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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 1992-11-18, Page 11More study required Peter Stonehouse, University of Guelph economist (right) chats with Lawrence Andres, a director of the Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario at the association's fall conference in Ethel, Saturday. Mr. Stonehouse wants to widen his research that showed that organic farmers made more money, based on 1989 figures, than conventional farmers. Researcher says criticism valid F arm _THECITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18,1992. PAGE 11. Brussels Livestock Rejjort T • “ *Light run of pigs, fed cattle sell higher Stung by criticism of his study showing organic farming more profitable than conventional farm ing, a University of Guelph economist wants to broaden the scope of the study. Peter Stonehouse told the fall conference of the Ecological Farm ers Association of Ontario in Ethel Saturday that he would like to find more organic farmers to take part in the study so that the findings can be more statistically sound. He admit ted he had come under heavy criti cism from colleagues at the university and conventional farm ers for the narrow scope of the ear lier survey which included only 27 farms, nine organic farmers, nine reduced-tillage farmers and nine conventional farmers. The organic farm numbers were further reduced to seven because two of the farmers didn't grow the tradition cash-crops of grain com, soybeans and winter wheat that were the basis of the study. The study, released earlier this year, showed that the highest prof its went to organic farmers with reduced-input farmers second and conventional farmers last. "I have to admit the criticism is valid and I'd like to do a larger sample of farmers. Twenty-five farms is too thin on the ground." He said he'd also like to find a concentration of farmers all in one area of the province. Criticism of the earlier study was that in order to find his organic farming sample, he had to go to various parts of the province. It meant there were dif ferent frost-free growing seasons and different corn heat-units involved. He said he would also like to have all the farms from one sector: dairy, hogs, poultry, etc. The origi nal study was to have been on cash crop farming but he learned that nearly all organic farmers keep livestock as part of their wholistic approach, using the manure to fer tilize crops. He said he would like to find farms that are approximate ly the same size and where the owners have about the same amount of experience, in order to take the uncertainties out of the study. One of the criticisms of the earli er study came from those who said organic farmers made more money because they got premium prices for their product, but Mr. Stone house said that even with regular prices, organic farmers would gain over conventional farmers. Yields were about the same as convention al farmers but input costs were lower, giving organic farmers an advantage in gross margins. He said his survey was even unfair to organic farmers because it lumped in all tillage as part of weed control and calculated a cost for compost ing of manure. "It seems to say organic farmers have nothing to fear if they lose their pricing premium," he said. Mr. Stonehouse acknowledged that there has been a wide variety of results from studies comparing conventional and organic farming. Pennsylvania studies have given the edge to organic farming while an Ohio State University study showed conventional methods clearly superior. Still, he said, his study showed that, based on 1989 figures, organic farmers turned a much higher net farm income on small farms, than did conventional farmers with reduced-input farmers in the mid dle, still much higher than conven tional farmers. "It shows me there is lots of potential for organic farm- Organic farmers to take part in urged environmental agenda Members of the Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario (EFAO) were urged to complete Environmental Agendas for their farms when the process begins early next year. Gerry Poechman, a farm advisor with the EFAO told 100 farmers attending the fall conference of the group in Ethel Saturday that com pleting the plan, which includes 23 different components covering every aspect of the farm, won't be easy. "I'd recommend we all go through it. We as fanners owe it to ourselves as well as our community to go through it. There are things we will earn even though each of us are leaders in our communities in environmental areas." But he urged organic farmers to take the agenda one step further than it currently goes. "Where the plan is really lacking is that it does n’t focus all 23 components back into a single unit again," he said, ecological farmers know that farm- Continued on page 15 ers, despite the short history we have with organic farming." He said the idea that weeds were a greater problem on organic farms because of the lack of herbicide spraying was a myth according to his observations. "I saw some frightful problems on conventional farms," he said, while through crop rotation and other controls, organic farmers kept their weeds well in control. What can't be figured into studies is the environmental cost of large- scale conventional farming. If silt is being washed down stream and fill ing up a harbour that then has to be dredged, the cost doesn't show up on the farm books but there is a cost, he said. The larger farms necessary to try to make a profit on conventional farms also destroys the economic base of rural communities, he said pointing to Saskatchewan as an example of'the destruction of the small communities. "When you have to drive 125 miles to the near est grocery store" you have to pay a steep cost for rural depopulation, he said. TRUST A TIRE YOU CAN COUNT ON! KELLY SPRINGFIELD P15580R-13 $52.00 P16580R-13 $54.00 P17580R-13 $55.00 P18580R-13 $57.00 P18575R-14 $68.00 P19575R-14 $69.00 P20575R-14 $72.00 P21575R-14 $74.00 P20575R-14 $73.00 P21575R-15 $76.00 P22575R-15 $78.00 P23575R-15 $79.00 All Season Explorer 400 VKS Road Hazard included Installed and balanced at no extra charge On Farm WILLITS TIRE SERVICE Lucknow Sales at Brussels Livestock for the week ending Nov. 13, 1992 were: fed cattle, 1273; cows, 401; veal calves, 183; lambs and goats, 161; stockers, 1800 and pigs, light run. The market saw fed cattle selling on a strong active trade to last week. Cows were $1 higher. There were 865 steers on offer selling from $90 to $94 to the high of $105.75. Eleven steers consigned by K & A Beef Farms, Wroxeter, averaging 1095 lbs. sold for an average of $96.90 with sales to $97.95. Thirty-six steers consigned by Maple Emblem Farms, Dungannon, averaging 1305 lbs. sold for an average of $93.91 with sales to $100.25. Twenty eight steers consigned by Lome Forster, Lucknow, averaging 1216 lbs. sold for an average of $91.26 with sales to $98.85. Two steers consigned by Wilbert Hall, Listowel, averaging 945 lbs. sold for $98.75. Forty-two steers consigned by Glen Johnston, Bluevale, averaging 1295 lbs. sold for an average of $90.31 with sales to $97.25. Twenty-five steers consigned by Beetonia Farms Ltd,. Beeton, BRUSSELS LIVESTOCK Division of Gamble & Rogers Ltd. UPCOMING SALES____ TUESDAYS THURSDAYS FRIDAYS 9 a.m. Finished Cattle & Cows 11:00 a.m. Dropped Calves Veals followed by Goats Sheep & Lambs 10:00 a.m. Stocker Cattle 1:00 p.m. Pigs _____BRUSSELS 887-6461 _____ _________ _ averaging 1389 lbs. sold for an average of $93.17 with sales to $96.30. Forty-seven steers consigned by Allan Lewis, Lucan, averaging 1332 lbs. sold for an average of $93.37 with sales to $95.50. Twelve steers consigned by Dale and John Taylor Farms, Creemore, averaging 1418 lbs. sold Continued on page 15 2nd (Final) Installment of 1992 TAXES Township of West Wawanosh Due Wednesday November 25th, 1992 Payable in person at Municipal Office or by mail to RR #2 Lucknow^ NOG 2 HO.__________ Looking for Christmas gift ideas? See the Warrior Days Souvenirs on display and available at the Municipal Office. Neon T-shirts; polo shirts; children's T's; steins, mugs and hats. Joan Armstrong, Clerk-Treasurer/Tax Collector 528-2103