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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1988-04-20, Page 14PAGE 14. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 1988. Free trade victory may prove hollow : Ferguson The victory for Canada’s supply­ managed commodity marketing boards in getting protection in Free Trade negotiations may prove a hollow one if negotiations through the General Agreement on Tarriffs andTrade(GATT)goahead, Ralph Ferguson, Lambton farmer and former federal agriculture mini­ ster told Huron Farmers Thursday night. Mr. Ferguson told the Huron County Federation of Agricul­ ture’s monthly meeting in Clinton that while the U.S. gave in to Canadian government demands that our marketing boards not be touched by free trade, the U.S. position in pushing the GATT talks is that all import controls on Farm agricultural products should be eliminated. Already, he said, Canadian farmers have lost the two-price system for wheat which will probably cost farmers about $2 per bushel on the 1987 crop. Under free trade where would farming be done on a wide open North American market? He point­ ed out that the horticulture indus­ try in Michigan has moved to the southern U.S. Farmers in the south and California can grow three crops a year on land they pay $1,000 an acre for, he said. “Stop and think of the impact it (free trade) will have on Canadian agriculture,” he told people. Ontario already had a $100 million deficit in beef, he said. Sixty per cent of Lambton county beef feedlots are empty or bankrupt. Meanwhile big companies in the U.S. own huge tracts of land and hugefeedlots. With that agree­ ment ‘‘we’ve lost our rights to determine our own laws,” he said. He also attacked the free trade provisions on energy saying while Canada has given up rights to control its own energy industry the U.S. energy reserve board has all its powers intact. Canada can’t charge higher prices to the Ameri­ cans than we charge ourselves, he said. Canada can’t limit quantities of oil and gas to the U. S. in times of shortage unless we also cut supplies to ourselves. “How can we cut back with climate,” he asked. A recent article in an oil trade publication said that there is only 12 years of supply of oil left in Alberta,' he said. “We’re giving the U.S. unrestricted access when we only have 12 years of cheap oil left,” he said. There are only three oil rigs drillings in the arctic and one off the east coast, he said. C.A.M.C. - Bookkeeping - Income Tax Preparation - Experienced Staff HOURS: Wednesday-9-6 Saturdays-9-1 Alan Campbell 328 Josephine Street WINGHAM 357-3687 or 887-9451 WE NEEDMUJ/Kj Jl the ROOM WE’D RATHERSELLITTHAN MOVE IT... •32’ International Cultivator •Ground Driven Stone Pickers •Stone Windrower •20’ Windrowers & Stone Pickers •20 Sprayers from 100 Gal. to 600 Gal. •17 Used Tractors from 35 to 212 Hp. •Gas Engine Bale Chopper •New Roto tillers •18’ & 22’ White Disc with fold up wings plus some smaller ones •Several Used Stone Pickers •Manure Spreaders from 130 Bu. to 390 Bu. DON’TMISSOUR SPRAYER CLINIC MAY4/88-8P.M. The Huron County 4-H Sodbusters Club held an organizational meeting in Winthrop on April 12, with a number of old members and several new ones signed up, ranging in age from 12 to 20. The Sodbusters Club is the county’s traditional training ground for competitive plowmen [and women], and club leader Brian McGavin says that most of this year’s members will be plowing at the Huron County Plowing Match next September, while some will qualify for competition at the International Plowing Match near Stratford. Members include [front, from left] Sean Melady, Ken Bettles and Dennis Hallahan; [centre] Paul Pentland, Mary Anne Hallahan, Matt Townsend and leader Brian McGavin; [back] leader Ross Gordon, Chris Maloney, Paul Dodds, Mike Pentland, Brian Fear and leader Peter Hallahan. The first meeting of the club will be held at McGavin’s in Walton on April 27, and new members can still join, says McGavin, adding that he’d like to see more girls turn out to learn competitive plowing. FARM EQUIPMENT LIMITED 887-6365 WALTON 527-0245 Brussels Stockyards Trade steady at strong prices The market at Brussels Stock- yards on Friday traded fully steady at strong prices on the choice quality cattle, with heavy and overfinished cattle selling under pressure. Cows and pigs sold steady. There were 937 cattle and 494 pigs on offer. Choice steers sold from $95 to $98 with sales to $103.50. Good steers were $92 to $95. Two steers consigned by Mi- chiels Farms Ltd. of RR 1, Sebringville, averaging 1335 lbs. sold for $103.50 and were purchas­ ed by Norwich Packers of Norwich, while their total offering of 12 steers sold for an overall price of $96.19 and averaged 1210 lbs. A steer consigned by Lome Eadie of RR 1, Holyrood, weighing 1180 lbs. sold for $103 with his total lot of 17 steers averaging 1254 lbs. and selling for an average price of $95.34. A Charolais steer consign­ ed by Ralph Dickson of RR 5, Stratford weighing 1280 lbs. sold for $100.25 with his total offering of 12 steers averaging 1201 lbs. in weight and selling for an overall price of $95.15. A spotted steer consigned by Gordon Daer of RR 1, Auburn, weighing 1330 lbs. sold for $100. Six steers consigned by Bob Rice of RR 2, Staffa, averaging 1217 lbs. sold for an average price of $95.90 with sales to $99.25. A steer consigned by Glen Haldenby of RR 1, Holyrood, weighing 12101bs. sold for $98.75. Thirteen steers consigned by Maple Emblem Farms of RR 1, Dungannon, averaging 1274 lbs. sold for $96.47 with sales to $98.50. Six steers consigned by Keith Johnston of RR 2, Bluevale averaging 1215 lbs. sold for an overall price of $93.18, with sales to $98.25. Fifteen steers consigned by Maple Ridge Farms of RR 5, Brussels averaging 1333 lbs. sold for an average price of $94.75 with sales to $98. Fourteen steers consigned by Wm. Bennett and Sons of RR 1, Gorrie, averaging 1231 lbs. sold for an overall price of $96.04, and they had sales to $97.75. Continued on page 16 We, at Cyanamid Farm Supply Centre, Clinton are always improving our FERTILIZER & CHEMICAL SERVICES \^FARM SUPPLY CENTRE “SERVING THOSE WHOSE BUSINESS IS AGRICULTURE” R.R. 4 CLINTON 482-3423 Let Cook's direct you to the best seed varieties Whether it’s edible beans, corn, cereal grains, forages—your seed decisions are based on perform­ ance. Your choice of seed supplier should be too. Cook's quality seed varieties, informed advice and local market knowledge can put you on the road to making more profitable cropping decisions. When you’re selecting seed. Cook’s can steer you in the right direction. Division of Gerbro (1987) Inc. Where you con trade with confidence" Hensall Centralia Kirkton Walton 262-2410 228-6661 229-8986 527-1540 887-9261