The Rural Voice, 1978-08, Page 19Rural news in brief
Ag ministers
support federal
income plan
A federal government plan for a new
program to protect farm incomes during
times of low prices won the support of
provincial agriculture ministers at
meeting of federal and provincial
agriculture ministers held in . Yorkton,
Saskatchewan recently.
Only British Columbia offered initial
objections to the stabilization proposal
which would mean farmers would know at
the start of the year the minimum prices
they would be guaranteed for specific
commodities.
Agriculture Minister Eugene Whelan
said that most provinces "'agreed on our
stabilization plan but they were concerned
about the level of protection that would be
offered."
He said he hopes to have a final
agreement with the provinces before the
meeting of the first ministers in Ottawa
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in September. Amendments would also be
required to the existing national farm
income plan.
Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister
Edgar Kaeding said the proposals were
dropped on the ministers with little
advance notice.
Quebec Agriculture Minister Jean Garon
said that Quebec and the Atlantic
provinces should get a greater share of
federal agricultural research money.
He said his province would like to sec the
development of new grain varieties which
are early -ripening, high -yielding and more
disease -resistant. He said there was also a
need for more research in the processing,
distribution and marketing of food.
Whelan wanted the provinces to agree
to let Ottawa operate programs for major
commodities while the provinces handle
regional and specialty crops.
At the meeting the ministers agreed on
the need for more co-ordination in the
development of export markets for food-
stuffs but no formal agreement was made
for co-operation between the provinces
themselves. They also agreed to begin a
program that would see food products
stamped as to whether they are made in
Canada or not.
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Canadians buy more
crop insurance
More farmers than ever before have
bought crop insurance protection this year.
even with prospects for a good crop year in
most parts of thc country.
Agriculture Canada's crop insurance
division reports that about 114,000 farmers
arc enrolled in thc 1978 federal -provincial
program. This numbcr is up from last
year's total of 111,000 farmers. Total
coverage across the country is expected to
reach $1.5 billion.
Total premiums paid into the insurance
program for this crop year will be about
$140 million. Farmers pay half this
amount, with thc balance and admini-
strative costs paid by the federal and
provincial governments.
Thc increase in the number of farmers in
the program this year is largely because
the numbcr of Quebec farmers who have
taken out crop insurance has almost
doubled. Twelve thousand Quebec
producers have bought coverage worth $65
million.
Of farmers
covered by the crov
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THE RURAL VOICE/AUGUST 1978 PG.19