The economic pressure facing hog and beef producers is so great that P.E.I.'s largest agricultural organization will seek a resolution Friday to have some federal loan paybacks stricken from the books.
The resolution is just one of a number of desperate requests by farmers as they prepare for their day-long annual meeting in New London Jan. 29.
"There are some critical issues facing farmers and some are to find ways to alleviate the crushing pressure on many," said federation executive director Mike Nabuurs. "Farmers would rather make their living in the marketplace, but some things work against them."
The request dealing with hog and beef producers is to have federal advance payments forgiven because the marketplace is returning so little and input costs are so high that hog and beef producers have nothing extra to repay.
"The prices being paid for hogs are below cost of production and we're competing with cheaper imported beef," said Nabuurs.
"Farmers don't have a level playing field to work on."
Farmers also took a hit when those growing milling wheat this past season lost significant money due to an error made by Dover Mills regarding acceptable levels of a blight in the wheat. Most are still waiting four months later for compensation of those losses.
Resolutions on the agenda will also focus on land ownership acreage levels, buffer zone alterations and the constitutional rights of farmers under the Environmental Protection Act.
