The Rural Voice, 1979-11, Page 16Guest Column
Farmers have the chance to show
what they can do: Lorne Henderson
As Minister of Agriculture and Food for Ontario, it is my very
great pleasure to greet the readers of the Rural Voice, Huron
County is one of Ontario's most outstanding agricultural areas.
producing some of the province's largest corn and bean crops
and a major source of pork, beef and dairy products.
I would like to discuss here a few of my opinions about
agriculture. I hear a lot of talk, for example, about declining
agricultural land in this province, and I wonder where people get
their information. 1 recently sent out a questionnaire to all the
rural townships in Ontario. In Huron County, I have heard back
from Hay, Howick, McKillop and Morris. In those four
townships, only 25 acres have been converted to urban
only 21 to commercial or industrial uses, and another 72 to utility
corridors. As a matter of fact, right here in Huron County, land
under crops went up 14 per cent between 1974 and 1978. There
was a 9 per cent increase for the whole province.
This will only continue, however, as long as the farmers of this
ALFRED
KNECHTEL
Spray Painting Ltd.
—SPECIALIZING IN FARM BUILDINGS -
0
(519) 669-2638
R.R. 2 WALLENSTEIN, ONTARIO
PG. 14 THE RURAL VOICE/NOVEMBER 1979
province can make a decent living from their work and
investment. I f agricultural prices fall below a level where it
makes any sense for the farmer to keep on working, he will quit. I
think that is something consumers have to understand.
The consumers of Ontario have an important responsibility
where agriculture is concerned. Their responsibility is to buy the
products of Ontario farms -- to make sure that when they do their
weekly shopping they buy Ontario apples, Ontario beef, Ontario
eggs. If they buy the imported product instead, they will deny
farmers their chance to make a living, and this would have
serious consequences for the future of farming in Ontario.
I know the farmers of this province want nothing better than
the chance to show what they can do. They want to keep on
producing some of the world's finest food. As long as 1 am
Minister of Agriculture and Food, I intend to see that they have
every opportunity to do so.
Lorne C. Henderson
Minister
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