Acland mine

LOOKING at the full page ad on page 9 on 2/8 of the Chronicle, I see a plea that is supposed to garner support for the new Acland mine.

The main thrust of this ad is if I cannot work in the mine, I will lose my farm.

The question for this is, why? Each of these farms will no doubt have a different reason for why it will be lost.

Here are some reasons that many will come under. Farm size too small for the activity being undertaken.

Lack of funds to develop the land to meet a profitable level of income.

When starting out, expectation was based on perceived ideas about farming and not on reality. Trying an activity not suited to location.

Farming after all, is a small business and is subject to many variations thrown up by markets and weather conditions along with those who would take advantage of you.

The mine is a large business and is also subject to many things such as regulation and price of product dictated by world trends.

If no profit is made, then it cannot compete and will also leave the industry. Having been associated with the land my entire life (almost 77 years).

I have seen many things that affect farms and their income.

Put up your individual case and see if it fits the reason put forward. — W. MARTIN, Wyreema