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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1981-08-12, Page 4Pap, 4 --low Saab l 'o! `y, must 12, 19111 armers feel "dumped on" by consumers BY STEPHANIE .. LEVESQUE HAL ESVILLE - The messages that fanners feel "dumped" . en and con - moors are sympathetic to the farmer came out at a Huron Federation of Agriculture meeting here. Ruth Jackson, the vice- president of the Consumers on of Canada and a 'dent of the Ontario Coumers Association spoke at the meeting . .on Mod 6. „ In starting her. talk, Jackson, of the Kitchener area, said consumers have a "sympathetic .. view" towards the farmer. "They may. not understand. entirely... but there is a gut • feeling of sympathy," said Jackson. Several farmers in the au- dience, during a . question and answer period, said they • felt dumped on by the con- sumers. One farmer said, "We are not the contributors to high prices". The farmers asked Jacksonif she could "attack the retailers who they feel, are making the profits. Jackson agreed the retailers are making profits:,that last year were better than 'they had been for some time. She added that there is "not ade- quate competition" ` among all the retailers. On this point, Jackson said better competitive legisla- tion is needed. She noted that the issue will be up before. the federal parliament, in its fall session. She suggested the federation could help support this legislation: The farmers at the meeting said they are in favor- +of the marketing boards, while Jackson said the boards do many good things, but they "can't be changed towork better for the farmers and the rest of Canada". �. She said that with the, pre- sent economic situation in Canada, for example, the current high interest rates, quotas set by the boards, "are like a millstone around the neck of the young farmer". One farmer disagreed,. prove zone changes aunioss Council met in the . Council approved the ap- municipal office for the regu- plication for a pit licence lar meeting on August 4 with under the Pits and Quarries the Reeve and all council Act 1971 for. Kinloss Sand & present. Gravel for lots 51, 52, 53, 54 Council accepted requests conc. 1 subject to the 'condi-- in ondiis person from Reg Powell to tion that if any further ex- change the zoning of his. lots traction occurs beyond the in Kinlough from A-2 (re- original 10 acre site, that the striated agriculture) to R-1 : property would have to be (detached residential) and rezoned from A-1 (agricul- from Bruce Colwell to change:' . tural) to M-2 (industrial ex - the .zoning of approximately tractive). 75 acres .of lots 13, 14, 15 General accounts for conc. 2 from A-1 (general $11,73.9.93: an d highways ac - agriculture) to M-2 (extrac- counts for $108,660.35' were tive industrial). 'ordered paid. , A motiionby councillors Motions were passed on Eadie and Haldenby was July 20 to authorize the pre - passed instructing the clerk paration of a by-law to towrite a letter . to the • purchase land ' from Evan J. Wingham and District Fire Smyth for road, construction; Department instructing the to authorize the clerk to pay Wingham fire chief to an- the township share of 25% swer fire calls in Kinloss ($2,986.00) of the capital cost Township only if asked to by : of the new Lucknow and Lucknow and District Fire District Fire Department van Department chief George subject to the approval of the Whitby. fire committee; ro appoint By-law 17=1981 was passed Dave Gibb to attend the court authorizing the purchase of a of revision at Bluevale of the small portion of land at the McCreight municipal drain; southest corner of lot 23, to accept the petition to conc. 10 to facilitate road repair J branch of the. Black construction of the Kinloss- Creek drain southwest sec - Culross boundary. tion , on N% lot 10, conc. 10 Barry Johnston was ap- • and to approve applications pointed as Kinloss Township • for pit licences under the Pits representative to the South- and Quarries Act 1971 for east Bruce , Planning Area Glen Haldenby lot 12, conc. and David Eadie is to act as 12 and Fred Guest, north alternate representative.. part lot 11, conc. 12...=6" MacKenzie reunion at Ashfiela Park The 20th annual reunion of the Neil Bain. MacKenzie Clan was held July 19 at the Ashfield Park. Members were present from Ottawa, Toronto, Dun- das, Goderich, Kincardine and surrounding areas as well as Rochester, Mass. The young people enjoyed a swim early in the afternoon and the adults enjoyed visit • - ing and, .reminiscing. A short program consist- ing of dance numbers by Mary Ellen MacKenzie and Gayle MacKenzie were en- joyed as well as an accordian selection by Ruth MacKen- zie. Races were conducted by the committee, Judy and Neil MacKenzie. A delicious smorgasbord meal was serv- ed. Draws weremade with prizes : as follows: Scotch scarf, Annie Martyr' and Scotch thistle pin, Mary Kemler. Other winners in- cluded Roy MacKenzie, Jen- nifer Kemler and Bill Mac- Kenzie: A business meeting fol- lowed with Helen and George MacGregor