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The Rural Voice, 1977-12, Page 5One of the things that bothers him, he says, is that we've gotten to be a nation of bitchers, and he lays part of the blame on the news media. The competition for attention of the viewer or reader is so strong, he says, that you get constant stories about complainers. Today, he says, everybody wants more money for less effort when the economy needs just the opposite. So many people today are earning big money, he says. People see their neighbour earning a big wage and think they have a right to live the same way. What the country needs is restraint, but no one wants to be the first one to do without. He admits he gets depressed at the state of affairs in the country. Canada, he says, has a lot of potential, a lot of opportunities, but our costs are so staggeringly high that "I really question how we can hold what export markets we have." It isn't just wages that are to blame, he says, it's the attitude of management, government, everyone. Two of Canada's major export industries, the pulp and paper industry and the grain industry, are both in trouble because of the cost of production in this country. The farming situation is equally ridiculous. He tells of buying some plow parts this fall. There were about 100 pounds of parts, all relatively simple to make, stamped -out and tempered metal. The cost was $176. His first three furrow plow, he recalls, cost $175. The value of that 100 pounds of plow parts equalled 5800 pounds of corn. Still, he says, though times have been harder for farmers this year in many commodities, farmers have had four good years in a row and most people have been able to build up their equity in their farms. The problem is, he says, that most farmers have also built up their liabilities. As a result, things such as the white bean crop failure will make some farmers dependent on the attitude of their creditors. The high cost of equipment, of supplies and of land have turned farming into a high cost enterprise, he says. "Anybody who thinks we can have cheap food is wrong." The only way you can have cheap food is to hurt the farm community. He noted with interest the present depressed situation in the farm equipment business where sales have slowed to a crawl. But one thing certain, he recalled reading in one report, was that the companies would not be reducing the price of equipment to increase sales. Yet this is just what the farmer is expected. indeed forced to do. "I get pretty disillusioned with most consumer advocates." he says. They are either uninformed or dishonest when they imply that cheaper food can be produced." He also ggts perturbed when he sees things like the Consumer Association charges that consumers are being ripped off on the price of eggs spread across all the front pages of the nation's newspapers, but hardly a mention when the egg pricing formula - led to a six cent decrease in the price of eggs over the summer. He recalls a meeting of the Committee on food in British Columbia in which a consumer association spokesperson was asked why, when farmers portion of the food cost increase had gone up only two per cent and the margin between the distributer and retailer had jumped 10 per cent, why was the C.A.C. only attacking the farmer? Her answer was the organization didn't have enough money to fight the retailer. Even• i,ally," he says,. "you get to the point where you say what the hell's the use? Though his post as one of the 125 directors of the O.F.A. he still has an opportunity to have his voice heard in the rganization but he tried to keep a low profile, he says. "I've had my say for s , -ven years", he says, "and had terrific support. Now here's a new president, keen, hardworking and he should have a He's philosphical about his short-lived political career. He ys he entered the battle, despite the fact he wasn't too sure he inted to be a Member of the Legislature. There are some ings he would like, he says, such as being in on the policy emulation and the rule making but he says honestly that he inks the constituency problems would end up being a drag. MR. HOG FARMER!! PLAN NOW FOR LEAN TIMES If you are satisfied with your present market index on your hogs then don't read any further. However, if you are not, then read on. At Vista Villa Farms our market hog production had the following results as shown on the O.P.P.M.B. grading print out. 1974 106.4 Ave on 1106 hogs 1975 107.0 Ave on 1108 hogs 1976 106.7 Ave. on 984 hogs These figures were a result of having used Hampshire boars selected for length, looseness of frame and flatter muscling. These are the traits which are well fixed in our Purebred Hampshire Herd. We feel that boars with this background can help the hog market production business produce a more acceptable product for consumers who are the people that we must satisfy in the end. We presently have 50 Purebred hampshire sows working to produce a volume of boars that affords the buyer a good selection of boars at any time. We normally have 25 boars on hand so can always supply boars ready to work for you. On our last test group of boars the 10 boars averaged 155 days to 200 lbs. and .50 backfat. We price boars so that any serious hog man can afford one. They are fully guaranteed. Because of our volume we can always make adjustments to get your sows bred without your having to run and hunt for another boar on short notice. All of our herd boars have been imported from Missouri in the last 5 years. This pictures the type of boar that we use as a herd boar. We would be pleased to be of service to you on your boar requirements. VISTA VILLA HAMPSHIRES Robert J. Robinson R. R.4, Walton, Ont. Call 345-2317 TpL` DiTDAi ll ;�r•r. tnn�+.+. ��^-