The Lucknow Sentinel, 1998-03-18, Page 21There could be a decline
a�an� agculturg workforce
bY inracey DAerr
aging farming
population and
tougher loan
requirements could mean
the province of Ontario
will see a decline in ithe
agricultural workforce.
There arc, many issues
deterring young fanners
from takingon the agricul-
ture business, said P.at.
Kuntz, agriculture and
rural, representative for
OMAFRA. Some of those
include the high cost of
living, the commitment
and the high cost of get-
ting started,
"You can invest $ I mil-
lion into buildiiirg Costs
and find the farm doesn't.
generate enough of a prof-
it in the first couple of
years," said Kuntz. "How
someone' young gets start-
ed... Ws very difficult."
•According to Kuntz,
'farmers just starting out in
the business may face
some difficulty in obtain-
Mg financing,
Lending .institutions:'
wjll
give 'farmers up to 65
per cent of •tire, value of the
quota „they wish to pur-
chase but the other 35 per
cent- must be: obtained by
the farmerhimself,., he
said. The loan period can
also be a problem as the
amortization period is usu-
New farmerr
may face
difficulty
obtaining
tin
ally only five years, for
quota.•
Often established farm-
ers have a much :easier
time obtaining loans
because they can get the
35 per cent equity from.
assets they already have,
"ft affects the small
guy," said Kuntz. .
Other farming options,
include commodities such •
as sheep, pork and, east
Crops in.which there is no
guatanteed market so
farrners •must compete:;
constantly 'with the supply
and dernand. Non-tradi-
tional markets such as
white tailed deer, encu and
ostrich ate'other options
that people consider but
Kiintx; stresses they should'
do their hoinework first,
'People have to look at
the marketing of these
exotic commodities: before
production. If they do it
the oppt site way, : they'1l.
likely lose "money. Some
people do have expertise
in 'these non-traditional'
Greener Pastures
fields 40r they learn,.
through ' •self-interest
groups$ said Kuntz,
. Getting involved' in the
agricultural business can
be ,made •easierif the
farmer has income from
another source, ,
"What has been onY
going for the last 20 years
is fanners. who: keep their
off :farm income until .the
farm is established. It can'
take, two to 20 years to
establish .a farm and that
depends on the commodi-
ty you choose and the
markets at the time you
enterr," •
Kuntz said he's known
farmers who have built
and paid for swine facili-
' ties in the last two years.
Those farmers got into the
Market when it paid $2 a
kilogram. He said a break-
even point would•be $1.60
a kilograni'but currently:
pork is worth only $1.38 a
• kilogram.
"If you started' now
you'd be in a negative sit-
uation where you'd just be
adding to the debt".
Anyone wanting , more
information about getting
started in the business
should call the QMAFRA.
office in Walkerton at 1-
800-265,3023.
In- the battle for conser
'vation, farmers are'fi"ght-
ing for the environment: ,•
For the past four years
Ontario producers have
participated" in more than
208 on-farm demonstra=,
tion` projects aimed at.
• enhancing' .fish and,
wildlife habitat in ways
compatible with sustain-
able farming.
The projects,. ranging
' fromprotecting streams
and improving habitat for ~:
fish, and wildlife were
sponsored by the Wetlands
Woodlands Wildlife
(WWW) programa which
provided funding and,
resources to producers '
'.who .volunteered land for
the project. '
r:
". Farm progress '98.— IPPige 5 •
.-1"0 1-1"."745-167
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