The Rural Voice, 1978-12, Page 23leaders to take the export council idea back
to their members. make proposals and
return early in 1979 to complete the
makeup of the council with government
representatives.
Mr. Hannam said, "1 don't think the
government's mind is made. up, (about the
council's makeup) but the farm leaders
came down soundly that we weren't
interested in just some advisory council."
The OFA proposals about the agriculture
export body were presented to members at
the OFA annual meeting in Hamilton,
Ontario won't
bail out ARDA
The provincial government has refused
to bail out the federal government by
taking over its share of the Agricultural
and Rural Development Assistance
(ARDA) program.
The ARDA program had been jointly
funded by the province and the federal
government.
However, the federal government has
announced it won't fund new applications
for aid under the program.
Ontario Industry and Tourism Minister
Larry Grossman said he didn't want to be
in a position of bailing out Ottawa when it
withdraws from funding programs, leaving
citizens, "high and dry."
The minister said if he moved in to cover
federal withdrawal of support for ARDA
then Ottawa would "only make more of a
habit" of backing out on the expectation
that the province would take over funding
of joint programs.
38% Ontario farmers
work off farm NFU says
In a brief presented today to the Cabinet
Committee on Resources Development of
the Ontario Government, the National
Farmers Union said there are thousands of
farmers in Ontario who are struggling to
remain in farming, because they must
subsidize the farm operations from off -
farm income sources.
"In 1976 census statistics revealed 38
percent of Ontario's farmers reported
off -farm work averagingl 81.1 days or over
36 weeks per year. Of this number over 44
percent worked equivalent to full time or
268.2 days."
At the same time the number of farmers
operating over 560 acres has risen, but so
have the risks.
"Farm Credit Act figures indicate total
loans extended to farmers in Ontario
during 1971-72 amounted to 28.2 million,
while in 1976-77 total loans reached $122.9
million. Higher borrowings are often baste
THE BASE
FACTORY
OUTLET
" The Store That Saves You More"
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Sunday: Holidays
12 noon - 6 PM
Highway 4 South of Clinton at
Vanastra
Winthrop
GENERAL STORE
Open Mon. -Sat. till 9:00 P.M.
Grocery & Hardware
Work Boots
- Rubber Boots
CEDAR POSTS
FENCE SUPPLIES
45 Gal. Steel Barrels
-Gas-
DOUG & GAIL SCHROEDER
527-1247
ALFRED
KNECHTEL
Spray Painting Ltd.
—SPECIALIZING IN FARM BUILDINGS—
(519) 669-2638
R.R. 2 WALLENSTEIN, ONTARIO
THE RURAL VOICE/DECEMBER 1978 PG. 23