The Rural Voice, 1982-07, Page 20r
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CLAY
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PG. 20 THE RURAL VOICEIJULY 1982
FARM NEWS
OFA report
At the executive meeting on June 2nd,
Harry Zwerver was hired as general
manager of the Ontario Federation of
Agriculture. He is assuming the position
formerly held by Jack Hale who retired
this spring.
Mr. Zwerver was born in the Nether-
lands in 1942 and attended high school in
Brockville. He received his B.A. degree at
Calvin college in Michigan and undertook
graduate studies at the University of
Toronto and McMaster University leading
to his masters degree. He has also
attended a wide range of management
workshops. Mr. Zwerver begins his duties
in mid-July.
Two of OFA's staff. Dale Ferns and
lawyer Johannes Jarvalt (JJ) have spent
over six weeks at the Ontario Energy
Board hearings who are assessing Ontario
Hydro's 1983 rate application. In pre-
paring for these hearings OFA staff had to
familiarize themselves with Ontario
Hydro's application which included 35
exhibits and 1300 pages of text. Dale
reports it appears Ontario Hydro's
demands are $300.000.000 more than is
justified. If these demands are met, a total
increase of 19 per cent would be applied to
rural customers. Four percent of that
would be the realocation of transformer
and distribution charges from general to
agriculture. The hearing is expected to
continue for several weeks.
A proposal for an Ontario Corn
Growers association has recently been
presented to the Ontario minister of
agriculture by a committee of farmers
formed by OFA executive. The main
purpose of this proposal would be to
enable Ontario corn growers to qualify for
federal advance payments for stored corn.
Until now corn growers in Ontario have
not been eligible for this program because
there has been no organization to act on
their behalf. If the plan is accepted, an
Ontario farmer would receive up to
$25,000 advance payment for stored corn.
OFA recently made a proposal on
financing new farmers. Briefly the plan
would first, assume FCC will become the
main lender, if not, the province should
consider making loans directly. Secondly.
research shows the long term rate of
return to farm land is about four percent.
Third, the proposal suggests the
government subsidize loans to new
farmers at one-half the difference be-
tween the FCC rate and four per cent.
Fourth. the beginning farmer would
receive the full subsidy for the first five
years. thereafter the subsidy would
diminish by one-fifth each year. Finally,
as an alternative. the province should
consider a land -leasing program whereby
it could purchase farms that are for sale
and lease them back, with an option to
purchase. to beginning farmers.
Membership has declined slightly
across the province this year. Only a
cursory look at some of the policies OFA
has been involved with. should convince
anyone that OFA membership would be a
bargain at several times the current fee
level.
Merle Gunby is a member of the Ontario
Federation of Agriculture Executive
Committee with special responsibilities in
Huron, Perth, Grey. Bruce and Welling-
ton counties.
Daytrip to the
agricultural museum
Explore Ontario's rural heritage • at the
Ontario Agricultural Museum, Milton.
The Museum will be open for its fourth
season May 17 until October 11, 10 a.m. to
5 p.m .daily. The 32 hectare (80 acre) site
provides both rural and urban visitors with
an opportunity to discover Ontario's
agricultural past.
Visitors can wander through the more
than twenty buildings including display
barns. a crossroads community, two
historic farmsteads, church. weaver's
cottage and much more. Demonstrations
of plowing, harvesting. threshing,
blacksmithing and baking are just some of
the activities which help bring the exhibits
and historical buildings to life.
The Museum continues to grow with
new features this summer including the
recently restored Puslinch Township Hall;
fur farm; the barn in the 1860's farmstead;
and a display of agricultural drainage
equipment from Kent County.
A variety of special events will be held
throughout the season focusing on
seasonal farm activities, new born live-
stock. antique automobiles and alternate
energy. The Museum offers an entertain-
ing and educational opportunity to explore
the rural heritage of Ontario.
The Ontario Agricultural Museum
provides an ideal outing for the whole
family - young and old. The Museum is
located 8 km west of Milton. just south of
Highway 401 - only a half hour drive from
Toronto!