The Rural Voice, 1993-08, Page 58BRUCE
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.
Market Grey -Bruce looks at marketing farm products
The decade of the 90s has quickly
become a time of global competitive-
ness. We will continue to be chal-
lenged by the Amcrican Canadian Free
Trade agreement and GATT. At the
time of the writing of this article,
NAFTA has been stalled by an
environmental court challenge. It may
take two months or two years for an
impact study to take place, but the
ramifications of this agreement still
loom on the horizon.
Countries that have traditionally
been hewers of wood and drawers of
water will not survive in the global
market place. When we export our raw
materials, we export our jobs.
Henry Ford based his theory of
assembly line production on the basis
that if he paid his employees well, they
could afford to buy his cars. Wealth
would create wealth. Our current
politicians and economists seem unable
to grasp this concept.
How do we as farmers and
businessmen adapt and cope?
One way is through co-operative
competitiveness.
In March of this year, a resolution
was passed by both the Grey and Bruce
Federations of Agriculture to establish
a committee to investigate diversified
market opportunities for Grey -Bruce
products. This committee was named
"Market Grey -Bruce".
Initially, the role of the committee
is to promote a climate of co-operation
between producers and producer
groups, that would lead to the
identification and development of
marketing opportunities for farm
products grown and processed in the
Grey -Bruce area.
Through this process, farmers could
identify opportunities and markets that
would give them greater control over
the value-added returns for their
products.
Following that, the investigation of
possible co-operative ventures and
partnerships with other segments of our
community would be a priority.
The design and production of a
specific identifier that would promote
the quality and excellence of Grey -
Bruce products will be undertaken.
To develop full community involve-
ment enabling farm families to create
greater wealth and ensure economic
sustainability for Grey and Bruce coun-
ties would be the ultimate achievement.
The first project which the commit-
tee undertook was to participate in the
annual banquet and meeting of the
Grey -Bruce Tourism Association. Lo-
cally grown produce was supplied for
the banquet and social hour. The pro-
duce was donated by local producers,
commodity boards and commodity
organizations. The support and
response was encouraging.
Where do we go from here?
We have received funding from
OATI and are currently going through
the process of hiring a co-ordinator.
We hope to have a strong presence at
the International Plowing Match. A
winter conference to identify, examine
and establish co-operation and under-
standing between farmers, processors
and commodity groups in regards to
opportunities, diversification, and
value-added markets, will also be held.
We will endeavour to provide
leadership and initiative, but it will be
up to the farmers and leaders in our
communities to build a co-operative
marketing system based on the ideas
brought forth. If you build it, greater
economic stability will come. If your
quality and standards are high, your
field of dreams can become lush green
pastures of reality.0
John Schlorff
Market Grey -Bruce
Committee Member
Bruce Township Director
OFA
REGIONAL MEETING
Monday, October 4, 1993
8:00 p.m.
Dunkeld Hotel
R.R. #4, Walkerton
Guest Speaker:
Brita Ball, CUSO Work
Term in Gambia
Bruce County
Federation of Agriculture
Directors' Meeting
Monday, August 23, 1993
8:00 p.m.
OMAF Boardroom, Walkerton
Members are welcome to attend
BRUCE COUNTY FEDERATION OF AGRICULTURE
COUNTY EXECUTIVE:
Past President
President
1st Vice President
2nd Vice President
EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS:
REGIONAL DIRECTORS:
Bruce North
Bruce South
Allan Smith (Alice)
Byron Monk (Joanne)
Jim Farrell (Fran)
Gerald Poechman (Marlene)
Grant Collins (Carol)
Ron Garland (Koleen)
Lloyd Schnurr (Lorraine)
Tom Sweiger (Karen)
Ken Kelly (Lynda)
Tony Morris (Judy)
R.R.
R.R.
R.R.
R.R.
#2, Tara
#2, Elmwood
#3, Ripley
#1, Walkerton
R.R. #1, Kincardine
R.R. #2, Cargill
R.R. #3, Walkerton
R.R. #2, Dobbinton
R.R. #5, Paisley
R.R. #1, Mildmay
NOH 2N0
NOG 1S0
NOG 2R0
NOG 2V0
N2Z 2X3
NOG 1J0
NOG 2V0
NOH 1L0
NOG 2N0
NOG 2J0
934-2928
363-3153
395-5628
364-5657
395-5131
366-9934
881-3998
363-5704
389-5347
367-2136
54 THE RURAL VOICE