By Vicki Gilhula
Sudburians know their landscape isn?t just a pile of rocks, but they may be surprised to know the region has a thriving and prosperous agricultural industry with a future.
A new study says farming is an $11-million industry in Greater Sudbury. There are 168 farms that create 250 direct jobs.
And thanks to global warming, an abundance of water, and pockets of good agricultural soil, the area?s future in farming looks bright, according to Graeme Spiers, a Laurentian University chemistry and biochemistry professor, who is chair of the citizens? advisory panel on agriculture.
The committee met Monday night in Azilda to hear results of a study conducted on the agricultural sector in the Sudbury, North Bay and Parry Sound areas.
Farm-gate sales in this region amounted to more than $37 million in 1995. The study concluded 1,330 direct, 404 indirect and 3,329 induced jobs (accountants, lawyers, etc.,) were created by agriculture in these areas, defined as the Blue Skies Region in the study.
Farming contributed $37.1 million in direct sales and $42.7 million in indirect sales for a total of $79.8 million in agri-related sales.
Livestock farms are the most dominant type in these areas followed by dairy farms.
Although the number of small farms in Ontario may be declining, farming is not in decline in the province. It is second to the automobile industry in economic importance.
The Sudbury committee is challenged to grow the industry by encouraging people to buy local produce. This isn?t as easy as it may sound. Supermarket and restaurants have to buy products from head office suppliers. Sudbury potatoes are sent to Toronto wholesalers and then sent back to local stores. Or they are not available in supermarkets here at all.
The study conducted by Harry Cummings & Associates of Guelph concluded that ?efforts to improve growing conditions through tile drainage and agricultural liming have brought more land into production and increased overall productivity.?
New crops such as buckwheat, flax, canola and garlic and new animals such as bison have also expanded agricultural opportunities.
The study recommended that the federal and provincial governments as well as the private sector support research stations and programs; support be giving to agricultural service centres ; and that governments and the private sector work together to ensure farmers have access to Internet for information and networking purposes.
