The Rural Voice, 1981-11, Page 17Bruce Grey tell
Whelan 500 farms
could go under
Farmers from Bruce and Grey who
attended a protest meeting in Port Elgin
Oct. 8 say 500 farms in the two counties
will go out of business in the next four
months without some financial aid.
Federal agriculture minister Eugene
Whelan told the 450 at the meeting
Ottawa must find more aid for hard-hit
farmers. "I won't stay on as your
minister of agriculture if something isn't
done in the next few short weeks to bring
relief to farmers that is practical and
workable."
Unhappy about that day's announce-
ment of a Farm Credit Corporation rate of
16.75 per cent up from 14 per cent,
Whelan said aid could come in the form of
loans from foreign countries and long
term mortgages at low interest, with the
first few years interest free.
"With a breather period being
provided, farmers could get themselves
organized into a marketing board
structure guaranteeing a fair return. We
need all of you and your children to
provide us with food for the future,"
Whelan said.
Other Bruce and Grey farmers par-
ticipated in a tractor demonstration
bringing the farmers' plight to banks in
Owen Sound the day before.
Atwood girl is princess
Congratulations to Kathy Strachan of
R.R. 2, Atwood!
RURAL NEWS IN BRIEF
She was crowned Ontario Dairy
Princess 1981-82 recently at the Canadian
National Exhibition in Toronto, and is the
26th to wear that crown.
Strachan, representing Perth County,
was one of 45 contestants vying for the
honor. The Ontario Dairy Princess is
selected on the basis of personal ap-
pearance, poise and knowledge of the
dairy industry.
She becomes a full-time employee of the
Ontario Milk Marketing Board, sponsors
of the competition, and will spend her
reign promoting dairy products in the
province.
Kathy, 22, is the daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. Roger Strachan of R.R. 2, Atwood.
Before she was crowned she was working
for an optometrist in Listowel.
U of G goes Co-op
For the first time, students entering
their third semester at the Ontario
Agricultural College this fall had the
option of signing up for a co-operative
program, which combines academic
studies with related job experience and
gives the student a practical knowledge of
production agriculture and related
industrial activities.
Toward the end of their first year at
O.A.C. students can indicate they are
interested in entering the co-op program
in their second year. They return to
campus for the Fall semester of their
second year during which interviews are
arranged with prospective employers.
The first work experience semester will
commence in January, 1982 with the
students returning to campus in May for
Liz Bend Solhallan 312K
Back Fat 10 m.m. 129 days 151 index
53525. Top selling boar 1980 Pork Congress
their fourth academic semester.
Normally, students will complete at least
two consecutive work terms with the
same employer.
Students in the co-op program will
graduate one year later than other
students. But they will have gained 16-20
months on-the-job training, which will
make them more attractive to prospective
employers. In many instances this will
lead to more challenging responsibilities
(and possibly higher starting salaries) on
their first permanent job.
Co-op students may also attain a
greater degree of financial independence
from their work terms and for some
students the co-op program will provide
the only avenue to a university education.
Students will be charged an additional
$100. fee for their work experience
semester.
"We have had a very good response
from employers to the start of our co-op
program," says Bruce McCallum,
Associate Director of the Work Study
Program. "We have been getting re-
quests for students from agri-businesses
and farmers and we are hoping to have
job opportunities with banks, grain and
chemical companies."
On -campus interviews are scheduled
for October 26th through November 6th,
although McCallum says he can arrange
telephone interviews for an employer who
is unable to be on campus during that
time period.
The University of Guelph started the
co-operative program in response to
pressure from agri-business and from the
academic staff who recognized that
increasing number of urban -raised
students entering the agricultural science
We have a good selection of boars and gilts of
Yorkshire, Duroc, Landrace, Hampshire and Hybrid
swine available for private sale.
This is our 15th year of offering progressive pork
producers Ontario's largest selection of R.O.P. and
veterinary approved stock.
Our herd is maintained as a closed minimal disease
operation.
7th Production Sale
Saturday,November 21st
at 1 p.m.
at the farm of Warren Stein
70 boars 100 open gilts
15 bred gilts
THAMES BEND FARMS LTD.
R.R.6, Woodstock, Ontario N4S 7W1
519-655-2942 or 482-2704
RICHARD AND WARREN STEIN
THE RURAL VOICE/NOVEMBER 1981 PG. 15