The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1980-04-16, Page 2Page 2 lonclinow Sentinel, Wellavialay, April 16, *980 uron farmers are am o Fanners and Contractors! Don't be caughf again without power Outstandink Value 1 year old Genera Alternator Exceptional Condition 20 KW - Complete with Trailer and PTO • t 2.100 For all your electrical needs CommerOiat- Industrial - Residential Ritchie Electric , R. R. 3, Lucknow Phone S29:7568 i vvlit to make our case strongly, ship and the question of dis- attempting, to move to mark even though there aren't any, posing of induStrial and nuc- et value assessments. ' • . easy answers." lear wastes. Mr, Barrie' said. when the Mr. Barrie said both Eug- : Mr. ' Barrie tam the aad- OFA executive met with , ene. Whelan, minister of ag. ience prime lending rates provincial treasurer Frank riculture and Finance Min- have risen about 12 times in Miller to ask for a long range ister Allan, MacEachen have the past two years. He said'in policy on taxes, Mr . Miller been 'invited to meet with 1970, the . average farm in- • promised the policy would, be farmers from across' the debtedness was $11,00, and :ready by fitly. Mr. Barrie province. ' in 1979, it has •• risen' to said the OFA, has learne'a since the ' policy won't be Mr. Barrie said the OFA is $40;100. . attempting to get two farm- He said the current econ- ready by July and said he Act and farm income stabil., Quebec ' and British Colum- . banks and finance comvanies ization programs, bia, Re said for this reasan, to both farmers, and farm But he warned farmers are "part of Mir. lobby must be suppliers," `probably facing "more Seri- .directed the provincial. Mr, Hill said, "it's the ous economic conditions than goVernMent" and told feder- banks and finance companies we have in some time," Be atton members the OFA • that are going .t(1. cripple said this is why the 0FA is executive will be • Meeting .• agriculture if allowed.to •con- lobbying-for shortzternr-ein-A... with-the-Ontario cabinet-on time (charging) these usur ergency loans for farMers. April 23. ous rates.." • • .. The (VA president said In respOnse to Mr. Barrie's Bev Brown, a federation some of the other provinces speech, Gordon Hill, of Var- director,told the audience already have - smite "pretty na, past president of the she belieVes banks have bloody significant interest ' OFA, said part of the prob- behaved irresponsibly in assistance programs" for tern facing the farm connun; loaning money to farmers their farmers, particularly in ity is "the rates; charged by Turn: to Page li•- • . , : • • Wants meeting because farmers are desperate," says Clark, Who wants the government to act now instead of. waiting until the bUdget is handed 'down next week, to, announce a 'program for ' ,farrnerS, "It's critiCa4" warns Clark who believes unless Ontario farmers are given the same opportunity 'as farmers in other provinces, they will 'be forced to leave their, farms: Anyone who wishes to phone agriculture. Minister Lorne HenderSon, 'can, call '416:945- 1041 to -add' their support to the farmers', gency loans for farmers in and beef farmer from Lanark, rates of from 14 to 16 per .financial difficulty, ' County, said, "The OFA has cent, to get six to 12 per Ontario Federation of Ag- some major achievements cent return for their invest- riculture (OFA) President just;behind them but some of ment• • Ralph'Barrie, speaking to the most serious Problems The OFA president said Huron 'Federation of Agri- are, facing'us that we've ever 'another area of concern for culture members at their looked at." • farmers is property taxes. He • monthly meeting in Ethel, In additioUto high interest said assessments farm said in this period 'of high rates, Mr. Barrie listed rob- taxes were frozen in;the early interest rates, "I feel we lents like energy prices, rural 1970s, due to OFA. lobbying (federation members) have s verances, fore gn 0 r-, but now the government is • :.asking the federal govern.•••• OrS' . Re said the question, today By AU LT " • The OFA president said said the most'serious result the Ottavva trip was a chance of the current economic situ- Huron County for federatiOn Members to ation*is that "it's, going to going to Ottawa April 24 tO live up to their slogan of, stop investment in agrieul- join other farmers who are "forpers Working for firm- ture." rates and to, provide emerg- the` OFA a dairir—hr-ogrtculture with Waren— went to hold farm credit In his opening remarks,: is why anyone would invest • ; . • *from page 1, high interest rates to tell high, interest rates are rob- we have a Majority govern- ;, -"" ' "'" " ' - - • ' • 640.taM,3000zi,,,,rabsa?4ikim4;i0fAu::,,:::::oo.,,,,,,,,,,A0 :,:t their stOry to the media and bing the cash flow of younger tnent.' ' - • the public. farmers, so they have. less In addieSsing 'the meet- "We hope to show the Per year to operate With. ing's theme, "together we. . . consuming .public and society Mr. Barfle said high inter- stand'", : Ralph Rarrie said in general that what is hap- est rates have also resulted, the OFA, has, . had success .; pening as a result of these in . dramatic :increases in with a nuMber of Trespass. issues,', policies is very-detrimental to Prices at the, farm supply . including the Petty. Canadian agrieulture," he' area, which is already lead- Act, amendments , to the told federatfon members. ing to shortages. Finally, 'he ' Environmental Protection. ff ti S " 't ers • who have experienced omit situation!is a ec ngsuspects we *on likely • difficulties with the current farmers in three ways. The have a long range plan until. • • • , • • • ' .,aile; that lie see Clark while he was 'Toronto. . • Clark suggested'that people keep phoning Henderson for three Or four days this week to help him. Understand the urgency of 'the - Situation. ' The•combined preSsures of lOW prices and high interest rates will foree Many farmers to Sell their'cattle and pigS and leave the farm .says Clark. .• "There ,is already panic .4).11 the farm Farmers demonstrate.. cent. In Quebec, farmers can borroW at 21/2 *from page 1 per 'cent. If the Ontario goVernment does not do something, warned McKessock, the Ontario farmers' ,share of the Canadian market will shrink as farmers from other proVinees move in to take up the slack. The. Ontario farmer cannot• compete when he has. to pay interest rates at 18 and 20' per cent. In the main staples, Ontario's share of, production has decreased over the oast 11) --years. Ontario puts only 11/2 per cent of it's budget towards agriculture while all other provinces: pratlarger shares. of their, budgets into the agriculture industry. Agriculture .is the Mainstay of the Canadian economy and supplies 40 per cent of the jobs said McKessock. It annoys him that other provinces went ahead and provid- ed programs to keep their farmers compe- 'titive without the farmers asking. McKessock said Thursday's demonstra- tion showed the Conservative government in this province, the importance of the issue and the emergency of the situation. high interest rates until 'you. see the figures . worked out. Such high interest rates have a "crippling effect on the whole economy" he stated. "It's just devastating," commented Mc- Kessock. ''They're affecting everybody, but the young farmers more because They don't have the equity." Some farmers have equity and low interest loans, said McKessock. But most farmers are borrowing money and they.are borrow, ing so much more to operate these days because things have increased so much in. cost. "Money .is like another tool on the farm," observed McKessock. He pointed out that his resolution does not ask the government for, a handout. It asks the government to provide the same compe- titive opportunity for Ontario farmers as farmers "in other prOvinces have. Some provinces have programs allowing farmers to borrow up to $200,000 at 8 per Can be tinted to colour required Ii W. Henderson Lumber Ltd. _one 528-3118 Lockniv