A recently published book documents the major changes in productivity achieved by Ontario farmers in the past century.

Since 1951, the average production per hectare of major crops has doubled and the productivity of cattle, hogs and poultry has tripled, which shows that Ontario farmers are producing six times as much food per hectare as their ancestors.

While all farmers know that the number of farmers have decreased and the production per hectare and per animal has increased, exact estimates of these changes were not available until now.

This huge increase in productivity, unrivaled in any other industry, has occurred as the result of the adoption of modern technologies such as mechanization, electrification, the internal combustion engine, nutrition, computers and technology.

These achievements are documented in The Livestock Industry in Ontario, 1900- 2000 - A Century of Achievement, written by Dufferin native Dr. James White, James Dalrymple and Dr. David Hume. The project was financed by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's Agricultural Adaptation Council's Can-Advance Program, the Dairy Farmers of Ontario, Ontario Pork Producers, Ontario Pork Industry Council and the Poultry Industry Council of Ontario. The Ontario Federation of Agriculture sponsored the Study to the Agricultural Adaptation Council.

The study documents the changes in the structure of farms and the rural population which occurred as the number of farms declined from just over 200,000 in 1901 to about 60,000 in 2001. At the same time, the acres farmed decreased by about one-third, the land in crops remained relatively constant, the number of pigs raised more than doubled, poultry numbers increased five times but horses decreased by a factor of 7 as they were replaced by tractors.

The increases in productivity mainly occurred since 1950 as the average milk production per cow increased from 2,413 to 6.732 litres per year, number of pigs weaned per year increased from 12 to 25 and the average number of eggs laid per hen increased from 156 to 260 per year. Similarly, the yield per hectare of field crops increased as follows: grain corn, 140%; wheat, 143%; hay, 90%; soybeans, 65%; barley, 72%; and oats, 59%.

These major increases in productivity were made possible by research, improved genetics, extension programs and the willingness of farmers to innovate. Advances in food production benefited all citizens as the share of household expenditures decreased from 23% to only 15% from 1961 to 2000. Since then, it has further declined to about 10%. Unfortunately, farmers decreased in numbers in the same period to one-half and as a percentage of the Ontario population from 84% to 1.6%.

Fewer Ontario farmers continue to produce more food each year as their net farm incomes have decreased over time. Average farm net income when adjusted for inflation peaked at $20,881 in 1951, was only $8,943 in 2001 and has continued to decrease.

Most Canadian farmers' families in 2001 earned more money from off-farm employment than from their net farm operating income. The national averages were $35,748 from off-farm employment and $20,372 for net farm operating income. Only the 20% of farms with family incomes in excess of $100,000 derived less than their off-farm employment than on-farm incomes.

In 2001, Ontario farmers required 42% less farm land to produce food than a century before. At the same time, the population increased from 4.6 million to 11.4 million people. The reduction in the land required to produce food based on 2001 rather than 1951 technology decreased by 2.243 million hectares which is equivalent to a swath of land 28 km. wide from Windsor to Quebec. If it were not for this increase in productivity, we would not have the land which became available for urban developments, parks and recreation.

The authors, while documenting the unprecedented increases in productivity of Ontario farmers point out that these achievements have occurred as a result of the adoption of many new technologies, free markets and a minimum of government regulation.

Dr. Hume stated, "If Ontario agriculture had not achieved these enormous increases in productivity, we would have drained every swamp and cut down every forest to feed the other 98% of the population.

Ontarians would not have the recreational facilities and clean water they do today and we would not even be able to think about green energy".

Mr. Dalrymple says the decreasing support for agricultural research "is a huge consideration in competing with other provinces and American farmers. Many of our livestock research facilities are in need of updating and certainly if we want to continue to increase the efficiency of livestock production using fewer resources and with environmental responsibility, we need to get public support for research".

Dr. White says that if consumers want to continue to spend an ever-decreasing share of income on food, "they have to be prepared to restore historical levels of public research, extension services and increase the level of farmer's net incomes. Excessive regulation and the demand that farmers provide non-food services and spend more time and money on protecting the environment without any compensation will not produce the kind of results achieved over the last century".

The 250-page book, which includes many tables of historical data and graphs is available for $30 or a CDRom for $15 from the authors: Jim Dalrymple, R.R. 4, Brighton, K0K 1H0, e-mail: ded@ reach.net, tel. 613-475-2701; Dr. Jim White, Suite 204, 60 Queen Street East, Brampton, L6V 1A9, e-mail: inforesults@ yahoo.ca, 905-453-1174; Dr. Dave Hume, e-mail: dhume @uoguelph.ca, tel: 519-362- 4723.