Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1988-10-05, Page 11Yes, Canadian farmers Several of Ontario's largest farm com- modity organizations have reacted strong- ly to a full-page advertisement, placed recently in major Canadian daily, newspapers, denouncing Free Trade and claiming that Canadian farmers cannot compete in an open market with their American counterparts. The advertisement sponsored by. Mc- Cain Foods and a few others proclaimed that, because of the Canadian climate, the existance of Canadian marketing boards, and terms of the Free Trade Agreement, huge numbers of Canadian farmers and food processing employees will suffer if the Free Trade deal is implemented. Strong disagreement comes from the Ontario Pork Producers' Marketing Board, the Ontario Corn Producers' Association, the Ontario Cattlemen's Association, the Ontario Bean Producers' Marketing Board, the Vegetable Growers' Marketing Board, and the Ontario Soya - Bean Growers' Marketing Board, who col- lectively represent a major percentage of Ontario's farmers and farm output. Stated David McDonald, Chairman of the Ontario Pork Producer's Marketing Board, "Canadian farmers are every bit as efficient and competitive as Americans in the production of most farm com- modities. With pork, 25 percent of Cana- dian production already goes to the U.S. With Free Trade, this volume should grow." Cliff Leach, President of the Ontario Corn Producers' Association said, "Our costs of production are just as low as in the United States. Via terms of the Free Trade deal which will harmonize regulations af- fecting production in the two countries, our competitiveness will increase." Bob Gregson, President of the Ontario Cattlemen's Association emphasized that "Those who think that a hotter climate automatically provides a production ad- vantage are kidding themselves. Much of the United States has a hot and dry climate where intensive production requires ir- rigation and that is very costly. Our Agreement to promote three sheep breeds Agriculture Canada has signed an agree- ment with the Canadian Sheep Breeders' Association I CSBA 1 to promote the sale and distribution of three new breeds of sheep. The three breeds — Canadian Arcott, Outaouais Arcott and Rideau Arcott — were developed by Agriculture Canada at its Animal Research Center in Ottawa and registered last spring. The agreement lays the groundwork for establishing a minimum of two nucleus flocks of registered animals for each breed. This will preserve the genetic makeup of the breeds and provide a conti- nuing source of registered animals. A minimum of 400 ewes and 40 rams of each breed will be available, at $200 each for adults and $150 for lambs, to establish the nucleus flocks. Surplus animals will be auctioned off by Agriculture Canada and the CSBA at a later date. Groups of individuals interested in ob- taining one of the nucleus flocks for their breeding operation should contact Agriculture Canada as soon as possible for an information package. Letters of application and completed questionnaires must be returned to the Animal Research Center by Oct. 17, 1988. A selection committee will choose applicants best able to carry out the procedures and guidelines established by CSBA and Agriculture Canada for maintaining the Arcott breeds. Adults ewes and rams representative of the three breeds, will be exhibitied at the 60th Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto Nov. 9 to 20, 1988. what do farmers think? Several months ago we spoke of the need for elected representatives at every level of government to be aware of and respond to the opinions of the people. In examining our own progress as a county Board of Directors, we noted the virtual absence of contribution by anyone outside the board in shaping the policy and objectives of the federation. In an effort to find out what our members think about the issues we con- tinually deal with, the Public Relations Committee has undertaken an opinion survey. The responses listed here were compiled from a random sampling of ap- proximately four per cent of the member- ship in the county of Bruce. The Ontario Federation of Agriculture delegates from Bruce County have many times been criticized for being too radical in their approach. They have been leaders in keeping the farm financial crisis top on the list of OFA priorities. They have been adamant in demanding a free vote on marketing alternatives and gave the strongest possible support to the ill-fated Grenville Resolution. While some parts of the province insisted there was no farm crisis, the Bruce representatives tried repeatedly to lead the organization into a more aggressive stance. The results of this poll appear to justify these hard nosed "trouble -maker" tactics. In the next few months we will comment further on what the results mean, but it seems certain that the farmers of Bruce are solidly behind their Board of Direc- tors. Maybe some other counties should conduct a poll. Respectfully Submitted, Bruce County Federation of Agriculture