The Rural Voice, 1986-08, Page 24Quality at an affordable price/
PAUL & ANITA DIETRICH
R. R. 2, WELLESLEY
ONTARIO NOB 2T0
TELEPHONE
(519) 656-2378
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419 Durham St. E.
WALKERTON — 519-881-3511
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Available in three different
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22 THE RURAL VOICE
NEWS
REPORT INDICATES
FARMERS NEED
OFF -FARM INCOME
The trend towards off -farm in-
come supporting farm families is
being seen as the way of the future,
the newly released report from the
Agricultural Council of Ontario
indicates.
The council, chaired by Del
O'Brien, has studied in great depth
the incomes of farmers and their
families over the past 20 years. The
first step was to define groups of
farmers and classify them accor-
ding to farm income. There are
three classifications: commercial
who sell $50,000 or more, quasi -
commercial from $10,000 to
$49,000 and under $10,000. These
classifications are not averages of
farm income as so much farm in-
come is derived from off -the -farm
jobs.
Changes in Agriculture
Farmers have been driven to
produce more for less and have
been so successful they now have
larger but fewer farms, greater
employment of machinery and
equipment, and less on-farm
labour. The farm community, in
the past 20 years, is on a roller
coaster ride with no end in sight
with increases in petroleum pro-
ducts and farm products, rising
values of real estate and interest
rates and then the fall of land
values.
Recommendations
"The majority of rural farm
families cannot reasonably expect
to derive any more than a small
portion of their total farm incomes
from farming" reads the report
which offers 27 recommendations
to the government. Families
should be encouraged to stay on
the farm but increase their incomes
through off -the -farm employment.
Only commercial farmers can be
expected to derive all or a major
portion of their incomes from
farming and should be supported
through agricultural support pro-
grams.
Farmers' needs have changed
over the years, so a careful evalua-
tion of government assistance pro-
grams should be undertaken. The
provincial government should
develop regional and rural schemes