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The Vineland Conference Report By Mrs. C. Diamond AGRICULTURE AND FOOD held at Vineland, October 25-28. was most en- lightening and worthwhile, from my point of view, because facts, figures and problems were presented and discussed in the open. The Conference was officially opened by Hon. W. A. Stewart. Minister of Agriculture and Food, who stressed that it was called to examine and re-examine the agriculture and food industry in the light of rapid changes and to discu55 and consider guidelines for the fu- ture pattern of agriculture in Ontario. Al- though the Department of Agriculture and Food and the committee members. represent- ing leaders in their fields, had done an ex- cellent job of setting up the conference pro- gram. they were conspicuous by their absence in the discussion of the farmer‘s problems, dispelling any doubt that pre-conceived ideas were going to be presented for acceptance. It was evident from the opening that there was one predominant factor worrying the On- tario farmer and that was the net income he receives in return for the longer hours of labour in his production program. Added to this was the extreme concern for good agri- cultural land being devoured for non-agricul- tural purposes. and the distorted public image from which the farmer has suffered. Of the more than 300 delegates, there were approximately 20 women with Mrs. Charlton and myself as your delegates from F.W.I.O. The other delegates were farm people. cap- tains and kings of the agricultural industry, specialists in their own commodities. economâ€" ics personnel from our land and the British Isles. representatiVes of all farm organizations or hoards. Federal and Provincial departments of Agriculture. political parties. Looking back on the two and a half days spent there trying to concentrate and absorb speeches on Ontario‘s future needs, sales talks on future projection statistics on farm eco- nomics. elc.. one realizes how extensive the preparations were as speakers from Scotland, England. and the United States were included on the rostrum as well as the best in their T HE PROVINCIAL CONFERENCE ON a 40-60% increase in production would I needed but technology is available to ma} the farm more efficient and Ontario farmt- will produce the extra quantities if they ceive adequate returns. These papers made an excellent stampit ground for the next day‘s presentation of m. keting forecasts in all fields of agricultu. Each day‘s proceedings were fully analyzed . a different group of commissioners whose j. it was to summarize the points made and . the closing morning the rapporteurs for 1 three different commissions presented thy summations for acceptance by the confcrcn body. Group discussions around the tah‘ provided some lighter moments when, for stance, delegates discussed the question what piece of legislation they would imp ment first if one of them was the new Mitt ter of Agriculture and wished to retain l portfolio. The Consumer’s Association entered fre- into discussions because food costs, pack; ing. gimmicks etc. are receiving their scrutiv One resolution, passed unanimously, was recommend legislation to ban trading stamps, In this era of bigness in all operations. was heartening to hear various speakers ex the merits of the efficient family farm our by the farm operator. General opinion the conference was that we do have 3 “Che food” policy. not indicative of poor qual. food produced, but in comparison with on. increased costs. All were agreed that the 0 cannot be borne by the farmers. and mu- voiced their opinion that the income of 1 family farm should be augmented without rt: ing food costs. Subsidies. capital grants a incentive income rewards for efficiency we all suggested. On the last day a rcsolulh was passed asking Hon. Mr. Stewart to :- point a committee to study ways of achicvi income incentive payments or other techniqu to farmers. This committee was named i- mediately and under the chairmanship Everett Biggs, Deputy Minister of Agricultu and Food. has lost no time in getting do“ to business and is now receiving briefs in commodity groups telling of their problC" These will have a bearing on the committet studv. Although the appointment of this commi- tee seemed to be the paramount CODCiLlSit‘ reached at the conference. to a layman‘ would appear that one of the most imer tant happenings was the open questioning dl" cussing and reviewing of each other‘s PTO]? 1 ‘IB 1 HOME AND COUNTRI li‘: field from our own country. The first full day's papers, called sales talks. dealt with many phases of agricultural production and calcuâ€" lated the needs for the next 20 years. In the view of these professors and economists,