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The Rural Voice, 1987-06, Page 6SAVE NOW Phone today before you buy NEW M -C GRAIN DRYERS & PARTS Meyer Morton Parts VARIOUS USED DRYERS Complete Storage AERATION & UNLOADING EOUIPMENT M.0 Ontano's Oldest M -C dealer d distributor A.J. HAUGH EQUIPMENT BRUCEFIELD LTD. 519-527-0138 6 THE RURAL VOICE OUR AGRICULTURAL CHOICES ARE CLEAR I don't suppose that too many farm leaders liked my idea of being lumped together in one room and told to come up with a unanimous decision to solve the present financial problems of far- mers. A friend was in to see me the other day and he noted that back in the Middle Ages the Roman Catholic Church had a similar problem. The Cardinals could not agree about whom to elect as Pope. This rather upset the townspeople, who locked all the Car- dinals in one room. They were given no food and only one bucket of water per day. By the fifth day, they had elected their new Pope. The methods a little drastic, but it certainly got results in a hurry. It is the difficulty of obtaining results within a necessary time span that bothers me. We are in a period when at last the powers that be realize that things have to change. The point is, when? Take the grain problem: the pro- vincial ministers put the responsibility on the federal ministers, who in turn blame the U.S. and the E.E.C. I think everyone knows that hell will freeze over before the E.E.C. will stop main- taining agriculture as a secure industry. In no way will the Europeans sacrifice their farmers on the consumer/political altar as we have done. Surely Canada is a free and inde- pendent country capable of making her own decisions. If we want agriculture to survive, we really have only two options: either the treasury offers support prices or the population pays to cover the farmgate price for food. I realize that there are many Canadians living below the poverty line, but most of the population can afford to have its share of the consumer dollar for food go from 16 per cent to 20 per cent or even 25 per cent. When you drive around the country and see houses listed at between $150,000 and $400,000 being snapped up, I think we, as farmers, are entitled to share in some part of the good things in life that this country has to offer. All the academics and bureaucrats tell us that either we have to get out of farming or change our cropping pattems. How long do you think changes in cropping patterns are going to take? Years. There have been some wonderful and sensible ideas. Grow garlic (until the market is saturated). Put land back to trees (if you are pre- pared to wait at least ten years for a return on investment). Open up farms to the tourist industry (if you can af- ford to put wash houses and electricity in). On page 34 of the Right to Farm task force report published last July, you will see that we made a strong recommendation that land be put into voluntary agricultural preserves. If nothing has been done about the task force report, I cannot see how indi- vidual ideas will be accepted and im- plemented. The problem is that under our administrative system it only takes one bureaucrat to make a negative report to the minister for the idea, however good, to be quashed. So we are back to responsive leadership. And I hope and pray that in the next provincial election there will rise from the heap another leader like William Stewart, another leader with dedication and courage who runs his ministry for and on behalf of the farmers of Ontario, unimpeded by bureaucrats and academics. It is interesting to me that the health portfolio is continually im- proving our hospitals and health care services and that the Ministry of Social Services is an efficient, well- run department.° Barnie Evans, P. Ag., owns a beef farm near Embro and is well-known for his work on agricultural policy. AGR/ SERV/CES • FEED AND FORAGE ANALYSIS • SOIL TESTING • WATER TESTING • MANURE ANALYSIS • PLANT TISSUE ANALYSIS • MICROBIOLOGY RESULTS GUARANTEED IN 5 DAYS OR YOU DON'T PAY! We have tests results ready in an average of 2 days. We will have your report ready in 5 business days for most tests or refund your payment. Please enclose payment with samples. CaII us for more information and price list, mailing envelopes or water vials. AGRI SERVICES LABORATORY INC. R.R. #1 (Box 155) Breslau, Ontario NOB -IMO Phone: (519) 742-5811 6 THE RURAL VOICE OUR AGRICULTURAL CHOICES ARE CLEAR I don't suppose that too many farm leaders liked my idea of being lumped together in one room and told to come up with a unanimous decision to solve the present financial problems of far- mers. A friend was in to see me the other day and he noted that back in the Middle Ages the Roman Catholic Church had a similar problem. The Cardinals could not agree about whom to elect as Pope. This rather upset the townspeople, who locked all the Car- dinals in one room. They were given no food and only one bucket of water per day. By the fifth day, they had elected their new Pope. The methods a little drastic, but it certainly got results in a hurry. It is the difficulty of obtaining results within a necessary time span that bothers me. We are in a period when at last the powers that be realize that things have to change. The point is, when? Take the grain problem: the pro- vincial ministers put the responsibility on the federal ministers, who in turn blame the U.S. and the E.E.C. I think everyone knows that hell will freeze over before the E.E.C. will stop main- taining agriculture as a secure industry. In no way will the Europeans sacrifice their farmers on the consumer/political altar as we have done. Surely Canada is a free and inde- pendent country capable of making her own decisions. If we want agriculture to survive, we really have only two options: either the treasury offers support prices or the population pays to cover the farmgate price for food. I realize that there are many Canadians living below the poverty line, but most of the population can afford to have its share of the consumer dollar for food go from 16 per cent to 20 per cent or even 25 per cent. When you drive around the country and see houses listed at between $150,000 and $400,000 being snapped up, I think we, as farmers, are entitled to share in some part of the good things in life that this country has to offer. All the academics and bureaucrats tell us that either we have to get out of farming or change our cropping pattems. How long do you think changes in cropping patterns are going to take? Years. There have been some wonderful and sensible ideas. Grow garlic (until the market is saturated). Put land back to trees (if you are pre- pared to wait at least ten years for a return on investment). Open up farms to the tourist industry (if you can af- ford to put wash houses and electricity in). On page 34 of the Right to Farm task force report published last July, you will see that we made a strong recommendation that land be put into voluntary agricultural preserves. If nothing has been done about the task force report, I cannot see how indi- vidual ideas will be accepted and im- plemented. The problem is that under our administrative system it only takes one bureaucrat to make a negative report to the minister for the idea, however good, to be quashed. So we are back to responsive leadership. And I hope and pray that in the next provincial election there will rise from the heap another leader like William Stewart, another leader with dedication and courage who runs his ministry for and on behalf of the farmers of Ontario, unimpeded by bureaucrats and academics. It is interesting to me that the health portfolio is continually im- proving our hospitals and health care services and that the Ministry of Social Services is an efficient, well- run department.° Barnie Evans, P. Ag., owns a beef farm near Embro and is well-known for his work on agricultural policy.