CHANGES IN RURAL LAND USE PATTERNS ON THE CENTRAL LAKE ONTARIO PLAIN

Abstract

The Central Lake Ontario Plain is defined for this paper as the strip of four townships along the shore of Lake Ontario immediately to the east of Metropolitan Toronto. These townships are examined here to determine the kinds and amounts of rural land-use change which have taken place during the last three decades. in addition to gross changes recorded by the census for the entire area, changes which have taken place on the individual occupance unit are studied. For the area as a whole, there has been a decrease in cropland and in number of farms, but the area in pasture has increased, as has the proportion of cropland in hay. Sample farm studies showed changes in the type of operation, in the size of the operating unit, and in the methods of farming. General farming has become less prevalent, dairy farming has become more prevalent, and beef farming has remained relatively stable. Two new types of farming have developed: the cash crop farm without livestock, and the part-time farm. Expansion in the size of the operational unit has been greatest on dairy farms, and least on the general farms. Concomitant changes in methods and machinery are noted. A series of controls are proposed as being responsible for the changing patterns. Dominant among these is the influence of urbanization and its effect on land values. Economic return from the land, new technology, rising capital costs, land capability, size of landholding, and the human element are all factors which have influenced the changes in land-use patterns.