The Rural Voice, 1981-10, Page 11Cliff Robb
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by Gisele Ireland
Cliff Robb. Farm Editor for CKNX Television and Radio Station
in Wingham. has seen tremendous changes in the agricultural
industry during his career.
His experience in the agricultural field has been vast. He
farmed earlier in his life and proceeded to do farm broadcasting at
CKLC in Kingston, CHCX in Peterborough. CBC National and
Regional in Toronto and presently at Wingham.
Cliff mused that he has seen the farming population dwindle
from 20 per cent in 1945 to Tess than 4 per cent at present. He feels
FARM REPORTERS
farmers have compensated for this mass migration by becoming
more efficient.
To achieve this efficiency Cliff says farmers forfeited a lot of
benefits. Community spirit is not as strong now and there is less
reliance on neighbourly co-operation than there was in the past.
The harvest crews that worked the farms were an era in
themselves and stories are still bandied about concerning the
deeds and misdeeds that occurred when a group of men and
women worked together. The financial pressures and the
undeniable urge to increase size and acreage have taken the
"romance" out of farming, says Robb.
The 1950s brought about the great machinery revolution. As
more people headed for the cement jungles. machines replaced
them.
Cliff feels that farm broadcasters in general have not dealt with
the essence of the agricultural industry. Merely reporting market
changes and news has not brought better understanding between
the producer and the receiver. He says it is imperative that the
farmers' love of the land be brought across along with the idea
that a man feels he has substance when he owns land.
Misunderstandings and misconceptions have been rife for years
between the farmer and the urban population and that concerns
him.
Price increases in the commodities should be explained to the
consumer in language that he can relate to Robb says. Cost of
production formulas and so much for live weight give him little
insight to reason out the increases. The role of the farm
broadcaster should be to explain in understandable detail just
what prompted the increases and how they affect the producer
and the consumer.
The CKNX editor says there must be a better way than
marketing boari.s with supply management restrictions to control
commodities. He feels that this amounts to regression in the
agricultural industry at a time when all the food production
possible is needed. Methods should be devised that would allow
maximum production with a reasonable return to the producer.
He feels too much control over supply results in >tagnation in the
agricultural sector and restricts new and aggressive producers
from going into agribusiness.
Cliff Robb, veteran broadcasterlsays it's his job to be the mirror
image reflecting to the general public the conditions at the grass
roots level.
YOU THE SMART HANDLER
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We service what we sell
LYNN HOY
JrL Enterprises Ltd.
e Hwy. 86 just east of Wingham
Phone 357-3435
11
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"MALA IMP S 01 IOAMMDI R INC
THE RURAL VOICE/OCTOBER 1981 PG. 9