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The Rural Voice, 2005-01, Page 12HURON CONSTRUCTION • AGRICULTURAL • RESIDENTIAL • COMMERCIAL • SKID STEER SERVICE Complete buildings roofing - repairs -- renovations 519-327-8361 519-292-0078 Fax 327-8445 Laverne Brubacher PACKERS: WE BUILD RUBBER TIRE PACKER SPECIALISTS Order Now Also large fold -up steel drum packers, lawn & estate rollers, custom manufactured HAROLD JONES ENTERPRISES RR #2, Arthur, Ont (519) 848-2799 DRAINAGE Specializing in: * Plastic Tile Installation * Backhoe & Dozer Service Septic System Installation Traditional S Alternative Systems! For Quality, Experience, & Service, call: Wane ©©©1 26 790 R.R. #2 Zurich, Ont. NOM 2T0 PARICE,R ®PARKER L 1 M I T E www.hay.neU-drainage 8 THE RURAL VOICE Jeffrey Carter The economg of people Jeffrey Carter is a freelance journalist based in Dresden, Ontario. Supply -management remains an important part of Ontario's rural infrastructure. A drive through the countryside clearly -shows why. There is typically an air of prosperity surrounding those farms that count on the production of milk, eggs, and poultry for the majority of their income. With control over production, and limited control over imports, supply -management commodities have for many years provided a stable and predictable income for those involved. Yet, the crown has slipped. Supply -management has evolved into a club for farm families established in the industry or for anyone with enough cash to buy into it. True, there's logic to the argument that quota shouldn't be handed out like favours at a birthday party, yet the situation leaves little or no room for new producers of modest means to enter the industry. The biggest obstacles to new producer entry are cost of quota and minimum quota requirements for new producers. High quota prices are a reflection of the success of supply -management. Yet, at the same time, they're a barrier to new industry entrants. Minimum quota requirements exacerbate the situation. For instance, in order to sell chicken in this province, you'll need to buy enough quota to produce nearly 170,000 kilograms a year. Producing anything Tess, is simply not allowed. The Dairy Farmers of Ontario have gone even further, turning on members of their own organization. A year ago, the DFO unceremoniously yanked transportation from cream producers, effectively killing their industry. While cream producers have since sold their quota for a tidy sum, they're no longer able to produce and that's what many wish to do — as evidenced by their ongoing struggle to re-establish their industry. The shortsighted direction taken by the supply -management boards does not strengthen their position, and that of the remaining farmers involved. Rather, it has weakened it. With fewer farmers, the farm voice is heard even less in government circles and within the broader Canadian context. With fewer farmers, there's far Tess choice for consumers. Eggs, poultry meat, and cream produced outside the industrialized systems that dominate the industry should be an option. The question of taxation should also be considered. As farmer numbers along the rural roads decline, the cost of maintaining those roads and other services is shared by fewer people. Worse, the services — businesses, schools, churches, hosp- itals, law enforcement, and a host of others — may simply disappear. Rather than throwing up roadblocks for new entrants, the supply - management boards should be encouraging their participation. The DFO, for instance, might make an about-face and throw their support behind supply -management for the cream industry — or at least stand aside. The chicken and egg boards might also find innovative ways to encourage new producers. The quota exemption suggested by the National Farmers Union and Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario would be a good start. Needed in Ontario's farm community is a new attitude. Big is not necessarily better. Farmers, Targe and small, need each other. There are no fringe groups within the farming sector — there are only farmers. Call it the economy of people.° The Rural Voice office will be closed for staff holidays from December 21 to January 3.