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Times-Advocate, 1978-03-16, Page 13Times-Advocate, March 16, 1978 A reduction in the size of the Huron County Milk Committee was brought Huron milk producer's reduce committee size /--------------—-----X Call For Professional LAND CLEARING Bulldozing & Heavy Equipment Rentals WESLAYNE Company Ltd. 294-6933 Parkhill, Ont.J C.H. LEWIS LUCAN LTD. Licensed Insured Livestock Hauler Inquire about our new 24' Rack LUCAN Call Larry 227-4935 or 227-4406 about Monday as a result of a major decrease in the number of milk producers in the county. ‘In December, 1977 there were 593 milk producers in Huron county as compared to 815 in December, 1976. It is estimated the number of milk producers in Huron county 15 years ago was 1,600. Chairman of the dairy farmers annual meeting, John Campbell of Bayfield read a proposal to a group of about 150 milk producers requesting a reduction in the size of the milk committee from 15 to 12 producers. The by-law was readily accepted by all but about five of those present. One opposer of the by-law said he felt the north end of the county was not adequately represented. The majority of the Holstein herds are in the north, he said, and therefore he felt the milk producers from the north should have ample say. He felt the decision to reduce the number of committee members was made “at the top.” “Why does the meeting have to be held in Clinton?” he asked. “Why not have it in the north end (of the county) where the producers are?” Campbell answered the question admitting the an­ nual meeting does not necessarily have to be in Clinton. He pointed out, however, the ministry of agriculture for the county is located in Clinton so that would seem the appropriate location for the milk producers to meet. Another man from the floor stated the decision to reduce the number of committee members was not made “at the top,” The decision was made at other meetings, he said, because there are half as many milk producers as there used to be. He said if producers from the north of the county want to be heard they should nominate a representative in the next election to voice their opinions. Douglas Trewartha, secretary-treasurer for the Huron milk producers, said after the meeting it was his opinion milk producers from all over the county are represented equally. He said the matter was not brought up again in the question and answer period. Ian Kennedy, who works in milk quality control for the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food, said the constant decline in the number of milk producers in the county is a result of large operations taking over the business. In the last year, however, he said the decline in the number of producers stems from a law passed by the Ontario Milk Market Board in 1977. As of Sep­ tember 1 of last year all milk producers have to produce in bulk using mechanical cooling systems, he said. He explained dairy far­ mers had shipped milk in 80- pound cans in the past. These were manually handled and often cooled in unacceptable ways, such as in cold water troughs, he said. Now the milk is pumped into stainless steel tanks holding from 100 to several thousand pounds, Kennedy said. He explained that farmers ATTEND COOK'S DAY — Many area farmers were in attendance at the Pineridge Chalet Tuesday when "A Day with Cook's" sponsored by Cook's mills of Hensall, Centralia and Kirkton was held. From the left are Bob Thomas of the Centralia College of Agricultural Technology, Don Geiger, Ted Geoffrey of Cooks and Louis Farwell. Staff photo were faced with either producing in bulk, changing to cream production or quitting, and many quit due to the increase in costs. “The milk industry has had a difficult year,” Kennedy told the dairy farmers. .“Everyone is aware of it.” Chairman of the Ontario Milk Marketing Board, Ken McKinnon, told those at the meeting he was “really amazed in the producer reduction in Huron county.” He said the rest of the province have about half as many milk producers as have existed, but Huron county has about one-third. He blamed the high drop in the number of dairy farmers just recently to the high milk quota of value. He warned farmers to produce the quota of milk set for them by the marketing board and said they should not worry too much about over-producing a little. “We’ve got to sell this product,” he said. “Industry and individuals suffer more if dairy farmers under­ produce.” McKinnon said he does not feel the last year has been more difficult than any other year for the milk producers. In fact he said most people had more income than the previous year. “It’s been a difficult year but not much more difficult than any year in the in­ dustry,” he said. McKinnon who is also the elected representative for the Huron, Bruce and Grey region on the Ontario Marketing Board as well as chairman of the dairy far­ mers of Canada, told the meeting 82 percent of in­ dustrial milk in Canada comes from Ontario and Quebec under a national plan. Some milk producers in Ontario don’t like producing within the limits of the national plan, he said, because consumption in Ontario is going up faster than any other province. He warned it would not be a good idea to move out of the national plan because of the benefits of protection the plan offers the Ontario dairy farmers. ATTENTION FARMERS FLAX WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT FLAX 1978AS A CASH CROP IN Flax Seed Varieties now available produce greater yields than in the past. SPRAMOTOR 200&300 Gallon SPRAMASTER 5 height adjustments - hinged for safety 1 / ' I RS’ I Telescopic control stand means constant accessibility 56" to 80" adjustable centres - 4 height adjustments Chemical and impact resistant polyethylene tank QUALITY SPRAYERS BY DESIGN - SINCE 1696 746 Dealers across Ontario and Quebec