taking the positions of president and secretary; sports com- mittee being Judy and Neil MacKenzie; beverages to be supplied by Ruth and Jim MacKenzie. A hearty sing song con- cluded the meeting with the 1982 reunionto be held at Ashfield Park, on August 20. suggesting that if there were no quotas, and all but one commodity was in trouble, farmers would turn. to the commodity not in trouble and then there woulddmbe a surplus .of that product on the market,- • K . Jackson concurred there are many good things about the marketing boards, but other things should be changed. The . question of advertis- ing arose, and Jackson said she isnot against some advertising and promotion because, "they are certainly good products'. "I'd rather see people drinking milk and eating yogurtthan some other so- called foods, she stated. But, Jackson is concerned that the money for the adver- tising came out of the cost of production, thereby being paid for by the consumer. A dairy farmer stood up and said that the money for advertising • came off ; his • milk cheque. He didn't see why consumers are com- plaining if the farmers are paying for the advertising. The farmer . said that statistics show butter con sumnptien is up sinceit has been •promoted. He added that advertising should have been done years ago. One farmer pointed out that the milk adds have no "subluminal sex" and are. promotinga .; "wholesome product". mother farmer said it is a•"normal,busiiness practise" to advertise. , Jackson said she does not find the cost -of -production formula used by . the marketing boards an entire- ly fair method.. She said the formula is legislated federal- ly and the boards have dif- ferent interpretations. if-ferentinterpretations. "I'm not -sure we are all that much to blame," said one farmer on the high cost of food. He :suggested the consumer is getting "shafted" by the high cost of food and the fanners are be- ing blamed. In her talk, Jackson cited some of the ac- complishments of the .' Con- sumers' Association of Canada. As an example, she said the Consumers' Association has spoken at Bell Canada , hearings, energy export hearings and others.. Jackson added that she .t woiuld. like to see consumer representation • on the marketing boards, something more than . a "token". She wouldlike to see a . useful consumer representative. To the statement that food prices have increased 13 per cent every year for the past three years,a gamier said ' that fact was due partially to imported foods. He said that commodities governed by marketing boards with. quotas had increase Yat a lower rate than . th rest of the food basket. 1 t its -'IL= - �_ • 1. Nkd • • CO -0! • { X ®, 'elwthir, er, - ''/ It, i® P' f41114 I r ®� r,l ,vkik, • ; .Y.1L®. •ttr>>i111111; t .®L■.1111® °5 Good forage management yields 12 tonnes/hectare Save on feed costs with high yielding forage. Good early cut alfalfa hay or, silage can have asmuch as 18-20% protein content. That's over 2 tonnes of protein for each hectare or, in dollars and good sense, '/3 thecost of purchased protein. And forage provides a balanced protein for ruminant animals while supplying energy and part of the minerals and vitamins required for top milk and economical meat production) Improved soil structure reduces soil compaction Monoculture cropping practices can cause compaction and a breakdown in soil structure. By introducing forages into your crop rotation you should find that even after one sea- son of forages your succeeding crops will produce a higher yield and your land will be easier to work due to an increase in organic matter in your soil. Sy( Lucknow Added Nitrogen for the next crop By plowing down forages you'll find that up to 75-100 kg or more, per hectare, of essential nitrogen Will be added to your soil. 60% of this nitrogen will beavailable for the succeeding crop reducing your overall fertilizer costs. Talk to a CO-OP Crop Specialist today about how forages can increase your cash crop yields while cutting your fertilizer costs. 1 Complete CO-OP forage program • performance tested, high yielding FFR exlusive varieties are available • custom mixes recommended public varieties • complete prescription blended fertilizer programs • custombulk spreading • spreader rentals • bulk or bags, pick-up or delivery High yielding dO-OP exclusive FFR seed varieties Classic Alfalfa Early maturing type variety that features strong vigorous growth and resists lodging. High level of resistance to bacterial wilt.. Resists leaf -hopper and common leaf spot. Weevlchek Alfalfa Medium maturing type that is very winter hardy, Features outstanding • persistance, with excellent. high yields. Fine stemmed and very leafy, High level of resistance to bacterial wilt. Hallmark Orchard Grass Eariy maturing type forage that is a very high yielder. Strong growth throughout the season, resistant to drought. Fast recovery. Good percentage of grass . minimizes risk of bloat. Recommended public varieties are also available at your CO-OP. Luckmow District Cooi • Phone 529-'953