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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1992-04-01, Page 10PAGE 10. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1,1992. 17r arm NFU leader says GATT, NAFTA about who Brussels Livestock report Steady demand at auction controls farm International trade negotiations in agriculture are really about who will control farm production, Wayne Easter, president of the National Farmers Union told a meeting of about 60 Line in the Dirt supporters in Reed's Comers Thursday night. Mr. Easter said that supply man­ agement gives farmers control over their own production and if negoti­ ations under GATT and the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) are successful, that con­ trol will be taken away from farm­ ers by taking away the border controls supply management requires to control supply. If the problem spurring on trade talks is export subsidies that distort the market and create damaging surpluses, he said, then why is sup­ ply management being targeted unless it's because it gives farmers too much power instead interna­ tional food companies. He said Canadian farmers need to go on the offensive internationally: to talk about giving farmers in other countries the benefit of their supply management system rather than lose that benefit to Canada. "We have to reject the law of the market", he said. Mr. Easter said farmers must be able to get the price for their prod­ uct from the market, not from gov­ ernment grants. Safety-net programs like GRIPP, NISA and tripartite end up in farmers financ­ ing their own poverty, he said, while providing cheap raw materi­ als for food processors so they can compete internationally. Farmers must strengthen the position of the Canadian Wheat Board, must improve supply man­ agement and must get more com­ modities under supply manage- OMAF holds NISA meeting April 10 Applications are now being accepted for the 1991 Net Income Stabilization Account (NISA) pro­ gram. John Bancroft, the Farm Manage­ ment Specialist for Huron County says an information meeting to review the 1991 program and the application forms will be held April 10 at 1:00 p.m. in the auditorium in Huronview (Clinton). Pre-registration is required by calling the Clinton OMAF office at 482-3428 or 1-800-265-5170. The NISA program is designed to help farmers meet their long-term planning and management needs. Mr. Bancroft explained that for WALTON AREA SOFT BALL REGISTRATION Sat. April 11/92 from 11:00 a.m. - 2 p.m. at Walton Library $15.00 per child maximum $45.00 per family For more Information or if you wish to pre- register please call 887-9607 or 887-9247 production ment. He suggested a national meat authority be set up to sell meats in a complementary basis, rather than have them compete against one another. "If we do not co-operate with one another then we'll contin­ ue to be caught in ruinous competi­ tion." Farmers, he said, are generators of wealth, starting the chain that creates jobs. Industry, however, looks at agriculture as a source of raw materials for processing and wants cheaper raw materials to compete internationally. If Canada is going to compete with Mexico, it must not only have lower raw food prices but lower wages. This kind of competition will pit neighbour against neighbour, province against provinces and country against country, he said. "The aim is always to drive prices down. We need to move to a system in which we have control." He warned against Bill C-54 cur­ rently before the House of Com­ mons that would amend the National Farm Products Council, the original thrust of which was to develop farm products marketing agencies. The new amendments, however, will allow commodity organizations to establish check­ offs for research and development. On his farm, the P.E.I. dairy farmer said, he could end up paying check-offs to nine different com­ modity groups. If producers start doing research and development, he warned, the government may pull back its funding of research. There will be no plebiscite for farmers to agree to such check-offs. "You'd better be aware that it's before the Commons and most organizations are supporting it because it will give them money," he said. the 1991 tax year, the federal- provincial farmer program will continue to apply to grains, oilseeds, special crops and edible horticulture crops not covered under National Tripartite Stabiliza­ tion Programs. The deadline for return of the forms is June 30, 1992. For more information on NISA, call the NISA toll-free line at 1- 800-665-NISA or the OMAF office in Clinton at 482-3428 or 1-800- 265-5170. We need your help! The Walton Area Sports Club needs people to help with the Recreation committee and to act as coaches. If your are interested in helping out in any way please contact us at 887-9607 or 887-9247. Sales at Brussels Livestock for the week ending March 27 were: slaughter cattle, 1035; cows, 288; veal calves, 235; lambs and goats, 110; stockers, 1250; pigs, 105. The trade this week was on a steady demand with second cut cattle selling $1 - $2 lower. There were 680 steers on offer selling from $72 to $93.75 to the high of $99.75. Six steers consigned by Gordon Daer, Auburn averaging 1271 lbs. sold for an average of $88.65 to the high of $99.75. Eight steers consigned by Albert Middlekamp, Ripley averaging 963 lbs. sold for an average of $90.35 to the high of $91. Fourteen steers consigned by Maple Ridge Farms, Brussels, averaging 1299 lbs. sold for an