Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1995-03-22, Page 32HENSALL /STRICT 0 OPERATIVE FOR YOUR MOST "COMPLETE" LINE OF CROP INPUTS HENSALL DISTRICT CO-OP is committed to providing the BEST VALUE in CUSTOM APPLICATION. * Fully licenced and experienced operators. * 5 HiBoy type sprayers including NEW this year a RoGator° 664 unit at our FOREST location. * 10 Floatation Fertilizer application units. Best Services at Fair Prices Benefitting the Rural Community by Farmers Working Together HENSALL SEAFORTH 262-3002 522-1000 1-800-265-5190 ENSALL !STRICT 0 OPERATIVE LONDESBORO 523-4470 ILDERTON 666-1300 AILSA CRAIG 293-3272 EXETER 235-1150 PARKHILL 294-6252 FOREST 786-2312 PAGE Al2. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 1995. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + A GRICULTURE '95 + + + + + + + + + + + Animal rights pressures farming industry Continued from A9 one or more members of the family has off-farm employment. Animal rights Another area of recent public interest has been the animal rights movement. Media outlets have shown inci- dents of cruelty to animals and sup- porters of animal rights have used these cases to speak against the farmers' handling of livestock. "Though there are cases of mis- treatment, these are rare. The activists often give animals feelings and thoughts which humans would have. No one knows how animals react to conditions. A chicken may not care about the number of birds in a specific area as long as food and water is available," says Mr. Humphries. "Farmers care about their animals because that is their livelihood." Other concerns Mr. Humphries says just a few of the other concerns faced by the farm family of the 1990s include: environmental zealots promoting misinformation about farmers; gov- ernment planning policies with regard to foodlands, wetlands and zoning bylaws; multi-agency regu- lators farmers must deal with such as inspection of trucks and =Hers, wildlife biologists and planners; government budget restraints which affect agricultural research, educa- tion and extension and the con- sumers' lack of understanding which leads to apathy in supporting farm policies. There are many changes occur- ring in the field of agriculture, says Mr. Humphries and the next several years should be ones of great inter- est for those involved in the indus- try. Father, son agree big not better Continued from All regarding farming, they share many views as well. "One of the biggest challenges I could advise him on is to not put too much money out," says Frank. "There is no need to get too big. There's only 24 hours in a day and I think if you stay smaller you can do a better job." "The big thing in a dairy opera- tion is efficiency. It really doesn't matter how big you get as long as you're efficient you can make money," Steve says. The old hand agrees. "If you get too big in this business it's not too long before the job is running you rather than you're running the job." That independence is part of the attraction to agriculture that has kept Steve on the farm. "I like being my own boss. When you work for someone else you might be doing the same work 10 years later. Farming is different; when you're on your own you can get ahead." Though Frank and Marian aren't prone to syrupy sentimentality on the subject they admit it's a nice feeling to see the family farm stay- ing in the family for another gener- ation. "All the work we've done here, it's good to see it kept up," says Marian. "It makes me even more happy because I know it's what Steve wants to do."