Public Relations Committee Demo day set. to answer your questions The question of what equipment is right for your land is best answered by yourself. You are the one who knows what condi- tions it has to function in and what your land is capable of. To assist you in making a decision on which conservation tool would work on your land, the Huron Soil and Water Con- servation District has set up a demonstra- tion day. The day will consist of acti'i'e demonstrations involving dealers from throughout the Huron -Perth County areas. Tools included in the day range from modified mouldboard plow, disc chisel plows, no -till drills and deep -till tools. This event is scheduled for Thursday, October 13 with demonstrations running in the morning from 40-12 and in the after- noon from 1-3. The demonstration will be located 8 miles east of Exeter on Hwy. 83 on the property of Calvin and Stan Christie. can Lucknow Sentinel, Wednesday, October 5, 1988—Page 11 compete with U.S. moderate climate favours livestock and many other farm commodities, and we can compete." "We already export 80 percent of our production in direct competition with American farmers", said Allan Siemon, Chairman of the Ontario Bean Producer's Marketing Board. "Bean growers and pro- cessors have nothing to fear from open competition." "Ontario farmers have enjoyed free trade in soybeans, with the United States, since 1977," said Owen Dobbyn, Chairman of the Ontario Soya -Bean Growers— Marketing Marketing Board, "and we anticipate that free trade on processed soybean products will add to the benefits." The farm groups note that, although the advertisement was sponsored, primarily, by a few food processors, many others have expressed strong support for Free Trade. To proclaim that most farmers and food processors fear competition and Free Trade, as McCain's advertisement sug- gests, is not consistent with fact. "One in every cr�wd" Ontario Jtuar Citizen of the Year Awards In every crowd there is a young person aged 6 to 18 years, who is involved in worthwhile community service, overcoming physical or psychological limitations, or has performed an act of heroism. You can honour this young person, with the help of Canadian Airlines International and the Ontario Community Newspapers Association by nominating them for an Ontario Junior Citizen of the Year Award Since 1981, the prestigious Ontario Junior Citizen of the Year Awards Program has recognized the best in Ontario's youth Official nomination forms are available at the office of every member Community Newspaper in Ontario, or the Ontario Community Newspapers Association, P.O. Box 451, Oakville, Ontario L6J 5A8, phone 1416-844 0184. Nominations are accepted up to October 31st_ Every nominee receives a certificate and up to 12 individuals and one group will be recipients of an award presented by the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario To nominate a young person in your community please contact The Lucknow Sentinel 528-2822 Canadian ontano community newspapers association NOMINATIONS TOWNSHIP OF WEST WAWANOSH POLICE VILLAGE OF AUBURN NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN to the Municipal Electors of the Township of West Wawanosh AND the Police Village of Auburn, that nominations may be filed in the Office of the clerk for the offices of: REEVE, DEPUTY REEVE and THREE COUNCILLORS and THREE POLICE VILLAGE TRUSTEES between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., on Nomination Day, MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1988, but nothing in Section 35 of The Municipal Elections Act prevents a person fil- ing a nomination paper with the clerk during normal office hours during the four days immediately preceding nomination day. Nominations forms and full particulars for procedure may be obtained from the under- signed during normal office hours. Where the number of candidates for an office is not sufficient to fill the vacancies, on the Wednesday following Nomination Day, OCTOBER 19, 1988 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. the clerk may receive and certify additional nominations. Should a poll be required it will be held on MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1988 between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. Advance Polls will be held on SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1988 and THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1988, between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. Joan Armstrong, Returning Officer, West Wawanosh Township. NOTICE: Nominations will be received by the Clerk of the Township of Ashfield for one PUBLIC SCHOOL TRUSTEE for the Huron County Board of Education to represent the Townships of Ashfield, East Wawanosh and West Wawanosh. Nominations will be received by the Clerk of the Town of Clinton for one SEPARATE SCHOOL TRUSTEE for the Huron -Perth County Roman Catholic Separate School Board of Education to represent the Townships of Ashfield, West Wawanosh, Colborne, Mullett and the Town of Clinton.