Ontario Agriculture

The network for agriculture in Ontario, Canada

Too often we get caught up in the economic impacts that the loss of an industry can have. We never talk about the social costs of the disappearing jobs. In my own community I have witnessed the devastation to the rural social fabric that follows a major loss of jobs. Children have left rural schools as their families search for better opportunities elsewhere; heck, we haven’t had a full slate of hockey teams in Wallace Township since I was playing peewee. I look at what my own family does in the community, whether it is at church or in a sports league, and knowing that we are no different than any other farm family, you can multiply what we do by the other 418 pig-farming families to get an idea of what pig farmers in Perth county do for their communities. Here is a letter to the editor that I wrote for the Guelph Mercury earlier this year:

I am a pig farmer. I come from a family of pig farmers who have worked our whole lives to provide safe and healthy food for people here in Ontario. But my industry is sinking, and I want to tell you what that means.

Our farm, one of 2,800 pig farms in Ontario, is slightly smaller than the provincial average and by global standards we are tiny. Yet my family produces enough food to supply pork for almost 30,000 Ontarians every year. We inject almost $800,000 into the local economy. The 2,800 pig farmers in the province are part of a $4.7 billion industry.

It’s more than about numbers. Today we are in a tailspin. Financial hardships devastated pig farmers over the past three years; culminating with the H1N1 virus. Misconceptions about the safety of pork and the inappropriate name “swine flu” have done untold damage to pork producers. We’re in grave danger of seeing farm families disappear because of the H1N1 crisis.

Here’s what it means.

Greater environmental impact. if Ontarians cannot purchase pork grown here in Ontario, they will be forced to consume a product that has spent days on a truck while burning countless liters of diesel fuel. Much of the imported pork will travel over 1000 kilometers before ending up in your local grocery store; purchasing Ontario grown product helps to reduce the impact we make on our planet.

Disappearing family farms. The Ontario hog industry is dominated by small family farms such as my own, whereas many of the regions that currently import pork into Ontario are controlled by large corporations that do not feel the same way about the environment or their animals as we do here in Ontario.

Fragile rural communities. Southwestern Ontario is dotted with small towns that rely on agriculture to keep local businesses alive. The loss of local pig farms goes beyond simple economics; children from pig farms fill rural schools and join local sports teams, making farm families an integral piece of small town Ontario.

It is hard to describe in words the passion that I have for farming. I get to wake up every morning and produce food for people. I genuinely love caring for animals and it is my hope that I can protect the environment around my farm for generations to come. Ontarians can help preserve farms like mine by renewing their dedication to purchasing locally grown pork. By doing so, you are helping a group of individuals who produce pork that is among the safest and healthiest in the world.

Now a challenge for all readers: if you are a pig farmer, start telling our great story and if you know sources of locally grown pork or other local products, promote them diligently. If you are not a farmer, I call on you to make a difference with your food purchasing. Sure you may save 25 cents a pound by buying the imported loin on special at Zhers but you just contributed to the demise of your pig-farming neighbour.

I close with a quote from Oscar Wilde; I think these words hold special meaning for hog farmers trying to survive right now:

“Ordinary riches can be stolen, real riches cannot. In your soul are infinitely precious things that cannot be taken from you.”

Editor’s Note: Stewart Skinner is a farmer and student in Ontario, Canada. He is working on his PhD at the University of Guelph.

This commentary is for informational purposes only. The opinions and comments expressed herein represent the opinions of the author--they do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Farms.com. This commentary is not intended to provide individual advice to anyone. Farms.com will not be liable for any errors or omissions in the information, or for any damages or losses in any way related to this commentary.

Views: 97

Comment

You need to be a member of Ontario Agriculture to add comments!

Join Ontario Agriculture

Comment by Ron Steenbergen on September 18, 2009 at 4:09pm
Well put Stewart
Also means that people will have much less and perhaps no control over the products they eat.
When locally produced and grown they are regulated by Canadian standards second to none
I personally want to know where my food comes from and search dilegently to make sure product purchased at the grocery store is Canadian and if I can't tell I challenge store managers.
Or very often I buy from many of the fine producers in this area that provide product direct from farm.

Agriculture Headlines from Farms.com Canada East News - click on title for full story

What Separates the Top-Tier Pork Producers from the Rest?

Some would say the pork industry is on the other side of the biggest financial downturn the industry has seen for the last 30 years. Others say we are not quite there yet. In a Farm Credit peer benchmarking review, Chris Ford, vice president corporate swine lender with Farm Credit, looked back over the past several years to see what differentiated pork operations that have done well and those that have struggled. 1. Production is king. “Producers who have adhered to strong biosecurity measures, embraced technology and have taken a mindset of getting as much production out the door as possible have had as much success as anybody in this industry,” Ford says. 2. Good bookkeeping matters. “Those who have done a nice job with financial acumen and understanding where they’re at from a financial standpoint have survived this downturn,” Ford says. “As a lender, we see that every day. Those producers that keep good sets of books and understand their cost of production make the best decisions

3rd Annual BBQ & Brew at the Ballpark Raises $20,000 for Iowa Food Banks

Hundreds of Iowans gathered at Principal Park on June 21 for the third annual BBQ & Brew at the Ballpark, raising more than $20,000 to support food banks across the state. The family-friendly event was presented by the Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA) in partnership with the Iowa Cubs and Fareway Stores. “Events like BBQ & Brew show how strong our communities are when we come together for a common cause,” said Doug Gruver, IPPA board member and two-time event volunteer. “Giving back is at the heart of what we do as pork producers. Whether it’s raising food or raising funds, we’re proud to serve Iowans beyond the farm. This event is also a great opportunity to showcase the high-quality product we raise in Iowa and the incredible BBQ talent and passion of the teams who compete.” This year’s event featured 24 backyard barbecue teams competing for $12,000 in prize money across three pork categories: loin, ribs, and butt. Fareway Stores played a critical role in making the event pos

Ontario pasture lands get $5M boost

Canada and Ontario are investing $5M to improve community pastures, boost sustainability, support cattle farmers, and enhance soil health through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership.

Soy Canada annual meeting emphasizes opportunity and innovation amid industry challenges

Soy Canada’s annual meeting focussed on solutions that position Canadian soy for success during industry presentations and discussions at this year’s event. The theme, Gather and Grow, challenged participants to focus on finding opportunities amid global challenges created by conflict, uncertainty and volatility.

Canada’s dairy, poultry and egg farmers welcome the passage of Bill C-202

 Canada’s dairy, poultry and egg farmers welcome any effort aimed at ensuring no further supply managed concessions are made in trade negotiations, such as Bill C-202, An Act to amend the Department of Foreign Affairs

© 2025   Created by Darren Marsland.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service