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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1981-01-07, Page 19' Who would deny mankind a feeling of newness at this time of year when resolutions and wishes are being contemplated? I gave up on New Year's resolutions years ago when I found none lasted longer than a few weeks. But there are those in this vale of tears who need those New Year's wishes. Such as Eugene Whelan who seems to have lost much clout with his cabinet colleagues these days. His profile. ugly as it is, has become lower and lower CECIL R. SQUIRE Farm Service 47 John St. Exeter Phone 235-0465 SALES WITH SERVICE since he openly admitted he had aspirations to become leader of the federal Liberal party. He sorely needs some sup- port in the cabinet and the caucus so that he can again become the champion for farmers across this vast na- tion. A couple of elections bark, he was given credit for returning a Targe number of Liberals to Parliament. He stumped the hustings for Pierre to the point of ex- haustion, almost to thedetri- ment of his own riding. Politics is a strange business. From the top of the influence ladder to the bottom is such a short dis- tance that Whelan must be getting discouraged. So. for agminister Eugene Whelan, let us wish for a return to power within the Liberal cabinet. If this can- not come., then may he get that important postion with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization some people say he covets. 111111ll111U1111111111111111111flllllll1101111111111111 IIIIIII11111111111IINIllIII11111IllnluultulumrmlL =H. VAN MOORSEL INSULATION RR 5 MITCHELL 348-9376 LTD. E ' Sprayed In Place Urethane Foam Blown Insulations = NEW: FLAT ROOFING 8r REPAIRS E — Insulohon Plus a New Roof _ E FREE ESTIMATES E F. • Agricultural & Industrial Bldgs. • New & Older tomes _ • 40 FT. BASKET TRUCK SERVICE OR E RENT BY HOUR OR DAY f▪ IIi1111111111111111111111111111111ppplllptilppppnpp1111111BIIIIII111111111Illltllllllillllllllllillllilg. 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Warm up all IN IN FUTURA KEROSENE HEATERS King 12.000 BTU The Jumbo 25,000 BTU e Queers 9.600 BTU The Duchess 7,200 BTU The Duke 9.600 BTU ECOOOMC: En oa haus d clean .arm neat trot, a so,* canon of hater In tido" and rents that .on. ou In rrA peon.* Def tour' FAST To USE: tato t.te.rW p *, stsDA rts+aaatata *.+pec,ai .*.4l 00 epured M FOL.. Neem .are push Banco !tutor % o 4, n po.er.d los I.o D r *Ts Too rued nes, woo cross you f•pen and Yrae a match' ETTICIEr,CY: T here + a Furtaa Neater to ra you b•' Fran 77CIO BTU lot the Oa AnyM,ne Spertsow+ node to tate .Ambo .an 250E0BT(11.,+dwtnat and latto arts ..0.a4' SAFETY FEATURES: M F✓va Iteaten re dr*y+ed welt, you complete +ar(cs m,rnr d sau a vire ,re trarues mat .,dude A decor. arlonwkay taynpuiShes Ce awn*. red un0keA en. tha.'M neat, .+ ewe• crowed or uute'r o'+ed Tot courage DN+I.d safe, ors Sp, tr.,, to prnl Iba., aro vy+ her .0.4. IArtp CoVNTRy kitR N tE R STORES Mil 11111 111 MT. CARMEL 237-3456 Open 10 - 10, Mon. -Sat Noon - 6 Sunday INI 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 J I cannot do anything else but wish him well wherever he goes. He has been a champion for farmers and deserves much credit. While we're at it, can we hope for a reprieve for CanFarm? A couple of million dollars has been granted to this struggling organization which already owes about 14 million. In spite of Peter Hannam's ef- forts to get the service go- ing, it still lacks the 10,000 subscribers needed to make it self-sufficient. I'm con- vinced it is worthwhile but, apparently, not enough farmers are convinced and the service may die a natural death. Maybe it was an idea ahead of its time. 'Unquestionable, the day will come when all successful farmers will need computers for the various time-consuming jobs now done at home But were farmers in Canada ready for it now? Let us, then, wish for a satisfactory solution to the CanFarm problem in 1981. Speaking of Hannam, one cannot forget the federation of agriculture. This once - dying organization has had tremendous success in re- cent years in revitalizing the entire farm community. Men such as Gordon Hill, Peter Hannam and Ralph Barrie have shown great leadership qualities in mak- ing the OFA a truly .fine organization. Membership individual membership continues to in- crease and the organization always speaks for more than 20.000 farmers. It is a voice to be reckoned with so let us wish them continued success in grappling with the many problems facing farmers in the coming year. At the same time, whatever happened to the Farmers Union? Back in the days when Roy Atkinson and Walter Miller were the leaders, the union had a strong voice in Canada. But something went wrong somewhere. I am told that the Ontario section of the un- ion now has only about 400 members, a far cry from the days when the union spoke for more than 15,000 members in Ontario. Let us wish for them an in- creased interest in the union so that membership will in- crease to the point where they may again be a force in farm