Consultant Jim Wheeler began his presentation to the recent Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario annual meeting by explaining the social contract the farming community has with the rest of society.
Wheeler says the benefits farmers get from the community include financial support programs and regulatory exemptions.
He says farmers have obligations in terms of things like farm practices in exchange for the support they get from society.
Wheeler told CFFO delegates he believes farming, in general, is meeting the terms of that social contract very well.
He says that's especially true in traditional areas like nutrient management, point source pollution and animal care.
However, Wheeler argues there are some areas where society is losing some of it's trust in farming.
He says recent stories about animal care issues or the algae bloom pollution in Lake Erie are beginning to erode some of that trust.
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Wheeler began his presentation by explaining the conditions of that contract.
[audio mp3="http://blackburnnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/WHEELER-Contract-1.mp3"][/audio]
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Wheeler compared the benefits farmers receive in the form of regulatory exemptions and financial support programs with the obligations farmers have in adhering to certain farm practices.
[audio mp3="http://blackburnnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/WHEELER-Contract-2.mp3"][/audio]
