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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1983-07-27, Page 4news Concerned Farm women reveal survey results When a group of Bruce County farm women went to politicians and government officials with concern about the harmful effect financial stress was having on farm families, they were essentially told to prove it. More than a year later the Concerned Farm Women have backed up their concern with cold hard facts, the results of a survey conducted with help from the University of Guelph and other resources on 343 family farms. The survey shows 86 per cent of Bruce farm families feel the farm community is worse off than in 1976, leader Eloise Calhoun, told the annual meeting of Women Today in Clinton June 8. The three biggest problems are lack of control over product prices, input prices and interest rates. The Concerned Farm Women are now presenting survey results to groups in the area and getting ideas on how the information can help farm families and what action can be taken. Farms in Bruce are 67 per cent owned jointly by husband and wife. Most of the women completing the survey were aged 25 - 54, married to a farmer and had lived on a farm for more than 10 years. Nearly 100 per cent did child care, cooking, cleaning and washing up, fed hired hands, and handled business calls, while more than 80 per cent paid the farm bills and shared financial decision making with their husbands. Cropping and stocking decisions were shared by 22 per cent of the wives. Younger women answering the survey, value their contribution to the farm more than older ones do. Six per cent said they contributed nothing to the farm's operation. In 51 per cent of the households, husband or wife or both were also working off the farm . Of the women working off the farm, 73 per cent contributed wages to the farm's CO.OP operations and 91 per cent to the house- holds. The percentage of farmers unable to pay interest charges rose more than fourfold from 1976 to 1981, to 31 per cent. About 17 per cent, 50 people, felt they were likely to lose all or part of the farm in the next year. "More than that have been lost now," said Calhoun. Of the financially distressed farmers, 61 per cent had children under 16, operating equipment who were not adequately trained. Survey respondents in general however, 74 per cent of them, felt their young children were properly trained to operate equipment. Lack of profit was the number one cause of stress. All stress symptoms but two (alcohol use and lack of communication) had increas- ed over the last five years. Mental fatigue and frustration showed the highest increas- es; guilt the least. On the positive side, women feel they get lots of family and community support. Emotional support comes most of all from the husbands, while professional help provided the least support and the least degree of satisfaction. Those who had had treatment for stress- related illness reported it included drugs (58 per cent); counselling (17 per cent) or both (25 per cent). While 85 per cent of farm women participate in groups (most in church groups, few in political organizations), they think urban women consider them less intelligent and of a lower social class than urban women. But farm women have good self-images and consider themselves more intelligent, capable and fortunate than their urban counterparts. Despite stress that's financially related, only 11 per cent of the women surveyed want to leave the farm. Most want to stay because they value country living, independence, rural values and producing something. GIANT COMMUNITY YARD SALE August 5th - 6th at the Lucknow District Co-operative Friday August 5/83 8:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Saturday August 6/83 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. The people of Lucknow and area are welcome to participate in the sale. LAWN SPACE AVAILABLE - you must provide own transportation of product to and from sale. - you must provide your own tables for set-up - we will not be responsible for lost or stolen property - There will be no returns or no refunds on sale goods - Please contact us if you are going to set up a stall Lucknow District Co-operative Lucknow 529-7953 Lucknow Sentinel, Wednesday, July 27, 1983—P Don't Forget! SIDEWALK SHOE SALE 20-50% OFF ALL REMAINING SUMMER FOOTWEAR! Les Petter Shoes Lucknow 528-2011 l j SIDEWALK SALE DAYS %G/ � JULY 28 - 30 Clean up with these values! Children's Summer Jackets All Summer Clothing Ladies' Pull -On Slacks Oversize Vinyl Shopping Bogs 1/1 (Assorted Colours) Men's Coloured Briefs Panti-hose Lace (seconds) /// 1/3 OFF 20% - 1/3 OFF $9.99 $1094'. $1 99 2pr. /$3.00 $1 44 . be a metre 7.. Other Unadvertised Specials! LUCKNOW VARIETY & DRY GOODS 528-2238 L. MAIN ST., LUCKNOW ,,,,, ,,, "OPEN FRIDAY NIGHT 'TILL 9 P.M."