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The Rural Voice, 1991-08, Page 50BRUCE 44610th St., Hanover, Ontario N4N 1 P9 519-364-3050 • ed County Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER The RuralCounty a ispry t to Bruce farmerpros b the BCFA. NINJA TURTLES TELLING WRONG STORY TO CHILDREN One can normally measure success of an activity by the response, and if the response to last month's opinion can be measured, I would have to deem it a success. The message being expressed was the need for farmers to join together and present a unified voice to meet the onslaught of criticism being levelled at us by governments, consumers, and special interest groups. Many of you expressed appreciation and offered encouragement. Positive comments far and away exceeded those who had a different view. When criticizing the need to commit support to our business of farming, one should look realistically at the world around us. Times have changed. I for one treasure the past, the uncluttered but somewhat simpler life of childhood is long gone. Reality today is one of worldwide markets, and huge multi- national conglomerates, who by their very size and integration appear to be able to benefit from the demise of family farmers. It is a world of consumers who have lost their rural ties, and for whom only the constant supply of low-priced food is important. This short insight will examine just handful of issues facing farmers, and the role of a general farm organization, such as the OFA, plays, will be helpful. NINJA TURTLES! lust what do they have to do with farming? Well, for those who do not know, a recent publication called The ABCs For A Better Environ- ment, featuring these reptilian muta- tions, printed by Random House from New York, was issued as required read- ing in some of our school boards. Direct attacks were targeted to farming. For example, under "M" is for meat "Some of our animals are injected with artificial hormones which can cause cancer. Cows produce methane gas which can destroy the ozone layer." Children are then encouraged not to eat meat, and if they do, then only organic meat. Are organic cows somehow different, they don't burp? The Canadian cattlemen have the full support of the OFA on this one. We will be demanding that our provincial 46 THE RURAL VOICE minister of education see to the removal of such misguided information from the system. Worldwatch, an environmental group, recently issued a report on the effects of livestock on our environment, singularly blaming burping and flatu- lence from our cows as the destroyer of the ozone layer. They claim some 73 million tonnes are emitted annually. Wish I had the job of counting how many times a cow burps. Seriously, this kind of report is ludicrous. The Ameri- can beef industry contributes about 0.5 per cent to global methane levels, ac- cording to Dr. Floyd Byers of Texas A & M. They forget that some 60 million bison roamed North America for centu- ries — apparently without harming the atmosphere. The use of "P" for pesticides, "a poi- son used by farmers" was a particularly insidious attack. The book states these poisons remain on the food until they reach the store shelf. The inference being they are a threat to one's health. In fact, "pesticides protect health, by re- ducing insect damage and the risk of microbial infections (bacteria, molds) — which scientists consider a far greater threat to human health than minute pes- ticide residues." (American Council on Science and Health, Pesticides and Food Safety, 1989) Most farmers recognize the need to apply pesticides correctly, and are fully aware of the consequences of abuse. Without entering into any debate as to different methodologies of production, it is important that our children are taught the facts, not the disjointed, unin- formed beliefs of the over -zealous few, who would see the destruction of our modern farm systems. Animal rights — a judge in Sweden has condemned legislation that now gives animals more rights than people. This is society where children under 10 commit suicide at a higher rate than anywhere else in the world, a country where farmers find it difficult to com- pete with other countries. We can not allow this to happen here. "Domestica- tion and artificial selection have made farm animals dependent on humans." We must always be on guard, to protect our rights as farmers. Labour — Our present provincial administration has indicated a desire to remove the agricultural exemption from the Health and Safety Act. The OFA has issued notice to the government that we will not stand by and watch this happen. By our very nature, dealing with living things and mother nature, we are not able to conform exactly in the manner of a factory or office. Trade —our federal government has repeatedly shown that they have little regard as to the welfare of our farm and rural communities. We are taking the brunt of the global war for grain trade between the U.S. and the European Economic Community, and our govern- ment has done little to help. The OFA was a major player in the establishment of the GRIP. Maybe it's not a perfect program, nor the answer, but it's a darn sight better than nothing. Consumers — cross-border shop- ping. This short-sighted grab for gain is only heightening Ontario's problems, some 2.5 billion dollars in lost sales, 14,000 lost jobs, how many lost farms and businesses. The OFA is among many groups encouraging our people to shop Canadian. With more issues affecting farmers than can be discussed in a normal day, the general farm organizations have a mammoth task in front of them. It is only with everyone pulling together that we can make a difference. To the pessi- mists amongst us, YES, we can and do make a difference. To sit back and think we will not be affected, and that we do not need general farm organizations, is to live in another world. Now, can you really afford not to support your industry?0 Tony Morris NOTE: Each month this page will con- tain an opinion on a current farm issue. We would like to know what YOU think. If your opinion differs from the one you have read here, or if you support our view, call the office at 364-3050.