The Rural Voice, 1978-12, Page 9ss
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A matter of principle
by J. Carl Hemingway
Right job at the right time
It is now November as I write and the crops are all harvested.
Thanks to the weather man the corn came off quite easily. We
were a bit nervous about the weather and after getting the corn
custom combined other years we purchased a combine(used) this
year and started as soon as possible after the rains that followed
the Ploughing Match. We should have waited a couple of days as
the ground was a bit soft but we didn't have any trouble, just a
bit hard on the nerves going through the odd wet spot. After that
we have seldom had such good "corn" weather.
Now it is a race to get the ploughing done this fall and the
other "fall" chores cleaned up before the snow comes. It's a
little hard to decide how much will be come "spring" work.
Farming is particularly frustrating. Those who got going with
the seeding of grain early had very good crops. Later plantings
were not as good and the late planting was only fair with some
harvesting prob lems. This is probably norma
The beans were just the opposite. Those who planted eat ly at
the recommended time had fair crops but got them harvested in
excellent shape. The later ones may have had a little higher yield
but had some real loss with bad har vesting weather but the late
planted beans were, by all reports, really good and had excellent
weather for harvesting. This isn't normal.
Farmers try to do the job right at the best time and have only
fair crops. They also do things poorly at the wrong time,
generally because of conditions beyond their control, and it turns
out great.
If 1 could only control the weather it would be so much better,
for me. It probably wouldn't suit the rest of you at all. I'm sure
glad I haven't the responsibility of the weather. I'm afraid it
would be worse than farming, even though the pig cheque for
Oct. 9th shipment didn't arrive until the 29th. At least I didn't go
hungry.
There has been some promotion for a Corn Marketing Board. I
don't know much about it as I very seldom sell corn and then only
a very small quantity, but I do follow the market.
Apparently this fall has made some records in price
fluctuations.
From the reports I've heard locally the price started off about
$2.25 per bus. then up to $2.35, down to $2.23, then $2,18 for a
day or two, up to $2.29, down to $2,26 with at least one dealer
forecasting $2.10 for the following week when it jumped to
$2.55 and about four days up to $2.68 and at one plant $2.70, a
couple of days la ter $2.65 and the last I heard it has settled back
to $2.55.
I give up!
If I remember correctly the accepted production cost is $2.25
per bus. With a price variation from $2.18 to $2.70 per bus. in a
matter of three or four weeks it is enough to make a farmer dizzy.
It should make a lot of "free enterprise" farmers take a second
look at a Marketing Board for grain corn. If they still prefer the
challenge of beating the "open market" why not forget about
growing corn and buy Loto Canada or Wintario or bet on the
ponies and then there is backgammon and roulette.
If they are really serious about it they might even try the
Russian kind.
Canada is supposed to be having a hard time economically.
Unemployment is too high. Inflation is increasing continually.
Our balance of trade has only incre^sed because of the deflated
value of our dolloar.
In order to attract foreign capital into Canada to strengthen the
dollar, or perhaps I should say to keep it from dropping lower,the
Government is increasing interest rates more and more.
It is admitted that this will increase prices which will cut
buying power and increase unemployment. Isn't that wonderful!
It is argued that high interest rates will encourage savings and
that is true for people that have good incomes.
However increased prices will take a big slice out of those
savings unless there is increased income. Ironically any increase
in incomes will be reflected in higher prices and lower savings.
Hot/long can this go on ?
How much "savings" can the unemployed invest?
How long will we fool around with the dollar? The dollar is only
a convenient method for exchanging goods or services.
When are we going to realize that the only means we have of
increasing our wealth is by producing more or a better product,
or by giving more or better service.
As a farmer I can only improve my income by producing more
or by improving the quality.
Three little boys were having an argument about who was the
greatest man in history -one named a great doctor, the second a
great Political leader, but the third boy ended the discussion by
,suggesting the man who invented interest was no slouch.
I think we should have a fourth boy in the story. It seems to me
that the guy who was able to put the idea of an annual increment
across did very well for himself and his buddies.
1 guess I was too busy getting established in farming,
following the War, to keep track of Japan and West Germany.
From what I have been able to pick up it seems that they forgot
about the value of the "Mark" and the "Yen" and went to work
to produce more and better products.
I don't know the details but value of their currency indicates
that they are much more prosperous than we are and I'm sure
they didn't get that way by increasing unemployment promoting
inflation and deflating their dollar.
It has been said that some people learn by experience, which is
limited and expensive, other learn from the experience of others,
which is broader and less expensive, and some never learn.
Let me remind you that 1 am writing this on the 6th of
November and I'm afraid the for -going doesn't show much of the
spirit of Christmas when you will be reading it, I hope.
Christmas will be a joyous time for a great many of us and
should be for all of us. It is a time when we make a special effort
to bring joy to those around us and many of us will contribute
generously to the welfare of those in need.
It is good to do!
It isn't good enough! It should continue throughout the year.
Giving a bountiful "christmas" basket once a year and then
taking advantage of those who aren't in a position to defend
themselves. the rest of the year will not make a more prosperous
and happier Canada.
Somehow we have to get back to the idea of the importance of
giving an honest day's work for an honest day's pay. Somehow
the idea of earning a living has been replaced by the idea of
getting a living. It seems to me that the buying of lottery tickets
amounting to millions, yes! even billions, in Canada indicates
that for too many people are hoping for something for nothing. It
just can't be done. The state of our economy proves it.
It apparently took a devastating war to show the West
Germans and the Japanese a better way. I certainly hope that we
Canadians don't suffer the same fate, that we must learn to work
together for the good of us all.
Best wishes for a happy and rewarding Christmas Season!
THE RURAL VOICE/DECEMBER 1978 PG. 9