The Rural Voice, 2001-05, Page 62PERTHBurnell Kipfer. R.R.Off#1,ice519-229-Sebringville6430 NOKFax 1X0519-229-6269 Ph: 519 -271 -3399e -mail: Faxpert5h@19-27ofa.on.ca3-0789
County Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER
Thanks for your support
At this time I would like to thank
all those who participated in the
-Farmers' Day of Action in Guelph
and the people who joined the Day of
Action convoy on the 401. I also
want to thank implement dealerships,
farm supply stores, feed mills and all
the consumers who supported and
joined the farmers on this day of
protest. A special thanks to the
transport drivers who joined in the
convoy on the 401 and gave us their
support.
I believe we have the support of
most of the federal MPs for what we
have been asking for, for which I
thank them, but more needs to be
done by them. The announcement
from the Ontario Government of $90
million is welcomed and appreciated.
This shows the province is doing
more than its share to help farmers.
The Prime Minister and his caucus
have admitted there is an unlevel
playing field between Canadian and
U.S. farmers. This was not evident in
the support program they have
announced. 1 watched the news over
Kitchener TV following the Day of
Action as they interviewed the
public. They questioned them on the
need for our government to support
our farmers to the same degree as
other countries. It was very gratifying
to hear, that all of them said yes and
their reasons why.
Some people have the argument
that we should produce less and short
the market to raise prices. This would
assume that we have an over-
production of product, when in
reality it's the support policies of the
U.S. that are affecting the
marketplace and not supply and
demand. Current U.S. Farm Policy
supports producers so well that they
do not respond to low market prices
by reducing the acreage they plant.
As long as we have Free Trade and
an open border with the U.S., the
58 THE RURAL VOICE
market price we receive for our
grains and oilseeds is set in the U.S.
Further misconceptions about
taxes and hydro have also been made
recently that I would like to comment
on. I live in a house on which I pay
residential rates of tax like all other
residents. These taxes pay for
"people" services such as policing,
education, ambulance and other
social services. My farmland pays
twenty-five per cent of the residential
rate because it doesn't use these
people services. With reassessment
we have seen assessment rise as
much as 50 per cent in some wards.
This, along with the government
capping of industrial taxes and the
downloading of services, will have a
disastrous effect on rural residents
because municipalities will have to
raise their mill rates. Hydro rates are
the same for all rural customers, with
residential and farms both getting
rural rate assistance on delivery
services to compensate for the long
distance of hydro lines.
With oil prices going up, fuel, gas,
fertilizer and chemical prices have all
been skyrocketing. At the same time
user fees have been introduced to
industries related to agriculture such
as inspection and licensing which are
difficult, if not impossible, for us to
pass onto the consumer. Grains and
oilseed prices have fallen 20 to 30 per
cent, well below the cost of
production. There is a government
• The Rural Voice is provided to farmers
in Perth County by the PCFA.
interest-free loan available if your
friendly banker will sign off the
security he holds against your crops.
If you already have a substantial loan
it is highly unlikely that they will do
so.
After our Day of Action protest,
our federal government used the CBC
television service for Professor
George Brinkman to present his
belief that there are too many
farmers, costing too much
government money to support them.
The CBC also stated that 57 per cent
of farmers' income came from the
government. According to Statistics
Canada for 1999, farmers received 94
per cent from the marketplace and
only six per cent of receipts from
government sources. Since 1992
there has been a 42 per cent drop in
government assistance. Government
support to agriculture should not be
looked at as strictly a subsidy. It
needs to be viewed as an investment
that will benefit the entire rural
community. The impact that
agriculture has on the economic
stability of rural businesses is felt
throughout our communities. I
believe that most consumers would
agree with this, and support our call
for an improved safety net package.
Hopefully our government caucus in
Ottawa will also agree and come to
the farmers' assistance.0
— Submitted by Burnell Kipfer
PCFA President
PERTH COUNTY FEDERATION
OF AGRICULTURE
PLEASE NOTE: THERE WILL BE
NO DIRECTORS' MEETING IN MAY