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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1975-04-10, Page 4If it doesn't have news, and if you don't pay for it, it's not a newspaper: Almost everyone can tell you what a newspaper In Canada it is either a daily or weekly. Nearly 80 per cent of all Canadians read a newspaper every week. They contain news about you and your town. But there are newspapers and in many places there are "shoppers" or "throwaways." Some contain some news, they serve a purpose, but their primary purpose is advertising. And, they do not legally qualify under the definition of a newspaper. But what is the legal definition of a newspaper? The most common definition under postal regulations: "The primary purpose of such publication is to inform the public, and it must have a paid following of readers." Your local newspaper's p e function is to present the news . . . honestly a hilly. That's all. They offer maximuen local ide ication with your community. And their paid circulations are poative proof of their merit, their influence and their being wanted in your community. NEWSPAPERS s DELIVER THE LOCAL STORY. CANADIAN COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS ASSOCIATION REPRESENTING THO COMMUNITY PRESS OF CANADA Every time the population of Canada increases .by 1,000, hundreds of acres of agricultural land are lost to urban development. Apartment buildings, residential-subdivisions, schools, hospitals, shopping centers, roads and recreational areas are fast consuming farmland, especially .along the urbanized corridor of Canada bordering the United ' States. • It's a popular belief that Canada has more land than will ever be needed, and that land consumed by urbanization in- populated areas can be replaced with more distant property. But the prime problem lies deeper than the actual loss of the land. Many of the farms now being lost to development are located on some of the best land in the country for producing food. Soil scientists classify ;it, as 4:11 essence, this cps avgr gi.ow on it, since the soil is fern,- and the . growing season is long. The Niagara Peninsula is an example of, arr area where excellent farmland is rapidly being lost to non-agricultural purposes. Agrkiitture Canada is involved in a federal-provincial effort miffed at accurately assessing the losses of prime farmland, and evaluating these losses in terms of food production. Working wit ti the federal departments of Environment and Urban Affair s and the pi-ovincial governments, Agriculture Canada soil experts are trying:ao ,,.involved in swimming as a incorporate the agricultural competitor, teacher and program. aspects of ''=,the'' land loss into director for many years. He was a Canadian Swim Champion and Record Holder; a member of Provincial and National "swim Agricultural land lost as population programs aimed at preserving Canada's prime farmland. From farm statistics and forecasts, Dr. Ron Halstead, Agriculture Canada research coordinator for land resources, says Canadians have reason to be concerned about losses of agricultural land. Conservative estimates are that if Canada's growth pattern remains constant -- toward a predicted population of 35 million by the year 2.000 -- only 17.5 Syrup specialist appointed increases by NOEING IN A SNOW STORM — A snow storm is what It looked like' Sunday morning when contestants in the varlous ,classes olthe Optimists canoe race took off from the Egmondvllle bridge to canoe down the Bayfield River. A good crowd, including the child climbing on the canoe above, watched the races' take off and then followed the route by car to see. the canoes come in at checkpoints along the race, (Staff Photo) f .HURON ,EXPOSI+ORt;.API•i01, 107§ The Vanastra Recreation Committee has appointed Harold M. Whitlock as Aquatic Director. Mr. Whitlock has been million acres of the 24 million acres of Class It soil now cultivated will then be under the plow. The result of the loss of prime land would ultimately mean higher food costs,since it takes more Class' 4 land to produce yields equal to those that farmers now obtain from Class I land. As. urbanization pushes agriculture onto marginal land, difficulties and costs increase while the yields, and variety of crops grown, decrease. Over the years, Agriculture Canada has been developing a comprehensive inventory of all the soil in Canada. Now a complementary program involving the development of procedures for evaluating the actual food production capability of the soilis necessary in order to make meaningful land use decisions. Programs being developed will identify the regions of Canada where farming is possible, where certain crops can be grown, and where farming will not be feasible on an economical basis. "Without the complete inventory of our soil resources Aquatic Teams; and a member of Junior. Intermediate and Senior Canadian Water Polo champion- ship teams. Mr. Whitlock was most recent- ly. Executive Director of the Stratford WM-YWCA. where he held the position of aquatic director and was responsible for the development of special pro-' and a means of evaluating their productive capacities, it is impossible to plan with any degree of