politics. Can't forget the Christian Farmers Federation, either. It has a small membership but the voice of that membership always speaks straight. and true. May the influence of this group con- tinue to be heeded in agricultural circles. I cannot end this without paying tribute to the first national conference of farm women held early in December in Ottawa. I'm convinced that this organiza- tion Will soon become a powerful group in farm circles and I wish them great success in their endeavors in the years to come. I could go on, of course, but I'm sure you get the idea: Agriculture is Canada's most important in- dustry and the sooner the rest of the nation realizes this . the better off we'll all be. A Happy New Year to you and yours! FARMERS Centralia College of Agricultural Technology and area OMAF personnel present the follow- ing one -day short course January 15 ( Thursday) "Beyond the Estate This course includes tax concerns around the bequest of farm land resulting from the death of a farmer. Valuation of assets and probate of wills, choice of business organization, income tax management and the role of life insurance are covered. Where: Huron Hall Centralia College From: 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. No pre -registration required ID Ontario MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FOOD • '+c HIS FIRST POLICY — Ross Francis who retired last week after 32 years as a Co -Operators insurance agent looks at the first policy he sold to Ross Marshall in 1949. T -A photo Henderson gives agriculture outlook Memorandum to: The Editor From: The Honourable Lorne C. Henderson I felt you would pass onto your readers some of my thoughts as your Minister of Agriculture and Food about this past year as well as my expectations for 1981. I am sure .your readers realize the many benefits we in Ontario have but do not really appreciate. For cattlemen the picture looked pretty rosy last year. Cattle prices were forecast to be in the 185 range. Cattle feeders bought calves at prices which reflectedthese high expectations, then the winter came. Pork supplies were larger than expected. The economy took a turn for the worse, and the consumer switched to buying pork and poultry. which were sold at bargain prices. Then the drought hit in the west). and the heat wave in the United States. Pasture land dried up and many cow calf operators sold parts of their breeding herd. This ex- tra beef put the lid on price rises for another few months. It was not until this fall that Fed cattle prices recovered to the 180 level and higher. Now beef prices are ex- pected to stay up there and even to climb possibly into the low nineties late in the year. Of course. present high interest,rates are ofgreat concern to producer and consumer alike. Lastyear milk production was expected to rise a little, so it did. by about three per- cent. A small increase is again possible in 1981. Cow numbers are up and the de- mand is there for more milk production. The forecast for poultry meat prices last year was not too encouraging. As it turned out we had lots of problems in •the feather in- dustry. I am very happy to see that the outlook for next Shur -Gain Warble control with GRUBEX Please do your part in keeping our country free of warbles. A thirty-five cent treatment of Grubex can prevent grub losses of ten dollars and more per head. Available in one and five gallon containers. SHUR-GAIN DIVISION JAMES ST SOUTH ST. MARYS ONT. Phone: 519-349-2152 SCOTT'S ELEVATOR LUCAN ELEVATOR 227-4479 Res. 227-4486 Feeds, Grains, Fertilizers Seed Grains Form Supplies year is for adequate returns for all sectors of the in- dustry. The projection that was made last year for 1980 farm income was grim indeed. prices of farm products were going to rise only little. while input costs would rise by some 15 percent. They even forecast a drop in realized net income of 40 percent. Well fortunately that prediction did not come true. But net farm income in 1980 is now projected to be down by 13 precent. The outlook for next year is for increases in income from all farm product groups. Corn and soybean prices have risen ai ready during the past few months: they may still rise further depending on the way crops develop in the rest of the world. At any rate. Ontario farmers will be marketing their record corn and soy- bean crops, and will likely plant more acres of both crops next spring. Total cash receipts in 1981 are forecast at a whopping $5 billion, 17 percent higher than this year. Of course, the expenses are not going to take a holi- day either, fuel. interest rates and feed costs are forecast to rise more than 20 percent while fertilizer prices and farm wages are expected to rise less than 15 percent. When all is totalled up at the end of 1981, according to 'the forecast. realized net in- come is tb be up by 9 per- cent. I would also like to point out to your readers how for- Please turn to page 20 Times -Advocate, January 7, 1981 Pogo 19 Insurance agent 32 years, doesn't like computer billing A well known insurance agent in South Huron and westerly