| Farmers Feel FTA Woes
Business This Week for April 16 By Gerard Sears
Governments in Europe and the Americas have put an end to a decades-long trade dispute by signing the cross-Atlantic Free Trade Agreement. Free-market advocates are celebrating the agreement scheduled to go into effect June 1, while at home at least one group remains apprehensive.
Farmers will see agricultural subsidies cut by 5% by the end of this year – the first step in a five-stage process. By 2017, all 15 participating nations are required to limit subsidies to farmers to 10% of their earnings. In unstable industries such as wheat and barley, farmers can be subsidized by up to 50%. John Clement, a corn farmer in Iowa, says the new pact will bankrupt his family-run farm. "We won't be able to compete with the cheaper imports." he says. "We'll have to sell our land and our way of life."
The Federal Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Barry Holmes, says that the government is implementing the cutbacks in phases to give farmers enough time to adjust.
"We have programs to help farmers who want to rethink their business." Holmes said at a press conference on Friday.
Mr. Holmes is referring to classes that start next month at community colleges around the country. Mr. Holmes says the classes are available free of charge and are geared specifically for those who are forced to change their career in the new era of free trade. | 
What is the main topic of this article? 
How many countries are involved? 
Why are farmers dissatisfied? 
What kind of program is the government offering? 
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