Canada's agricultural industry is embattled and under fire today perhaps more than they have ever been, and as is often the case, it is mostly due to outside factors that are completely beyond the control of producers.

Saskatchewan has been diversifying into other industries and ventures in recent years so the economy isn't quite so dependent on agriculture, but the fact remains that today agriculture is still the number one driver of our economy, and will likely continue to be well into the future.

One of the keys to survivability in agriculture is innovation as well as persistence and an attitude of sticking-to-it through good times and bad. Another key lies with all of us: we need to be supportive of our farmers in any and every way possible.

Canada is blessed with more natural resources than most countries in the world, and we can be a world leader in helping to feed the world if our industry is well and can survive the challenges that arise.

When a lone cow was confirmed to have the dreaded mad cow disease or BSE on May 20 of last year, events were set in motion that are still in play today, as the closure of the United States border to live cattle from Canada continues on and on, despite no scientific basis for the closure whatsoever.

This crisis has not only crippled cattle producers, but producers of nearly every other kind of livestock are affected (even though no disease has been found in any of them), including hogs, elk, deer, bison and sheep. And as if this situation wasn't bad enough, now American hog producers want tariffs slapped on to our hogs, when that industry is already suffering low prices brought on by the BSE crisis.

On the grain side, prices are depressed due to many factors, most of them due to market or weather conditions in other countries who compete with Canada to sell wheat, durum, barley and other grains around the world.

Again, the U.S. has tried to put crippling tariffs on our grain, but were only successful in making them stick to our spring wheat, which is being vigorously challenged by the Canadian Wheat Board.

In the meantime, most of our producers are hard-working residents of our rural communities who want to survive, raise their families and make a contribution to their community. As things go with our producers, they go with the businesses in the towns and cities in their area, and so it goes with those who dependent on those businesses for a livelihood. We are all inter-connected with each other, and by helping each other, it helps the community and the region to survive and grow and stay healthy.

As we pay tribute to our producers and the contribution they make, let us be fully aware of their positive addition to our economy, and not prejudge any requests they make for help - if any sector of our economy deserves any help we might be able to provide, it is our farmer, the backbone of our community and economy. - G.N.