However, had one actually thought about the claims that the Cancer Society has made they make no sense what so ever.

Pesticides are used in agricultural production. In order to achieve the yields that help feed the world we use pesticides to remove competitors / pest in the field. However these pesticides can be extremely expensive. Therefore why would agriculture waste them and use them irresponsibly? It’s not like we mix them in with our cereal for breakfast each morning.

When it comes to applying pesticides all proper precautions are taken, bids and gloves and respirators are all worn in order to protect the applicators body. However in the city, when you’re spraying a concentrated bottle of round-up, what are you wearing? Gloves? Maybe a hat? Pesticides are used in low doses when mixed for agricultural use. Whereas in the city sometimes pesticides are self mixed and could be 10 times more concentrated than in agriculture and therefore pose an even bigger risk for citizens in urban areas.

That brings me back to my original point, that pesticides are expensive. Therefore why would we be using high levels of pesticide if we don’t have to use them? I don’t understand the logic behind the Cancer Societies push for a pesticide ban.

The Cancer Society position on pesticides is as follows “Pesticide use should only be considered as a last resort to manage pests that may affect our health, safety or food supply, and exposure should be reduced to the lowest possible level.” Pesticides are our only option for economic and first pass control of pests within the field. If consumers what a pesticide free agriculture, be prepared to pay for the added labour and costs that will go into your food.

As a producer I trust our Ontario Agriculture production. There is no doubt in my mind that the proper precautions are being taken in order to ensure safe pesticide application. Leave the pesticides to the people that know them and apply them safely.

So now is the time to be educated, maybe your donations are better spent directly funding hospital research rather than lobbying efforts?

With all the talk about the economy these days I figured I should jump on the band wagon.

World markets are slumping and fears of a recession people are slowing up spending in a natural urge to protect themselves. However within agriculture this is almost reversed. Let me be specific, cash crop agriculture is booming, tractor sales are at record high levels as the product that we produce is demanded throughout the world. Agriculture is creating the demand for machinery and inputs, all which require people to manufacture them. Can we buy all the tractors? No, but currently agriculture is giving John Deere a run for its money as the green tractors are booking almost months in advance. It does look like agriculture is going to be for once again steadfast and reliable for today’s troubled economy.

However there may be a flaw within this theory and it has to do with the current financial crisis. Without operation capital agriculture is doomed. I don’t like to be a pessimist but when it comes to farming one cannot do it with his or her own pocket cash. Seed and fertilizer prices are at record high levels and we all know that once they go up they tend to no come down fast. This poses a huge problem for agriculture profitability and the contraction within the agriculture lending market would spell the end for agriculture production and result in a massive recession I hope I never see.

In conclusion support your local farmer shop smart and shop local. Make sure your money stays within your community in order to keep it alive. Agriculture is here to stay and it is definitely going to support the world markets.

This is an interesting approach to agriculture education. Throughout the Royal there was a massive effort that was launched in order to educate consumers about eating healthy. The journey to your good health area encompassed a large variety of booths from McDonalds to the marketing association of the Holland Marsh. However they all had one thing in common they where focused on local food and connecting the producer to the consumer. Take for example McDonald’s was handing out apple slices that were produced from Simcoe apple growers or the Holland Marsh in Bradford handing out free carrots. All locally grown and a healthy alternative to traditional snack foods.

The local food movement was encompassed into everything that was discussed at this year’s Royal. Even working at the greenbelt booth on a Monday afternoon I realized that locally grown food is becoming a huge demand and its being driven from within Toronto. What intrigued me was a conversation I had with a Chef from Toronto. He was looking to source locally grown food for his customers who were demanding it at such a rate he could not keep up. After a long conversation with him I concluded by sending him the Holland Marsh booth where he would be able to connect with producers who could supply fresh vegetables and produce for his restaurant. Those connections are key and the Royal needs an effective way to facilitate that.

The Royal has always been a place where opportunities are created and dreams are realized. However this year was something else, the Royal opened my eyes to the future of agriculture and what it has in store for us as the next generation. Consumers want to know there food is safe and that education is in turn creating a demand that agriculture as an industry cannot ignore.

The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair encompasses a large number of events and special education opportunities for people of all ages. Take for example the Rodeo, the RCMP Musical Ride, the Agri-Food Innovation booth, and probably the best idea of all for this year the journey to your good health booth. These are just a few new attractions for the Royal this year. I would encourage everyone to get out and learn something about agriculture as this is a once a year opportunity.

I think its important that Torontonians understand what a big deal this is for agriculture and those involved within it. We in agriculture get to showcase our industry and show it to a world which is extremely disconnected with it. I would especially encourage you to take in the livestock shows this year; the Ontario Junior Barrow Show is one of the highlights for me each and every year. Now because I’ve been showing at the Royal for almost 10 years my time is up, I’m too old. But I will always be an advocate for the educational experience that the Royal brings to Toronto.

I close with a message for Torontonians; don’t forget to visit the Royal. This is a time when agriculture comes to you! Agriculture doesn’t get out much and I hope that this years Royal will break all attendance records and people will come away with a more positive understanding of how their food gets to their plate.

The Royal for some is a time where we go and show our animals and then go home with whatever prize we may in fact win. However it’s so much more. Cam Lawrie an “urbanite” if you will is in our Agricultural Communications class, he knows little about agriculture and has really opened my eyes to the importance of proper agriculture education. No, I don’t mean the demonstrations or displays, its the “hey mister” questions when there are a group of kids tugging at your coat eager to get another question in before the end of the day. My personal favorite the group of people feverishly running past certain areas of the barns to get away from the smell, it really shows that urbanites have little exposure to agriculture.

