The Rural Voice, 1978-04, Page 16Rural news in brief
Huron dairy farm
population continues
to drop
The continuing decline in the number of
Huron county milk producers led to a
reduction in the size of the Huron County
Milk Committee at its annual meeting in
March.
The number of milk producers in the
county dropped from 815 in December of
1976 to only 593 in December 1977. The
decline is even more dramatic when
compared with an estimated 1600 milk
producers in the county 15 years ago.
About 150 producers attending the
meeting heard the proposal to reduce the
size of the committee from 15 to 12
members.
One producer in opposing the proposed
by-law change said he felt that the
northern end of the' county was not given
enough representation, pointing out that
the majority of holstein herds were in that
area and saying he thought the proposal
was a decision of committee members "at
the top". He also questioned the choice of
Clinton as a meeting site. "Why not have it
in the north end where the producers are?"
John Campbell of Bayfield, chairman of
the committee said that the meeting did
not have to be held in Clinton but the
Ministry of Agriculture and Food offices
for the county were in Clinton and so it
seemed like an appropriate site.
Another speaker said the reduction in
the number of committee members was not
made "at the top" but at other meetings
because there were half as many producers
as in the past. If the north wanted better
representation it should nominate a
representative in the next election to
express its views.
The by-law was approved by a wide
majority.
Ian Kennedy, who works in milk quality
control for the Ontario Ministry of
Agriculture and food, said the constant
decline in the number of milk producers in
the county is a result of large operations
taking over the business. In the last year,
however, he said the decline in the number
of producers stems from a law passed by
the Ontario Milk Market Board in 1977. As
of September 1 of last year all milk
producers have to produce in bulk using
mechanical cooling systems, he said.
He explained that farmers were faced
with either producing in bulk, changing to
cream production or quitting, and many
quit due to the increase in costs.
"The milk industry has had a difficult
year," Kennedy told the dairy farmers.
"Everyone is aware of it."
PG. 16. THE RURAL VOICE/APRIL 1978.
Chairman of the Ontario Milk Marketing
Board Ken McKinnon, said he was, "really
amazed in the producer reduction in Huron
county." He said the rest of the province
have about half as many milk producers as
have existed but Huron County has about
one-third. He blamed the high drop in the
number of dairy farmers just recently to
the high milk quota value. He warned
farmers to produce the quota of milk set for
them by the marketing board and said they
should not worry too much about
over -producing a little.
"We've got to sell this product," he
said. "Industry and individuals suffer
more if dairy farmers under -produce."
McKinnon said he does not feel the last
year has been more difficult than any other
year for the milk producers. In fact he said
most people had more income than the
previous year.
"It's been a difficult year but not much
more difficult than any year in the
industry," he said.
McKinnon, who is also the elected
representative for the Huron, Bruce and
Grey region on the Ontario Marketing
Board as well as chairman of the Dairy
Farmers of Canada, told the meeting 82
percent of industrial milk ih Canada comes
from Ontario and Quebec under a national
plan.
Some milk producers in Ontario don't
like producing within the limits of the
national plan, he said, because consump-
tion in Ontario is going up faster than any
other province.
He warned it would not be a good idea to
move out of the national plan because of
the benefits of protection the plan offers
the Ontario dairy farmers.
Perth County won't
contribute to
Glengowan study
An attempt by Hibbert township reeve
Ross McPhail to have Perth county make a
submission to the environmental inpact
study for the proposal Glengowan dam was
turned down recently by Perth county
council.
Mr. McPhail, supported by Logan Reeve
Carl Vock had pointed out that the dam will
have a major impact on the county if it is
built. It would flood a large acreage in
Fullarton township.
Mr. McPhail suggested the county
engineer, medical officer of health
planning director and social services
administrator should individually assess
the impact on their specialized areas then
put their ideas together for a report to the
study committee.
His motion was opposed by Reeve Don
Simpson of Blanchard township who said
that since the county did not support the
Upper Thames River Conservation Author-
ity through funding. it should not become
involved in the UTRCA's business. Mr.
McPhail, however argued that the,
individual township's involved should not
be expected to hire professionals to
prepare a report for the study because of
the cost involved. Mr. Simpson said he
doubted the county officials would have the
background knowledge or interest in the
project to adequately study the subject.
Reeve George Wilson of 'Mornington said
he didn't think the officials were hired for
that purpose.
Meanwhile a London alderman struck
back at the rural municipalities who have
been fighting the project.
Alderman Don Robinson said he is
becoming "increasingly annoyed" that the
city is expected to adhere to high pollution
standards while rural municipalities
continue to pollute.
"To the north of us. the very people who
are polluting the (Thanes) river are
holding up the Glengowan Dam project."
he said.
"I think it's time we start getting a little
nasty."
The matter arose over a proposal from
Mayor Jane Bigelow that council endorse a
sewage treatment master plan.
The plan. adopted by council. calls for a
continued review and upgrading of the
city's sewage treatment plants and
construction of the Glengowan Dani and
reservoir for flood and water control.
It also called for a study of storm water
seepage into the sanitary sewer system
before any major expenditures toward
upgrading the sewage treatment process
are made.
Crop insurance
payments $8 million
in 1977
1977 CROP LOSS OVER S8 MILLION...
The Crop Insurance Commission lost
more than $8.4 million last year as a result
of heavy claims for v. hits bean crop
damage. commission director Henry
Ediger said rcccntl',.
The commission paid out about $9.5
million in claims. but took in only about $1
million in premiums.
It t✓as the first time in 10 years the
commission lost money on the program.
The high number of claims was due to
the wettest September to hit southwestern
Ontario in 15 years. Ediger said. Damage
resulted in a three -to four -cent price
increase on a can of beans.
The insurance plan is subsidized by the
government.
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