The Rural Voice, 2000-10, Page 21Green Arch
Aeration Duct
Fastir
Simply
dependable
stirring
Axial Fans
More airflow for
the money.
Spredway
Grain Spreader
Airway Tubes
Reduce spoilage
on the bin wall.
Sweepwey
Fast, easy
unloading.
BROCK
FastDry
Continuous Flow Dryer
with Auto Dry
Controller.
• GS Feed Tanks
• Brock Bins
• Flex Auger Conveyors
Hawk Cul Bin
Floors
Twice as strong
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Centrifugal
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a1 in airflow'.
<5P
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Neil 343-2483
RR 2 Palmerston
to get commodity prices."
artin refers to one situation
M
he knows of in Quebec
where a producer shifted his
farm operation to honey production.
He opened the doors to agri-tourism,
then began making honey wine and
other products, some of which he
began marketing to buyers in Japan.
While that may seem fine for
some adventurous . and
entrepreneurial individuals, there
aren't widespread opportunities for
growers across Ontario, let alone
Canada, to diversify and succeed.
But Martin insists the real issue
behind any of these value-added
ventures is whether a producer can
find a situation suitable for his/her
operation, not for an entire sector.
"We're not going to have to worry
about every farmer doing it, because
every farmer isn't going to do it,"
concludes Martin.
John O'Brien, Food Products
Manager with W.G. Thompson &
Sons Limited in Blenheim agrees that
times and food preferences are
changing and that producers will
have to change, as well. But he also
believes there is a willingness among
producers to adapt to these
conditions — perhaps in anticipation
of developing markets.
"We're very fortunate as a
province to have the selection of
growers that really want to do a good
job," says O'Brien. His statements
echo those of Martin's regarding the
individual nature of each on-farm
scenario and that each grower has a
specific set of agronomic and
economic conditions to consider.
"Most of the time, it's an economic
decision (to switch or diversify) —
but the premium has to pay for the
extra work going into the crop."
And that will become part of the
battle in convincing producers to
enter this fledgling, Baby Boom -led
generational shift in food production.
It may sound selfish, like a "What's
in it for me?" taunt. Yet if aging
consumers are willing to pay the
extra few cents per pound for on -the -
vine tomatoes or extra -thick sour
cream, some of that money has to
flow to the producer who puts -in the
extra effort to grow it.0
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R.R, 3, Walkerton, Ontario NOG 2V0
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an, helpyouan
your ` ainage rrcjuiretents
Contact Bruce Tile or Your Local Bruce Tile Drainage Ccintractor:
• Tait Brothers, Chatsworth • Barry Weigel Drainage, Mildmay_
• Schmidt Drainage, Harriston ` • Nichol Drainage, Llstpwe1-
• K.M.M. Farm Drainage, Walton • Steve Otto,D e, Sebringville
• Ror$ Williams Drainage, Listowel • Bruoe C-ook,' tford
Tait Brothers, gond Valley • Harold Kuepfer,
Maximum Water Intake
OCTOBER 2000 17