The Rural Voice, 1990-05, Page 11FEEDBACK
the GST will increase borrowing costs,
those farmers with good bookkeeping
systems will be able to minimize those
costs in two ways: 1) they will be able to
apply for their rebate sooner; and 2) they
will be in a better position to deal with
their banker.
If the family farm is to survive, it must
be operated as a business as opposed to a
way of life. If the availability of cheap
family labour is the only means for the
farm to survive, serious questions must be
asked as to the viability of sustaining this
marginal operation.
I agree that farmers must wear many
hats; however, we must realize that in
today's environmentally concerned world
a better understanding of the chemicals,
fertilizers, and drugs used in primary
agriculture is a necessity.
Many farmers turn to private special-
ists to assist in their decision-making.
Industry knows that with a decline in the
number of farmers it is essential to put
more service into what they sell to main-
tain their market share. These services are
available to all farms, not only corporate
farms. Survey the equipment dealers and
veterinarians and one will find that they
rely heavily on family farms for their
existence.
Mr. Roulston also touched on the
apparent differences in financing avail-
able to family farms vs. corporate farms.
Banks lend money to those farms that
illustrate an ability to repay their commit-
ments regardless of their business struc-
ture. Corporate farms do not have a mon-
opoly on preferential treatment with banks
— all farms showing good cash flow and
management have an opportunity to get
better financing.
To quote Mr. Roulston, "only farmers
who can get a firm grip on marketing seem
to be able to anticipate the profit margins
..." This is the essence of agribusiness.
We must realize that a way of life does not
provide the family a decent living, it does
not provide the outgoing parents with an
adequate retirement, it does not give the
children unlimited access to post -secon-
dary education, and it certainly does not
provide an opportunity for future genera-
tions to carry on the family farm.
In closing, I suggest the following:
to keep the family on the farm, you and
your family must understand that farming
is both a way of life and a business.0
Phil Anwender
R. R. 1, Sebringville
Ontario
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AYTON ONT NOG 1C0
519-665-7711
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ilioS
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R.R.5, Goderich, Ont. N7A 3Y2
Phil Clark 519-524-4367
INTRODUCING
VRLmETAL 1
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For your nea est dealer, contact
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MAY 1990 7
1