HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2006-03-29, Page 3News
Future of farming in jeopardy,
say farmers at Queen's Park
Mark IVonkea
A voice rang
out from the
crowd gathered
on the lawn of
,Queen's Park.
"We're not
going," a man
shouted from a
group of about
1,000 protesters
on the footsteps
of the provincial
legislature.
The message
was clear: the
future of farm-
ing, under the
current condi-
tions, is in jeop-
ardy.
"In. this crowd
we have chicken
farmers, we have
dairy farmers, we
have beef farm -
Toni Kaastra of Holmesville and Sandra Eedy of Winthrop were among the hundreds
of protesters from Huron and Perth who joined. agriculture producers across Ontario
ers, we have
at Queens Park last Thursday.
nor is my dad nor are my
sons but we also feel it's
shameful. ` My dad was here
in 1965," Hill said.
Among the crowd were at
least 150 farmers from
Huron, Bruce and Perth
Counties.
"I'm here because we have a
son at Ridgetown College,"
said Sandra Eedy, a
Winthrop -area cash cropper.
Eedy, who operates a 430
acre cash crop farm with her
husband, said the future for
her son in the agricultural
industry in Ontario is defi-
nitely uncertain. .
Her comments reflected
sentiments expressed by
other speakers at the Queen's
Park rally.
"If this government thinks
$13 or $26 an acre is going to
grain and oilsee
farmers, we have fruit and
vegetable farmers. We're all
here," said Varna cash crop-
pei9Bev Hill while addressing
the crowd of agriculture pro-
ducers in Toronto.
In all, about - 750 farmers of
all ages poured out of buses
and picked up picket signs
last Thursday.
Frustrated with low market
prices for grain and corn, the
agriculture producers said
they are losing money on the
crops they plant.
Forced to compete with
American and Quebec pro-
ducers, who are subsidized,
the Ontario farmers said' the
government is not doing
enough to provide an equal
playing field.
"I'm not happy to be here,
6
•
put a_ crop in the ground, this
government, and this minis-
ter of agriculture has no clue,
absolutely no idea, what the
costs are to put a crop in the
ground," said Mervyn Erb, an
agriculture supplier from
Huron.
The government, he said, is
not doing enough.
"We need a risk manage-
ment program, we need a self
directed management pro-
gram," said Geri Kamenz,
vice-president of the Ontario
Federation of Agriculture.
"We shouldn't have to year
after year come . on bended
knee," adds Grant Robertson,
the emcee of the Toronto
rally.
While representatives from
See HURON-BRUCE,'Page 8
The Huron Expositor • March 29, 2006 Pogo 3
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