Loading...
The Citizen, 1991-10-09, Page 22PAGE 22. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1991. Farmers get some cash to fight cash crunch By Jim Fitzgerald Following several announce­ ments last week, there is beginning to be some light at the end of the tunnel for area grains and oil seed farmers who are facing a farm cri­ sis this fall. Facing prices for their crops — wheat, barley, com and soybeans —that are the lowest in 20 years, farmers have been pleading with provincial and federal governments to come with some financial aid this fall. Many of them say they will not be in business next spring and it will cause havoc in rural communities. First off the mark was Ontario NDP Agriculture Minister Elmer Buchanan. He announced last week that the province will find $35.5 million in new money to help farm- Grey owners meetings set A series of meetings has been set up for residents of six areas chosen as candidate sites for the new Huron County landfill site. The meetings begin tonight, (Wednesday) with a meeting at the Ethel Community Hall at 8 p.m. for residents effected by site Grey 3, parts of lots 11, 12, 13, 14 on con­ cessions 2 and 3 of Grey township. Thursday there will be a meeting at the Walton Hall for residents affected by Grey site 5, parts of lots 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 concession 14 and parts of lots 12, 13, 14, 15 on concession 15. Tuesday, Oct. 15 at the Ethel Hall a meeting will be held for Grey site 2, parts of lots 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10, concession 4. Thursday, Oct. 17, a meeting will be held at Walton Hall for those affected by Grey site 6, taking in parts of lots 14 and 15, concessions 16 and 17. All meetings are at 8 p.m. ers make it through the winter until two new income stabilization pro­ grams kick in. Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, meanwhile, told a Manitoba audi­ ence last weekend that a new assis­ tance package from the federal government would be announced within the next couple of weeks. Buchanan's new package consists of five components: an additional $11 million to the $50 million Farm Interest Assistance Program introduced last April to offset inter­ est costs; $15 million to eligible grain and oilseed farmers equal to the costs of premiums they paid into the provincial income stabi­ lization program for the 1990/91 crop year; $5 million to producers of edible horticultural crops; $1 million to apple, onion, honey and fur producers; and $3.5 million to farmers in the drought struck areas of Essex, Kent and Lambton coun­ ties. Owners urged to co-operate to shorten uncertainty Continued from page 1 Brad Knight said Grey councillors have also been advising concerned landowners to give quick access to their properties. Denying access may only prolong their worrying, perhaps needlessly, he said. Mr. Knight said that many of those involved who had contacted his office were concerned because they didn't feel their land was suit­ able for a landfill, either because it was too good agricultural land or because it had water close to the surface. While a large part of Grey town­ ship was affected by the selection of candidate sites, one group of landowners who might have been expecting a visit from county offi­ cials, found out their land had been scratched from potential candidate sites. Property owners on both sides of the border between Grey and McKiilop had been upset by the earlier results of constraint mapping which had identified a large parcel of land in the area as one of the few sizeable tracts of land in the county that wasn't elimi­ nated by the previous process. But none of the land was in the final group of sites selected. Mr. McMil­ lan said that after the public meet­ ings, McKiilop township made available a report it had commis­ sioned earlier from Conestoga Rovers Associates which showed the land was unsuitable. Other properties were eliminated when records of well drillers showed that soil conditions were unsuitable. Another limiting factor for some sites was the minimum requirement of 24 hectares (about 65 acres). Mr. MacMillan told council that with the expected growth of the county and the expected reduction of the amount of landfill through diver­ sion programs such as recycling and composting, it was fell that size would last the county for 