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Home My WebLink AboutHuron Expositor, 2006-02-22, Page 2Page 2 February 22, 2006 • The Huron WEEC FARM EQUIPMENT rip sitor SEAFORTH 527-0120 EXETER 235-2121 www.teamvincent.com CASE 111 FIREPLACE SHOWROOM NOW OPEN! Whether you need a fireplace insert or free standing model for a family room, kitchen, bedroom or basement, we have the expertise to suit your needs! Come in for a free quote today! 15 Goderich St., E., Seaforth 527-0505 News Huron farmers say they're losing money on every crop From Page 1 - land, I wouldn't be able to make payments," he says. For many farmers, such as Steve . Webster, of Blyth, the bank no longer considers him a good investment, because he still has debt with the bank he cannot pay off. Webster's problems started when the BSE crisis hit, clos- ing the ' U.S. border to Canadian cattle, which at the time was all he farmed. Webster says in approxi- mately a .year and a half he lost $917,000 in equities. "It's been very frustrating to watch me lose my money - but, not my fathers," he says, _ refer- ring to how hard it has been burning through the equity his father built. Since the U.S. border closed on Canadian cattle, Webster has farmed soy and kidney beans, but, only because he received, what he calls a "cash injection well into the five fig- ures," from two individuals he did not want to name. Webster says without the financial help he would have been forced to sell his farm last April. In Webster's case, he does not have a family to. support, but for others who do, the farming crisis is all the more stressful. Peter Postl, who farms: cash crops outside Brucefield, has three chil- dren at home. Last year he says he Provincial Agriculture Minister Leona Dombrowsky COUNSELLING Brian O'Reilly • Marriage •Personal Growth • Executive Coaching •Life Coaching 519-522-1032 Brucefield INDIAN RIVER DIRECT 44;jefe *Citrus Truckload Saler Florida 20 lb. Box Seedless Navel Oranges #08292 20 ib. Box or —Ruby Red Grapefruit $20.00 iaoX FRESH FROM THE GROVE INDIAN RIVER FLORIDA lost around $50,000. The situation is no dif- ferent for Goderich farmer Achim Stoecker, who, with four kids, says luckily their lifestyle has yet to be restrained. "We're living the same, but, our debt is getting higher each year," he says. Stoecker says a RMP will help stabilize the industry, but, most importantly, they do need a long-term plan. Grant Robertson was another among the guest speakers at the Guelph rally, Although Robertson ran in the last federal election as Huron - Bruce's NDP candidate, he spoke at the rally as a grassroots farmer. He says he attended for two reasons, one being because he is a farmer, and secondly, because he is a dad. He went on to say he was strongly in favour of an RMP, but it would take action from him, other farmers and the government for it to be implemented. Phil Shaw, a farm columnist who also spoke at the Guelph rally, told the crowd an alarm- ing statistic. He says while the past three years have pro- duced the highest net income for the U.S. farm industry, it was also the worst three years in Canada. "We need a plan to change the roller coaster of rural Ontario farming," he says, adding. that an RMP would create the safety net farmers so desperately need. • Firefighters, police respond to car fire on Highway 8 near Seaforth Seaforth firefighters and Huron OPP responded to a car fire on Highway 8 on Feb. 16 at 6:30 p.m. A 1989 Dodge Dakota was travel- ling along London Road when the driver watched smoke and flames Ammool McTaggart Wettlaufer INSURANCE BROKERS INC. • AUTO • HOME • FARM • TRAVEL • COMMERCIAL • LIFE INSURANCE BROKERS Paul Wettlaufer • Amy Siemon Suzanne Zehr • Leigh Crawford Ken Hutchison • Bill Siemon 68 Ontario Rd. 348-9150 ._., Mitchell 1-800-561-0183 engulf the vehicle's vents. The driver pulled over to the shoulder of the road as the flames continued to increase. Seaforth firefighters extinguished the fire. ADVERTISEMENT CORRECTION In the Brides 2006 publication carried in the February 15th, edition of this paper, incorrect dates for the Hessenland Country Inn Annual Wedding Open House were pub- lished. The correct dates for this event are April 29 - 30. 2006. We apologize for any inconvenience this error may have caused.