The Rural Voice, 1988-01, Page 35NEWS
CFFO CRITICIZES
UNFAIR SUBSIDIES
Production -based subsidies every-
where make rich farmers richer and
drive small farmers to bankruptcy.
This is the message that the first
vice-president of the Christian Farmers
Federation of Ontario (CFFO), Sid
Sikkema, brought from a workshop held
in Europe and attended by churches
from many parts of the world.
Sikkema's remarks, read by Elbert
Van Donkersgoed at the CFFO's annual
meeting in December, included the
caution that when farmers in the West
lobby governments to buy their food for
handouts to poor countries, they bank-
rupt small farmers in those countries,
who lose what markets they do have.
Even within the European Eco-
nomic Community, he reported, 70 per
cent of all farm subsidies go to the farm-
ers of northern Europe, who make up
only 30 per cent of EEC farmers. The
same imbalance is occurring in North
America, Sikkema said, but in Canada
the ratio is worse: 75 and 25 per cent.
If in Europe, however, subsidies
were to be cut, five million farms would
be put out of business. This being unac-
ceptable, subsidies are likely to remain
and, according to Sikkema, even to in-
crease.
In Europe, Sikkema said, farmers
survive while causing over -production.
Elsewhere, the free enterprise system
makes farmers go broke.
The free enterprise system, which
includes free trade in food products, is
unjust, Sikkema added. Free trade
bankrupts farmers, kills family farms,
mines the soil, pollutes our waters, de-
creases food quality, leads to more
chemical use, exploits human labour,
and speeds up self -exploitation on fam-
ily farms. All this, he concluded, is
unChristian.0
Adrian Vos
APPLE BUDGET SET
A promotion budget of $250,000 has
been set for Ontario apples.
The advertising campaign, with the
theme ''Ontario, how do you like them
apples," starts in mid-February with five
weeks of television advertising.0
LIQUID
DISPENSER
FOR LIVESTOCK ... THE
any additive into water ...
53 Accurately meters
• VITAMINS • CHLORINE
• PURI' IERSS • PEROXOIDEN
,:l MEDICATOR
• NEW BUILT-IN BY PASS.
ELIMINATES
COSTLY
- .
INSTALLATIONS
-
• No Electricity
• No Diaphram to Replace
I
• No Closed Container
Limitation
• Adjustable
• Accurate
• Sell Priming
• Self Cleaning
•
• Volumetric
• 8 to 400 Gallons an Hour
Inline Strarner'Hook Up
Kit and High Volume
Units Available Upon
Request
•• •+
DISTRIBUTED BY
mosESw-�'�_:._
1
i"' M
FARM SYSTEMS
'
OIVI51ON OF 1 M MOSES LIMITED
1 _.
R.R. at MITCHELL, ONTARIO
NOK 1NO
°°•"'
519 348-8483
.'""'"
_ LAND ROLLERS
DRAG BAR HARROWS
• 3 -sectional pull type
• Designed for low horse -power
requirements
• Custom-made units from 8 ft.
to 36 ft. wide
• Large 30 -inch diameter
drum rollers
Hydraulically operated wings
• Tongue adjusts for length
and height
For more information
and prices, contact:
R & R FABRICATING
R.R. 3, Zurich, Ont. NOM 2T0
519-236-4501
JANUARY 1988 33