The Rural Voice, 1999-02, Page 19Getting more people involved,
family, employees, retirees is a way
of strengthening agriculture.
Married, with two children and
grandchildren, Wibberley feels the
way most family farmers do. "What
kind of world are we leaving for
grandchildren?" he wondered as he
noted the increasing size of farming
operations.
Showing concern about
increasing technology,
Wibberley suggested the trend
toward genetic narrowing could have
potentially disastrous results. With
fewer kinds of wheat or apples
grown, for example, there is less
resilience if problems or diseases
strike.
Wibberley's concept, farm and
park together, becomes a challenge
for the larger farmei. The average
size of Ontario farms has increased to
about 200 acres from just over 100
acres four or five decades ago, with
many more huge farms with incomes
of $1,000,000 or more. In general,
the number of farms is down, from
about 150,000 family farms in 1951
to 67,000 in 1996.
City people suggest the
countryside is a place to tour and
enjoy, while the farmers, especially
large farmers, feel threatened.
At the CFFO convention, a panel
including a county planner, a dairy
farmer, a farm writer and a
government official, from Ontario
Farm Animal Council, discussed
problems facing the Targe farmer.
Middlesex County planner Steve
Evans said as agriculture factories get
larger, there will be heightened
public sensitivity, complaints and
distrust. Areas of problems hurting a
farmer's image included liquid
manure handling, especially smells.
Even if farms abide by municipal by-
laws they can still influence
surrounding businesses and homes.
One solution offered by the panel
was notice to the neighbourhood of
specific times and areas of spreading
as well as general information on
seasonal fertilizing.
With fewer windbreaks and fence
rows, larger farms may contribute to
greater erosion, an effect lessened by
counter or cross -topography
directions of ploughing. Yet larger
farms also have increased areas for
bush, scrub and
swamp, seen as
fostering wildlife
habitat.
How the public
sees farmers and
farming is clouded by
the concerns and
questions of animal
welfare activists.
Farm tours, where
people can see what
is- happening on a
farm, seem to be the
best way to providing
information about
farming practices,
pointed out Mike
Cooper, of OFAC.
Farming family
stress, contributed by
Wibberley's
concept of
"farming
systems" is
based on
encouraging
co-operation
between town
and city.
prohl:ms such
as large debt load, more work and
less time off, was acknowledged to
be a major issue. Newsletters such as
Earthkeeping, farm shows, and
regional workshops provide a means
for farmers to communicate, to get
information about improving lifestyle
and learn about new farming issues.
For example, one issue discussed
is biotechnology. CFFO members
opposed the terminator gene —
genetically -altered seed which won't
germinate after harvest, preventing
farmers from keeping some grains for
re -planting next year. These grains
won't germinate or grow reducing
the mix or genetic pool of grains. In
general, the majority of CFFO
members were cautiously optimistic
about the use of biotechnology in
food production.°
1999 Grey County Environmental
II II
Farm Plan Workshops
2 -Day Workshop
Location
Mon., Feb. 15 & Mon., Feb. 22
Keady Community Centre
Fri., Feb. 19 & Fri., Feb. 26
Camegie Hall (below Library) Mount Forest
Mon., Mar. 1 & Mon. Mar., 8
Rocklyn Community Centre
Tues., Mar. 2 & Tues., Mar. 9
Carnegie Hall (below Library) Mount Forest
Wed., Mar. 3 & Wed., Mar. 10
Swinton Park Community Hall
Fri, Mar. 5 & Fri., Mar. 12
(To Be Confirmed)
Tues., Mar. 23 & Tues., Mar. 30
Presbyterian Church Basement, Durham
* Mon., Mar. 8
• Tues., Mar. 9
' Mon., Mar. 15
' 7:00 - 10:00 p.m.
Boardroom,
Ontario Ministry of Agriculture
Food & Rural Affairs,
Markdale
Farmers are urged to enrol in one of the above workshops.
A maximum of 20 farmers per workshop are accepted, so please register while there is still a choice.
Hot lunch served at all day workshops - compliments of Agri -Businesses in Grey County
To enrol in a workshop or for further information, phone Ray Robertson, Program Representative -
OMAFRA Office, Markdale
Phone (519) 986-2040 or 1-800-265-9152
Please Note: Evening Workshops - 7:00.10:00 p.m. AB other workshops 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
FEBRUARY 1999 15