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The Rural Voice, 2002-05, Page 35Food Research in Ontario prov ide some startling figures. In the 40 years after 1951 the numher of Ontario dairy farmers dropped from 40,00010 9,757. During the same period the number of pork producers fell from 93,564 to 8,940. Economics is not the only factor at work but it has a ron.idctahlr Impact on the process. hi\ i1end towards intensive T ll, r.t14rk operations shows no .Irn, Of slowing down. A study of building permits issued between 1996 and 2000 shows that a new livestock barn kw cattle, pigs or poultry came into production every 10 days on average in l luron County. I he' ' barns typically have four or Inc' Innes. the number of animals per bulldinp than ,In average barn in 1906. The number of hogs marketed per producer rose by over 80 per cent between 1996 and 1999. Hog production rose 54 per cent while the number of producers dropped by 15 per cent. Livestock is not spread evenly over the whole county. According to the 1996 farm census Grey and Howick Twps. have a livestock density three times greater than Hay. The figures for building permits issued for Targe barns indicates that during the last few years the density of large farm operations steadily increased in Grey and Howick as well as McKillop Twps. This may be changing. Knight commented in reference to location, "a lot of it was economics — as land prices have gone up the building activity seems to be moving." The new farm practices are not solely the result of economics. Advances in science and technology have allowed the farmer to expand his operations. Neil McGavin, a farm machinery dealer, comments that modern equipment allows the farmer to crop more land with Tess physical effort. He says they are using illy from computers and global pose' systems to u►creast. their yields .., .1 reduce the chant r 41 1..,.. He also h.I$ • 411.11. ,Alin Il.. . ;i. size and let hool..lry nuf!hl I.. some of tht ., . I". .,I II., 1... n. economy 11. won•l.., .1,.1..,,.I .I., future tot the IIIilIl111! nt.li. I. y ,.• Ir..'.. 515 James Street S.. St. Marys. Ontario N4X 1C7 Ph: 519 349-2355 800 667-3845 Fax: 519 349-2144 EASY LIFT DOORS LTD. AGRICULTURAL • RESIDENTIAL • INDUSTRIAL • COMMERCIAL A Prompt Service / Emergency Repair A Large Volume of stocked Inventory A Dock Seals / Lock Levellers A On Site Consultations A High Quality Standards A Attention to Detail A Well equipped Sernce'•.c•s A All Materials 3 ft to 34 ft ISI ce We'll Make Any Door An 'Easy Lift For Vow ATTENTION MOCO AND SWA OWNERS EasyC Sickle ut' Bar System •Solve Old Knife worn out? Now is the time to replace it 114 SCH knife one) Eas‘C _ .. se:t res:.' performance treated, not lustt"e Your Cutting problems • Put On An East ;,,t' ►v,' * • • Non Stop Cutting In Wet Grass • Booty Scc:o's • Quick Section Replacement Without PAN loot — `•"`" • No Shims • No Hold Downs • No Adlustrt c ;s , )ora•) EASY CUT SICKLE \ '•1.I.mrti BAR SYSTEM EG. KIT PRICES 9 FT. 12 FT S '10 N S;.; , For mare information contact your local tam equiptltMM dela•. ex ARflT2Oou Ltd lh 1 :11 :91 420ti