The Rural Voice, 1980-08, Page 23A MATTER OF PRINCIPLE
Farmers get holidays
- but at a price
BY J. CARL HEMINGWAY
Holidays! Yes, farmers do get holidays but at a price! Even
though we had planned on getting away for a week or two in
early July the first arriv ed with surprising rapidity and as usual
the last two or three days were long and busy. I was up before
seven o'clock Monday in order to help get the pigs away in good
time to market and ended up after midnight with our suitcase
closed for a 9:40 a.m. departure from Toronto airport on July 1st.
We made it! and were ready to sit. It was a cloudy flight which
was rather rough over the Georgian Bay -North Lake Huron area
due to turbulence from other aircraft with mostly sideways
motions that I had never experienced before. It was a little
difficult to keep the coffee of the morning "break" from spilling
even when I held it. From Lake Superior to Vancouver it was
smooth and, though still cloudy, we had a fair view of the
province and the tops of the mountains were grand. Managed to
get in a short snooze and enjoyed a good dinner.
Presently we are enjoying the sights in Vancouver. Not doing
much travelling as it has rained all day so just visited a Woolco
and grocery stores. Prices were a little higher at Woolco than in
Ontario. Groceries however were much higher especially on beef
and pork. The lower priced cuts of beef - short rib, blades,
boneless brisket, were from 2.79 to 3.79 per lb. Beef loin steak
was 6.49 per pound.
Pork chops ranged from $2.79 to $3.79. Two litre cartons of 2%
milk were $1.44 and white bread 24 oz. was .69 but 100% whole
wheat was .93.
Housing is considerably more expensive as are most consumer
goods. Gasoline is selling in Vancouver from 24 to 26.5 per litre.
Hope to have some comments on farm conditions next month.
As I left Ontario, there was a news item to the effect that
weaner pig producers were to receive government subsidy.
1 realize that the weaner pig producers have not been getting a
fair price and I do think the subsidy is justified. I also feel that
the weaner pig producers should realize that they are the ones
that presently control market for finished hogs. Once the little
pig is born its chances of going to market are excellent. If the
producers of weaners are encouraged to expand or even retain
their present production they are going to guarantee a low
selling price.
Presently there is a fair income to be made by finishing market
hogs. However with the prospects of a large reduction in grain
production with a corresponding increase in feed costs, it is
almost certain that a fair number of hog feeders will choose to
sell grain rather than feed pigs.
While it may appear that the government, by its subsidy to the
hog feeders and its subsidy to the weaner producers, is helping
the farmers it may very well be that it is a guarantee to
consumers that the price of pork will be, comparatively, quite
low for a much longer period than was expected.
We will be ready
to receive
•Wheat •Barley
•Corn
•White Beans
Trucking is available for
pick-up and delivery
Brussels
887-9261
RYAN
DRYING LTD.
Walton, Ont.
Seaforth
527-0527
BIG BALE FEEDERS
Dimensions: 94 inches in diameter; 4 feet in
height will feed 18 head at one time.
Allan Miller
R. R. 5, Lucknow 528-2299
THE RURAL VOICE/AUGUST 1980 PG. 21