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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1978-03-15, Page 6Huron A reduction in the size of the Huron County Milk Committee was, brought about Monday as a result of a major decrease in the number of milk producers in the county. In December, 1977 there 'were1593 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 1600. Chairman of the dairy farmer's annual meeting, John Campbell of Bayfield, read a proposal to a. group of about 150 milk producers requesting a reduction in the sizes of the milk committee from .15 toj 12 producers. The by-law was readily accepted by all but about five of those present. tePek HURON 78 . ci •PSAL Pt°44c, Ronnenberg Insurance Agency INCOME TAX PREPARED Farmers — Businessmen — Individuals -At Reasonable Rates — File early to avoid the Rush and delay in refunds [24 years Experience] NOW PAYING 9. % 'Compound andAnnually In farm financial matters farm experience matters... . '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. ROYAL BANK serving Agriculture BRUSSELS. BRANCH 6 THE BRUSSELS POST, MARCH 15, 1978 ' loses dairy farmers [By Wilma Oke] McKillop Township council appointed Edna Shannon of. R.R.4, Walton, Monday to licence and register and collect the licence fee for dogs in the township. The new rates are: one male dog $5.00; second male, $10.00 and each additional male $20.0(14 Formerly the fee was $2.00 /per male dcig. For a female dog the fee is $8.00 for first; $13.00,:or second; and $30.00. for earzt additional. Formerly the fee -was $4.00 for a female. Where the owner can produce a veterinary surgeon's certificate that a female dog has. been spayed the licence fee will be the same as for a male. The report • on the Elligson drain was considered and a by-law was proisionally adopted. The estimated cost of the drain is $10,920. Gravel tenders were opened and that of Joe Kerr Ltd. of Wingham was accepted to supply, crush and apply gravel to the township roads. for approximately 20,000 cubic yards of gravel at $1.90 per cubic yard Brussels Office Open Tuesdays & Fridays Phone 887-6663 One opposer of the by-law said he felt the north end of the county was not adequately represented. The majority of the Hollstein 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 numbersof committee members was made "at the top". "Why does the meeting have to be held in Cli nton?" he asked. "Why not have it in the north end (of the county) where the producers are?" Campbell answered the question admitting the ,annual meeting does not necessarily have to be in clinton. He pointed out, however, the ministry of agriculture for the county is for an approkimate total cost of $38,000. Gravel for farm lanes was se t at $3.00 per cubic yard. Council consented to a land severance of approximately 100 acres for agricultural purposes on concession 10, lot 8, owned by Francis S. Murray. Council established a building by-law under the Ontario Building Code: No person will construct alter, demolish, remove or relocate unless a permit has been issued by the building inspector. Council made application to Ontario Housing for an additional grant of $59,622 for the purpose of making loans to owners of homes requiring repairs. Council paid the levy of $4,739 to the Maitland Valley Conserva- tion Authority for 1978,, up $1,175 from last year; also the levy to the Ausable Conservation Authroity for $500 which is the same as last year. J.E. LONGSTAFF, -OPTOMETRIST- SEAFORTH 527-1240 Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 9:00 - 5:30 Wednesday, Saturday 9:00 -12:00 CLINTON 482-7010 Monday 9:00 - 5:30 By Appointment 1111onittott Office Open Monday thru Saturday Phone; 34772241 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 September 1 of last year, all milk producers have to produce in bulk • using mechanical cooling systems, he said. He explained dairy farmers 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 faremrs were faced with either producing in bulk-, changing to cream production or quitting, and many quit clue to the increase in- costs. "The milk indsutry 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 provinne 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 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 industry," he said. McKinnon, who is also the elected representat ive for the Huron, Bruce and Grey region on the Ontario MarketingBloiard as well as chairman of the Dairy Farmers of entinda, told the meeting 82 percent of industrial 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. McKillop appoints Edna Shannon dog tag seller