OMEMEE- A study of the economic impact of agriculture in Kawartha Lakes and Peterborough has recommended that agricultural land remain in agriculture and poor land in proximity with prime land be designated agriculture.

Between 1971 and 2001, more than 122,000 acres were taken out of farming in the region and some firm measures must be taken to arrest the decline and strengthen agriculture. The report recommends that agriculturally related, value added operations be encouraged to make sure the agricultural use of the land dominates in particular areas.

It notes that the urban-based society today has less understanding of rural lifestyle and farmers are losing the battle to sell the positive aspects of that lifestyle. The report says that the right to farm, the right to follow standard agricultural practices, in predominantly agricultural areas should be rigorously upheld.

The report recommends that agricultural advisory committees should be created that have the power to vet land-use decisions deleterious to agriculture. Strong Land-use policies must be implemented to respond to heavy growth pressures from the greater Toronto Area.

The report points out that between 1971 and 2001 the number of acres of farm land in the region declined by 16.4 per cent, about average for the province. However, central Ontario, which has 90 per cent of the Class 1 land in the province, declined by 24 per cent.

According to the 2001 Census, the region boasted 2,718 farms with gross farm receipts of $251 million. Average productivity per acre ranged from $450 per acre in the Aspodel-Norwood area to $50 per acre in the northern part of the region. Though not mentioned in the report, even the agricultural heartland of the region is having trouble maintaining its infrastructure. Early in November, the Norwood Co-operative closed, probably the result of the decline in the number of farms, 361 between 1996 and 2001.

However, agriculture still has a big impact in the region producing $410 million in economic activity in 2001. About $56 million of that sum went for wages. Some 4,780 people are employed in agriculture in the region.

Beef and dairy farms dominate the region, roughly 60 per cent of all farms. Poultry and eggs account for 8.2 per cent while horse and specialty farming accounted for about 10 per cent. Field crops in the survey accounted for only three per cent. However, that statistics can be deceiving. In the report, a farm was listed under a particular commodity if that commodity brought in 51 per cent of receipts. Most livestock farms have cash crops.