HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1982-04-07, Page 36Farm women organizing
A farm woman isthe
cheapest possible source of
labour. She is bookkeeper,.
veterinarian technician; soil
scientist, trucker, wife,
mother and community work-
ers, says cash crop and beef
producer Dianne. Harkin....
Over the years, women
have donethese chores, "for
three and ahalf per day, no
not dollars, but three meals
and half the bed," the Wom-
en for the Survival of Agri-
culture (WSA) leader told a
recent business seminar.
Governments give women
low priority for support and
assistance programs, Harkin
asserted. Because of this
women must gain strength
from each other, and "come
out of isolation to speak on
the issues that concern
them."
Six years after Harkin
founded . the WSA its influ-
ence is being felt across .the
country with ` three WSA
groups in Prince Edward
Island. Besides organizing
farm -business seminars, the
women are "mobilizing" ag-
ainst • what she described as
social inequities.
Old Age Pensions
Canadian women can ex-
pect to spend 12 years as a.;
widow. Harkin questioned
whether they are financially
and emotionally able to cope
with it. Even with govern-
ment old age pensions, she
said, three outof five widows
live in poverty.
"Farmers are always put-
ting out but getting very little
back,'" she said. The federal
government spends about S7
billion on unemployment in-
surance payments but farm-
ers are ineligible to, collect,
The national Housing corpor-
ation spends about $300 mil-
lion in mortgage subsidies,
none of it's for farmers.
And, she noted, .the Ont-
ario government spends
more on urban transit sub-
sidies than the entire prov-
incial agricultural budget..
And while farmers dig their
own wells, urbanites are..sub-
sidized up to 80 per cent for
water and sewage systems.
Harkin is also infuriated by
the nation's day care policy.
The federal government is
spending $250,000 to estab-
lish a day care for Parliament.
Hill employees but "where
do we find day care in the•
rural areas."
In the past, while the farm
husband and wife worked,
the children played in the
fields and barns. But Harkin
said that increased farm
mechanization has now made
it too dangerous.
if city women took their
children to the factories, the
hue and cry from .child wel-
fare advocates would .. be
deafening, she said. "Why
should we (farmers) be dif-
ferent."
Study recommendsfinancial aid
A market study. report on
the sheep industry . recom-
mends 'increased . financial
aid and more expertise from
the provincial.. government,
says Ontario Sheep Associa-
tion President Jack James of
Russell.
The report released to
producers and stock yard
operators earlier this month,,
descirbed the . industry's
problems well. Sheep asso-
ciation ' directors will spend
the next six weeks putting
together a 'ca"se . they ' will
present to new Ontario Agri-
culture Minister Dennis Tim-
brell.
The study's recommenda-
tions to the province include:
hiring marketing experts to
help farmers; hiring a lamb
production co-ordinator; and
financial support to expand
present markets and develop
new ones.' Financial arrange-
ments could be made on a
cost -share basis, the study
said.
A fulltime' manager has
been considered before Jam-
es said.: But delays in imple-
menting a new check -off
financial scheme that would.
encompass . both wool . and
;,lamb sales have occurred.
The new voluntary scheme
.,Tura to page 21•
How
the U
of your f
income.
There are two ways
to handle your farm credit needs:
borrow as you go along, •
or arrange a."IineIof-credit"
once a year from the Royal Bank.
The problem with credit
as you go along is that you can
lose control over your debts.
A line -of -credit from the
. Royal Bank, on the other hand,
lets you know exactly where
you stand, a year in advance,
Establishing a line-of-
credit,gives you the money when
you need it, to be repaid
when you don't. And its just one
more thing we can do to help
you with the business of farming.
•
•
LUCKNOW
MIKE SHEPPARD -- BRENT WILSON
528.2828
RIPLEY
WAYNE WATSON
395-2995
When you succeed..,we succeed. .
ROYAL BANK
•
BACKCRACKI NG?
H
HAS THE ANSWW„... .
StoniF�rk
6' wide
4" centres
1/z" prongs
13" gauge •wheels
Dump Trailer
7' x 10'
11L x 15" tires
4x30 cylinder
10 T spindles
i
Stone Rake
10' or 12' model
65 h.p. pto (with slipclutch)
24" drum
7.60 x 15" tiros
See Local Dealers for Inquiries
Welding and Machine Shop
RR 2, Auburn, Ontario (519) 52ea212