accuracy for long-term food production," says Dr. Halstead. Work to prepare the inventory is continuing with department soil scientists working with their counterparts in provincial governments and universities. "I'he land evaluation program has been in progress,' but more work is needed to put it all together." says the research coordinator. The programs, which are expected to be completed within a decade, will also result in the compilation of detailed statistics of Canada's entire land resources for food production. All soil areas will be clearly identified and details provided on the best crops to be grown in relation 'to temperature. rainfall, and other natural linaitations0 "When the Agrichltiire &nada information is combined with more land use data gathered by the other agencies involved in the prOgram, it will provide a1 sound -basis for governmental decisions on land use;" Dr. Halstead says. 1,000 FROM By their own admii- ducers themselves could come up meeting. Those , present had sion, times are tough for Ruron with any solutions to their pro- plenty of complaints but few county's 700 beef producers these ' blems. Federation President answers. days, but despite low prices and Doug Fortune of Wingham said The biggest suggestion came high costs only about 40 pro. he was disappointed at the from Man • VValper RR3, ducers turned out in Londesboro turnout in this; Ontario's second Parkhill who proposed 'a market- recently to diseuis industry pro- largest beef producing county. ing board for beef to "take the blems. „ "This is a working meeting to humps out of this business." He The Londesboro meeting of find answers," he said. He noted proposed a modest supply beef producers was called by the that current top prices for ' management program at' the Huron County Federation of But questions were more federal level without quotas. ,Agriculture to see if the pro- plentiful than answers at the "If we've got low prices and Brussels Agricultural Society plans summer, fall program Beef producers air coisnOainti in Londesboro weather 'improves, the Society Martin; Directors: Gerald Smith, decided. Emerson Mitchell, Ray Adams, Officers and Directors of the Agricultural Society are: Pres. John Boneschansker, Lloyd Fred Uhler; 1st Vice Pres. • Wheeler, Murray Hoover, Bob' Graeme Craig, lnd. Vice Pres. Higgins, Merle Freeman, Keith Jack Cardiff; Sec'y Treas. Edwin Williamson. Hog producing costs double three years and starter feed from $4.65 to $10.48. The total real estate investment per sow has gone from $300 to $675'; the price of labor has gone from $1.50 to $3.00 an hour and the interest rate on money from seven to nine percent. With his costs more than doubled, the producer should sell the weaned pig for $27 Compared to $13 three years ago. About the only place where costs have not at least doubled is in, the breeding animals. This year a hog producer can expect to' ,pay $125 for a brood sow and retrieve about $100 on culling for a net depreciation of $25.Three years ago those prices would have been about $80 and $60 for al depreciation of $20. Similarly a boar now will cost about $250 compared to $190 in 1972 and bring $75 on culling compared to $40 three years ago. can't find a solution I'm suggest. ing it's about time we looked at a marketing board," he said, Bill Pullen of RR 2 !Myth, said a marketing board is overdue. "It's about time we started working together, and not trying to make money at the other guy's expense, he said. - The proposal wits approved in a close vote. Three other points also won the agreement of the meeting, -The federal beef stabilzation price program should be modified so farmers can receive assistance every three months when prices fall, below 90 per cent of the average price .over the past five years of $45 CWT. At present, farmers are reimbursed at one year intervals. -Grants should be sought from the federal and provincial governments' to improve public relations to tell consumers about the problems facing the beef producer. -Importation of beef from the United States should be control- led by a 10 to 1 formula based on _ the relative total populations of Canada and the U.S. Another proposal, that super- markets and other chain food stores have gross profits restric- ted to' "reasonalbe" ley .els on finished steers have dropped to about $38 per hundredweight from a high of $56 more than a year ago. . beef products, failed for lack of support. The beef producers over- whelmingly approved the shortening of the time period for assistance under the stablization plan. Wingham-area'-farmer George Underwood said 'current federal imporation restrictions on beef from the United States need to be modified. ..... Speaking as chairman of a farmer study group, he said that 10 per cent of the total annual United States beet production "nearly equals our total produc- tion in Canada. 'With that situation," tie said, Honourable William A. Stewart Minister of Agriculture and Food, has announced the appointment of John Butler as Maple Syrup Extension Specialist for the Province. A forestry graduate of the University of Toronto in 1971, Mr. 