The Rural Voice, 2002-09, Page 45a choice but to to shift cattle
production west, he warns.
We've taken away so much
support for agriculture such as
research and development. he says.
"Canada used to be the pride of the
world with research and
development," he says but now
farmers are dependent on giant multi-
nationals. It has saved taxpayers
dollars but what is the long-term
price, he wonders.
Big companies have contingency
plans for economic emergencies but
what is the contingency plan for an
emergency in agriculture, he
wonders. We've stripped away the
kind of emergency infrastructure
support that he equates to fire and
police departments and hospitals in
an urban setting.
Family farmers provide a food
safety net for consumers. Even
in the depth of the depression
family farmers continued to farm,
perhaps not making money but
providing for their families, he says.
But if farms are dependent on
contracts with huge processing
companies and the companies get in
financial trouble. how long will the
contracts last. he wonders.
With his 22 -year-old son Andrew
getting involved in the farm he
spends a good deal of time thinking
about the future of the family farm.
"I would like to help him get set
on a course of — I guess, survival.
We're diversifying more all the time.
The beef breeding stock sales will
always be there but not at the cost of
principles or cutting corners on
research and development.
"A lot of the direction we go in
the future will probably largely hinge
on the energy my son has, but I'm
not buying into the concept that big
is better."
You don't have to be big to be
successful, he says, citing a woman
he knows who operates a farm stand
and sold 200 dozens cobs of corn at
$4 a dozen in one day. She probably
sells $2,000 to $3,000 a week in
produce from three to five acres on
the family farm, he figures.
It's an educational experience
living in the midst of an old order
Mennonite community, he says,
where people do everything against
the accepted wisdom of modern
agriculture and yet seem to thrive, in
BRUSSELS LIVESTOCK
887-6461.
887-6811 t;.•• SALES
Tuesdays
Thursdays
Fridays
Show 6 Sale
Sept. 23 1:00 pm
Vaccinated Celt & Yearling $a$
Oct. 21 Nov. 4. Nov 10.1000 am
Local Calf Sale
Oct. 26 & Nov 23 - 10:00 am
4•H Show 430 Oct 12.1 00 pm
Bred Cow Sale
Nov. 2.1100 am
9 a.m. - Fed Cattle, Cows, Bulls
8 a.m. - Bob Calves, Veal, Lambs, Goats & Pigs
10 a.m. - Stockers
Confidence • Trust • Service
WESTERN STOCKERS AVAILABLE FOR PRIVATE SALE
Visit our website at www.brusselslivestock.ca Email us at: info@brusselslivestock.ca
Harvest The Values
In Mount Forest
Fully loaded, 4 L,
V6 engine, 4 wheel
drive, finished in
silver & platinum.
Only 27,000 kms.
Loaded
S32,990.
2001 CHRYSLER INTREPID ES
Fully loaded inclucnng
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Only 33,000 kms.
518,995.
1996 FORD F150 XL
V8, auto trans., air.
cruise, tilt, sharp truck,
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Only 119,000 kms. Certified
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1998 DODGE CARAVAN
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ARTHUR CHRYSLER
D SALES dic LEASING
Hwy. #6 North, MOUNT FOREST (519) 323-1981 or 1-800-461-2632
SEPTEMBER 2002 41