文章基本信息

标题：AGRICULTURE IN CANADA: WHO WILL GROW THE FOOD?
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作者：Lerohl, Mel L. ; Unterschultz, James R.
期刊名称：Journal of Food Distribution Research
印刷版ISSN：0047-245X
出版年度：2000
期号：SUPPL
出版社：Food Distribution Research Society
摘要：Key issues in the current agricultural debate include the future of family farms, levels ofgovernment support for farms, the roles of marketing institutions and the effect of newtrade arrangements. In part, these issues have arisen because of recent price volatility,but the agricultural debate has also raised basic questions: Can farming in Canadasurvive, and if so, what will the new farms look like.The future of farming is approached through evidence on land values and assessments ofalternative land use. The future structure of farms is approached through a review of farmsize, location and product mix. Farm sizes are increasingly bi-modal, with small farmsrelatively insulated from farm markets, and large specialized farms dependent on themarket for a narrow range of commodities. Policy changes influencing product mix orregional specialization are also reviewed. About one-half of farm output in Canada nowcomes from the prairie region of Canada. Open trading relationships and subsidy changesare further modifying the regional location of farming. Changes in marketing boardarrangements and withering of prime farmland restrictions will lead to further shifts.The following appear to be key factors in assessing future directions for farming and farmstructure: For small farms, numbers are not declining, but these operations contributerelatively little to farm output. For commercial farms, technology and scale factors areleading to larger sizes and increasing specialization. Specialization is expected to occurregionally as well as within farms, and the prairie provinces are likely to become anincreasingly important part of Canadian agriculture. The sizes of commercial farms aresuch that few farms will be financed by single families, and the balance sheets as well asthe management structures of new commercial farms will increasingly mirror those in thenon-farm economy.