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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2004-03-10, Page 5News Susan Hundertmark photos World Day of Prayer Above, Lois Moore and Ruth Smith, of Egmondville United Church, Eva Brown of 5t. Thomas Anglican Church and Ruth Snell of First Presbyterian Church, participate in the World Day of Prayer, held at Northside United Church Friday night. At left, Melissa Snyders encourages the women at the service to encounter life with enthusiasm. Farmers urged to register for new federal income stabilization program By Cheryl Heath Clinton News -Record Editor The registration deadline is fast approaching for area farmers seeking to sign up for the Canadian Agricultural Income Stabilization program. That was one of the strongest messages delivered in Huron County communities this past week as the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food presented a series of workshops on the new income stabilization programs. Dozens of area fanners gathered at the White Carnation hall in Holmesville Feb. 23 to pepper speakers with questions about the somewhat controversial plan, which falls under the Agricultural Policy Framework signed by the federal and provincial governments Last year. The two-pronged presentation began with a presentation qn production insurance, formerly known as crop insurance. Presenter Dave Connery, regional manager for government agency Agricorp, said the insurance is offered according to farm yields. "It covers you for anything Mother Nature can throw at you," he said, adding the new program offers more flexibility to farmers with three -tiered coverage, including catastrophic, comprehensive and high risk. Connery cited soybeans as an example of a high-risk crop. "We have had a lot of soybean claims over the last three years," he said, noting in that category, the farmer would be responsible for 67 per cent of the loss while the government would pick up 33 per cent of the tab. In contrast, a catastrophic event would be completely covered by the government and comprehensive insurance coverage includes a 60-40 government -farmer split. Connery said claims of all varieties have been on the rise in the past few years. He noted the government dealt with $1 million in claims between 1966 and 2000. Since then, claims have totaled $670 million. He said traditional crop killers, namely drought and excessive rainfall, are still the biggest bane of crop farmers. "You don't have to have a crop disaster to have a claim," added Connery, noting some farmers make claims on spot damage. Connery suggested farmers sign up for the program since it helps to stabilize cash flow. There is also an attractive 10 -day turnaround on the average claim. Plus, he noted, banks view crop insurance as collateral. He said the program could expand to include value-added products, like protein in wheat, in the future. Jim Walker, who spoke on CAIS, knew his topic was the night's featured event. "I always get nervous in front of a farm group because I know you are going to be asked questions, but you just don't know what type of questions you are going to get." He urged farmers to register for CAIS, which replaces the former Net Income Stabilization Account (NISA) and Ontario Farm Income Disaster Program (OFIDP), by the April 30 deadline. Walker said CAIS is based on the philosophy that farmers and government should share losses. The CAIS reference margin is based on an "Olympic" formula wherein five years of revenues are reviewed with the highest and lowest income years eliminated with the remaining three years used to formulate an average. Farms without a positive reference margin are ineligible for PUBLIC NOTICE RE: 2004 Municipality of Central Huron Budget This notice is given under the provisions of the Municipal Act, 2001, S.O. 2001, c 25, 2. 291 (1) Notice - Before adopt- ing all or part of a budget under section 289 or 290, or amending such a budget, a municipality shall give public notice of its intention to adopt or amend the budget at a coun- cil meeting specified in the notice. The Draft 2004 Municipality of Central Huron Budget will be presented and considered for adoption at the Regular Meeting of Council, Monday, March 15, 2004 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber, 23 Albert Street, Clinton, Ontario' Richard Harding, Clerk Administrator Municipality of Central Huron CAIS. Walker acknowledged the mechanics of CAIS can prove perplexing. "It you get totally confused in this don't feel you are alone because it took those of us in the office two to three days to wrap our heads around it," he said. The program's components, which include deposit and payment calculations, require farmers to deposit a minimum of 14 per cent of their reference margin into the CAIS account. The maximum deposit is 26 per cent. Walker said there are three rates of payment, depending on the loss during a program year. The disaster tier is for farms losing 30 per cent or more of revenue with the farmer paying 20 per cent of the cost and the government covering the rest. He noted there is a proposal in the works for negative margins, but it has not yet been