areas of Perth County has retired. Ross Francis RR' 1, Kirkton has been an agent for the Co -Operators Insurance Association for 32 years. The company originally known as the Co -Op Fidelity Guaranty Association was formed in late 1948 and Ross Francis vier one of the first agents. Francis told the T -A this week that the company was established to benefit farm people. He continued, "The various Federations of agriculture felt that farmers were paying too much for car insurance" and decided to start their own company. Ross Francis sold his first policy to Ross Marshall on March 4, 1949. The premium for six months on a new 1949 Chev pickup truck was 112.20. It was the 341st policy recorded by the new company. Francis said the premium for similar coverage for a vehicle today with his company would be about 180. In the early days of the Co -Op, policies could be sold only to farmers with 10 acres or more and agents were restricted to tight township boundaries. Francis added life in- surance in 1952 and the following year was the top salesman in the Dominion of Canada. He discontinued selling life insurance in 1955 when boundary restrictions were lifted and urban fire and auto and farm liability coverage was added. In 1956 the company became the Co -Op Insurance Association of Guelph and in 1977 amalgamated with Co - Op Rife Insurance of Regina. DISCUSS ACT The next Huron County Federation of Agriculture's membership meeting will be held January 8, at 8:30 p.m. at the Clinton Public School. Representatives of the Ministry of Natural Resources will be present to discuss the Pits and Quarries Act particularly as it will effect farm operators. Members of _ the Huron County Federation Property, and Land Use Committee will be present to listen to farmers' concerns on this matter. All farmers are in- vited to attend and learn more about this new legisla- tion that affects their farm operation of gravel pits. WHEEL IN WARMTH! 111,111117717Z---- \4 I�INIr1llluhtr: nl�• I .I r , i FORD PORTABLE HEATERS OPERATE OVER 11 HOURS WITHOUT REFILL! Warm any ventilated work area fast with one of Ford's economical portable heaters. Wheel -mounted for easy portability. • Two models: 85,000 and 125,000 BTU output. • Plug into any 110 -volt outlet and operate on kerosene. fuel oil or winter grade diesel. • Automatic safety shut-off protection. • Meets standards of Canadian Gas Association. • Optional thermostat control keeps heat at desired level. Helps conserve fuel. • Up to 17 hours without refill, depending on model. Come in today. Let us show you the convenience of Ford portable heaters and the model best for you. We Also Stock • PRESSURE WASHERS • PORTABLE ALTERNATORS • PORTABLE PUMPS EXETER FORD Equipment Sales Ltd. EXETER 235 2200 Francis added, • "The company sprang from ob- scurity in 1949 to the second largest in Canada at the present time." In the beginning agents received $1.50 for writing each policy and 25 cents went to the Federation of agriculture. Francis said the loyalty of his customers was tremendous. He added, "I have bad some customers right through the 32 years and others stayed with me to death. Their dedication was unbelievable". At time of retirement, Francis said he still had more than 2,000 active policy holders. During the first 12 years in business, Francis assisted district manager W.V. Roy with adjusting. Despite his early retirement at the age of 61, Francis said "The company has certainly been good to me over the 32 years." Francis doesn't believe in the new computer billings. He said, "customers can't understand them. They really are bewildered." He said underwriting was more particular in the early days when morals of applicants were checked along with their driving habits. Under conditions set out by the Human Rights Code, only driving habits may be in- vestigated. About rising costs of insurance• Francis said "auto part prices chahge so often that when an agent receives a- new rate book it's obsolete". Francis who has been one of the top mink ranchers in Please turn to page 20 Powerful Full Frame 5 -horsepower 2 -stage Snowthrower Extra -large second stage impeller is designed to handle, the heaviest snow Toads. 5 -hp, 4 -cycle winterized Tecumseh engine with rewind start, key shut off. 5 forward speeds plus neutral and 2 -speed reverse. Clears a 24" path. Factory installed tire chains for traction. 545-266 8900 h C. S a 24 NmT •age • ar, s^n. .0175 Deor.oatcoe'y �' 4 P ' en .care, - Spee15-'.:-e,e`ae +: cry. d•.! 4Pzoo•-on a•e cr. .rnr••1, acaa•c or nan d) `o -oewe . a. _ . 051x•.4 0,er 5454517 591500 Electric Starter Kit for 7 H.P. Snowthrower. 545-200... '. 3 -Hp Single -Stage 9999 Snowthrower Each Performance in a compact package Quick stop auger clutch All steel auger housing 3 hp 2 -cycle wlntenzed engine with key Ignition and shut -oft Clears a 20' wide path 545.268 Don't Forget The Birds'! Stock Up Now On Bird Feed For Your Feathered Friends This Winter Mon. to Fri. - 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Sot. - 8:00 to Noon No Saturday Deliveries EXETER DISTRICT CO-OP Exeter 235-2081