All farmers are the face of agriculture, you have someone watching you. Don’t pretend like you don’t get out much or make people believe stupid answers tell them the truth. We have a passion for the industry and therefore we should spread it to the world. In my opinion the Royal should be declared a Torontonian holiday where everyone has to attended. Agriculture is an awesome industry and needs to educate. Take for example the new Winners commercials where clothing and shoes are brought in on horseback from fields.

You know someday when I’m old I’m going to hear someone say “I thought we grew our own shoes?” I’ll probably laugh and say “oh yah of course!”

Remember you are the closest thing to a farmer in their eyes, don’t mess up make the Royal something they will never forget.

COOL is expensive, all the extra handling, labeling and record keeping that must be done to ensure that each package is U.S product. This cost must be downloaded to someone correct? This time it will be the primary production, however because consumers do not want an increase in food prices the easiest place to get a dollar is the producer level. This will be done by discounting livestock imported from Canada and other countries

An Ohio economist Ian Sheldon states within in an article what the new law affects meat and perishable agricultural commodities such as fresh fruits and vegetables. “Retailers are now required to notify consumers whether the product they are buying is of U.S. origin or from another country,” He also continues to state that “If it’s about safety, then perhaps we should be spending money on food safety. Do we want to leave it to consumers to determine if a product is safe based on a label? This statement is very true, with the added measure of labeling the product from its origin, are we basing product quality on the country or the company who produces the product.

Take for example the recent listeria outbreak within Maple Leaf, for a consumer in the United States, it means that Canada has listeria, not just Maple Leaf.  This shows the broad impacts of a labeling system such as COOL.

In closing I hope that this system does in fact become useful for both Canadian and American producers and not the political stupidity that it has become. Consumers should be educated but does that mean you have to condemn two already besieged livestock industries?

Source: COOL Response to U.S from Canadian Livestock Producer.

http://www.cattlenetwork.com/Cattle_Identification_Content.asp?contentid=258494

Agriculture is a fast paced industry.  Markets change and economies of scale force producers to get larger each year. Progressive leaders must maintain flexibility and be aware of the challenges and opportunities that lie within change.

Take Ethanol for example.  The industry itself was only in its infancy 10 years ago. It has taken the forefront in many peoples’ minds as they look at both their gas receipt and grocery bill.  Change is inevitable in Agriculture, that’s what makes agriculture such an amazing industry. John Deere began producing tractors in the early 1900’s and now only 100 years later they are developing tractors that will steer themselves.  I believe change is vital to the success of any organization or industry and agriculture is no exception.  Future leaders will have to focus on the challenges that we will face 5, 10 or even 15 years into the future.  Leaders with this type of vision will see vast opportunities and take agriculture to places that it’s never been before. 

The leaders of agriculture will need a vision for the future, integrity to maintain trust and flexibility to endure the violent ups and downs that we in agriculture are blessed to experience. The next few years of agriculture will be the most exciting and the most rewarding years in the history of agriculture.  I challenge each and every one of you today to encourage passion and foster a place where leaders can grow within your communities.  Together we can build leaders that will carry agriculture into the future

This problem is occurring the United States as well. In 2002, 25% of farm owners were over 75, and another 24% were between 64 and 74, and 22% were between 55 and 64. I don’t see anything wrong with people choosing to work well into their senior year, and I believe that they have mountains of wisdom and knowledge that they can pass on the next generation. The purpose of this article is to ask the question, where is the next generation?

There are many problems that attribute to the loss of farmers throughout United States and Canada, such as soaring land values and operating costs, tax hurdles and market forces. All of these have made it ever so difficult to farm in today’s world.

I have been a young farmer ever since I was a kid; I’ve always wanted to take over the family farm that encompasses 300 sows farrow to finish and 800 acres of cash crop. I have a passion for production agriculture; there is something about it that makes my heart beat faster every time the combine starts. There is nothing I would love to see more than to have that farm double in size and be successful.

The next generation needs passion, they need the ability to “go with the flow.” Agriculture is risky; it has been and always will be. The next generation of farmers will have to able to take the risk, they will have to be willing to give it their all, as farm sizes increase and successful producers are taking a more managerial role within operations. If you’re a young farmer that wants to start don’t let anyone hold you back, fuel your passion and “go big or go home.”

In today’s consumer driven market place, cheaper is better. But when is cheap too cheap? One could say that when producers and processors cut corners on quality to allow for significant consumer savings, we have become to cheap.

There is a new Nissan commercial were a man’s neighbor inquires if his new car was “cheap” the man replies, “No, it’s inexpensive, you cut your own hair, that’s cheap.” The same concept applies to food production and processing today. When we cut corners regarding food safety just to save a few bucks, the system that we rely on to keep us healthy takes a turn for the worst, and cannot be classified as inexpensive, but cheap.

In an article that was recently published in the Toronto Star, Professor Owen Roberts states the facts in a clear and concise method: “cheap food is not safe food.” The article goes on to explain how it may be consumers who in fact who should be taking partial blame for the recent Listeria outbreak among Maple Leaf products, and I agree with this. The article is also correct in saying that we as consumers expect tremendous levels of food safety, but do not believe that it should be reflected in our food prices.

By being involved in agriculture, I see the value in higher food prices. The purpose is not to gouge the consumer, but rather provide the consumer with a high quality product that we can ensure is safe. The pressure placed on processors in recent years, is resulting in large corporations processing larger amounts of food in order to remain viable. Is it a surprise that the Listeria outbreak occurred? Can you honestly say that now you didn’t expect it to happen? According to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, all proper protocols where followed concerning sanitation and cleaning. However, given the magnitude of product food processors handle, it is no wonder that something of this nature occurred.

We operate in a consumer driven industry and I believe that we all had a hand in pushing the system over the edge.