The Rural Voice, 1991-12, Page 65BRUCE
County Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER
446 10th St., Hanover, Ontario N4N 1P9
519-364-3050
The Rural Voice is provided to Bruce
County farmers by the BCFA.
WHERE ARE ALL THE FARMERS?
Having just attended the quietest
annual meeting in recent memory, I
can't help but wonder where all the
"radical" flavour in Bruce went to.
There was a time when the talk was
farm prices, weather, and bankers. Now
I seem to hear more about the job, deer
hunting, and what's happening next
weekend.
It's a fact that the farm is no longer a
bread -winner and family priority it once
was. But what about our attitude? Have
we given up? Is there anybody out there
who gives a damn?
I see the populace more aware and
concerned about wildlife, wetlands,
farm scenery, land stewardship, and self
reliance in food production. On the
other hand, I see more rural homeown-
ers, more farm family members working
in town, fewer viable family farms, and
some very large, ever-growing cash
croppers, who rent the majority of their
land. These rapidly expanding enter-
prises are closely connected to the
global commodity exchange — the
export -oriented grain and oilseed sys-
tem — and the high input type of agri-
culture that is proving to be its own
undoing with the passage of time
The "Line in the Dirt" stimulated
many concerned farm people. But
where I live, there are only three people
in 15 miles of concession road who are
willing to rally in support in Guelph,
Toronto, or Ottawa. There are lots of
reasons, but really ... Who is going to
show farm unity?
So then I ask myself: what can be
gained by government lobby anyway?
Perhaps a top -up of an 80 per cent of
poverty -level -income for another year?
Perhaps more public awareness of an
already obvious crisis? Or perhaps an
extension of the already inadequate
programs which will only prolong the
agony? What is the message we really
want to bring?
When will we as farmers grasp the
opportunities at our disposal to gain
control of our food system? We could
gain some of that control by value -add -
The Bruce County Federation Award of Merit this year was presented to Bob and
Agnes Bregman, of R. R. 3 Teeswater, centre, by Gisele, left, and Brian Ireland.
62 THE RURAL VOICE
ing to our home grown produce, and
marketing closer to home. We can re-
gain control of our farms by reducing
our dependence on production inputs
and global trading companies.
But we also need a VISION— a true
vision — one that we can all buy into and
strive towards. One that will strengthen
our convictions and spur us on toward a
Local food supply system controlled by
local farmers and local consumers?
Where are all the farmers with a
vision? Do you share the BCFA vision?
Gerald Poechamn
Future of Farming Committee
VISION FOR
AGRICULTURE
THE POECHMAN
COMMISSION
FEBRUARY, 1991
"Our vision for the agricultural fu-
ture embraces farming as a vocation,
providing an adequate supply of whole-
some food, and utilizing environmen-
tally sustainable practices. We see as an
ideal the owner -operated farm where
most of the work is done by the farm
family to provide a viable family in-
come. We see a large rural population-
base engaged in agricultural production
as a cornerstone of the rural economy
and sociai structure. We see a secure
supply of food achieved through diver-
sity, self-sufficiency, and the protection
of the agricultural land resource."
BCFA Directors' Meeting
Monday, Dec. 9, 1991
OMAF Boardroom, Walkerton
8:00 p.m.
Members are welcome to attend