The Rural Voice, 1991-10, Page 12Pasture Management Seminar
Oct. 28, 1991 10:00 a.m.
at Carson's Feed and Farm Supply - Listowel
Featuring - Vaughan Jones, pasture
management consultant from New Zealand.
CATTLE CHUTES, BALE FEEDERS,
GATES, & MUCH MORE!
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Highway 86 E., LISTOWEL 519-291-1094
8 THE RURAL VOICE
WOMEN FARMERS
THE NEW FARM CRISIS
Adrian Vos, from Huron County, has
contributed to The Rural Voice since
its inception in 1975.
More men are leaving farming than
ever before, but many are being re-
placed by women. Dennis McClintic,
writing in The Furrow, a John Deere
publication, says the number of farms
in the U.S. dropped by 7.5 per cent be-
tween 1978 and 1987. In this exodus
there were 8.8 per cent fewer male
farmers. At the same time, female
farmers entering the farm business
increased a whopping 16.7 per cent.
The article cites several possible
reasons for this change. There are
more part-time farmers where the wife
becomes the actual operator; families
are smaller, housework has become
much easier with the advent of home
appliances; and the value of women's
work on the farm is more recognized.
One wonders why the writer left
out another possible reason, the reason
that turned many women into feminist
activists. Could it be the lower pay
and little recognition for women in
offices and factories, who do the same
job as men? Could it be women are
more easily satisfied with the low
income from farming than men? After
all, women have always been paid less
than men.
Could it be that, instead of women
working outside the farm at low pay,
couples have figured it is better that
the man finds a job outside and brings
home more money than the woman
did? And since women can do farm-
ing as well or better than many men,
this makes a lot of sense. Besides,
women are used to working 16 hour
days in the management of the family.
* * *
One of the causes of farm failure is
lack of management skills. Cautiously,
I have advised farmers that a home
computer is a good management tool.
No one has disputed me on this issue,
but when I talk to farmers about it,
they stare inward and tune me out.
The prestigious U.S. farm maga-
zine Successful Farming reinforces
my view. Donald Jonovic Ph.D.
writes that hard work and big crops
are not going to save farms unless the
farmer's management is up to snuff.
Just using figures at tax time isn't
management. Get a farm accountant
or farm management specialist to help
you set up a management plan, he
says. Get all farm accounts on a home
computer. Make a 12 month budget
and run accounts through the compu-
ter once a week to see if you are in
line. If adjustments are needed, you
can make them right away instead of
finding out about problems after they
have been accumulating for a year.
Accountants and farm management
specialists don't come cheap, but their
cost is paid for by the better manage-
ment. Is it possible that the successful
women mentioned above take that one
hour a week to see how the farm busi-
ness is coming along?
Closer to home, the Quebec gov-
ernment apparently agrees. They
won't give young farmers start-up
money unless they have a high school
certificate, and have completed a farm
accounting course and a financial
management course.
* * *
The immediate future doesn't look
bright for pork producers. Since our
prices depend to a large extent on ex-
ports of pork to the U.S., when that
elephant grows our mouse appears
smaller. That's what is predicted for
next year. Hog numbers are up dra-
matically in the large hog producing
states. Not only the numbers, but
weights, too, have gone up as spectac-
ularly — nine pounds since 1981.
Figured from the 1978 carcass weight
of 173 lbs. this is an increase of five
per cent in weight alone. The number
of hogs on farms also increased by
five per cent, for a total increase in
pork of ten per cent. The futures
market already counts on a drop in
price of 13.5 per cent in December.0