'Butler wrote his' 'thesis on factors affecting maple sap pro- duction in Ontario. He has had extensive experience working with the Ministry of Natural Resources. During 1971 and 1972 he worked as a private land forester with responsibilities for. farm woodlot and sugar bush management as well as tree planting. During the last feW months he has worked with the' Lands Division as an interim Property Manager responsible for management of Crown Land acquisitions and properties in the Owen Sound disttict. Fot several years Mr. Butler 40 operated his own small Maple syrup "'Ugh in the Parry Sound dittrict. Mt Staler will be based at the Ontario POOd Council's head Office in Tiattinio but he will travel ettentivety throughout Ontario Visiting maple Sytim producers And ,others associated with the indoStry. 0 MITCHELL 3489951 Steel Toe Puncture Proof Sole Goodyear Welt 6" Boot -29.95 8" Hi-cut -34.95 SMYTH'S Plans for a dance with Walter Ostanek were finalized when the Brussels Agricultural Society met Tuesday. Organizational com- mittees for the dance, to be held July 18, were set up and members said tickets will be available shortly, The Agricultural Society executive decided, Secretary Treasurer Edwin Martin said, to hold field crop competitions in ensilage corn, grain corn, barley and two and three way mixed corn. A commercial feature of the' Fall Fair will be forage crops and a vegetable display. A new roof will-beinstalled at the Crystal Palace as soon as the Test can help soil acidity "Soils naturally become acidic as they get older, and, with the addition of lime, they can be made neutral or basic again," says R.M. Johnston, soils and fertilizers specialist at the Ridge- town College of Agricultural Technology. However, this calls for regular soil testing to determine PH acidity levels. Some soils are lOw in calcium and magnesium - and therefore acidic - right from the and eventually all soils become more acidic by leaching, the removal of minerals from soil by water. In addition, all plant roots produce 'acid as they grow, and some natural vegetation and any decomposing organic matter from acid: Although soils become acidic naturally, man contribtites to their imbalance, speeding the formation of acid by planting crops that remove .calcium and magnesium and by using fer- tilizers. , - 'County and.clistriet agricultural Offiefs ',hive soil testing kits and inforinatIOn. (Ina- 'farmer knows his soil's PH level, he and the soils specialist at his county or district Ontario Miniitry of Agri- culture and Food office can decide how much calcitic or dolomitic lime is needed. gramming. Vanastra Officials said they were happy with the response for tie .aquatic programs. Adult programs are in most cases, over subscribed and extra classes will. have to be set up. However, children's classes and Red Cross classes still have space available and regiarations continue to be accepted. d esn't take many of their cattle to drop our prices," Federal , regulations whiCh permit imports from the U.S. to remain at 100 per cent of the level of totaf imports from that country averafiOd over the past five years are inadequate, .he said, He suggested a, ratio be established under which one beef cow could be imported ,from the United States for every 10 exported from Canada to its more populous neighbour. The new formula, he said would maintain a more 'equitable balance based on populations of 22 million and 220 million. (The Blyth Standard) Stop paying for cheques If charges for the cheques you make are costing you a substantial sum each year, bring your. savings accounts to us. Here at Victoria and Grey any account maintained at $1,000 or more gets absolutely free chequing privileges — as many as you want. Makes sense? Makes money, too! MembeP Canada Deposit. Insurance Corporation RM. and VG TRUST COMPANY SINCE 1089 Farmers and consumers alike shake their heads at the, impact of inflation on the agriculture industry. Statistics Canada estimates that farmers will take in more money this year than ever before but will have less to live on than they had last year. Rising costs of production will make the difference. Agriculture Canada economists, updating depart- mental publications on production costing, shed some light on what is happening. In 1972, as an aid to hog producers, the department put out a book called "Estimating Costs of Swine Production". It is being reissued this year with updated figures. The figures are based• on operations in the Maritimes and do not represent national averages. Whereas in 1972, 'a producer could estimate $4.00 a iniudred- weight for feed for nursing sows, he must now figure on spending $8.58. Feed for .boars and' dry sows has gone from $3.50 to $8.00 a hundredweight. .Creep feed for the young piglets has gone 'from $9.00 a ,hundredweight to $18.44 in the Director named • •;:t\ "Mfik. : V.LN`MV%•V WNW' :',WEWiReNfORMONAW.MVIVAMMIUM.MM. afety Footwear New Safety Regulations' Require Safety Footwear for most Occupations. At Smyth's Shoes we have one of the Largest Stocks of Safety Footwear, C.S.A. Approved Steel Toe Olkford Oil Proof Sole Priced at 22.95 SMYTH'S SHOE STORE EXETER 235-1933 *********************************************4 • Expositor Want Ads PAY ic**************************49k*****************