HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1978-05-10, Page 15Lucknaw Sentinel, Weduesday,'May 10, 1978—Page 15
Ontario will be unable tofeedownpe�ple
If the present trend. continues,
Ontario will be unable to feed its
own population by 1985. Already
the agriculture industry in this
province is under producing
because of the great quantities of
imports being permitted into this
country.
The dim outlook on the
province's, agriculture was con-
tained in the Annual Brief
presented to the Ontario Cabinet
by the Ontario Federation of
Agricultdre (OFA).
It is wrong to expect imports
will always be available said the
OFA brief. It is unrealistic to
expect imports would be offered
at a fair, competitive price if there
were no locally produced and
processed food stuffs.
Large corporate farms will only
operate when returns to equity
are profitable; unless market
prices remain at favourable levels
these corporations cease produc-
tion.
Ontario gram and livestock
prices are largely determined by
world and North American com-
petitive markets and there is little
or no protection from imports.
World corn, wheat, soyabean and
beef prices have been kept low by
supplies abundant for commercial
channels. Yet, Ontario is far from
being self sufficient.
DEFICIENCY
There is and will be a
substantial deficiency in beef
production, despite millions of
acres of potentially available
forage land. Actually, deficiency
in beef is underestimated said the
Brief, because only , the final
products are measured, whereas
Ontario imports as many as
300,000 to 400,000 feeder cattle
and calves per year " from the
Prairie Provinces.
There is.a substantial deficien-
cy in pork despite reasonably
good prices for several years.
Supply management products,
such as poultry and eggs, are
near or above 'self - sufficiencyp;
milk has reversed declining
trends and has improved because
of the national program and the
recent Ontario Milk Marketing
Board's product promotion.
Fruits continue to be severely
deficit - not only citrus and
tropical fruits, but the products
Ontario lands can grow, such as
peaches, pears, grapes and
apples.
Potatoes remain in a deficit
situation, as do grains, despite
the revolution in corn growing,
over the past decades.
ESTIMATED
SELF SUFFICIENCY
OFA estimated in the Brief that
by 1985, Ontario will only be 57
percent self sufficient in beef; 75
percent self sufficient in pork; 83
percent in poultry and dairy
products; 46 percent in fruit; 46
percent in potatoes and 74
percent in wheat flour. Only in
eggs and vegetables will.Ontario
be self sufficient with an estimat-
ed percentage of 110 percent.
Optimism about increased long
term demand for food ran high
previous to 1975-76 but self
sufficiency in all commodities,
except eggs and vegetables, will
continue to decline as indicated
by 1985.
The high prices already being
paid by Ontarians for imported
fruits and vegetables gives fair
warning about the potential high
cost of food facing consumers in
thefuture, said OFA in their
Brief.
T1 a Ontario outlook is for
continued deficit production as
world market conditions continue
to keep' Ontario in a cost price
squeeze, especially in the major
livestock and grain sectors.
Intermittent periods of unsteady
prices and rising input costs are
•
likely says the Brief, The farmer
is Much more vulnerable to a
period of low prices or of personal
illness or injury because of the
increase in farm debt levels and
rtligular debt service charges.
"The deficiency in our food
production is a disgrace," said
OFA. "It would not be so
disgraceful if Ontario lacked the
resources for competitive farm.
production but the land base and
climate in Southwestern Ontario
are near optimal."
The obstacles to production in
the less favourable areas are
quite manageable, relative to
those in many more crowded
countries that do feed their
population. "The stature of
Olson's Gravel it
DUNGANNON, ONT. 529-7942
Air' /-/- Air AEI /i/'/INV /-/ Apr /- Air I
-NEW LOWER PRICES RE 100 TONS
SANDY FILL $44.00
PIT RUN GRAVEL $64.00
STONE DUST, SAND $100.00
SCREENED STONE 4" UNDER $125.00
ROAD GRAVEL $135.00
CEMENT GRAVEL $145.00
5/8 STONE $220.00
3/4 STONE $235.00
A minimum mileage charge for delivery
Ontario and of Canada in the
international community is great-
ly weakened if with our abundant
farm resources we are less and
less able to live within our own
CONTINUED ON PAGE 22
We would like to thank our many customers
for their loyal support through the years we
have been in business.
We would like to introduce the new owners of
the Log Cabin Restaurant, Richard and Gloria
Kwan. We would ask our customers to extend to
them the same courtesy and support that we
received.
Roberta and Lloyd.Whytock
Jim, Janet, Donna and Darlene
ANNUAL MAY
11
Save now on spring and
summer men's wear
SPECIAL GROUP
su
1
TS
OFF
SIZES 38 TO 46
ALTERATIONS AT COST
SPECIAL GROUP
TIES
$3 o0
REG.
995
'270
$130
$140
23O, . $1 55
'°R"'OUP.`SHIRTS
G
SHORT SLEEVE
REG. TO '15.00
$5
LONG SLEEVE
REG. TO '20.00
00 & $7 00
CORNER MONTREAL STREET AND THE SQUARE, GODERICH
master charge
a
C'HARGEX
MOM
VISA ,
OPEN FRIDAYS TI•
LL 9 P.M,