United Farmers of Canada

The United Farmers of Canada was a militant farmers' organization established 1926 as the United Farmers of Canada (Saskatchewan Section). It combined the radical Farmers' Union of Canada and the more conservative Saskatchewan GRAIN GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. During the late 1920s it led the unsuccessful but intense campaign for "the 100% pool," a system in which governments would market all grain. The UFC maintained strong educational programs for rural people, championed the cause of orderly marketing, and called for extensive reform of the educational and medical systems.

During the 1930s the UFC(SS) became dominated by radicals who favoured political action. It entered politics on a moderate SOCIALIST platform in 1931 and in 1932, along with the Independent Labour Party, formed the Farmer-Labour Group. In 1934 the Farmer-Labour Group became the Saskatchewan Section of the CO-OPERATIVE COMMONWEALTH FEDERATION. In 1938 the UFC (Alberta Section) was formed by radical members of the declining UNITED FARMERS OF ALBERTA. In 1943 the Alberta association, in an effort to gain broader support, reorganized as the Alberta Farmers' Union. The UFC(SS) was a powerful force until reorganization in 1949 as the Saskatchewan Farmers' Union. In 1960, along with farmers' unions from other provinces, it helped form a national farmers' union, in which the provincial unions held membership. In 1969 the provincial unions (except for Alberta) dissolved and the NATIONAL FARMERS UNION became the national organization.

Author IAN MACPHERSON