average of $88 to the high of $90. Forty-three steers consigned by G. A. Stewart Farms, Ripley averaging 1238 lbs. sold for an average of $87.60 to the high of $91.25. Nineteen steers consigned by Alton O'Neil, Lucan averaging 1464 lbs. sold for an average of $86.50 to the high of $93. Sixty- two steers consigned by George Adams, Wroxeter, averaging 1327 lbs. sold for an average of $86.10 to the high of $91.90. Twenty-three steers consigned by Cunningham Farms, Lucan, averaging 1485 lbs. sold for an average of $86.05 to the high of $92.75. Fifteen steers consigned by Ken Eadie, Holyrood, averaging 1480 lbs. sold for an average of $86 to the high of $93. Twelve steers consigned by Glen Johnston, Bluevale averaging 1319 lbs. sold for an average of $85.80 to the high of $91.50. Twenty-four steers consigned by Martin Metske, Lucknow averaging 1341 lbs. sold for an average of $84.56 to the high of $89. Twenty-seven steers consigned by Gerald Geisel, Elmira, averaging 1484 lbs. sold for an average of $83.40 to the high of $87.90. New commodity loan program announced by Ontario government The Ontario NDP government recently announced the formation of a new program to help farmers with their short-term operating credit. Il's called the Commodity Loan Guarantee Program and is expected to provide up to $100 million in loans at interest rates close to prime, stated a press release issued by Huron MPP Paul Klopp March 25. "This will save most farmers in the program hundreds of dollars in interest costs," he stated in the release. "Some farmers will save thousands of dollars." In order to make use of the pro­ gram, farmers must be enrolled in crop insurance or GRIP contracts to There were 344 heifers on offer selling from $78 to $90.60 to the high of $104. Twenty heifers consigned by John Barbour, Orangeville, averaging 1276 lbs. sold for an average of $93.70 to the high of $104 purchased by Norwich Packers. One heifer consigned by Clayton McClure, Seaforth, weighed 1240 lbs. sold for $96.75. Three heifers consigned by Geo., Paul and Mark Pennington, Mildmay averaging 1173 lbs. sold for an average of $88.50 to the high of $90.60. Four heifers consigned by Greg Hackett, Lucknow averaging 1060 lbs. sold for $88. Six heifers consigned by Jim Laverty, Orangeville averaging 998 lbs. sold for an average of $87.60 to the high of $88.75. Nine heifers consigned by Lome Forster, Lucknow averaging 1243 lbs. sold for an average of $87.35 to the high of $88. Ten heifers consigned by Groenberg Farms, Lucknow averaging 1092 lbs. sold for an average of $87.20 to the high of $93. Eight heifers consigned by Randy Pentland, Goderich, averaging 1092 lbs. sold for an average of $84.15 to the high of $85.75. Ten heifers consigned by Lome Hackett, Lucknow averaging 1016 lbs. sold for an average of $83.85 to the high of $87.50. There were 288 cows on offer selling from $52.25 to $59.75 to the high of $68. Two cows consigned by Wilhelm Wagner, Kincardine averaging 935 lbs. sold for an average of $56.70 to the high of $65. One cow consigned by Kevin Pfeffer, Palmerston weighed 1310 lbs. sold for $64.50. One cow consigned by Greg McPherson, Teeswater, weighed 1390 lbs. sold for $62.75. There were 235 veal on offer selling from $64.50 to $88.50 to the high of $95. Two veal consigned by Mark Pfeffer, provide security on money bor­ rowed to plant a crop. The Ontario government provides a further 25 per cent guarantee on the loan. If the crop fails for weather or market reasons, the crop insurance or GRIP contract provides the first level of security to the bank. If this is insufficient to cover the loan, the government guarantee kicks in. Mr. Klopp said the NDP govern­ ment is planning to introduce other programs in the future which are aimed at cutting farmer's interest costs. For more information on the Commodity Loan Guarantee Pro­ gram, call Mr. Klopp's constituency office in Clinton at 482-3132 or 1- 800-668-9320. Clifford averaging 610 lbs. sold for an average of $73.30 to the high of $95. Four veal consigned by Dave Elphick, Lucknow averaging 643 lbs. sold for an average of $76.95 to the high of $92.50. Two veal consigned by Charles Codd, Fordwich, averaging 610 lbs. sold for an average of $82.70 to the high of $91.50. There were 105 pigs on offer with 67 paper pigs. Fifty to 60 lb. pigs sold to a high of 77 cents per lb.; 60 to 70 lb., to a high of 75 cents per lb.; 80 lbs. to a high of 60 cents per lb. The paper pig sale at Brussels Livestock has been working well for both buyer and seller, with a number of order-buyers quite interested in buying larger numbers. Walden Photography Weddings & Portraits Call Gary Walden 482-7675 TOWNSHIP OF HULLETT 1992 MINOR BALL REGISTRATION DATE: Saturday, April 11,1992 TIME: 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. PLACE: Londesboro Community Hall and Auburn Library Following this date, Registration at Municipal Office, Londesboro, only. An additional $5.00 late registration fee will apply. SHARP DEALS ON QUALITY- CLEAN READY-TO-GO USED CARS Great Savings on These Used Cars & Trucks. Some One Owner Low Mileage. 2-1991 GMC1/2 ton pickups 1991 Buick LeSabre, 4 door, loaded with options 1990 Chrysler New Yorker Landau, loaded with extras, 4 doors 1989 Mercury Topaz LS, 4 door, loaded 1989 Plymouth Acclaim 4 door I with air 1989 Chev Celebrity 4 door with air 1988 Ford 4X4 1987 Mercury Sabie, 4 door, V6, loaded with options. 1985 GMC 3/4 ton pick-up, V-8 automatic 1983 Ford F150 4X4 pickup HAMM'S BLYTH PHONE - 523-4342