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The Citizen, 1999-03-31, Page 15THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31, 1999. PAGE 15. Fed, of Agriculture’s Parliamentarian dinner Farmers discuss wide range of agricultural issues By Adrian Vos Special to The Citizen A wide range of issues relating to farming in Huron County was the object of the annual meeting in Clinton of farm groups with members of the federal (Paul Steckle) and of the provincial government (Helen Johns). Under the capable guidance of Huron County Federation of Agriculture (HCFA) president Pat Down, discussions were about concerns of U.S. restrictive actions and decisions made by the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the potential threat to supply management. Steckle cautioned farmers to be on the lookout for a beetle imported from China that can be a serious threat to maple trees. Watch for small piles of sawdust at the base of the trees, he advised. If that happens call OMAFRA for help. From then on the discussions jumped from problems caused by the recent low prices for pork producers to concerns for the environment. The chairman of the HCFA environment committee, Evert Ridder, noted that the province stopped monitoring river quality in 1994. "How can we improve if we don't know that status?" he asked. Water quality, he said, benefits the whole community and everyone should help pay. Johns defended her government's decision by stating they had merely stopped duplication of monitoring which was done already by the river authorities, but Ridder said they tested for different problems. He said that one tested for bacteria and others don't. Carol Mitchell, Huron County warden, stated that the county, through the county officer of health plans to monitor and to keep records. Down said, if everyone works together things can be done. An example is the clean-up of the phosphorus in the lakes which is down dramatically from a decade ago. In light of coming amalgamations, she said, "we need a vision and we need to share it with each other to see if we have a common goal." The pork producers brief praised both Steckle and Johns for their willingness to listen and to work Legumes can improve future yields Continued from page 14 back in protein or yield is going to make the extra investment worth the time and effort. Several people will also be looking at adding red clover to their wheat fields during the next few weeks. The use of a short term legume crop in your rotation plans has been proven to increase yields of the next crop (corn) when put into the rotation. The long open fall with very nice weather allowed the winter annual weeds (stinkweed or shepherd's- purse) to get a great start in October and November. Check fields for these weeds at an earlier day than most years or it will be too late to control them if they start to "bolt". toward a solution. Dave Linton, spokesman, explained why large producers do not get support from their neighbours. The contract hogs are a problem for the whole community. For instance the large corporate feedmill in St. Marys (who supplies feed to contract farmers) greatly increased production and added 10 - 12 workers. But it means that local feedmilis lose these farmers as customers and must cut back or close. Family farms put 84 per cent of their expenditures back into the local community compared with 43 per cent by corporations and they create three times the jobs the corporate contract farmer does. "This," their brief said, "is destroying an open market and putting independent producers out of business". Linton lashed out at some bureaucrats who spoke at the annual meeting of Ontario Pork in Toronto. Influential people from the Farm Products Marketing Commission made outrageous statements, he said. Johns promised to discuss these problems with the minister. Linton said U.S. studies have shown that smaller hog farms are more efficient by $10 per hog but get $12 a hog less because integrators control the market. Doubling it The number of dogs at Brussels Ridge Kennels suddenly doubled recently when Jewel, a Siberian husky gave birth to 11 healthy pups. While such a large litter is not unheard of it is also not typical, particularly for a first-time mom. BUYING STANDING TIMBER & HARDWOOD SAW LOGS • Timber Purchasing & Resource Management • Quality Selective Cutting • Government Certified Crews with Quality Workmanship Also have SLABWOOD & WOOD MULCHav&ilable\ RAIG HARDWOODS LTD. AUBURN, ONTARIO 519-526-7220 FAMILY BUSINESS SINCE 1866 ©1998 CASE CORPORATION \ Visit Case's Web Site at http://www.casecorp.com \ Case IH and Case Credit are registered trademarks of Case Corporation. Steckle said he was convinced that within 10 years the hog industry will go the way the chicken industry is in the USA. McCains will do to hogs what Cargill does to grain. Blyth Reeve Mason Bailey said Ontario has a 20 per cent surplus of food because of lost export markets. Also, he said, "we have to compete with slave labour and with huge European subsidies." But Steckle was more confident. "We have protection and it will not happen." . Grey Reeve Dunbar said what is happening in pork is happening everywhere. Large companies are taking over. He asked Steckle if he would fight. Steckle said Canada is concerned but that these are international issues and must be resolved there. The discussion turned back to the environment. One said provincial standards are needed. Bruce County is considering all hog farms banned from within five kilometres of the lake. Johns said the calls she gets on this are conflicting. "You should get together and make up your mind. Get a consensus." Another one said big farms are very visible but there are more problems from small farms. Ridder said each watershed should be studied by what it can handle. Mitchell said her mail indicates that farmers don't want regulations but that it should be voluntary. Bob Hallam of the Soybean Growers Ma'Keting Board was greatly concerned that the safety net progran be continued. The present prog am expires at the end of March. The soybean board is working with oilseed producers around the world to come to an agreement called "Zero for Zero" e.g. no import or export tariffs whatsoever: The egg and pullett producer's case was put forward by Richard Kaatstra. Except for tobacco in the U.S. the egg industry js the only one in the world fully protected. He said the value of supply management is demonstrated by comparing the egg with the hog industry. "We", he said proudly, "pay taxes. Hogmen don’t". There is a contrast with U.S. producers who get export subsidies of 99 per cent and Europeans who get $200 an acre plus commodity support. Steckle believes Americans are out to get Canadians on supply management. He feels support is needed from every farm commodity from hogs to grain. Johns said, if there is more her government can do, tell them. Wayne Hamilton suggested homogenization between provinces. The case for the cattlemen was presented by Kitty MacGregor. Her first concern was the need to keep the right to use medicated feed. "We know we cannot overmedicate" she stated. "No one wants to put people or animals in jeopardy." Linton said during the price crisis farmers had cut back on medication and found it made no difference in growth. "It’s only the drug companies that benefit,” he said. Steckle said the government is dealing with this issue now. Bill 25, the provincial bill allowing conservation officers to Vincent Farm Equipment Seaforth Cordially Invite You To Attend Our Spring Kick Off Breakfast & Open House Sat., April 10, 1999 8 am - 1 pm Highlights include: The New CIH MX Magnum, MX & CX Series of Tractors, ATV Driving Range, Garden Tractor Driving Range, Numerous Door Prizes Be Sure To Attend 527-0120 Seaforth enter on private land is a concern. Now these officials can go anywhere as a right to search. Johns replied that people still will have to have permission to search. A line in the beef submission that Canada refuse increased market access and reduce tariffs on supply managed commodities got Kaatstra up in arms. He said it is not fair to play one commodity against the other. Steckle said this is one of the problems nationally. Steve Thompson added that these are the exact arguments the U.S. uses. Dairyman Art Versteeg explained that the U.S. can move dairy product into Canada but Canada can't send one drop to them. The WTO challenge by the U.S. and New Zealand is of concern. That round was lost and the federal government has been asked to appeal that ruling. Steckle said he had warned producers when they encouraged over-production for export. Now farmers aie not better off because of it. Versteeg said exports are up from three per cent traditionally to 10 per cent now. Henry Booth products are shipped to countries that don’t want them because the countries that need them have no money. Neil Stapleton gave a report of the wheat industry. He considers it was a big mistake when the GRIP program was cancelled. He urged the politicians not to make the same mistake and cancel present federal and provincial subsidies. Steckle said that the average subsidy was $23,600. The meeting concluded with a plea by MPP Helen Johns to stand more together. Help protect the environment Reduce, reuse and recycle