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OFA Ger! Commentary Farmers are running out of options Ontario farmers are running out of alter- natives to keep their farmns in production. They have called on their organizations to lobby the government, but the govern ment ignores them. T1hey have conducted tractor rallies and highway blockades, but the govemment ignores them. T1hey have staged orderly demonstrations, but thse gov- ernment ignores them. Ontario farmers are at a T intersection in their farmiîng career, trying to decide what to do next with their businesses. They caset continue producing food for less than it costs, and if they stay ini business, they will be buried under an avalanche of restrictive legisiation and regulation based more on political agendas than solid science. Economnists tel] us that agriculture and the auto industry are the two engines that drive Ontario's economy. Engines require fuel to n, and for any business, that fuel is profit. Maintenance is also vital to keep an engîne running smoothly, and for agri- culture that's a regulatory framnework that creates opportunities. Instead, Ontario farmers increasingly find barriers and obstacles placed in their path. Agriculture's engine is being starved of fuel and choked by ill-conceived regula- tions, and will soon sputter and die on the side of the economic highway - unless our govemments show some understand- ing of the problems and decide to take action. 1 could mun through each of the 264 coin- modities produced in Ontario and for each one either pull Agriculture Canada's nuro- ber that show there is no profit, or list the regulatory barriers either in place now or in the works. In any case, we are ail being pushed to the edge of a very dark and deep abyss. One of the easiest examples to under- stand that reinforces this is my own farmn. t amn a com producer. My cost to produce a tonne of com is $143 per tonne. This iso't based on inflated input values or the more expensive land west of me, but on what are real and reasonable costs. The market price for com. as 1 write this, is $94 per tonne. Using my yield average, I amo subsidizing the consumer, the Ontario economy, at more than $150 per acre, or on my small farro I will subsidize the Ontario economy to the tune of $75.000 on cora alone. We're at the T intersection and must tum. In very simple ternis, one path will lead to a new reality in Ontario, which is the dis- appearance of the people and the industry that built this province and made it the worid leader that it is. The other path. the one we need to take, will guarantee Ontarians a safe, affordable. and nutritious supply of food produced localiy and an industry that. through profits, is both will- ing and able to PSY its share of rising envi- ronmient standards that are bascd on solid science. Thse only way for us t0 accomplish this is for ail farmers to work together. lî's up to us to insist on the legisiative changes that we need in Ontario. Geri Kamenz ia s'ice-president of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture. Champion Country, Tueaday, March 29, 2005-17 More such events to be planned in the future - tram RURAL on page 13 Stoppera discusaed the history of the program, thse succesa atonies as well as the procesa from receiv- ing an anonymous tip, through the investigation and arrest, to paying the reward. He answered questions from the audience and encouraged resi- dents to get involved with thse non-profit, volunteer organization. Several local dignitaries were present for the GET ADDED VALUE THAT OUR COMPETITOR'S CAN'T DEATI AIIoy Wheels ...................8580. Wheel Locks .. ....................8$75. Keyless Remole wîIh Engine limobilîzer ............. $50. Split Rear Beach Seat ............8$235. cvening including Mayor Gord Krantz, and ail three rural councillors - Jas Mowbray (the proj- ect co-ordinator for the evening), Barry Lee and Cindy Lunau. Residents were asked to coroplete a short ques- tionnaire about the evening, awarded door prizes and enjoyed refreshments as they mingled around the various displays. The questionnaires will be used to, determine what will make future events of tiss sort success- fui, said Ms Mobray. The NCCC hopes to have several more events of thia calibre in the future and feel they greatly ben- efit the community, said members. For more information on the Nassagaweya Community Consultation Committee on the Safe Living Series, contact Stu Johnston at (905) 854- 9997 or Jan Mowbray at (519) 853-4492. FIAN eN PRVIE B: .. **yse Fiaca .. VII SFRMOEDpIS se-sa essa sasnau.unn, ysne nye rs ansn resse u aast eln isne.adO plcs nth.amntetes5ses e psfSacfesdnIsaemteyns 51 prk C se and may ns be combined and are availabie in lieu of FDA Sen dealen fon deSd tai s e payment baseit onn48 onth tens Due al sininfg first passent, nreight applicable saes & licenue tee 81 600km allosance for tenmEs kmcag j15C per km. Closeel end. walkaway lease DEC, See dealen fo detants Visit us on the web at vvwvv.miltonchrysler.com ýA L, IR ri 1 -U IP