HomeMy WebLinkAboutFarming '88, 1988-03-30, Page 26PAGE 2. FARMING ’88, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30, 1988.
OMAF's centennial shows growth of agriculture
At the turn of the century, one
Ontario farmer produced food for
12 people. Today, that same
farmer feeds 90 people. That’s a
remarkable increase in efficiency.
It has taken a lot of research and
development, planning, technical
advances, quality and health con
trols, marketing expertise and
hard work to make that type of gain
in efficiency. But it has been worth
it. We all enjoy the benefits when
we sit down at the dinner table or go
to the refrigerator for a snack.
People in many other parts of
the world also enjoy Ontario
food. We exported about $1.8
billion of food and agricultural
products in 1987. The U.S. is our
largest customer, taking about
two-thirds of our food and agricul
tural exports.
Ontario is also a leader when it
comes to agriculture within Cana
da. We produce more hogs,
poultry, eggs, sheep and lambs,
fruits and vegetables, corn, soya
beans and tobacco than any other
province. And we are a close
second to Alberta in cows and
calves and second to Quebec in
dairy products.
With 15 million acres of farm
land, Ontario produces an amazing
array of agricultural and food
products ranging from cheese and
crackers to ham and eggs. Many
require additional processing,
such as cooked meats, etc.
To produce all these good
things, between 130,000 and
150,000 people work on about
82,000 farms. However, that is just
the tip of the iceberg when it comes
to jobs. People are employed
making the machinery, fuel, ferti
lizer, feed and chemicals needed to
produce food. And more are
involved in processing, packaging,
transporting and selling food. For
example, about 87,000 people
work in the wholesale and retail
distribution of agriculture and food
products.
With ail these people involved,
it’s not surprising that agriculture
and food is a major piece of
Ontario’s economic pie.
Farmers play a large part in the
provincial economy. In 1985, they
sold products worth $5.1 billion at
the farm gate.
Ontario farmers also put a lot of
money back into the economy each
year. In 1987, they spent $3.6
billion on the goods and services
needed to operate their farms.
Farmers - like other members of
theagri-food industry - are innova
tive and willing to do what it takes
to produce food efficiently. Every
one benefits from this. Canadians
spend only 16 per cent of their
disposable income on food (at
home and away). Only two count
ries - the United States of America
and the Netherlands - spend less
per capita on food.
To maintain this level of efficien
cy, Ontario has a large and modern
network of support services. The
network includes about 50 live
stock sales facilities across the
province, the Ontario Public Stock
Yards in Toronto and the Ontario
Food terminal - the largest agricul
tural distribution depot in Canada.
Up to 750 buyers per day visit the
food terminal - which covers 44
acres - to buy fruit and vegetables
fromOntarioas well as from the
rest of Canada and 30 other
countries.
Each year, Ontario’s marketing
system handles about 1.3 million
cattle, sheep and calves.
Ontario produces some of the
best quality food in the world. To
maintain this high standard, the
Ministry of Agriculture and Food
works in co-operation with other
government agencies to inspect
and grade everything from milk
and meat to fruits and vegetables.
By ensuring consumers get food
that is safe and of the highest
quality, the ministry helps every
one involved in the food system.
Ontario’s 25 marketing boards
also play an important role in
ensuring the orderly production,
marketing and promotion of farm-
produced goods. The boards have
varying degrees of responsibility.
Marketing boards fall into three
general categories. There are
boards that:
• negotiate
• establish price
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• regulate with production and
marketing quotas. These boards
may negotiate or establish a
price.
The boards are accountable to
the public through bodies cnpoint-
ed by the provincial government
and are subject to legislation ano
regulations administered by the
Ontario Ministry of Agriculture
and Food.
Ontario’s food and agricultural
sector is highly skilled. The
province provides excellent train
ing for those working in or wishing
to enter the agri-food system.
Two-year diploma courses are
offered at five colleges of agricul
tural technology plus the Univer
sity of Guelph, which also offers
degree studies in agricultural-
related subjects. Our educational
facilities are among the best in the
world.
The Ministry of Agriculture and
Food, established in 1888, pro
vides a wide range of services.
These include:
•agricultural representatives
and specialists. They operate out of
54 county and district offices and
offer courses, advice, inspections,
livestock and crop testing and
many other services,
•laboratories. These investigate
disease as well as analyze soil and
feed, animal and plant specimens
and other agricultural products
such as fertilizers and sprays.
•agricultural research. The
ministry is one of the foremost in
this field, disbursing about $32
million a year on projects at the five
agricultural colleges, four re
searchstations, three horticultural
stations, and several universities.
Work includes developing hardier
crop varieties, disease controls,
introduction of new products,
improving facilities for production
and storage and improvements in
wine making.
•educational activities. In addi-
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