The Rural Voice, 1997-03, Page 17U.S., five per cent Australian, two per
cent New Zealand and only 0.06 per
cent from Nicaragua and even less
from Brazil.
• Corn production reduces CO2 and
gives off oxygen. One acre produces
three tonnes of corn and takes up 6.7
tonnes of CO2 in the process and
returns 5.6 tonnes of oxygen to the air
(one of nature's best air filters).
• Pesticide use is falling in ONtario.
Use fell 17.4 per cent between 1983
and 1988 and continues to decline at
a rate of three per cent per year.
In the area of animal agriculture,
the world gets much more than meat,
milk and eggs. In some cases the
natural products are far better than
those provided through advanced
technology. For instance, for many
people if you really want a good
night's sleep, there is nothing better
than woollen blankets and feather
pillows. Other examples are:
• Glue made from cow -hide is
preferred for book binding as it
withstands high temperatures and can
dissolve in water. (Good for
recycling). Synthetic glues are
insoluble and can melt in high
temperatures.
• As the saying goes, "you can use
everything but the squeal from a pig".
About 45 per cent of each animal is
used to make products other than
food.
• Products from animal agriculture
Robert Mercer
provide ingredients for the following:
Gelatin, Olco margarine, pastas,
wallpaper, bone china, linoleum,
ceramic tile, polishers, candles,
glycerol, sunscreens, shampoos,
cosmetics, leather, fur and over 350
pharmaceuticals.
• Worldwide, fish and other products
of the sea account for 16 per cent of
the animal protein consumed — more
than either pork or beef.
Finally a few statements about
why farmers are important, and will
become even more so as greater
numbers of people eat better diets and
world numbers expand at 90 million a
year.
• As population has doubled since
mid-century and the global economy
has nearly quintupled in size, the
demand for natural resources has
grown at a phenomenal rate. Since
1950 the need for grain has nearly
tripled. Consumption of seafood has
increased more than four times.
Water use has tripled. Demand for
principal rangeland products, beef
and mutton has also tripled.
As demand has increased, the
ability to fulfill that demand has
decreased. There is less cropland, less
water, less response to fertilizer, and
slower yield improvements in grain
production.
With thanks to Ontario Farm Animal
Council and Worldwatch Institute for
facts and statistics.°
We're a
wfSTElm.
FARM SHOW
MARCH 5;6;-7:;-
Robert
6-7
Robert Mercer is the founding editor
of the Broadwater Market Letter for
which he continues to write market
and ag-political commentary.
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Southwestern Ontario's Largest Farm Show!
MARCH 1997 13