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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1974-09-18, Page 9Agri-notes (By Adrian. Vos) * * * * * * Jack Rice, in the St. Louis Dispatch about a proposed 2 million hog operation(that didn't go through.) "1,000,000 hogs wouldn't take up more room than 1,000,000 people, and the hogs 'wouldn't come with cars and television sets blaring at full volume, It is always a pleasure to talk with a man who has proper respect for a hog. * * * * * It is often thought that the large packers slaughter most of the pigs, but a report of the USPA shows that, at least in the USA, this is not so. During the 1920's the four largest US packers killed about forty percent of the. hogs. During the 60's it declined to between 30 and 35%. In current years it declined more and is now between 31 and 32% .. The report doesn't say however what they consider a big packer. There must surely be more than four in the USA. ** * * * * I wonder what the French Consumer Association has to say about the beef that was dumped in Le Havre harbour by irate French farmers. if it was anything - like Plumtre and Brechin it must be a dilly. Talk about militant farmers, Europe has got them. Beside the dumping of the ARgentine beef, they stuck pigs on lamp posts, sprayed manure on government ICuildings, hijacked loads of livestock and blocked roads and airfields with trucks and tractors. It worked too, for the European Community banned the imports of beef for three months, supplied the armed forces with beef and gave it to pensioners on fixed incomes for a low low price, I hope that our dairy producers, where income is set by the government as in Europe, dont have to take such drastic steps to receive a fair price for their products. * * * * * * In Consumer Reports are some interesting facts about investors who put their money in the cattle business. if they lose money there, they recover it taxwisc as investment losses. The Huron Federation of Agriculture reports that they have several complaints from farmers about the practices of two steel building companies. The companies concerned are Wonder Steel Buildings and Canadian Building Systems. The procedure of these firms is to ask for a whopping big down-payment when signing the contract. Then, when delivery is made of the first shipment a further payment is demanded to be in the form of a certified cheque. This before the shipment is unloaded and can be checked for completeness. Farmers who balked at paying without being, able to check had the shipment withdrawn with the companies refusing return of the big down-payment. Others who accepted the conditions found upon checking that essential items are missing. Promises to correct the trouble have so far not been fulfilled. In other cases the company claims that the ordered steel is in short supply and will substitute coloured steel at a much higher cost. Farmers are advised not to pay more than $100 as a sign of good faith when signing the contract as is the .practice in. most bona fide companies, and to refuse to pay unless the load is thoroughly checked for completeness and damage. The Huron Federation so far has received five complaints, while the Ontario Federation of Agriculture at latest count already had seventeen complaints. The Washington Historical Society; "In 1854 Wm. Thomas ope ned a beef market here, Gelling good steak at 3 cents and roast at 21/2 and he made plenty of money; but now in. 1881 our butchers complain that they cannot make any at 12 1/4 cents per pound. SEAFORTH 429th FALL FAIR ANNUAL. Hurons ohly Class `B' Fair zun SEPT:19-20 THURSDAY:— 9 P.m. Official Opening by R.E.McKinley, M.P. Popular Variety -Program Queen of The Fair Competition Merchants and Industrial Displays FRIDAY:— Parade - Bands - Floats - Exhibits - Judging - Pet Show - Junior Faii; Championship Farm Machinery Display - Horse Show - Huron Black and White Show - Penny Sale with more than 50 prizes. PULL MIDWAY — HORSE RACES Selection and crowning the "Queen of the Fair" Admission: Thursday night $1.00. Students With cards 75 cents: Friday $1.50. "Students with cards $1..00. Children not in parade 50 cents. Cars 50 cents, Dance Cabaret Style. SAT •. SEPT. 21 Seaforth Arena MuSiO by, "The BlUetoneS" reserved Tickets $4 Couple Phone Ken Moore 521-0508 Alf, ROSS .Mrs, Kathleen Cuthili • President h M. M. S Jones, • BRUSSELS FALL FAIR September 25th and 26th, 1974 Wm. Elston, Reeve of Morris and Warden of Huron County, will officially open the fair at 2 p.m. on Thursday, September 26th Master of Ceremonies Robert L. Cunningham • _ Parade commences at 12 noon and features Brussels Legion Pipe Band — Norwell DRS Band of Palmerston March Shows (Ltd, Midway Carling O'Keefe Acrobatic Team Will present a 20 minute Air Show at 3 p.m., Thursday, Visit the Crystal Palace Wednesday evening, September 25th See the fine displays of exhibits and enjoy a yariety Show, PALL PAIR DANCE IN LEGION HALL PRIDAY EVENING, SEIIEIVIBER 27 — Ian Wilbee's Orchestra .— Admission at popular pricita Riestricted to 18 years and over THE EIRUSSE14 POST, stotemtet# 13 tOPt Days of cheap food over, Huron F. of A. hears Members of the Huron County Federation of Agriculture heard a spirited defence of the Canadian. Egg Marketing Agency Thursday night when they met in Belgrave. Delmer Bennett, an eastern Ontario. farmer and member of Board of Directors Of the Ontario. Federation of Agriculture said a lot of people of business and government are down on CEMA because they don't want to work. What they want, he said, is a return to the days of cheap food. "The thing the consumer doesn't realize," Mr. Bennett told the 70 farmers at the meeting, "is that he will only get cheap for a short time." Then, he said, the farmers would go broke. "If we don't get an equal st andard of living with our urban 'cousins', " he said, "our children will leave the farms and we'll have to import food. The consumer will suffer in the long run." He said critics of high 'food costs said it hurt people on fixe income but it was up to societ, not farmer to look after those ot pensions or welfare. He said olde farmers were willing to take a lower standard of living but the younger people just weren't going to stand for it. Mr. Bennett predicted hundreds of beef farmers will go bankrupt this year because of lower beef prices while input costs remain high. Feedlot• owners rely heavily on bank financing, he said and the high cost of borrowing is going to hurt them badly. 'Mr. Bennett outlined some increases in input costs such as increases in building materials of 32 per cent, in seed of 106 per cent, in feed of 83 per cent and in one formula of fertilizer of 300 per cent. "We as an organization," Remember! It takes but a moment to place a Brussels Post Want Ad and be money in pocket. To advertise, just Dial Brussels 887-6641. he told the Federation members, "must find some way of getting more out of our cattle, eggs, etc. so we can meet these costs." He said that despite higher food costs Canadian consumers were still getting food that was the best bargain in the world. He said he had visited England in April and found eggs selling for $1.10 a dozen while salaries were about 75 per cent of those in Canada. One woman he knew, he said, held a r esponsible position in a department store and earned 20 pounds a week, or less than $50. Bowling Ladies' Singles VVinnic Bell Sharon Taylor Sharon Evans Ladies' Triple Winnie Bell When food prices increase a "Measily little bit", he said, it hits the front page of the newspaper but increases in other things don't hit the headlines. "Consumers ar e lucky," he said, "and if they dont believe it they'd better take a trip to another country and see what it's like." In the face of this strong consumer opposition, he said the farmer needs a strong organization and he .was glad to see that Huron County had the largest membership in D.E.A. . (Blyth Standard) Scores Men's Singles 343 Dale Taylor 239 264 Tom Stevens' 230 241 Gord Jacklin 218 Men's Triple 790 Dale Taylor 615 SUN° 41 SEPT. 22 Rev. Lorne Gorman WILL SPEAK SPECIAL MUSIC from Strathroy Pentecostal Church — 8:00 P.M. Huron Men's Chapel Auburn "Evil Prevails when good men do nothing"