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The Rural Voice, 2001-09, Page 14CROP/QUEST Nutrient Management Planning Air CERTIFIED Ron Pennings CROP ADVISOR 519-345-2702 Andy de Vries C.C.A. 519-229-6559 Fax: 519-229-8029 E -Mail: cropquest@quadro.net 10 THE RURAL VOICE Jeffrey Carter Forward -thinking farmers taking charge The Agricultural Odyssey Group is valuable to Ontario's farm community, but perhaps not in the way first envisioned by the Ontario farm groups that set it up. The intent of the group is to "define the future of agriculture" in the province. Plans call for a report to be issued next year. Roger George. the former Ontario Federation of Agriculture president who's heading the Odyssey effort. is optimistic: "We're hoping the nature of the report, if it's as bold and creative as I hope it will be will be on the desks (of agriculturists) for many years to come." I do not doubt George's sincerity, however, it would appear The Odyssey Group is simply following in the wake of people who are making things happen today. I'm thinking about people like Sue McLarty of Chatham -Kent and the others who were behind the opening of the new Agriculture Business Centre at Ridgetown College. In Essex County, there's Carolyn Fuerth and other members of the Essex County Federation of Agriculture who established an agricultural office a few years back, replacing, in part, the function of the old OMAFRA office. There's also Dan Blonde and his FarmLink group who are identifying market needs and finding ways that farmers can profit- ably fill them. Robert W. Johnston and Don McCabe of Lambton County also fit the bill. Johnston and McCabe are among those farmers trying to • shed light on the fundamental inequities of the food system. The role for George and The Agricultural Odyssey Group is not so much to lead the charge but to help keep the ranks in order. In this, it's important to realize that Chatham -Kent's new agriculture centre and the Essex federation's office are not unique. With govern- ment cutbacks, many OMAFRA field offices were closed and the entire ministry — as it related to farmers — was "emasculated". as George so aptly put it. Locally -sponsored agricultural offices were opened in the wake of OMAFRA cutbacks and office closures. It seems only logical to begin to co-ordinate the efforts of the various locally -sponsored efforts. Here's a suggestion. Instead of waiting to issue a report next year, the Odyssey Group can act now by encouraging the various community - driven agricultural offices to pool their efforts and resources. That might involve the staff at each of the offices taking ownership of a particular special project and sharing the information. Links might also be made to other organizations. A website, e-mail bulletins or even a newsletter could be developed to help co-ordinate the overall effort. It's a bit like reinventing the wheel — the wheel being the old OMAFRA system — but the farm community has little other choice. ' Beyond issuing platitudes, the federal and provincial governments provide relatively little support for farmers. The co-ordination of the efforts by the farm community is important but it should also be accompanied by a recognition of the fundamental inequities faced by farmers. In this, people like Johnston and McCabe can also play a valuable • role. They may not grasp the entire picture, but they surely understand that farmers are being exploited. There's no shame in letting the rest of the world know about it. A word of caution is in order, however. The level of protest across the country has so far failed to bring Canadian support programs in line with those of the United States. Just how high are you prepared to raise the stakes?0 Jeffrey Carter is a freelance journalist based in Dresden, Ontario. Letters may be sent to P.O. Box 1207, Dresden, Ontario, NOP IMO or to this magazine. Owen Sound fix FaII Fair ' September i 6,7&8 �-.11`— Victoria Park GIANT MIDWAY 4TH ANNUAL QUILT SHOW OLD MACDONALD'S FARM Highlights of the Fair Thursday Opens at 4 p.m. Loonie Day on the Midway - All rides for $1 from 4 p.m 'til closing Owen Sound 4-H Calf Club Western Horse Show Friday 4-H Regional Show Entertainment from 3 p.m. Limousin & Blonde Shows Great Lakes Truck & Tractor Pull Saturday Hereford & Angus Shows Children's Activities & Entertainment - Cindy Cook, Princess Karma Heavy Horse Pull ATV Rodeo Entertainment - Randy & Friends Simmental & Charolais Shows Demolition Derby Quilt Draw ** NEW ** Family Pass - Day $15.00 Weekend $30.00 (must be purchased by Sept. 3) For information or Registration 519-371-1720 See Sun Times for complete schedule 10 THE RURAL VOICE Jeffrey Carter Forward -thinking farmers taking charge The Agricultural Odyssey Group is valuable to Ontario's farm community, but perhaps not in the way first envisioned by the Ontario farm groups that set it up. The intent of the group is to "define the future of agriculture" in the province. Plans call for a report to be issued next year. Roger George. the former Ontario Federation of Agriculture president who's heading the Odyssey effort. is optimistic: "We're hoping the nature of the report, if it's as bold and creative as I hope it will be will be on the desks (of agriculturists) for many years to come." I do not doubt George's sincerity, however, it would appear The Odyssey Group is simply following in the wake of people who are making things happen today. I'm thinking about people like Sue McLarty of Chatham -Kent and the others who were behind the opening of the new Agriculture Business Centre at Ridgetown College. In Essex County, there's Carolyn Fuerth and other members of the Essex County Federation of Agriculture who established an agricultural office a few years back, replacing, in part, the function of the old OMAFRA office. There's also Dan Blonde and his FarmLink group who are identifying market needs and finding ways that farmers can profit- ably fill them. Robert W. Johnston and Don McCabe of Lambton County also fit the bill. Johnston and McCabe are among those farmers trying to • shed light on the fundamental inequities of the food system. The role for George and The Agricultural Odyssey Group is not so much to lead the charge but to help keep the ranks in order. In this, it's important to realize that Chatham -Kent's new agriculture centre and the Essex federation's office are not unique. With govern- ment cutbacks, many OMAFRA field offices were closed and the entire ministry — as it related to farmers — was "emasculated". as George so aptly put it. Locally -sponsored agricultural offices were opened in the wake of OMAFRA cutbacks and office closures. It seems only logical to begin to co-ordinate the efforts of the various locally -sponsored efforts. Here's a suggestion. Instead of waiting to issue a report next year, the Odyssey Group can act now by encouraging the various community - driven agricultural offices to pool their efforts and resources. That might involve the staff at each of the offices taking ownership of a particular special project and sharing the information. Links might also be made to other organizations. A website, e-mail bulletins or even a newsletter could be developed to help co-ordinate the overall effort. It's a bit like reinventing the wheel — the wheel being the old OMAFRA system — but the farm community has little other choice. ' Beyond issuing platitudes, the federal and provincial governments provide relatively little support for farmers. The co-ordination of the efforts by the farm community is important but it should also be accompanied by a recognition of the fundamental inequities faced by farmers. In this, people like Johnston and McCabe can also play a valuable • role. They may not grasp the entire picture, but they surely understand that farmers are being exploited. There's no shame in letting the rest of the world know about it. A word of caution is in order, however. The level of protest across the country has so far failed to bring Canadian support programs in line with those of the United States. Just how high are you prepared to raise the stakes?0 Jeffrey Carter is a freelance journalist based in Dresden, Ontario. Letters may be sent to P.O. Box 1207, Dresden, Ontario, NOP IMO or to this magazine.