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AGRICULTURAL EDL'CATION IN ONTARIO Dr. J. C. Rennie and Mr. J. A. Mat-Donald. Dr. Rennie is Executive Director of Education. Re- search and Special Services Division, Mr. MacDonald is Principal of C t-mruiia College of Agri’rtiitiirul Tee/i- nuiogi' both from the Ontario Miiiisi'ijii 0/ Agriculture and Food. Agriculture is one of Ontario‘s major industries. Farm cash receipts amounted last year to approxiâ€" matclv 2.75 billion dollars. The real value of l‘arm proâ€" duction to our Ontario economy is not realized tintil Itiod commodities lind their way through the processâ€" ing. distribution and retail chain to the eventual conâ€" sumer. The importance of Ontario‘s contribution to the total Canadian l'ood supply is well documented. Approsimately one-third of Canada's total livestock production originates in Ontariofiand high percent- ages ot'thc many specialized crops including corn. soyu hcans. fruits and vegetables. To enhance the growth and competitive advantage ol'the agricultural industry the Ontario Ministry main- tains active programs in education and research. The Ministry assumes responsibility for post secondary ag- ricultural education at all levels below degree. to ensure that specialivcd training opportunities are available It] agriculture. Colleges of Agricultural 'l‘cchnology are located strategically throughout the Province to SCrVIL‘t.‘ the regional educational needs. They include Ridgctoun in south western Ontario. ('cntralia in “cslcrn Ontario, Kcmptville in the east and New Lisltetird in the north, in addition. under a contractual arrangement with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food. diploma programs in Agricul- tiire are ofl’ercd at the University of Guelph. There has been a dramatic increase in student inâ€" terest in agricultural education over the past five years Student enrollment has been increasing by approxi- mately ten percent per year and with no evidence of this levelling out. It is encouraging to see such an inv tcrcst in agricultural education even though expand- ing enrollment is taxing College facilities. it is difficult to predict “'ittll might happen in the future. University enrollments are dropping in arts and sciences but not in professional programs. Interest in educational programs that have an early application in the world ol‘ work such as those ofi‘ered at the Min- istr_\ Colleges is still increasing. It is our projection that enrollment \vill continue to increase for at least the out five years Wllh a levelling ofi‘ occurring by “983. This projection will mean that enrollment will increase from the present level of L300 to an estimated 2.000. [t is also projected that approitimatelv 60 percent of the graduating classes will go directly into farming and the remaining 40 percent will find employment in agribusiness or because of their specialized training at the Colleges. in such areas as Food service manageâ€" ment. animal health technology. or agricultural laboâ€" ratory technology. It has heen estimated that we require approxi- mately 1.000 replacement farmers in Ontario each 24 THE ROAD AHEAD year. It is an objective of O.M.A.F. to have rims.“ mately 50 percent of replacement farmers train-t1 M the diploma or degree level in agriculture in 1%.} Several specialized courses leading to dipioni ol’fcred at the Colleges. In most cases these Cour in place to train graduates for careers in the Ln r nadian food system. THE DIPLOMA IN AGRICULTURE. A Lil am in agriculture is uttered at each of the COiiL'L‘ \i. lll'L' lit d- though courses of study are developed indepci '.tlthey do reflect the Special needs oi~ agricul: m proximity to that College. The modern farm in t-r is faced with the responsibility of obtaining op rm production levels and yet must manage his in g“ and resources to provide reasonable assura. ,.i profit. The farmer faces these responsibilities in riod ol‘ rapidly escalating input costs in his i‘llrl't'li y. eration. At all of the Colleges the Curricula ll'llli the range of technology required in a successti. or. business and attempts to teach the student hon iii? lite this technology to make sound from munttg- .m decisions. Over 60 percent of the graduates in agricuii turn to farm. the remainder find jobs in a range sitions in agribusiness. Some of the typical p. it are in management or sales in agricultural s t-and supply industries. Other opportunities esisi ,_-r ricultural finance or in extension. No longer is agriculture a man‘s worldâ€"in years a significant increase in female registrant ._ been noted. Between 10 and 15 percent of Slthi l‘I agricultural diploma programs are girls who in . |.‘.i instances plan to Farm after graduation. THE DIPLOMA IN FOOD SERVICE \‘ AGEMENT. The food service industry has grov :7 idly in recent years. in Canada there is a grout: we dency for families to eat away from home anti :coupled with an increasing institutional requi iii in cafeterias at places of work. health care ant .t institutions. The service component is extrem portant to ensure that well prepared and an [bod is served which meets dietary requiremcn tit Food Service Management programs at Centra‘ Kcmpiville train personnel to assume managem i.- sponsibilities at difierent levels in various segnit the Food service industry. THE DIPLOMA IN ANIMAL HEALTI l'm‘ technicians graduating in animal health are 6‘1 and qualified to perform the many tests used h} Lt- inarians in diagnosis of health problems min 0 As well they are trained to serve in a supporinc H the veterinary clinic or to work as technicians w search or regulatory agencies. The contributiw help of the animal health technician is invaltia to the veterinarian in the diagnosis and treatment < itir ease in livestock. ln this manner they make w *3" nificant contribution to the food supply system it itt‘ provement of productivity through the preveniiv N control of disease in livestock.