40 years. Some councillors worried that the size was large enough. "After all the cost and time, I only hope the size will be large enough," said Lionel Wilder, Reeve of Hay town­ ship. "I can't see 65 acres being large enough. I was astounded. I really expected at least 100 acres." Mr. McMillan said he had really expected to be looking at 100 acres himself but when the figures on the volume of garbage were put togeth­ er, the 65-acre site seemed suitable. All of the candidate sites are that large with the four Grey sites being the largest ranging from 44.4 hectares for Grey site 6 to 77.2 hectares for site 2. Mr. McMillan said that visual observation of the six candidate sites may eliminate some and exploratory drilling may eliminate some of the remaining sites. It's possible, he said, that all six sites would be eliminated in the process and that the selection criteria might have to be widened to allow for a new batch of candidate sites to be selected. At a news conference to announce the package, Buchanan admitted the money wasn't enough. "We recognize that money is not the solution to all the problems pressing our farms and farming communities and we know that money alone is not enough. But I remain confident that this new injection of money, coupled with the cash flow which will result from the interim Gross Revenue Insurance Plan (GRIP) payout, will help bridge financially troubled farmers until next year when long­ term programs take effect," Buchanan said. Farm leaders present at the announcement praised the new assistance and said it showed that the Ontario government was listen­ ing to farmers. "It's a clear recog­ nition of the serious financial crisis being experienced by farmers," said Roger George, president of the Ontario Federation of agriculture, the province's largest farm group. Mr. George said it will give the farm groups some leverage to get the federal government to at least match the province's contribution. Frank Anthony, president of the Ontario Com Producers Associa­ tion, said the federal government had promised last year to help farmers bridge the gap between old ad hoc programs and the new safety net programs. "We expect federal Agriculture Minister Bill Mcknight to live up to that commitment", said Anthony. BLYTH REBELS BROOMBALL KICKOFF DANCE SATURDAY OCT. 12/91 AUBURN HALL 9 p.m.-1a.m. $5.00 Admission MUSIC BY: SOUND PROOF (Calvin Kerr) Congratulations Graduation JANICE (SEMPLE) WHITE Janice graduated in May *91 from the Nursing Program at Humber College, Toronto and is presently working as an R.N. in Credit Valley Hospital Mississauga. Janice Is the daughter of Joe and Kathleen Semple of R.R. 1 Ethel. BOOK YOUR CHRISTMAS f PARTY EARLY Everyone is Welcome Clubs, Organizations, Individuals, StaffEveryone is welcome to an OPEN RECEPTION on Saturday, October 12 at 9:00 p.m. at the Brussels, Morris & Grey Community Centre in honour of MR. & MRS. GARY McCutcheon Who were married in Toronto on Sept. 20,1991 Please otter best wishes only and welcome Jane to the community AND JOIN US Where - Brussels, Morris & Grey Arena Date - Saturday, December 7,1991 Time - Social Hour 6 p.m. - Dinner 7 p.m. Price - $15.00 each Music by THE TEMPTATIONS M.C. Neil McGavin DOOR pBVZES ’ Okll V . Includes a Dance and Hot Roast Beef Dinner, catered by the B. M. & G. Catering Group. Corsage for the ladies. ONLY 400 TICKETS AVAILABLE SO BOOK EARLY Call Rhonda Fischer 887-6225 or Dale Newman 887-6664 or Gordon (Doc) Stephenson 887-6371 All proceeds tor arena and community betterment Sponsored by the B M. & G. Recreation Board SUPPER Stacy Elizabeth-Ann McClin- chey is a recent graduate from Fanshawe College, having completed a two year course in business admin­ istration and executive secretarial. She Is residing in London and is currently employed with an archi­ tectural, engineering firm. Stacy plans to attend the University of Western next fall to further her education. Stacy Is the daughter of John and Maureen McClinchey of Blyth. Blyth United Church ANNIVERSARY TURKEY FRI. OCT. 25/91 - 6:30 P.M IN THE BLYTH & DISTRICT COMMUNITY CENTRE • ADULTS $7.50 • CHILDREN (5-12) $3.50 • PRESCHOOL FREE Advance tickets available at Webster's Clothing & Footwear and Wilson's Health & Gifts or from any member of the Board of Stewards. SPONSORED BY THE BOARD OF STEWARDS OF THE BLYTH UNITED CHURCH