The Rural Voice, 1982-01, Page 31PERTH COUNTY PORK PRODUCERS' NEWS
Many points
of discussion
at directors' meeting
BY HANS FELDMAN
The director's of the County Association met on Nov. 19, 1981.
It was decided to continue the newsletter in the Rural Voice and to
renew the subscription at $2 per year for all producers that ship
over 100 pigs per year. New producers and weaner men will be
added to the mailing list on request. The barbecue committee
reported on a reasonably successful operation at the plowing
match in Barrie considering the poor weather condition.
The directors made plans for the annual meeting and decided to
hold it Jan. 29 after the report of the Bowman Committee has been
released. It is planned to make copies of the report or of a
summary available to producers and make the report the main
subject of discussion at the meeting.
The Producer Information Committee of the Perth County Pork
Producers' Association received the endorsement from the
delegates at the meeting, to submit policy input on the following
financial and credit concerns for Ontario farmers.
The Farm Credit Corporation maintain the responsibility of
setting the interest rates every 6 months, as in the past, based on
the 5 year bond average. The present limits of $200,000 per
individual or $400,000 per partnership would seem presently
adequate as a long term base. Relaxing long term capital
programs would tend to fuel an expansionary attitude which is
part and parcel of our present situation. Therefore Farm Credit
Corporation should be allotted mainly to the Farmer starting in
business.
-The Ontario Government should underwrite a financial
program (i.e. Agri Bonds) for young farmers, mainly for the use of
production facilities and, or in certain periods of hardship used for
debt consolidation. A proper qualifying equity to debt ratio should
be required for establishment and maintaining of a viable
operation. This program could be administrated by the existing
Province of Ontario Savings Bank (owned and controlled by the
Ontario Ministry of Revenue) in conjunction with Ontario Ministry
of Agriculture and Food Area Co-ordinators and Farm
Management Specialists.
-Small Business Development Bonds, a tool for bridge
financing, should give greater emphasis and assistance for
consolidation of debts and should also be made available for the
purchase of used farm equipment.
-We do not agree with the proposed Federal Budget on
dropping the Income Averaging Annuity Contracts (IAAC). This
tends to penalize farmers for what are mostly inflationary
increases in property values and deprives them of the tax relief
necessary to maintain an adequate retirement income.
A more realistic approach would be to allow capital gain monies
to be invested into a lower interest bearing pool, as a source of
funds for Farm Credit Corporation. with earned interest being tax
deductable for the lender. The funds invested, would be exempt
on a graduated basis from Capital Gain Taxes, thus allowing the
retiring farmer to continue the tradition of passing on ownership
of the farm to the new operation.
-Discussions on the Federal -Provincial Hog Producer Stabiliza-
tion Plan have been tabled until the report from the Ontario Pork
Producer Marketing Board Task Force on Alternative Marketing,
is made public on January 15, 1982.
Copies will be sent on behalf of the Perth County Pork Producer
Directors to the following people:
1. Member of Federal Parliament- Mr. Bill Jarvis
2. Member of Provincial Parliament Mr. Hugh Edighoffer
3. Minister of Agriculture Federal Mr. Eugene Whalen
Provincial Mr. Lorne Henderson
4. Minister of Finance Federal Mr. Allan McEachen
Provincial Mr. Frank Miller
5. Minister of Revenue Federal Mr. William Rompkey P.C.
Room 309
Confederation Building
Ottawa, Ont. K 1 A OA6
Provincial Mr. Ash
6. Federation of Agriculture Mr. Ralph Barrie
7. Ontario Agriculture Economic Task Force Mr. Everitt Biggs
The directors of the Perth County Pork Producers Association
like to extend their best wishes for the New Year to all fellow
producers and their families.
Annual
Meeting
and Banquet
of the
PERTH COUNTY
PORK PRODUCERS ASSOC.
will be held
Friday, Jan.29th, 1982
at the
Stratford Coliseum
Banquet at 12 Noon, Meeting at 1:30 p.m.
Guest speaker Dr. Gordon Bowman,
Chairman of the Committee on "The Implications of
Alternative Marketing Strategies for the Ontario Pork
Industry."
George Lupton, Secretary
John Groenestege, President
Tickets for the banquet are $4. and are available from
the township directors before Monday, Jan. 25th.
Please get the tickets early to allow for enough time to
make arrangements with the caterer,
THE RURAL VOICEIJANUARY 1982 PG. 29