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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 1991-03-13, Page 14PAGE 14. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 1991. George tells Federation farmers about GRIP BY MERLE GUNBY Fifty years of working towards better agricultural policies was celebrated by the East Wawanosh Township Federation of Agricul ture at their annual meeting in Belgrave on March 7. Despite the stormy weather, a large turn-out of township farmers including eleven past presidents listened to the guest speaker, Ontario Federation of Agriculture president Roger George, explain some of OFA’s policies, including the new Gross Revenue Insurance Program (GRIP). Mr. George is one of three Ontario farmer representatives on the Grain and Oilseed Committee. This committee includes 19 farmers from across Canada, plus eight provincial and six federal govern ment members. Its mandate, ac cording to Agriculture Canada publication “Growing Together”, is to develop effective income protection policy recommendations for grain and oilseed growers during these times of trade wars and low grain prices. “It is important to maintain farmer presence on these commit tees, to keep government officials from inserting weasel words or clauses that would weaken the policies,” George says. “Govern ment officials were shocked when eastern and western farmers on the committee came up with a consen sus,” he added. To date, two assistance pro grams have been developed by the Grain and Oilseed Safety Net Committee: the Gross Revenue Insurance Plan (GRIP), and the Net Income Stabilization Account (NISA). Farm meetings across the country have been buzzing with these new acronyms all winter. GRIP is similar to crop insurance but it considers price as well as yield. Its premiums are calculated with a ‘target revenue’ based on a 15 year average, plus a factor for inflation. Target revenue is calcu lated as follows: probable yield X seeded acreage X support price equals target revenue. Premiums will be 18 per cent of target revenue, six per cent paid by the farmer and six per cent each by the federal and provincial govern ments. Market revenue is deter mined by multiplying a farmer’s actual yieid X market price X seeded area. A farmer will receive a payment when the Market re venue from his crop is less than the target revenue. George estimates that for the first few years GRIP will be in a deficit, but should balance out over a 13-year period. The NISA plan is similar to an RRSP, but with different tax impli cations. Simply put, a farmer, with government assistance, would con tribute to his personal NISA fund in successful years and draw on it in poorer years. Farmers have three lines of defence, George indicated: first and most importantly, is their own management skills; the second, programs like crop insurance, stabilization, and now, GRIP; third ly, the Grain and Oilseed Safety Net Committee is working on an emergency program to help out when all hell breaks loose.” George’s examples of the problems such a program might deal with include the current situation in the white bean industry, a serious drought or flood, or a possible deficit in GRIP. “Most importantly, in all our discussions with consumers or government officials we must put the word “profit” up front. No industry can survive without mak ing a profit and we need to make this point as farmers. And the next time a fellow farmer tells me, ‘OFA doesn’t do me any good,’ especially if he has a GRIP cheque in his hand, I’ll snatch it away from him,” the OFA president said. JOHN W. KING RR 4, Wingham 357-2645 AVAILABLE FOR 1991 PLANTING SYMKO 2 ROW BARLEY SOYBEANS AND INOCULANTS Maple Arrow 2600 Maple Glen 2600 OAC Scorpio 2600 Histick Peat • Hiflow Granular Hicoat Pre-inoculated Soybeans Other grains from Connell’s, Palmerston The k>.Z4 PLPirit •Alpine Plant Foods •Storage Tanks •Funk’s Seed Corn •Forage Seeds JOHN A. VAN BEERS R.R. 1, BLYTH, ONTARIO N0M 1H0 OAC Libra 2650 AC Bravor 2700 OAC Donovan 2750 Farm ■ EVENT f750.°° Past presidents f ’I A group of past presidents of East Wawanosh Federation of Agriculture attended the 50th annual meeting held Thursday in Belgrave. They include: (back row) from left) Ralph Scott, Donald Dow, John Taylor, Chris Palmer, Jack Currie, and Walter Elliott; (front row) Robert Henry, Charlie Smith and Simon Hallahan. - Photo by Merle Gunby. Bean Bd. won't give up on payment The Ontario White Bean Board still wants a full payout from the Tripartite plan. Board member John Gaunt told the Huron County Federation of Agriculture’s mem bers meeting in Walton Thursday. Mr. Gaunt said an information meeting had been held at the bean board on Feb. 14 and producers had been told the insurance plan is virtually broke because of two big payouts in the last few years. Producers were told there was an option of the program to return the premiums of the producers. Mr. Gaunt argued that if the proper figures were used, the program isn’t in as bad shape as it’s supposed to be. He recalled that in 1987 bean producers were virtually forced to enroll in the program. After two big years of payouts due to low commodity programs now the government wants out, he said. Still, he said. the board is seeking full payment, get some cash into farmers’ hands including an interim payment to for planting. NEW SALE SCHEDULES TUESDAYS ■ 10 A.M. Slaughter cattle & veal followed by cows FRIDAYS - 1 P.M. PIGS & STOCKERS STOCKER SALES starting March 15 and every Friday until April 26/91 NO SALE ON GOOD FRIDAY SPECIAL LAMB AND GOAT SALE SATURDAY MARCH 23 - 1:00 P.M, BRUSSELS LIVESTOCK DIVISION OF GAMBLE & ROGERS LTD. FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL SALESBARN 887-6461 LS 1410 / 1910 / 3010/ 381OT Trailer Sprayers Cash Rebates are available on all new Vicon farm equipment. PLUS Low Financing Rates & Cash Rebates 0 o/o INTEREST For 12 Months* for 24 Mos. for 36 Mos. for 48 Mos. A PR OR Payment Waiver until July 1, 1991 & Cash Rebates There’s never been a better time to take advantage of the biggest price incentives ever offered on new Vicon farm equipment. 7.5% 8.5% 9.5% ‘Monthly Payments. Certain terms and conditions apply Program subject to change without notice McGAVIN FARM EQUIPMENT 887-6365 walton 527-0245 Performance you can afford to take home