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Home My WebLink AboutFarming '89, 1989-03-22, Page 11FARMING ‘89, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 1989. All. Planning for that prof itable farming venture BY BILL OLAN FARM MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST V1CT0RIA-HALIBURT0N With renewed interest in agricul ture developing over the past few months, we have often been asked how to start a farm and make it pay- Many who ask this question have little or no capital to put into a farming venture and as a result, Septic systems often ignored Continued from page A10 The Authority staff are currently taking the collected data and trying to devise a plan to prevent further contamination of the Lake Huron water sources. Other issues to be addressed in the data will concern the relative qualities of discharge from municipal plants and septic systems. The controversy around the septic issue has proved crucial. The M.V.C.A. has discovered that few farmers had any know ledge of their septic systems. Resource technician, Bob Fuller said that 36 per cent of the rural residents surveyed were either unaware of whether or not their systems had been approved by the local health unit or were certain they had not been approved. Maintenance had not been done on nine per cent of the systems. Septic systems should be exa mined by licensed individuals every two years and should be pumped out every four. Ron Fleming, spokesman from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food’s engineering service claims that some farmers are allowing ‘grey water’ or wash water from washing machines, sinks, and bathtubs to flow directly into their drainage tiles. While some farmers may feel this water is clean it is, according to Mr. Fleming almost as serious a pollu tant as the ‘black water’ from toilets. It is high in bacteria and phosphorous, the latter of which promotes aquatic growth and de pletes the oxygen in the water. Research around the Ausable- Bayfield area shows some toilet wastes are being discharged into streams as well. The M.V.C.A. are using the media to bring this issue to the public. Presentations have been made by the Authority to municipal councils so local communities will become aware of the quality of the rural water. A brochure created by seven co-operative authorities was distributed to the farmers at the time of the farm visits and was available at Conservation Farming ‘88 and at the International Plow ing Match. M.V.C.A. staff also manned exhibits at both places. The waste management problem is becoming a serious concern. Already two areas of the watershed are too polluted to support a natural fish stock. These are the Boyle Drain and Middle Maitland watersheds. The water is actually not even safe for the cows to be drinking. Paul Weitendorf states that the situation is bad. It may take 20 years but sooner or later it’s going to reach the water table and our drinking water will be contam inated. We don’t need to become alarmed yet but it could happen if changes aren’t made. Safety tip Make sure to know where and how you can get medical help in case of an emergency. Remember, ‘Farm Chemical Safety Is In Your Hands’. assets have to be obtained in ways other than borrowing money from the bank to buy them. Few farming enterprises can be developed profi tably from huge debt loads at conventional interest rates. On the other hand, profitable farms are being developed through the use of wise investments and good farm management. Renting of assets is often a low-cost way of securing capital items to develop a viable farm. The high purchase cost of farm land and buildings has been a deterrent to many people wanting to start a farm. Renting of the land and buildings has been used by many owners to reduce costs. Machinery and cows have also been rented. In theory, you could set up a farm using totally rented assets. By renting, you obtain control of the assets without having to spend large sums of money to purchase them. We cannot diminish the impor tance of the family farm in agricul ture. Traditionally, farms have been passed from generation to generation at minimum cost. It is usually during high school years that livestock and other assets are gradually accumulated by the future farmer. After finish ing school, the young farmer may work on the family farm either as an employee or as a partner. After the parents retire, the next genera tion farmer is ready to take over under favorable terms. This new farmer has usually accumulated some livestock and some machinery. The parents have retired with income to meet their retirement years and the satisfac tion of knowing they helped the next generation into farming. Many retiring farmers are quite often willing to sell their farms at reasonable terms to someone they know will do a good job farming. These reasonable terms consist of a low purchase price, a low interest rate on a takeback mortgage or a package deal price. These situa tions often develop from neigh bours who want to retire or from someone just interested in seeing their farm continue as they farmed it. Off-farm employment is another method of providing capital to the beginning farmer. Quite often, off-farm employment can contri bute considerably to paying down the mortgage or for living expenses in those first few years when expenses are always greater than income. Either one or both spouses can provide income from off-farm employment. However, the more time spent off the farm, earning income, the less time there is on the farm to devote to the farming enterprise. Farm work and off-farm employ ment must be synchronized so they are compatible. Ministry programs in the past few years have contributed con siderably to the agricultural econo my. Many farmers have financially benefited by these programs. Be ginning farmers need to examine available programs and apply to ones that fit their needs. Tripartite Stabilization, Ontario Pork Industry Improvement Pro gram and Farm Tax Reduction Program are a few of the programs which assist all farmers. But it is especially important that the begin ning farmer know and use pro grams, as needed, in establishing his farm enterprise. There is no quick and simple way of developing a profitable farm with little capital. In a starting situation, a farmer must make wise management decisions and do pro per financial planning. Assets must be accumulated in a manner that will potentially return a profit. Outside help is often required and available to the beginning farmer by family, neighbours and govern ment. 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