement du Québec.

Le président de la fédération régionale de l'UPA, André Fortin, se dit conscient des désagréments de leur décision, mais il affirme que les agriculteurs n'ont pas le choix. « C'est l'ultime moyen de pression, on a rencontré nos maires, on a rencontré les députés, nos ministres, on a rencontré les représentants de la Financière, on a remis une pétition à Québec, on a fait des communiqués de presse, des conférences de presse, on a fait quelques manifestations, des témoignages de producteurs et le gouvernement n'a pas l'air de nous entendre, il ne veut pas nous écouter donc c'est le moyen qu'on avait à prendre, il fallait monter la pression », affirme M. Fortin.

Compréhension des motoneigistes

Le président régional de la Fédération des motoneigistes du Québec, Jacques Goulet, mentionne que les représentants de l'UPA ont rencontré les clubs de motoneigistes et de motoquads mardi pour expliquer leurs revendications.

Il admet que le boycottage des sentiers de motoneige est pratiquement le seul moyen de pression des agriculteurs, mais espère un règlement le plus tôt possible pour éviter que la saison soit compromise. « À ce temps-ci, à l'arrivée des températures un peu plus froides, les clubs de motoneige préparent les sentiers, font du débroussaillage, mais si tu ne peux pas aller dans les sentiers, [...] si ça ouvre trop tard, les sentiers ne seront pas vraiment beaux », souligne M. Goulet.

La Fédération de l'UPA en Abitibi-Témiscamingue a également décidé au cours de l'été d'interdire l'accès à leurs terres aux amateurs de motoneiges et de motoquads.

http://qc.news.yahoo.com/s/16092010/3/regional-terres-agricoles-acces-interdit-aux-motoneiges.html

[iceman]

Sure hope this does not come to be reality.

Could make real it tough to ride anywhere from anywhere.

Edited September 20, 2010 by iceman

[timbo]

Sure hope this does not come to be reality.

Could make real it tough to ride anywhere from anywhere.

5 or 6 years ago we faced a similar situation with farmers threatening to deny access to the local clubs for portions of trails that were on agricultural land. This is bad enough. What compounds the issue is lots of "farmers" own substantial tracts of woodland, which don't appear to be "farms", so a whole bunch of interconnectivity is lost.

You can see the "piling-on" affect already commencing as agricultural interests from Saguenay and Abitibi have expressed solidarity with Lanaudiere, Outaouais and Laurentide, and have indicated that they will close their properties to club access to support their agricultural bretheren.

The last time, the Quebec Federation was siding with the farmers and was pressuring the government to address the farmers grievances. This time, it's not the case and the Federation has got to be jumbo worried about snowmobiling in La Belle Province this winter.

As to those who think that this will be an issue that mainly bothers "local" riders in the flatlands.......... that just ain't so. The trail networks will be so screwed-up that there will be no interconnectivity, no access to towns, gas, lodging, etc., etc.. If worse come to worst, about the only predictable riding would be to trailer to a Park and "ride around the parking lot" (for the brief time that we still have access to ride in Provincial and National parks). This is bad enough. Let's not even address the practical issues that the Clubs would face attempting to groom what small segments of their trails that they may try to open.

This will be a jumbo challenge to local clubs as they have to deal with uncertainty as they attempt to get their trails cleared, signed, etc., as we go thru the fall. " Do they or don't they", will be their delema as they contemplate renewing leases, rights-of way, etc. How bout the tour operators who have hundreds of european pilgrims who are "would-be snowmobilers" signed-up, with deposits, who were planning the trip of a lifetime to Quebec this winter. It's not a pretty picture.

Let's hope their is a rapproachment between the Government and the farm interests, and that it happens soon. Every day this uncertainty continues does not bode well for a good winter snowmobiling in Quebec. For us US sledders who are concerned about our chance to ride in Quebec this winter.......it's a real hassle. For those Quebecer's whose incomes and livelihoods surround snowmobiling, it will be a fucking disaster.

Ontario, anyone????

timbo

[iceman]

Exactly right Timbo this could be A major issue.

I agree with you 100%

Time will tell.

Watch there will be feet of snow and no access, just great.

Hope they work it out. We are hostages. Is bullshit for real.