The Rural Voice, 1978-07, Page 16African locusts may
help Ontario beans
Locusts which- destroyed white bean
crops in Ethiopia could have a beneficial
effect for bean growers in Ontario.
Charles Broadwell, manager of the
Ontario Bean Producers Marketing Board
has said that Ethiopian shortfall in beans
could open new markets for Ontario beans.
Ethopia. Southwestcrn.Ontario and
Michigan arc the world's major white bean
exporting areas.
New markets for Ontario beans aren't
frowned upon since the major crop disaster
of last year which was caused by continual
rains at harvest time. although Broadwell
said he sympathizes with the disaster in
Ethiopia.
"The situation won't necessarily make
our beans worth more. but it should allow
us to penetrate more markets which
usually buy from Ethiopia." Broadwell
said.
'The problem facing Ontario this year is
to win back customers it lost to Michigan
because of last fall's shortfall harvest. The
major market for beans in the world
besides the United States is the United
Kingdom where the bulk of the Ontario
market lies. Last year Michigan was able to
sell beans to Britain that Ontario was
unable to supply because of crop damage.
Greenhouse growers
to get assistance
Winter storms this year resulted in
problems for about 400 greenhouse
vegetable and flower growers, but Agricul-
ture Minister Eugene Whelan and Ontario
Minister of Agriculture and Food Bill
Newman recently announced a program
which will assist greenhouse operators who
suffered damage as a result of the storms.
The high winds and heavy snow and ice
accumulation of December and January
storms resulted in broken glass and torn
plastic on greenhouses, and frost damage
to much of the produce. Total damage to
greenhouse and crops has been estimated
at $5 million.
Mr. Whelan said that many growers
have had to borrow money to cover these
losses and that the federal and provincial
governments have worked out a program to
hdp cover the interest costs on such loans
over a two year period.
"The program will be administered by
the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and
Fend and the financial assistance to
producers will be shared equally between
16 THE RURAL VOiCE/JULY 1978.
the federal and provincial treasuries."
Ontario growers who borrow $1,000 or
more in 1978 to cover uninsurable losses
resulting from storm damage during the
winter of 1977-78 before January 28 will be
eligible for a rebate of part of the interest
paid on the loans.
"Basically growers with glass or fiber-
glass structures will be eligible for
assistance on loans for 25 per cent of the
value of the crop losses." said Mr.
Newman.
"Assistance will be available on loans of
up to 75 per cent of the crop losses under
plastic structures. This represents the
uninsurable portion of greenhouse grower
losses. About 25 per cent of the crop value
in greenhouses is related to harvesting and
marketing costs and these costs were not
incurred on the damaged crops.
Crops grown under glass or fiberglass
may be insured for up to 50 per cent of
their value. so only 25 per cent of the losses
will be considered uninsurable. Crops
grown under plastic are not insurable;
therefore. assistance will be available on
loans up to 75 per cent of the losses for
these crops."
During the first 12 month period the Joint
program will reimburse farmers for the full
interest payments they make on the
eligible borrowings. up to a maximum of
the chartered bank prime rate plus two
per cent. In the second year of the loan. the
maximum interest that can be rebated to
growers will be six per cent less than the
chartered bank prime rate plus two
per cent.
For further information farmers should
contact the Rural Development Branch of
the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and
Food, Legislative Buildings. Toronto M7A
IA2 or the ministry's local agricultural
office.
Ontario had
518 ag. grads
Ontario's colleges of agricultural
technology had 518 graduates in May. the
highest number on record according to
Agriculture and Food Minister Bill
Newman.
In 1977-78 a total of 1.318 students were
enrolled in two-year diploma courses
offered at colleges of agricultural
technology in Centralia. Kemptville. New
Liskeard and Ridgetown. and at the
Ontario Agricultural College in Guelph.
Mr. Newman said the employment
prospects for 1978 graduates have never
looked better. with some programs
achieving 100 per cent placement.
Graduates of agricultural programs find
work on home farms, in primary agricul-
ture and allied agricultural industries and
graduates from the home economist -
related programs find jobs in the food
service industry. technical laboratories,
hospitals and government.
PLETCH
ELECTRIC
WINGHAM
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357-1583
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