Agricultural Policy Act of 2015 (Final vote)

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Farmers unions do exist in some countries but they aren't really trade unions; they generally function more as industrial lobbying organisations. The NFU in Great Britain also does insurance (presumably other farmers unions do the same). Farmers (even tenant farmers) work for themselves, remember. Historically that was actually how a 'farmer' was defined. What you're really arguing for are agricultural marketing co-operatives.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Incidentally, unless you are proposing compulsion you would have a hard time getting many people onto the government schemes proposed here. The incentives aren't there.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

I don't think there's much doubt that marketing co-operatives (and related arrangements and organisations) are popular with some farmers. If the Senate wishes to give financial support to such ventures, then that is political matter and I won't comment either way.

I am a little concerned, however, that we still have a little gap between this bill and reality: farmers are self-employed by definition and 'giving' them the right to organise as employees (who of?) is a little strange. As going business concerns of their own, they already have the right to bargain however they see fit. I actually have worries that hostile courts in the future could potentially use Section Two of this bill as grounds for ruling against marketing co-operatives.

Section Three is a little odd; does this Republic not already have agricultural colleges? I should warn this assembly that the Man from The Ministry with a clipboard and a white coat is generally not terribly popular on farms (even when he brings money) and his advice would normally be ignored. I would recommend re-writing that section to make it look less like instructions on egg sucking.

Section Four is blatant and hilarious pork. Urban farming, Senators, is a scam.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Oh, I'm all in favour of allotments and the like (although that would be horticulture rather than agriculture... and in addition it must be noted that most of the produce grown is for personal use. Allotments are great, but they do not increase the overall rate of agricultural productivity).* But if you want to spend federal money on encouraging such laudable things rather than on rent-seeking shakedown artists, I would suggest that literally writing a blank cheque is not the best of ideas.

_{*Although if I were a Senator I would have to ask whether productivity for the sake of productivity is necessarily what Atlasian agriculture - and the Atlasian countryside - needs at present...}