HaiTH - UKi SOLD & SERVICED BY C ALVIN M. BECKER PHONE EVENINGS 237-3239 R.R. 1 - DASHWOOD - ONT. Battle against brucellosis mounts, impose restrictions on movement Agriculture Minister Eugene Whelan has an­ nounced that new regulations designed to eradicate brucellosis from Canadian cattle herds come into effect on April 1. The regulations, which place tight controls on sales and movement of cattle, were first announced last November and form part of an Agriculture Canada cam­ paign to eliminate the con­ tagious, bacterial disease that causes loss of produc­ tion and abortions in cows. “We are confident that with the co-operation of livestock owners, the program will bring about the complete eradication of brucellosis,” Mr. Whelan said. “The disease already has caused livestock producers a lot of hardship. We have accelerated our campaign to get rid of it once and for all.” Under the new regulations, the country is divided into three separate regions, based on the in­ cidence of brucellosis in each. They will be known as brucellosis-free (New­ foundland, New Brunswick, In farm financial matters farm experience matters Prince Edward Island), brucellosis low-incidence (Nova Scotia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia) and non­ designated (Ontario and Quebec). Basically, the new regulations control the movement of cattle into areas with lower levels of in­ fection than that which ex­ ists in their home areas. These cattle require blood­ testing to guarantee they are not carrying the disease. For instance, cattle moving from a non-designated area to one of low-incidence, or from a low-incidence area to a brucellosis-free region, all require blood-testing prior to movement. Animals from brucellosis- free listed herds are ex­ empt. They can move freely throughout Canada and also are eligible for export to the United States. In an area of high brucellosis incidence — such as Ontario and Quebec — most cattle also require testing prior to movement to another farm, a public sale, auction or market, or to a show or exhibition within this area. Exempt from this testing requirement are cat­ tle from brucellosis-free listed herds, dairy cattle less than 18 months old, beef cattle less than 24 months old, cattle for immediate slaughter, steers and spayed heifers. In all instances in which animals require a test prior to movement, particularly in Ontario and Quebec, on- the-farm blood testing must be conducted by an ac­ credited veterinarian, or his technician — at the expense of the animal owner. The test is carried out by either a provincial (Ontario and Quebec only) or federal (all provinces)laboratory. “What we are doing is preventing the spread of brucellosis across the coun­ try. We know that uncon­ trolled movement of cattle has been a problem in the past,” Mr. Whelan said. For instance, extreme ef­ forts now are being made in Nova Scotia and British Columbia, where brucellosis infection in a handful of herds is preventing the province from attaining brucellosis-free status. Statistics for the period ending January 31, 1978, show that 685 herds were un- der quarantine for brucellosis in Ontario and Quebec, 140 herds in the low- incidence region, and one in the brucellosis-free regions. When a blood test is re­ quired for cattle movement, its results must accompany the animal when it is moved. Owners who don’t abide by these new regulations run the risk of forfeiting govern­ ment compensation if their cattle are found to be in­ fected with brucellosis, and also may be prosecuted un­ der the Animal Disease and Protection Act. “All my department’s District Veterinarians across the country have the answers to any individual questions that livestock producers may have,” Mr. Whelan said. WELDING COMPLETE WELDING AND FABRICATION SERVICE ON WHEELS. Relining of grain boxes Fabrication of farm wagons Steel Structures All types of repairs WALKER'S WELDINC EXETER 235-1298 Ca" b?,fore,9 °-m- _____ ****** ■ ' ** or after 4 p.m. 2. The number of Ontario Flax Plantings in 1977 was the Largest in Ten Years. 3. Input cost for Seed, Fertilizer and Spray is less than $20.00 per acre as of March 31, 1978. 4. A ready market is available immediately for all Ontario grown Flax. 5. Quick unload at Lucknow, Milverton and Seaforth is available for this crop. 6. Forward selling available (ask manager for details). 7. Storage available (ask Manager for details). 8. Contracts available (ask Manager for details). 9. Crop Insurance for Flax is available in 1978 (see your Agent for details). Flax contracting and seed booking is now in progress. To avoid disappointment call today. For Seed, Fertilizer and Spray Please Contact: IOPNOTCH I TOPNOTCH FEEDS LIMITED Seaforth, Ontario 527-1910 or ANDERSON FLAX PRODUCTS Milverton, Ontario 595-4941 Lucknow, Ontario 528-2026 . . and that is just what you can count on, farm financial experience, when you team up with the Royal Bank. Here is FARMPLAN . . . the Royal Bank's financial services package that provides Line-of-Credit Financing including Credit for operating, expansion and improvements. Here is FARMPLAN Creditor Life Insurance, the FARMCHEK Business Record System, FARMPLAN Income Opportunities and total AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT Services. Here too is the ROYFARM MORTGAGE Program. Your Royal Bank manager will be pleased to discuss FARMPLAN and the many other Royal Bank services with you. --------------— JIM SIDDALL &SON LICENSED & INSURED . TRUCKER • LIVESTOCK • GRAIN ROYAL BANK serving Agriculture J. R.(JENE) SELLER ’ Manager, THE ROYAL BANK OF CANADA AGRI-BANK J Exeter,Ontorio (519)235-2111 • FERTILIZER • FARM SUPPLIES KIRKTON 229-6439 J 4 S'? On The Market! A* ,a\ V°' d\sC rooV> AS' ’°’a This Is The Bigge 2-Wheel Drive Tractor Come Test Drive It Today! SHERWOOD (Exeter) Ltd 18 Wellington St. 235-0743 Exeter