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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1990-10-17, Page 28PAGE 28. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1990. GATT negotiations at‘nervous’stage Cathy McKinley tells Federation Farm Cathy McKinley Negotiations for reductions in agricultural subsidies under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) are at the stage for farmers to be most nervous, a business leader who has witnessed the negotiation process told the Huron County Federation of Agri­ culture Friday night. Cathy McKinley of McKinley Hatcheries told the full house for the Federation’s annual meeting and banquet in Brussels that with the final offers of GATT’s 96 countries supposed to have been filed on Monday, the real negotia­ tions will begin. Once these lists of subsidies the countries are willing to reduce have been filed, the negotiations will go beyond the agricultural group to the full GATT panel and tradeoffs might then involve bargaining agricultural subsidies for things like intellectual properties rights. “Having been there and seen the pressure on the negotiators makes me a lot ner­ vous,” Ms. McKinley said. The Zurich-area native studied journalism and worked on the Exeter Times Advocate from 1975 to 1977 before returning to work for the 750-acre family farm and hatchery operation. She attended University of Western Ontario for her Masters of Business Admini­ stration in 1987 and now heads the St. Marys Hatchery operation. She is past president of the Ontario 4-Hers hold annual show and sale The 10th annual 4H calf show and sale was held in Brussels on October 8 at the Brussels Livestock under cloudy skies. Judge for the show was Bill Scott of Drumbo. Grand champion steer was shown by Mandy Farrell, RR 2, Ripley, and reserve steer by Kevin Rintoul of RR 2, Lucknow. The champion heifer was shown by Greg Royrey Raury of RR 1, Kincardine, and reserve heifer was owned by Darren Geddes of RR 4, Kincardine. Overall champion calf went to Mandy Farrell. Twenty-nine calves were shown and offered for sale with the sale average SI. 15'. A photographer was available so that each 4H member and their calf could be photographed with the buyer. Hatchery Association and is vice- president of the Canadian Hatchery Federation. She took the audience on a fast recap of the GATT negotiations. In 1986 the 96 member countries of GATT provided $250 billion in agricultural subsidies, she said. Canada has a lot to gain from the elimination of direct export subsi­ dies. The major loss to Canadians could be elimination of subsidized freight rates for western grains. But, she said, the negotiations must bring fairness, not just a reduction of subsidies. For in­ stance. GATT found Canadian import controls on ice cream and yogurt inconsistent with GATT rules but the U.S., which brought the challenge, has far more severe import controls but because these were already in effect when GATT began in 1946, they are allowed under section 22 of GATT. The GATT negotiations have gone beyond direct export subsi­ dies to tackle non-tariff barriers and internal agricultural subsidies in the various countries, the first time GATT has looked at internal subsidies in any industry. In an attempt to measure the amount of subsidy it has invented the Aggre­ gate Measure of Support (AMS) which is arrived at by measuring the amount the domestic price of the commodity is over the world price and multiplying it by the volume produced. The theory is that if domestic prices are artifi­ cially high, farmers will produce more and then ask government for export subsidies to get rid of surpluses. This doesn’t really work Howson & Howson Ltd Flour & Feed Millers, Complete Farm Supplies, Grain Elevators 523-9624 Elevator BLYTH. ONTARIO 523-4241 Main Office Elevators 1% miles east of Blyth on County Rd. 25 then 1/2 mile North for commodities under supply man­ agement, however, where produc­ tion is strictly controlled. The Canadian negotiators have continued to insist that Article 11, allowing supply management, must