CREEK letter to the THE EDITOR of THE PICTON GAZETTE - December 29, 2002

Terry Otto, on December 27 in the regular guest column of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, took issue with what he terms "politically correct bandwagons". Those "bandwagons" he refers to are concerns expressed by ordinary citizens about the quality of our air and water.

Had CREEK's letter in response to the OFA column of December 14 been printed, Mr. Otto would have noted that we share the OFA concerns in two areas; the environment, and the economics of agriculture in Ontario.

Our concern about the environment is well known. Not as well known, perhaps, is our support for family farmers. We understand that, for many, farming is a subsistence business. Mr. Otto states that "as increasing numbers of urbanites take up residence in rural Ontario, the numbers of farmers declines (sic)." He might be interested to know that the number of family farms has declined, not because of urbanization, but as a direct result of the establishment of large agri-businesses (factory farms). Since 1986, the number of hog operations, for example, has declined by 72%; 2% control nearly ½ of all hog inventory.

CREEK stated its position in our first submission to the hearings on the legislation.

"Factory farming has very little resemblance to traditional farming. ILO's are not farms, they are "industries" or "factories". Not only do applications of the liquid manure from these facilities endanger our environment, many of these large "businesses" control everything from food production for the animals to distribution of the finished "product".

History shows that vertical integration in the poultry industry has eliminated independent markets and farmers, starved local businesses of sales to formerly independent farmers who are now just contract employees, unravelled communities, fouled the environment with animal factory stench and sludge and lowered the quality of consumer products through the exclusive use of mass production facilities.

Mr. Otto goes on to state that Municipal Councils are bringing forth local bylaws and requests for provincial legislation to place ever-increasing controls on farmers and that this type of legislation "would have huge implications for agriculture in Ontario." We agree, and have stated our position that the legislation should deal directly with Intensive Livestock Operations. We find it particularly distressing that the small family farm, with fewer resources at its disposal, is expected to become compliant with the regulations in a shorter time frame than the large scale agri-business.

Like Mr. Otto, we would hope that "Ontario farmers can remain competitive and continue to produce safe, healthy food." To say that that concern is the "issue of the day" is demeaning and short-sighted, to say the least.

Sincerely

Linda Roberts
Chairperson, CREEK