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The Rural Voice, 1985-12, Page 6ft tr ESTABLISHED( 1rmos YYIUtUAt r -nsnrc i cc co* krrylo,a orltAYIJ NOG 1 WO Specializing in Farm Insurance Loss Prevention Service BROKERS/AGENTS Chatsworth Insurance Brokers Limited Chatsworth 794-2870 Chesley-Tara Insurance Brokers Limited Chesley 363-3436 Tara 934-2250 Cowling & Kearns Insurance Brokers Limited Meaford 538-1350 Lyle Crockford & Son Dundalk 923-2313 Tara 934-2082 Davis & McLay Insurance Brokers Limited Lion's Head 793-3322 James Hope Insurance Broker Paisley 353-5200 H.E. Janke Insurance Brokers Limited Port Elgin 832-6961 Gerry Karl Insurance Broker Mildmay 367-2713 Clifford 327-8025 Kell Insurance Brokers Limited WIngham 357-2636 Gorrie 335-3525 Jack Lambertus Insurance Broker Limited Walkerton 881-0480 A. Cameron MacAuley Ripley 395-5112 Isabel B. McCreath Insurance Kincardine 396-2313 Craig, McDonald & Reddon Insurance Brokers Limited Formosa 367-2197 Mildmay 367-2297 Walkerton 881-2701 Middleton's Insurance Brokerage Chesley 363-3162 Wiarton 534-3333 Miller -Slade Insurance Brokers Inc. Kincardine 396-3465 Ripley 395-2661 Owen Sound 376-0590 Percy Monis Insurance Broker Limited Owen Sound 376-2666 Carl Morris Insurance Agency Chepstow 366-2714 Elwood Moore Insurance Broker Limited Owen Sound 376-1333 James Shirreff Insurance Broker Allenford 934-2181 Don Threndyle Insurance Elmwood 881-1697 Ross Wagner Insurance Chesley 363-2962 DIRECTOR / ADJUSTER Lorne Robinson, R.R.2, Kincardine 396-8045 John Clancy, R R 1, Chepstow 881-2075 Len Metcalfe, Mildmay 367-2791 Jack Cumming, R.R. 2, Dobbinton 353-5556 Charles Kelly, Port Elgin 832-9334 Ron Lipsett, R R 1, Annan 376-6722 AU claims should be reported promptly 1.800.265.3020 to the representative in your area or to the Head Office In Formosa 4 THE RURAL_ VOICE FEEDBACK IIjII'IIlll IIIIHI91 /I Target practice In the column, One Man's Opi- nion, in the November issue, Adrian Vos takes careful aim with his verbal blunderbuss, fires his best shot and manages to strike the target with a few stray pellets, and as usual, misses completely with the main load. So his solution to the current farm crisis is to have farmers sell a lot off the corner of their farm to make their operation more viable — come on, Adrian, you must be pulling our legs. Even if this were possible, and in most cases it's not, there is probably less of a market for building lots in the country right now than there is for over -fat steers. The price received for a lot would not make much of a dent in most farm budgets. It wouldn't even pay the tuition to send a son to college or offset the cost of a new tractor. It might pay one year's fertilizer bill. What about next year? Sell another lot? Sounds a bit like a cannibal eating his own leg to stave off starvation. Vos has chosen to ignore the effect that such a policy would have on the social, and yes, economic viability of rural communities. I am not a social scientist but I grew up in what was once a rural community and I have seen what happens under such a policy. I left that community. I agree with Vos that there has to be a major rationalization in the agricultural industry. The constant clamour for more government pro- grams to assist agriculture (except in an emergency) is not only a sign of immaturity but a waste of time. Other segments of our society, from doctors to labourers, have done quite well, thank you. Until we sub- mit to some collective self discipline, we will continue to be taken advan- tage of — and to deserve it. In the process of rationalization let us hope we can keep the family farm intact. Part of this task is to put in place policies that will return a farmer a decent income — dare I say it, through supply management or some