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8 - The Canadian Champion, Tuesday, October 19, 1999 +t Wu»m u i ~Suburban progress gobbling up rural setting By KATHY YANCHUS Special to The Champion In south Halton, no doubt many long-time resi- dents are frustrated, perhaps outraged at seemn- ingly endless expansion. As Milton stands poised for growth, the samne scenario could unfold here. Straddling the two commuinities is a farin and those operating it know their days in the fields could be numbered. Consider Norm and Sassdy Biggar the next turne you wbiz up tihe four-lane Trafalgar Road just past its intersection with Dundas. For six generations, thse Biggar family has farnsed in tItis area in relative obscurity, their grain crops and, previously, herds of live- stock providing for us. Now, however, their future is more uncertan than ever and their urban neighbours, eager to buy a piece of the suburbs, are oblivio.us to their plight. The Biggars operate a cash crop farm that's starting to suffo- cate under the encroachment of developinent. The 1,500 acres they farm in north Oakville and south Milton are slowly being engulfed by bouses and asphait. Farm Tour It's a fact tbey are quite aware of, but flot losing sleep over -- a sentiment tbey expressed during the recent 1999 Halton Farm Tour. The annual tour is sponsored by the Halton Agricultural Advisory Committee (HAAC) and designed as a ineans of focus- ing on tbe issues facing farmers. "Farming gets in your blood. It's cballenging," said Mr. Biggar, wbo has been in partnership with bis father since 1975 on the farmn tbat produces soybeans, grain coin, wheat, oats, barley and red clover seed. It's a way of life not unaffected by tecbnology, whicb bas made farmîng more efficient, although not more predictable, explained Mr. Biggar. "No two days are exactly the saine even tbough the seasons repeat. Between Mother Nature and weather patterns, no two days are the saine." His wife Sandy was not raised on a fanin, but married into it, and "1when thse men are on the land for 18 hours a day," every- thing else falîs in ber banda. "You become very independent," sbe said. Road rage The past five years bave seen a period of unprecedented. change for the Biggars. "One of thse real challenges is 'road rage'," said Mr. Biggar, who is constantly being given thse one finger salute as he drives bis combine at a snail's pace along the formerly placid, now con- gested, back roada. "They think my sole purpose in life is tu, bold theri up." When harvesting and planting, 1I can't just park it and wait. Everything is dictated by the weatber." The Biggars find it increasingly difficult to secure a long-tenn lease on their land. Wbereas it used to be no problein successfully landing a five-year tersn, it's now tougis even to snag .a one-year lease. Norm and Sandy Blggar wonder wbat wll becomne of their rural Ilfestyle as the 1,500 acres they farm In south Milton la elowly belng engulfed by houssa andu asphait. This makes it more difficult to plan crop rotation, be explained to thse audience of decision-makers froin ail levels of governient plus members of scbool boards, conservation authorities and Halton's Land Division Committee and Agricultural Advisory Cominittee. -Tbere's a reluctance on the part of landowners to, give out long-term leases. Wben they want ta pull the trigger, they don't want to be beld up by sorie fariner and their land. It's flot saine- tbing we lose sleep over, but we're certainly aware. "We realize we probably don't bave mucb more than 10 years farming left bere. We're not going to, stay- bere and let the town surround us. It is farming and tbere's a way of life ta it." Future unknown Wbether one of bis three daughters decide ta pursue agriculture will influence their ultiinate decision as ta, if they re-locate or retire early, be said. Farining is flot only a difficult life, but one that "wreaks havoc with your cash flow." "Definitely witbin the next 15 ta 20 years everytbing will be developed south of (Highways) 403/407" and more than likely up ta (Higbway) 401, predicted Mr. Biggar. Hopefully, be added, some farmnland nartis of Hwy. 401 will be maintained for tise future. At one point, the Biggars felt tbe expansion af surraunding higbways would belp alleviate congestion around tbeir farin, but witb tise addition of looming ligbt posta came a new obstacle. The ligbt adversely affected saine acreage of soybeans tbat are day- *lengtis sensitive and don't realize seasons are sbortening and it's timie tu ripen, said Mr. Biggar. Orderly fashion On the plus side, said Mr. Biggar, bis bat gaes off ta Haltan because of tbe orderly fashion in whicb it bas developed. The reasan for tbe annual tour, which this year included Birdalin Hoîsteins in Georgetown, Hendervale Equestrian Complex in Burlington and Scotch Block Winery in Milton, is ta give policy-makers a better understanding of the farmers' point ai view, explained HAAC research assistant Kathy K(ielt. Hope is that in their decision-making tbey will realize the impact their decisions, particularly in thse ares of develapinent, will bave an thse agricultural community and industry. ¶~lNP~ ~COGECO 14 Programming SchedUle - October 19th - October 25th, 1999 SO U IO S la lias, l2p i onl l lias, l2M ftts w lIalas, 12p Yest*eWs 4m,5p,630p W ,I la , 12pe lé*%,~ PIgmed84g 1hWi'Rek M ~thnyAO. ê4 53,63I.7.3I phe sIr, 53Ot63I,73O PkagMdh :30,t30,730Pp 4w Plgsh 743lpm ULaS=s 5: 3,6:M07:3 0 p P ! 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