Hay River (July 21/03) - Ruth Boden grew up on a farm and so did her husband Pete.

She says a territory-wide agricultural policy is needed. Right now, there is nothing in place, so farmers don't know exactly where they stand.

Ruth Boden lives on a 40-acre farm that's home to her husband and five kids. - Andrew Raven/NNSL photo

News/North: First of all, how long have you been farming?

Ruth Boden: Well, I grew up on a farm and so did my husband Pete. So I've been doing it most of my life.

N/N: You and your husband both have other jobs, so why do you still farm?

RB: It's really relaxing. Working out in the garden is a truly calming experience. There's also something very satisfying about growing your own grub.

N/N: Are there other benefits to the farming lifestyle?

RB: Oh, yes. I have five kids and it's taught them to be responsible and work hard. When the animals have to eat before they do, they don't have any choice but to get up and get working!

N/N: How many farms are there in the NWT?

RB: Well, the Territorial Farmers Association (TFA) has 46 members, but since many husbands and wives are both members, the actual number of farms is somewhat lower.

N/N: Can you make a living as a full-time farmer here?

RB: No, not usually. You have to have another job. We know a few people who are full-time farmers, but they're in the minority.

N/N: What is actually farmed in the NWT?

RB: Well you can grow just about everything from hay to strawberries. Most of the plants that grow in the South will grow here.

N/N: How long is the growing season?

RB: It's relatively short. Most people wait until late May... or early June to put their plants in the ground and you usually get a killing frost in August. But you do get more daylight than in the South, which basically adds a few days to the growing season.

N/N: Do Northern farmers enjoy other benefits?

RB: No, no. I think that's about it!

N/N: What are some of the challenges to farming in the NWT?

RB: Obtaining land is always a problem. The GNWT hasn't been able to set much aside for agricultural use because of the outstanding (aboriginal) land claim issues. In order for the industry to expand, more land needs to be freed up.

Another problem is power. Right now, farmers are paying commercial rates for electricity, making it very expensive to use. Most southern governments realize that farmers can't afford to pay those rates, so they offer discounts or rebates. But not the GNWT.

The same thing is true for water. People who use it to feed their livestock pay industrial rates, which makes it very hard to compete (with southern farmers).

N/N: What needs to be done to help farmers in the NWT?

RB: Most importantly, we need a territory-wide agricultural policy. Right now, there is nothing in place, so farmers don't know exactly where they stand.

What's more, the government's role in terms of ... enforcing the law isn't clearly defined. So our hope is an agricultural policy will provide a basis for the future expansion of the industry.

N/N: What progress have you made towards a new policy?

RB: We've begun developing a policy internally and we've been in contact with (Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development) Jim Antoine and (Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs) Vince Steen. I get the impression from them that the time is right to move forward on this.

N/N: How much potential does the farming industry have?

RB: It has great potential. A study performed by the TFA estimated that it could create somewhere in the neighbourhood of 80 jobs and inject 6 million dollars into the economy.

N/N: Could we reach the point where food no longer has to be imported from the South?

RB: I don't think we will be able to completely do away with (southern imports), but roughly 35 per cent of food consumed in the North could be produced in the North.

Produce would also be cheaper... and fresher if it didn't have to travel across the continent.

Farming will never be a huge industry, but we should be able to feed ourselves.