The Rural Voice, 1988-06, Page 74NEWS
1888 to 1988: 100 YEARS OF CHALLENGES IN AGRICULTURE
by Andy Williams
It's not every day that Jack Riddell,
Huron MPP and Ontario Minister of
Agriculture, shows up at Queen's Park
decked out in tails and top hat.
But it was a special day for the
Ministry of Agriculture: 100 years ago,
in May of 1888, Simcoe County farmer
Charles Drury became Ontario's first
agriculture minister.
Drury was respected as a commu-
nity man, strict Methodist, able farmer,
and articulate politician.
During his two-year tenure as minis-
ter, he encouraged his fellow farmers to
seek new markets for their products
after tariff negotiations with the U.S.
under the reciprocity treaty had ended.
A Toronto actor read Drury's first
speech — a partisan one, of course:
"At one time the reciprocity treaty,
or free trade, may have been the answer
... But reciprocity had to end because the
U.S. was imposing tariffs on our agri-
culture. Those American rascals will
never learn! As Canadians we must
learn to be independent world traders
and rely on the quality of our goods to
overcome our current challenges ... I
know it is truly discouraging to work
year round and have at the end no more
in your pocket or on the table than when
you began. But if the farm will not pay,
it will not be long till other business in
our province will not pay either."
Farming technology in 1888 was
boosting productivity to keep pace with
a growing population (2 million in 1888,
9.3 million today). Improved threshing
machines, tile drainage to bring new
fields under cultivation, artificial fertil-
izers, wire fencing, windmills for pump-
ing water, and the steam engine enabled
each farm to feed 10 people in cities and
towns. As Drury said:
"Mechanization is upon us and we
must make use of it on our farms. I say
to you, ladies and gentlemen, steam is
the way of the future! The first model of
the steam-engine tractor is now avail-
able. Not only will it thresh your wheat,
it'll make a cup of tea in no time. Think
what this could mean to our farm pro-
duction. Why, it will take out the back-
breaking work and allow more time for
life's pleasures: fall fairs, church, and
barn raising."0
FARM WOMEN TO
RECEIVE FUNDING
Agriculture Canada will announce
details this fall for a five-year, $650,000
program to boost farm women's organi-
zations.
Agriculture minister John Wise said
the money will be used to advance
equality for farm women. Speaking to
the Commons agriculture committee, he
also called on farm organizations to do
more to involve women.0
Your bulls
deserve
our fencer.
Electric
Fence Systems
!i�y
- 110 V hasehdd arrant or 12 V battery will solar o s
-wide range d lancers kr al requIern ents
- 12 month guarantee
Yar dewier Ax. OFMAader bar parts and
new•life feeds
JEROME FEED & SEED
Lucknow
(opposite /he sale barn)
519-528-2447
GRAIN HANDLING EQUIPMENT
AERATION FLOOR
GRAIN BINS
AERATION FANS
ICTORIA
Grain Bins
2,000 to 64,000
Bu. Capacity
Cement Work and Erection Services Available
.1. H.
HANOVER, Ont. Call 519-364-1880 (Collect)
JUNE 1988 73