On the heels of other presentations made in Wellington County, Barclay Nap and Marc Reid, Wellington Federation of Agriculture directors, were in Puslinch to present a reference book for councillors.
A fourth term director for the WFA representing Puslinch, Nap described himself as a third-generation township resident, with his family on the same farm since 1958.
He grew up with dairy, but the farm is now mixed farming, and Nap has a small market produce garden on the side.
“Agriculture is one of the biggest, if not the biggest in Ontario’s economy … depending on who you ask.”
There are roughly 75,000 farm businesses in the province, with just over 5.1 million hectares used for farmland, he said.
Nap added, “We are less than five per cent of the population … but we have the responsibility of providing food, fibre and fuel for the rest of the population … as well as being environmental stewards and educators.”
Nap said the agricultural sector is one of the biggest users of technology and one of the biggest watchers of weather forecasts.
Nap said, “Wellington County is a major agricultural centre with a large variety of livestock, cash crops, equipment sales and research being conducted here.
“These are some of the reasons Wellington County was chosen to host the 2016 IPM.”
Wellington has the most farms in any county in Ontario and has some of the biggest variety of operations anywhere in Ontario.
Nap noted, “Puslinch Township is a little bit different than the rest of the county in that our livestock numbers are small and most of the cash cropping is done by companies outside of the township.”
He said Puslinch is of great interest to cash croppers because the soil has excellent drainage due to the gravel.
The second biggest part of Puslinch agriculture is the equine industry
The township is considered a good spot for breeding and training horses due to its location near a number of race tracks and proximity to four large urban areas, he said.
“Wellington is said to have most horses of any part of Ontario – and this is due to the Puslinch equine community,” Nap said.
“Because equine is considered agriculture, the Wellington Federation of Agriculture has been looking for a voice for the equine community.”
Nap said he and Reid are part of a “board of farmers across the county who work for the economic, environmental and social well-being of fellow farmers. We represent over 1,300 farmer members in Wellington County.”
He noted Wellington farmers are owners and stewards of 78.5% of the total area of Wellington County. Nap stated, agriculture contributes $13.7 billion to Ontario’s annual GDP.
“The farm sector generates $1.4 billion in provincial revenues and $8.1 billion in wages and salaries. In addition Ontario farms spend about $12 billion on farm inputs,” he said.
“You can make a lot of money as a farmer … but to get there, you pretty much have to spend your shirt.”
As for agriculture in Wellington, Nap stated “Over half of these farms generate more than $100,000 per year. We provide a lot of jobs and create a lot of feeder jobs as well.
“I’m sure without farming, Wellington County would have a different economic outlook.”
Nap added Wellington County is very lucky in that 75% of its farmland is Class 1 soil – which is the best soil type possible.
He added “there has been a lot of job growth and over half of agricultural businesses plan to expand.”
As to how agriculture drives the economy, Nap explained over $5,000 is spent each year on one dairy cow. Comparatively, he said over $500 per acre is spent to raise corn.
“Farming is not a cheap thing to get into,” Nap said.
“The idea that a 100-acre plot is going to sustain a family is likely going to be challenging unless one gets into very specialized, high value crops.
“In Puslinch we do have a lot of agriculture here. You can miss it driving on Highway 401 or Highway 6.”
He provided councillors with a checklist on how to support agricultural growth within the municipality.
“Land use is something we constantly talk about,” he said. “It is important we keep agriculture and that it be sustainable.”
Nap noted that federation members plan to visit all Wellington County municipal councils to introduce themselves “to raise awareness of the importance of agriculture.
“We consider ourselves the voice of agriculture … but we are not here to make an ‘ask’, we’re just here to raise awareness … and if you need to contact us, we’re available.”
Councillor Susan Fielding said she had lived in Puslinch for over 30 years … “we don’t see much livestock anymore.
“So many of the farms now seem to be for equine activities. Is that a trend in the province? I’m thinking we’re still eating pork and beef … why isn’t it being produced in Puslinch as much.”
Nap said there are a lot of pressures “… part of that is cost and the incentive to sell to developers or for gravel pits … as some farmers have done.”
He added there is a shortage of beef cattle right now in the province.
“Farmers have been lobbying the Ontario government to free up some Crown land in the north,” he said.
He agreed that may not be the best solution as the lumber and mining industries are looking at those lands as well.
Nap also noted “once you take down the fences to handle all the larger equipment for cash cropping, it’s a lot harder to put those fences back up for cattle.”
He said that while there are global trade missions to get more places to buy beef … “we need to have more people raising beef as well.”
The difference is that raising livestock requires a 24-hour commitment, “crops, well if you want to go away for the weekend, I think you can … sometimes,” Nap said.
Fielding stated that in driving up and down the backroads she realized farming is big business in Puslinch.
Councillor Ken Roth added, “we’ve become more aware very recently of how important agriculture is to the county in terms of economic development. I think we’ve underestimated that (in the past).”
Roth said, “For years it was very difficult for people to take over the family farm. Is that still an issue?”
Nap responded “I can’t respond for all farmers, but in my case I am discouraged … but that is a lot due to my father being an amputee as a result of a farm accident. It is a very dangerous job and you can’t call in sick. He added that working off the farm is also seen as more ‘luxurious.’ With set hours, you can see your friends and you can lunch at lunchtime … not having it while on the tractor or while driving to or from a machine shop.”
Nap estimated about 1,000 acres of land are being lost in Ontario each week as a result of development.
Reid added because all of the above factors, farmers are being forced to diversify.
At the same time, Reid said it is difficult to survive on just cash-cropping without a minimum of 600 acres.
Roth suggested that is one of the reasons there are now fewer farms in Puslinch, because the smaller ones were no longer viable.
Nap estimated 70% of the land in Puslinch is farmed by one or two companies from outside the area.
On the question of aquaculture, Nap was uncertain whether the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture sees it as farming or whether it lies under the fisheries jurisdiction.
Nap commented there was a fish farming operation in Aberfoyle … “but it was turned into a water bottling plant.”
Councillor Matthew Bulmer said both Nap and Reid “said some things which certainly hit home. It was nice to hear the comments about farmers being stewards of the land.”
He said, “We are highly aware of what we do on our land not only affects us but our neighbours too.
“In many ways farmers are subsidizing the cost of food by taking jobs off the farm. Every day I am reminded how important agriculture is when I have a meal.”
Mayor Dennis Lever added that having attended Wellington County economic development meetings, he hears a lot about the 2016 IPM and its impact on economic development.
“Wellington has been very successful in agriculture as well. Certainly in Puslinch, the equine industry has been successful.”
