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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen-Agriculture 2001, 2001-03-14, Page 34INCOME TAX $ SERVICE • Farm or business or personal • Complete year-round service including tax audit representation • E-File available • Free consultation Over 19 years experience Quality work at reasonable rates $ Pick up and drop off available at Stitches by MJ Queen St., Blyth STEPHEN THOMPSON R.R. #2 Clinton 482-7551 Brussels Agromart Fertilizer • Chemical • Seed (519) 887-6273 Fax (519) 887-6150 OCZ3b 111111 . S'S'°A'‘°t.N C' icoNN) <,,z,‘, PAGE A-14. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14, 2001. What if Huron had its 'fair share' of agricultural processing? Processing Despite Huron's agricultural bounty, there are few examples of food processors, such as Howson's mill in Blyth, located in the area. While there is 42.5 per cent of the province's pro- duction here, only 16.8 per cent is processed in Huron. By Bonnie Gropp Citizen staff Is Huron missing out? According to a recent manufactur- ing strategic plan, while this county and its neighbours grow much of the province's food, processing occurs primarily in the Greater Toronto Area. The latter produces 12.2 per cent and processes 43.8 per cent, while the former produces 42.5 per cent and 16.8 per cent is processed. Paul Nichol of the Huron Business Centre, said the consultants then took this information a step further. "What if Huron got its fair share? What would it mean?" Fair share, he explained,' would be the assumption that "because we produce this amount let's assume we can process the same amount." Continued from A-13 Council for Community Development — CARDS Program is contributing $100,000 and the British Columbia Investment Agriculture Foundation is contribut- ing $85,000. The funds provided by the CARD councils is being provid- ed to match a $900,000 investment from industry partners in participat- ing provinces. Bob Bedggood, vice-chair of the Agricultural Adaptation Council, said AAC is pleased to join the west- ern CARD. Councils in supporting the VIDO needle-free vaccination project. "We believe this partnership The first question that needs to be asked, he says, is what it is going to take to encourage that kind of invest- ment in Huron. "You have to realize the danger in making the assumption that because we have the product it makes sense to process," says Nichol. Access to the raw materials is not the only fac- tor a company will consider in look- ing for a place in which to invest. The labour force, transportation and availability of service are also fac- tors. "Raw material is only one part of the equation." Nichol goes on to say that a very important factor in a company's decision is well-maintained industri- al land. "In fact funding from banks can be difficult if you are trying to buy property in a park that is not well-maintained. will result in significant benefits for Canadian livestock producers and consumers by improving food quali- ty and safety." The Agricultural Adaptation Council, a coalition of 52 agricultur- al, agri-food and rural organizations, delivers the CanAdapt program and other funding programs on behalf of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. A 17-member board — representing sectors of the industry — seeks out projects that foster long-term growth, self-reliance, competitive- ness and employment for Ontario agriculture. AAC welcomes inquiries about the ' Assuming, however, that all of the above are in place there are things that need to be done, primarily mar- keting. "Companies are not just going to show up," says Nichol. It is up to community leaders to make networking contacts. "Do the folks at the province (Ministry of Development and Trade), for example, know that we have available land and services? Putting it bluntly communities need . to start making those sorts of con- nections." Nichol says that one step being taken in that area is the development of a website for the county on which people can look exclusively at these kinds of opportunities: "It comes down to attracting that type of investor. Make sure our house is in order, then develop effec- CanAdapt Program. Applicants are advised to submit a brief "pre-pro- posal" for feedback before complet- ing a formal application. For infor- mation, contact the Agricultural Adaptation Council at 519-822-7554 or canadapt@adaptcouncil.org tive marketing techniques." That said, all of these- steps can be taken without success because of other variables. "There may be issues with trucking routes or the workforce." One thing that may help is to not set sights too high. The Food and Consumer Product Manufacturers of Canada (FCPMC) has said that if certain North American policy changes are'. made to standardize product packaging, labeling and for- mulation, to reform supply manage- ment regulation and for constructive steps to deal with the impact of retail ownership concentration, Canada could see a large increase. The FCPMC suggests that by 2008 there could be new capital investment of $11 billion. Nichol says, however, that while the focus thus far has been on luring part of that huge investment here, Huron should also look at home- grown industry. "It may not be the big company from Ohio that gets something started but .the local soy bean farmer or garlic producer." To that end the Huron Business Centre has spent time encouraging- producers to look at eliminating the middle man, but it can be an intimi- dating leap to make, he admits. Nichol says the other interesting thing he sees is a "re-learning of the lessons of our grandfathers, the notion of processing co-operatives." "It may be that one guy, or it may be the multi-national company, but there's also a middle group, like a group of Jersey farmers getting together to make cheese in Seaforth." Another factor is that communities need to be sure what kind of agricul- tural process they want in their midst. "You have only to look at the Oxford Packers situation to under- stand this." That group has proposed a hog processing plant which has been rejected by at least two municipali- ties as of February. Despite all the issues that must be considered, Nichol is optimistic that Huron begin to realize some of this potential. "One of the 15 points in the strategy expressly says there are opportunities for food processing in Huron. The consultants working on this are well-regarded. They do their homework and they're saying there are some glaring opportunities here. The odds appear to be for us." Finding those opportunities is being picked up by different groups, he says. "We're not jumping. We're looking carefully at the situation." Actually, on a small scale it may have already started. Nichol says the Huron Business Centre has seen a noticeable rise in inquiries regarding agricultural processing -in the last six months. "One of the good news things is if we look in the last 10 years it's growing." "It's not that people aren't thinking about it. Once we get the message out that there is potential there, we just have to look at how to make things happen," he says. COMPLETE REPAIR OF ALL FARM EQUIPMENT Portable and Shop Welding Aluminum Welding BLAKE'S WELDING INC. C.W.B. 78 King Street, Clinton, Ontario 519-482-7303 "We are your TRAILER HITCH SPECIALISTS" AAC chair supports vaccine