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24- PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, December 17, 1996 Can a farm program still be relevant half a cen- tury after it was launched? For an increas- ing number of Ontario farmers, the answer is a clear "Yes." The Ontario Farm Anal- ysis Project (OFMAP) has been providing Ontario producers with financial and management analysis of their businesses for 50 years. Quite different now from when it started, it has evolved into a refined management tool that helps farmers run their operations, develop farm plans and improve their Happy New Year from Pickseed Inc. Brian Bradley (905) 576-5286 & John Rich (705) 324-4467 performance. The rele- vance of this information for Ontario farmers is even greater now, at the turn of the century, with increasing international competition and trade pressures. OFMAP was started in 1946 by the Ontario Agri- cultural College, which cooperated with the coun- try Agricultural Represen- tatives to find farmers who would be willing to share their records. The program was taken over by OMAFRA in 1968. Don Graham, who re- tired in 1983 from OMA- FRA, was involved in the program right from the be- ginning. "The, most valu- able part was the compari- son with other farmsi.you could compare income per unit, yields per unit, live- stock . productivity, and record physical data through the years. You could see for yourself how you rated, compared to the average." "A great made excell managemes part of the might say th. at the weak operation an provements year," Graha Ralph Winslade, been managing for the past-se explains: "The been a source formation for visory and f staff, bankers, tants, and others. been used for re program appli helping farmers | business plans, ing government po providing support; for various other The program h come very popular in years of existen: first year of the farmers counties p the study, says Al Wishing you a Joyous Christmas and a Happy New Year from i a i * HEATING OIL * FURNACE SERVICE + DIESEL * GASOLINE * LUBRICANTS PETROLEUM PRODUCTS & PERSONAL SERVICE YOU CAN DEPEND ON AJAX (221 BAYLY ST.E) BO 686-1855 / 623-5516 1-800-361-8769 Down Home | Greetings There's nothing like celebrating Christmas in the country with our good friends and neighbours. Thanks for your valued patronage and have a very happy holiday season. ~ Harold, Melanie and Family Brad and Ryan WRIGHT'S FEEDS'n NEEDS 3490 Hwy. #7A BLACKSTOCK 986-4201 Thank you for your patronage this past year from the employees of Ron Fretz Meats 5) 357-3004 °° Je oro Mania RE AR A lal