The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 2007-04-12, Page 10PAGE 10. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 12, 2007. KP Jeannett Schramm, left, and Charlene Schramm, two members of the Wawanosh 4-H Club were on hand to help the Auburn Lions with their breakfast on Sunday morning. (Vicky Bremner) With bemusement and no small degree of frustration, North Huron council gave approval at the April 12 meeting to the revised Wingham fire board budget. “These are the changes more or less agreed upon by the three municipalities,” said deputy-reeve Murray Scott, adding with a smile, “Though I’m not sure if it’s unanimous.” At issue has been the new pumper, which as been in the 10-year plan for some time. It was to be ordered this year with payment in 2008. Morris-Turnberry and Howick wanted it delayed, however for another year. Also a $15,000 contingency was removed and an $11,000 surplus was added. A recommendation was made as well that the lowest tender in the amount of $27,666 for a new pickup truck for the fire chief be accepted. This had not been in the original budget. While Scott suggested approval, councillor Archie MacGowan, who sits on the board with Scott offered a caveat. “We can’t promise it won’t change again, however.” Councillor Greg McClinchey wondered if it was wise to put off the pumper purchase. Scott said that while the current pumper can still do the job, the big concern is that the delay means a lot of capital purchases are now “bunched together.” “It’s not good protocol,” said MacGowan. “No, it’s a terrible practice,” McClinchey answered. Clerk-administrator Kriss Snell reminded that added to these capital costs might be repair costs. “Old pumpers do break down,” he said. “Nickle and diming the fire department is not a good idea,” said McClinchey. OFA CommentaryMoving funds to farmersBy Geri Kamez, President,Ontario Federation of Agriculture Hearing about government support money and getting that money into your hands can be two very different things. Farmers were pleased when they heard Prime Minister Harper announce a billion dollars for Canadian agriculture at the beginning of March. It wasn’t exactly the companion program announcement we wanted, but it did recognize cost-of-production increase and an improvement to CAIS. The budget has now passed, but we’re still waiting for delivery details for that money, at least the $400 million targeted for easing production costs from the past four years. Seems it’s much easier to announce such funding than it is to work out the details of getting it into the hands of producers. OFA and its national partner, the Canadian Federation of Agriculture, will be working with government officials over the next few weeks to find the most appropriate delivery mechanism. We also have to encourage our provincial government to add its contribution to the package. Getting these dollars into the hands of farmers is an urgent issue for many. A recent media story quoting a retired University of Guelph professor, George Brinkman, provided some scary figures about the high level of debt Canadian farmers have accumulated – almost $47 billion, an increase of300 per cent since 1981. The Brinkman story pointed out that farmers in the United States, because of their lower level of debt, are able to earn $100,000 for every $400,000 of investment. In Canada, our farmers can only realize $15,000 on every $400,000 of investment or debt. Because of their high debt situation, the Brinkman story states that the average Canadian farmer will need 73.3 years to pay off the farm’s accumulated debt. Considering a number of factors, Brinkman says low interest rates in Canada have kept Canadian farmers in business in recent years. He predicts the next crisis Canadian farmers will encounter will come in the form of higher interest rates. Earlier this year, I dealt with rural poverty in an OFA commentary. Just recently I made a presentation to the Senate Committee examining the rural poverty issue. Others from rural Eastern Ontario participated in that session with Senator Joyce Fairbairn, and the picture became abundantly clear – as agriculture languishes with low income and high input costs, the entire rural economy is slowly crumbling. Senator Fairbairn was told about banking institutions closing their doors in small rural communities because of dwindling populations. The same situation applies to other businesses, once able to thrive in rural Ontario. Speaking for agriculture, I told the hearing that agriculture has a bright future in today’s economy – demandfor the energy that agriculture can produce and the safe, high quality food products available at the local level, give us cause for optimism. Money to invest in agriculture is a key missing ingredient. We need targeted investment from the public sector to allow agriculture to survive and thrive in today’s economy – right now farmers have no money of their own to invest to keep producing and to sustain the rural economy. I told Senator Fairbairn that farmers “are quite prepared to create new wealth, but they need strategic investments in order to do that.” That’s why it is so critical that our governments work co-operatively with us to develop the distribution strategy for the $400 million the prime minister wants us to have – preferably before we head to the fields in a few weeks. We will customize a fertilizer and chemical program specific to your requirements. Fertilizers • Terrogator ®with a Max 1000+ Sprayer • Terra-Gator®with air spreader and impregnator • Micro nutrients • Bulk delivery • Spreaders readily available Seeds HOWSON & HOWSON LTD. Feed, Seed, Chemicals, Fertilizer, Grain Elevators, Custom Application Blyth 519-523-9624 1-800-663-3653 ★★GPS Field Mapping ★★Nutrient Management Plans Available ★★Soil Testing Maximize Your Yields This Season! NK Tru-Bulk Seed System Custom Treating and Inoculation CHEMICALS - P.P.I., pre or post spraying - 3 spray units available ELEVATORS • Custom Drying - corn, white beans, barley, soybeans. Mixed grains - soft red and white winter wheat • Custom grain roasting TUESDAYS 9:00 a.m. Fed Cattle, Bulls & Cows THURSDAYS 8:00 a.m.Drop Calves 10:00 a.m.Veal 11:30 a.m.Pigs, Lambs, Goats & Sheep FRIDAYS 10:00 a.m. Stockers Call us 519-887-6461 Visit our webpage at: www.brusselslivestock.ca email us at: info@brusselslivestock.ca BRUSSELS LIVESTOCK Division of Gamble & Rogers Ltd. UPCOMING SALES 2007 SPECIAL SPRING SALES Monday, April 16 & April 30 Sales starting at 10 am Vaccinated Calves & Yearlings Challenge: Eating Well Solution:No special diet is required! Eating well means… • following Canada’s Food Guide to Healthy Eating • enjoying a variety of different foods • emphasizing whole grain cereal, bread and other grain products, vegetables and fruit. • choosing lower fat dairy products, leaner meats, and foods prepared with little or no fat. • limiting intake of salt, alcohol and caffeine. N. Huron council approves budget of Wingham fire bd. By Bonnie Gropp The Citizen North Huron has done what it can at this point to prepare for emergency. And credit was given at the April 2 meeting of council to one employee for working to make it so. Included in council’s agenda package was a letter from the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services regarding North Huron’s completion of the essential level emergency management program. The letter was sent as a result of a record review by the Ministry. Chief Dan Hefkey wrote, “.. your municipality completed all of the steps that are required for the maintenance of the essential level emergency management program required by this legislation.” Clerk-administrator Kriss Snell commended deputy-clerk Kathy Adams on her work for this purpose. “Not all municipalities received this letter. Having worked as a clerk, I know how much goes into this. Kathy should be thanked for a good job.” The letter states, “The implementation of sound community emergency management programs which are integrated with those of other levels of government is a key element of our shared responsibility to the residents of Ontario. Such a partnership will lead to the fulfillment of our mutual goal, which is the creation of safe and more disaster-resilient communities. Your municipality is to be congratulated on its commitment to public safety in Ontario.” North Huron deputy-clerk gets pat on the back By Bonnie Gropp The Citizen