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--r - | rham F r ri "= Scugog Citizen -- Tuesday, April 3, 1996-- Ex / OFA President upbeat on farming future Agriculture is the engine for growth in Canada, offering more job creating the country. That was part of an up- beat message from Ontario the annual meeting last Friday evening of the Durham Federation of potential for young people Federation of Agriculture Agriculture. than any other industry in president Tony Morris at "I have made that stat t before and I 1] continue to stand by it," said Morris, who with his wifé Judy and their four children operates a commercial sheep flock on the Bruce County farm. Speaking to over 100 Durham Federation members at the annual banquet in the Nestleton Hall, Morris said new jobs are being created in the agri-food industry at a rapid rate--100,000 in the past three years alone. And he went on, for every agri-food grad coming out of college these days, there are two jobs available. In Ontarié alone, for every $1 million of agri-food business, there are 31 jobs created. There are currently over 600,000 in the sector in Ontario; farm gate sales, reached $6.7 national total and farming and agri-food is a $40 LAE billion inv ent in this OFA President Tony Morris (left) toured several province. area fagms last Friday, Including Ocala Orchards "All of us heard people say 'don't go farming, there's no future in it." Quite frankly, I never want to hear that again," said Morris, adding that the computer and fax Winery where he met ownefirwin Smith. 'That evening Mr. Morris was guest speaker at the annual banquet of the Durham Federation of Agriculture. See story above for detalls. ' . machines have become farm tools as indispensable a8 the tractor and plow. And farms don't have get bigger and bigger, he said. "Hard work and plenty of imagination, new initiatives and new thinking can make (a farmer) a good living," he stated. ~ Despite: his very optimistic outlook on the future, Morris had some warnings for his audience. There will be more government cut-backs in direct subsidies and more protectionist road-blocks thrown up by American legislatures. "Dont think you can gp it alone," he said, noting that many independent American farmers have been swallowed up by big business and now work their farms for wages. Two- thirds of US farmland is now owned by absentee landlords, he said. It is crucial for ° billion, or 25 per cent of the w organizations like the OFA to become stronger and work even closer § gether for the good of the members and the business in general. * Farmers must not be hesftant to-diversify or take risks. Prior to his evening address, Mr. Morris spent the day touring four different farm operations in Durham: the Greenwood Mushroom Farm, Ocala Winery and White Feather Farms (eggs and chickens) in Scugog and the Herrema dairy farm near Uxbridge. He said he found this kind of diversification most encouraging. "Past successes for farmers are no guarantée for our future," he stated. On a more specific issue, he said the OFA will fight any move by government to do away with the farm tax rebate. .. "If the government thought its fight with OPSEU was 'tough, wait til they see how tough farmers can be if they ever start ME v playing with the farm tax rebate," said Mr, Morris. First elected president of the OFA just last year, Mr. Morris is a native of Bagland who holds. a diploma in farm accounting and management. A He worked management in the UK, Europe and South Africa, before coming to Canada in 1975 where he took a job on ) N in farm'. a dairy farm in Fergus, Ontario. , He has been a very active member of the OFA sefving on numerous.committees Mncluding, finance, safety, adaptation and program reyiew. He. is a director of the Ontario Agriculture Training Institute. - Settlement House . soe ohop! . * Garg quaet®" NOW OPEN Port Perry Uxbridge THURSDAY 985-0800 852-3510 EVENINGS to 9 PM TODDLER OPENINGS commencing this Thursday AVAILABLE Limited Openings / FREE GIFT n on Gro with purchase HOURS 6:30 AM fo 6 PM for ahy shopper after For further information 7 PM on April 4th. please call Dianne PORT PERRY 915.0254 J §©09.985-0800 i SPECIAL EASTER WEEK HOURS Thursday, April 4th - 9:30 AM to 8:30 PM + Friday, April 5th - CLOSED Saturday, April 6th - 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM Sunday, April 7th - CLOSED Monday, April 8th - 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM N-- at the checkout, select an egg from our Easter Basket, crack it open , and you'll receive the special discount towards your purchase ... from 10 10 40% OFF - All Regularly Priced ~ FASHIONS & FOOTWEAR for Men, Women and Children Special Egg-stravaganza from Monday, April 1st to Monday, April 8th. I BR@CK'S | BR®CK'S nonin 168 ee 1 for Ki 985-8797 J I Ea a EA TE EER EE a TR Stonemoor § #