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Thursday, D ecem ber 17, 2015 - The IFP - H alton H ills - w w w .theifp.ca Page 1551 Main Street South, Georgetown (905) 873-8778 CLOSED SUNDAYS Red, Red, Red! Create a sharp look for a cocktail party.A dash of red keeps it fun and young! Gift Certificates Available Georgetown's trusted choice for hearing care 360 Guelph St., Unit 44 Georgetown (In the Knolcrest Centre) 905.877.8828 ENJOY THE SOUNDS OF THE SEASON Come in and have your complimentary hearing consultation today! � ������������ � � �� ��� ���� NEWS The agricultural sector is a major driv- er of Halton Region's economy -- to the tune of $450 million-plus annually -- and is experiencing a decline that needs to be stopped. This was among the key messages delivered last Wednesday evening by Margaret Walton, the Region's consul- tant who recently prepared the Hal- ton Rural Agricultural Strategy back- ground report. Walton presented the findings of the study to a crowd of about 35 resi- dents, including many local farmers and councillors, at a public information centre at the Halton Region Museum. The lengthy document revealed several trends in the local farming in- dustry. They include: • A decline in the number of farms (from 1,035 in 1976 to 469 in 2011) and a 45,000-acre decrease in farmland during the same period • Pressures from urban growth • A decrease in the livestock sector • Pessimism about the future amongst farmers • An $8-million-plus decline in gross farm receipts between 2006 and 2011 There's also a "disconnect" be- tween rural and urban residents, with farmers facing additional challenges and stress while operating near an ur- ban population. While agriculture may not always be viewed as a major economic driver in an urban-focused world, Walton said that's not true. "Rapid urbanization has really tended to obscure the important role of the long-established rural and agri- cultural community in maintaining a balanced economy," she said. "When we move forward with this strategy, we don't want to just focus on protecting land; we want to create circumstances for healthy, prosperous businesses." Walton studied the region's agri- cultural data gathered in the most re- cent census, conducted in 2011, and found that its collective gross farm receipts benefitted the local economy with $453 million in direct and indi- rect/induced impacts. Halton's agri- cultural sector also supported 2,942 jobs and generated $208 million in gross domestic product. While the Region has a long-stand- ing commitment to promoting agri- cultural and rural sustainability, more action is needed, including planning policy that goes beyond farmland pro- tection, said Walton. "You have to create the circum- stances for that land to be used profit- ably," she said. "But the Region can't do everything. It's constrained by provin- cial policy and provincial rules. During the next review of the Official Plan and provincial plans, hopefully there'll be some innovative planning policy." The study concluded the Region has much to offer the agricultural sec- tor, including a quality land base, good climate and water, proximity to market and support from the Region. The rural economy also consists of businesses that have set up shop in lo- cal hamlets. While it's believed there are many home-based businesses, a lack of data made it difficult to con- clude the economic impact -- a gap that will be addressed going forward. Those in attendance at the meeting went on to suggest other aspects that should be looked at or considered, such as the creation of small food pro- cessing plants in the rural hamlets that could be used by local farmers and the inclusion of community kitchens in potential food hubs. Mike Van Dongen said he feels there's a contradiction between what the Region is aspiring to in helping farmers and the current policies that hinder that help. Walton concurred, noting there's a disconnect that needs to be addressed. "I think there are good intentions," she said. "Hopefully, as we move the strategy through, we can make changes." Burlington Councillor John Taylor said the strategy needs to consider fac- tory farming as an opportunity to feed the world's ever-growing population. "We're getting two billion more people in the world by 2050. We need a 55 per cent increase in food produc- tion or a lot of people are going to starve to death," he said. Walton contended the strategy is "not going to solve the world's food problems." "But we can be a leader," replied Taylor. The study is a precursor to the cre- ation of the Rural Agricultural Strategy, which will aim to build a prosperous and sustainable local agricultural sys- tem. The Region will be accepting com- ments from the public on the back- ground report, available at www.hal- ton.ca, until Jan. 22. By Melanie Hennessey Special to the IFP Margaret Walton, Halton Region's consultant, presents the Halton Rural Agricultural Strategy background report on Dec. 9. Photo by Melanie Hennessey Agriculture brought back into light after decline