approved. "It all relates back to Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) because BSE is considered an extraordinary event," he said. Walker said the payment calculation has three basic rules, namely the producer's deposit determines the amount of government stabilization support with the government paying the highest rate first. The government payment cannot exceed 70 per cent of the decline. He said CAIS is designed to encourage the maximum deposit of 26 per cent so farmers can reap the benefits of full government stabilization support. Walker added farmers should note the money that is deposited into CAIS is not considered a premium so it is never lost, though it cannot be withdrawn at whim. He also noted farmers not previously enrolled in NISA could face some extra challenges with registration. "There are still questions that need answers," he said. Farmer charged with speeding on way to livestock auction Huron OPP A 57 -year-old Central Huron farmer, who was late for a livestock auction, was charged with travelling 54 kilometres over the speed limit when he was stopped March 1 at 5 p.m. in Walton. The blue 2001 Dodge Ram pick-up truck was going eastbound on Blyth Road hauling a livestock trailer. He was travelling at 114 kilometres an hour in a 60 kilometre zone. He is scheduled to attend court in Goderich on April 15. PUBLIC NOTICE Municipality of Central Huron Notice to amend the fees and charges for the consumption of water and the treatment of waste water for the following systems: > Aubum Water System > Clinton Water and Sewage Systems Dundass Water System > Kelly Water System > McClihchey Water System > S.A.M. Water System Van De Wetering Water System Pursuant to Section 391 of the Ontario Municipal Act, S.O. 2001, C. 25, as amended and Ontario Regulation 24.4/02, Section 12 (6), the Council of the Munic!nality of Central Huron will hold a public meeting to consider amendments to the fees and charges for the above noted systems. This meeting will take place during the Regular Meeting of Council, Monday, Aprl1l9, 2004 at 7:00 p.m. In the Council Chamber, 23 Albert Street, Clinton, Ontario. Further Information may be obtained by contacting the Municipal Office at 482-3997 ext. 227 or by Email - udlcenhurecabfetv.on.ca. A copy of the proposed document will be available on the website by April 1, 2004 (www.centralhuron.com) Richard Harding Clerk Administrator THE HURON EXPOSITOR, MARCH 10, 2004-11 • snow 1GUaranteet11 ...or it's FREE. Tried everything to quit but nothing works? X Smokers, is different — It works or it's FREE! We've helped thousands who've tried cold turkey, the patch, Zyban®, hypnosis, or acupuncture to finally break free for good. With our 94 percent graduation rate, you Mel have nothing to lose. Quit ! completely or it's FREE! An easy, easy, comfortable way to quit. Wish I'd known about it years ago. Pat Feeney, Dublin Never tried to stop before, but if you follow the program it works. Graeme Craig, Walton Totally amazed how easy it was to quit a 25 -year, pack-a-day habit. Maryann Feeney, Dublin; 345-2930 FREE INFORMATION SESSION in Dublin. Call to register. ONE YEAR SUCCESS 2 L To reserve your place, call London area: 457-6399 or toll-free: 1466-976-6537. WIN A FREE PROGRAM AT www. ltsEasylt Works. cont It's Our 40th ANNIVERSARY! Come in & say hello & enter our Free Draw to win one of four $40.00 Gift Certificates Fabulous Savings... Fantastic Deals... ON ALL IN -STOCK WALLPAPER & BORDERS Starting at$ 95 • OFF ALL Wallpaper Book Orders FREE WATER TRAY WITH WALLPAPER PURCHASE Single Roll Try the New ULTI-MATTE LATEX ENAMEL SAVE NOW WITH THESE CASH PRICES HILDEBRAND PAINT & PAPER "Your Benjamin Moore Dealer" INTERIOR and EXTERIOR DECORATORS 19 Main St !Worth 527-1880 Church Services BEREAN COVENANT CHURCH A CHURCH PLANT OF GRACE TR*IITY COMMUNITY CHURCH 527-0029 Fellowship at 7:00 pm Pastoral Team: Pastor Bob Penhsarow Pastor Ron Matthews Pastor Royal Hamel You are invited to attend these area churches St. Thomas Anglican Church A Congregation of the Parish of The Holy Spirit Jarvis St. Seaforth Fr. Michael Atkins Parish Office 527.1522 The Third Sunday of Lent Worship at 9:30 a.m. Prayer Group - Monday et 7:00 p.m. Handel's Messiah • Monday at 7:30 p.m. Catholic Church St. James RC Church 14 Victoria Street, $eaforth • 527-0142 Weekend Masses: Sat 5:15 pm Sun. 11:00 am St. Columban RC Church Saturday Mass at 7:30 pm Father Lance Magdzlak Bethel Bible Church An Associated Gospel Church 128 Main St. Seaforth 527-0982 Sunday School 9:45 am Sunday Worship Hour 11 am Jim Wylie - Pastor B & O Club Wed. 7 p.m. Youth Group Wed. 7 p.m. Egmondville United Church Sunday School 10:00 am Worship Service 11:00 am Sunday March 14 Stew Hildebrand Lay.Pastoral Minister In training Join us today for Worship at Maplewood Manor at 11 am and Seatorth Manor at 2 pm. NORTHSIDE - CAVAN UNITED CHURCHES Cavan 9:30 a.m. 11:00 a.m. Northside Winthrop 54 Goderich St. W. Sunday March 14, 2004 Guest Speaker: Bruce Whitmore Northside Fellowship & Games Night Fri. Mar 12th 7:00 pm First Presbyterian Church Goderich St.iW. Seaforth Rev. Ted Nelson Interim Minister Sunday, March 14 11:15 a,m.