The Rural Voice, 1981-06, Page 41etuce ee, ede',at4t ffgateuftuxe
High interest rates:
the biggest challenge
Bruce County Federation of Agriculture annual Meet the
Members of Parliament night was held in Kincardine April 3. Dr.
Gary Gurbin Federal member for Bruce and Grey. and Murray
Cardiff, for Huron, and Murray Elson newly elected MPP for
Huron -Bruce were present to listen to briefs presented by the
Federation, Cattlemen's Assoc., the Bruce Hog Producers,
Wheat Producers and Milk Producers.
High interest rates appeared to be the greatest challenge to
the farmer especially the young farmers. One director told the
meeting that the only survival for the young farmer is to sell his
farm to an absentee landlord and work for him as a tenant.
The various incentive plans offered to farmers at provincial
level is causing problems that are unfavourable at domestic and
in the export level, stated Mark MacAuley representing the hog
producers. The incentive program at provincial level should be
abandoned in favour of a uniform national policy, he added.
The cost of production for pork is now 76.00 cwt while the
current price is only 65.00. Marketing boards are the only
method farmers have to influence'marketsand government but
some agencies representing consumer groups are out to destroy
marketing boards. Bruce County Milk Board spokesman, Harvey
Weppler, explained the supply management and the objective to
have Grade A standards prevail in all producer lines.
The Wheat Producers were caught in the US embargo on
shipment of grain to Russia. Canada endorsed the embargo and
promised the farmers they would be compensated for any loss.
According to Mr. J. MacKay the Ontario Wheat Producers took a
loss in storage and transportation to Georgian Bay of 17.3 million
dollars. They are holding the government to the promise.
Murray Cardiff, MP warned of the danger of foot and mouth
disease coming from other countries through air garbage that is
not properly incinerated. The import law being studied by Mr.
Whelan should be made know in about two weeks. He reported
that an order for beef from England in the form of a tender wac
not followed up. The order was for 30,000 tons but because of the
specifications of the tender, Canada did not pursue the deal.
Australia. he said,was in there fighting for the contract. Canada
he said must have a farmer controlled export organization. It is
presently being set up by Mr. Whelan.
Gary Gurbin, Bruce MP stated he could understand the
frustration expressed in briefs and the need for better
communications between farmers and government. Un the
interest rates and need for capital he spoke on the new small
business development bond to incorporated farms at 12%
interest. He also compared the Geneva Agreement on Tariff and
Trade policy in Canada and that of US. In Canada the decisions
arrived at do not have to be approved by parliament while in the
US the agreement has to be ratified. Many directors felt
Agriculture was being traded off with industrial rates.
Murray Elson, MPP stated he was in sympathy with the
farmers' problems and there was desperate need for joint effort
on the part of producers to work together. The urbanized society
was making it more difficult for farmers. The foreign acquisition
of land should be controlled, he stated.
The spokesman for the Cattleman's Assoc. warned that the
amendment to the Bank Act to protect the producer from
bankruptcy of a processor does not give the tarmer the protection
he requires. He stressed the need to investigate the security of
any new buyer he might be dealing with. A very good meeting
with exchange of ideas between the member and the farmers
continued for several hours. The County President Borden
Fenton supervised the meeting and expressed his appreciation to
the members as well as his sympathy to Mr. Eddie Sargent in the
loss of his wife, which accounted for his absence at the meeting.
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THE RURAL VOICE/JUNE 1981 PG. 39