Dairy farmer says Canada needs to support more local goods in face of geopolitical uncertainty
Crosbie Williams says Canada’s dairy industry is the ‘envy’ of the world
In a time of heightened geopolitical tensions with the United States, a Newfoundland dairy farmer says he wants Canada to come out stronger and more food secure.
The U.S. has taken issue with, and disputed, how Canada manages its dairy industry through its supply management system, a national framework that's been in place for decades and controls the supply of dairy, as well as poultry and eggs, through production, imports and pricing meant to create stability.
"I'm proud to say that we're part of one of the safest food chains in the entire world. We're the envy of the entire world. And locally produced, locally grown, locally operated — I think is going to be the mindset for people to come," dairy farmer Crosbie Williams told CBC News.
Williams is a multi-generation dairy farmer with the Pond View Farm in the Goulds area of St. John's. He says his father experienced market instability before the dairy supply management system was implemented.
"I was told many times of my dad coming … to town to sell milk and [it] couldn't be sold, and the prices were rock bottom. And as the saying goes, they dumped the milk into Waterford River on the way home."
Tariff worries
Canada is currently squaring off with the U.S. as President Donald Trump's tariffs are expected to come in effect on Tuesday after a 30-day reprieve.
Dairy Farmers of Newfoundland and Labrador general manager Tom Osborne says Canadian dairy farmers are worried about what could happen to the supply management system, but he is confident Canada will continue to support the framework.
He says that in the next few weeks Canadian representatives will be in Washington to talk with U.S. officials.
"We have confidence in Dairy Farmers of Canada and in the Canadian Dairy Commission in protecting and looking out for the best interests of dairy farmers across Canada," Osborne told CBC News.
He said he is concerned tariffs and reciprocal tariffs could indirectly negatively impact the industry in Newfoundland and Labrador. A lot of farm equipment comes out of the U.S. and tariffs could make that more expensive for Canadian farmers to purchase, and in turn drive up the cost of production.
Osborne says any talk of tariffs is a concern, whether it's farm equipment, fertilizer, feed or even the export of industrial milk outside of the province.
"There could be ripple effects based on the outcome of these discussions and the threat of tariffs by the Trump administration," he said. "It is a concern to the agricultural industry across Canada."
Staying local
Osborne says it's important for consumers to support locally made food.
"I call one of the silver linings of these trade talks is that Canadians and Newfoundlanders and Labradorians have become more acutely aware of the importance of buying local products," he said.
Williams says his 180 cows typically produce around 5,000 litres of milk each day, though that amount can fluctuate. The milk doesn't travel far from his farm, bound for Scotsburn and Central Dairies facilities, both of which are in St. John's
"The milk that we produce here from the 180 cows is picked up every second day and delivered just five minutes from here," he said. "It's as local as local gets."
Williams says he has has seen a surge in support for local goods first hand, like during a recent shopping trip when he saw a fellow shopper pick up a product, note it wasn't made in Canada and then put it back on the shelf.
WATCH | Got local milk? This dairy farmer says homegrown is the way to go:
It's important that people in Newfoundland and Labrador and across the country support the agriculture sector, which will help make it robust, he said.
"When I look at what's going on in the world today, the good that I see is that our country and our agriculture sector is going to become more diverse," said Williams.
He said Canada will have to adapt and become more resilient and independent from outside forces.
"Ultimately, I feel that the Canadian agricultural sector will be better off."
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