The Rural Voice, 1979-01, Page 7Corporation yet for financing, although they're considering it if
they expand in the future. They have used capital grant
assistance loans from both levels of government for improve-
ments on the farm.
Presently. they're renting their one 150 acre farm from their
father, who has already given them a gifted portion of the farm.
This way their father isn't faced with a Targe taxable income
and "we don't have a large debt." fhe two men do own their
own machinery and herd of dairy cows.
Paul Ahrens said he recommends that younger farmers
"start small." "get into it without getting too financially
involved. since it's awfully hard to get out." he said.
When Tom Melady decided to start farming fulltime, he
gradually built up his inventory of machinery. The first year he
bought a corn planter, and paid for it by doing custom work for
neighbouring farmers.
He credits the father -son operation with helping out. since
"when 1 was away, it meant Dad did more at home."
Each year he added another piece of equipment. untilhe now
has his own line of machinery.
Most of the young farmers interviewed have years of 4-H or
Junior Farmer membership in their backgrounds and most now
belong to at least one farm organization.
Tom Melady says, "There's only one way to farm now, and
that's to be educated in it."
READ, USE/OMAF
He has attended short courses offered by OMAF or Centralia
College. and advises other young operators to "read the
TOM MELADY
magazines from the commodity groups you're in" and said,
"Use OMAF - it makes you the most money and costs you the
least."
Both the \hren+ brother feel the 've benefit .d from their time
at 0 \C - "learning the mason you to things on the farm is
• just as important as actual experience" Paul Ahrens said.
The partners take advantage of both soil and feed testing
programs offered through OMAF and Paul Ahrens praised the
feed advisory program in particular - "1'm convinced we can't do
without it." he said. Farm publications and one day seminars are
the main tool the two men use to keep themselves informed on
developments in agriculture. Also. Paul Ahrens is a director of
the Ayreshire Club.
Brad Carnochan. who belongs to a Junior Farmers'
organization in the community, hopes to attend OMAF short
courses now that he's no longer farming and working at the
co-op.
After he gets his operation going. Kurt Keller plans to get
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THE RURAL VOICE/JANUARY 1979 PC. 7