jsheppard
Globe and Mail Update Published on Monday, Feb. 04, 2008 2:42PM EST Last updated on Monday, Mar. 30, 2009 2:57PM EDT
Peter Harasiuk personifies the struggle in much of Alberta's farm economy, and its stark contrast with the oil sands boom.
He farms the family homestead near Derwent, east of Edmonton, where his father homesteaded after arriving from Ukraine in the early 20th century.
"There has never been another name on this land title except ours, and I hope it stays this way," says Mr. Harasiuk, who works alongside his son on their beef farm.
"But farming has got very tough with the BSE crisis.
"Now, grain prices have gone up and when grain prices go up, livestock prices go down — and we're basically into cattle."
Mr. Harasiuk supplements his income with eight oil leases on his land.
The $20,000 in annual rent "All goes back to the farm."
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