remain and all negotiations for subsidies must not include supply management. Grain and oil seed producers have the most to gain if the negotiations succeed and most to, lose if they fail. Ms. McKinley said since 60 per cent of their crop is exported. However, the Crow rate, reducing rail costs, will likely have to go. But Canada must not be caught in a situation where it agrees to percentage reductions with other countries. The Crow rate, for instance, amounts to a subsidy of $20 per tonne but the European Community receives subsidies totalling $150 a tonne. In dairy, Canadians are fighting for an exemption from the AMS and the proposition for tariffica­ tions of non-tariff barriers. This policy would determine a value for the non-tariff barrier, convert it into a tariff and the country would have to agree to reduce the tariff over a number of years. But turning border controls under sup­ ply management into tariffs, then eliminating the tariffs would de­ stroy the border controls essential for supply management, she said. Canada, she predicted will sup­ port tariffication of everything not under supply management but reject it for the poultry and dairy industries. It will support the Continued on page 29 Prices higher at Brussels Livestock sale Friday The market at Brussels Livestock Inc. Friday sold sharply $3 to $5 higher. There were 412 slaughter cattle and 118 pigs on offer. Good to choice steers sold from $85 to $90 to the high of $92 per hundredweight. One steer consign­ ed by Tom Brindley, Lucknow weighed 1210 lbs. sold for $90. Twelve steers consigned by Jim Hayden, RR 3, Goderich averaged 1298 lbs. sold for $89.27 to a high of $90.85. Five steers consigned by Bert Elliott, RR 1, Kincardine, averaged 1140 lbs. sold for $88.33. Two steers consigned by Ross Stephenson, RR 1, Ethel, averaged 1200 lbs. sold for $88.07. Thirty-five steers consigned by Underwood Farms, RR 1, Wing­ ham, averaged 1280 lbs. sold for $87.94. Foqr steers consigned by Fraser Diehl, RR 2, Milverton, averaged 1178 lbs. sold for $87.75. Two steers consigned by Keith Jacklin, RR 2, Bluevale averaged 1160 lbs. sold for $87.27. Three steers consigned by Geo., Paul steers consigned by Geo., Paul & Mark Pennington, RR 2, Mildmay Four steers consigned by Emer­ son Mitchell, RR 3, Walton aver­ aged 1163 lbs. sold for $87.05. Two steers consigned by Aaron Fischer, RR 2, Ayton averaged 1245 lbs. sold for $86.75. Fifteen steers consigned by Harold Elphick, RR 3, Lucknow averaged 1209 lbs. sold for $86.42. Good to choice heifers sold from We are now ready to receive your 1990 SOYA BEAN & CORN CROP • Fast Unloading • Accurate Probe System • Trucking Available Forward contracting of corn and soybeans. Come in and see us or give us a call and let us help you look after your crop. $85 to $88. Two heifers consigned by Aaron Fischer, RR 2, Ayton, averaged 1140 lbs. sold for $88.62. Twenty-one heifers consigned by Perry Elliott, RR 2, Ripley aver­ aged 972 lbs. sold for $86.79. Four heifers consigned by Warden and Glen Haney, RR 4, Seaforth, averaged 1180 lbs. sold for $86.51. Five heifers consigned by Geo., Mark and Paul Pennington, RR 2, Mildmay averaged 996 lbs. sold for $86.50. One heifer consigned by John Smuck, RR 4, Wingham, weighed 1170 lbs. sold for $85. Two heifers consigned by Barry John­ ston, RR 3, Holyrood averaged 965 lbs. sold for $85. There were 127 cows on offer. DI and D2 cows sold from $59 to $63; D3 and D4 cows, $54 to $59. Two cows consigned by Bill Beurmann, RR 1, Dublin averaged 1305 lbs. sold for $61.76. Two cows consigned by Bill Weber, RR 3, Walkerton averaged 1405 lbs. sold for $61.75. Three cows consigned by Andy Stutzman, RR 2, Lucknow averaged 1477 lbs. sold for $61.50. One cow consigned by Tom Miller, RR 2, Bluevale weighed 1170 lbs. sold for $61.25. Two cows consigned by Illerbrun Bros., RR 2. Mildmay, averaged 1640 lbs. sold for $60.44. One cow consigned by Ron MacCorstie, RR 2, Lucknow averaged 1330 lbs. sodl for $60.50. Pigs under 40 lbs. sold at $100.30; 40 - 50 lbs., $99.75; 50 - 60 lbs., $88.40; over 70 lbs., $84.91.