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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1981-10-15, Page 22Page 6A Times -Advocate, October 15, 1981 TALK ABOUT GRAIN COUNCIL - Former OFA 'president Peter Hannam was the guest speaker at n•.ec•t,ng of the Huron Federation of Agriculture and talked about Canadian grain policies From the president Ron White, his wife Anne, Peter Hunnam and Huron F of A president Gerry Fortune. People have to eat says Hannam Thursday's annual left ore OFA vice - Staff photo Farm outlook termed rosy 'The long term potential for Canadian farmers is DASHWOOO INDUSTRIES LIMITED Your First Stop. for Dashwood Windows and Patio Doors Is... CENTRALIA FARMERS SUPPLY Ltd. Centralia Ont. We have the largest selection of miilenium and wood windows in' the area Call for information 228-6638 Mon. - Fri. 8-6 Sat. 8-2 rosy. People have to eat." That was the comment of former Ontario Federation. of Agriculture president' Pet Hannam speaking to the annual meeting of the Huron Federation in Hen - salt Thursday night. Despite his apparent enthusiasm. Hannam cautioned farmers, "You must be careful for a short time. I hope the politicians put the economic house in order to have an orderly change of economy instead of deflation. The former F. of A. head said "I fear severe deflation. Collapse of the economy is only the speed of inflation to deflation. It must be slowed down". In these trying times for farmers. Hannam said a strong Federation is essen- tial. He added. "Wenow get more than 40 million dollars a year in subsidies which have been initiated by Federations of Agriculture and we pushed for feed freight assistance. It's by far the most effective organization Ontario has ever had." He continued,"the present Task Force on Agriculture being sponsored by the Federation is putting a lot of focus on farming and it's problems' Hannam suggested farmers in Grey and Bruce counties were in more finan- McCANN CONST. LTD. REDI-MIX CONCRETE All Types of Concrete Work Precast Feed Bunks Precast Slats RR #3 Dashwood Phone 237-3647 Precast Concrete Steps Porches Ornamental Iron Railings cial trouble than their counterparts in Huron because they did not have the same alternative crops. The theme of Hannam's address was Grain Pains. He is now a member of the Canadian Grain Council and has been working for the past year on studies in addi- tion to operating a large farm in Wellington County. The difference between a world surplus and shortage in grain is only a small percentage of the total market. Hannam said, "A 20 million ton carryover could create a world glut." About the current situa- tion Hannam said, "I suspect grain prices are at the bottom right now. This grain situation could lead to further instability in cattle. According to Hannam, "the Ontario government is • looking at barley as an alter- native to corn. He continued, barley needs less input and is easier to harvest and dry. - If you change to barley, go in with your eyes open. With an increase in acreage we must look for markets and in- vestigate what we do with the increased product." He . continued. "Export permits are now available, but those barley prices may not always be there. There is a very limited trade in world barley. If we put barley on the world market we face the competition of subsidies in France. I would hate to see French barley in Halifax with ours unsold." Hannam said he expected a new Canadian grain policy within the next six months. He added;' We have to get rid of the irritance between the two regions in Canada. A formula price would add stability instead of an open market with fluctuations." He cautioned farmers, ' • We shouldn't rely totally on the world market. We should gear up to it, but, we have a good domestic potential. On- tario growers should be better organized. Don't dou- ble the crop if we can't sell every bushel." Pierre Trudeau has been given an amber light on his constitutional package. Not green, mind you, just amber where he can proceed with caution. He has succeeded in ram- ming the package through this far even though eight of the 10 provinces are opposed to it. Why, then. has his govern- ment been so timid about the Crowsnest Pass Frieght Rates? There seems to be no limit to the power Pierre wants to wield such as the War Measures Act. and the energy policy. But Ottawa simply will not touch The Crow. I would not have the folly...to say that I am going to tamper with The Crow," he said at a press conference early this year. "There is one government, that of Saskatchewan, that is pois- ed and ready to hit us with a sledgehammer if we even touch The Crow." What,is The Crow? Why is it such a sacred bird? Or cow? The Crow dates back to 1897. It is an agreement between the federal govern- ment and the Canadian Pacific Railway. Ottawa gave the CPR $3.4 million as a subsidy to build a rail line TALKING FEDERATION -.Prior to Thursdoylt8linnuai meeting of the Huron Federation of Agriculture,' executive members Walter Elliott and Jim McIntosh had a chance to talk. GETS HURON AWARD- The Huron Federation of Agriculture trophy presented annually to o top contributor over the years was awarded Friday night to Russell Bolton. In the centre Norm Alexander presents the trophy to Russell and Edna Bolton. T -A photo "Insulating the house made a big thfference: over $1,000 a year on the h bill There's one thing you can do about the rise in fuel prices. l:se less. CMHC rec- ommends that. if you own or intend to buy an older home. You would be wise lo.make the investment in bringing the insulation up to standard. Or if you are thinking about buying a new home, be sure to ask the builder about its en- ergy saving features. Then compare the cost and energy saying characteristics of other homes available. Remember. the cost of heating is a very important consideration when purchasing a home. For ad- vice and publications about CMHC housing pro- grams and services consult ygur local OM If: office. • difference in Mrs. eating 9 and there were no problems with the paperwork to ppa for it; CMHC was very helpful,' Don Parent, Ottawa, Ontario "I've got new windows and a new furnace, and now it's just airtight. This is our home; you've got your roots set in a place and you like it, why leave it?" Harry Anderson, Vancouver, British Columbia. "Since we insulated we have an even heat upstairs and down, and it's made a tremendous the coolness in summer." Carolyn Lemieux, Halifax, Nova Scotia CMHC making Canada a better place to live 1+ !.Noe. uryp..9.p. .ro.bw•pGAWP ..r •bnaeap„ Pike COW Cry* MnMt So,•.••• vaem. .1••..•Vev..s.,r -e.. Canada • from Lethbridge, Alta.. through the Crowsnest Pus to Nelson, B.C. In return, CPR had to guarantee permanent freigbt rate reductions on Prairie grain shipped east to the Lakehead. Over the years, the Crow rate extend- ed to all railways • and to grain shipped west and north as well as east. The original act was repealed in 1925 - 56 years ago - and became enshrined in the Railway Act. It has been there ever since, through rain andsnow and drought and inflation and deflation and recession and depression and high interest rates. It is guaranteed freight rate of one half -cent per ton per mile. But that ain't all by any means. There is the Crow Gap which is the difference between the half -cent the railways can charge and their actual cost which _amounts to about $500 millipn annually paid to the rail*ays to maintain the half -cent rate. And we aren't done yet. Next comes the Crow Benefit, another subsidy paid to the railways because the Crow Gap doesn't pay enough to make up the cost difference between the Crow Rate and ... well, I'm lost, too. Because then, there is something else called the Crow Benefit Annuity, the amount it would cost to phase out the Crown Rate over the years. How much does it all cost? Good question. Estimates range between $300 million and $600 million a year in compensation to railways because some MP given letter Toad At the annual meeting in Hensel!, Thursday, Gerry Fortune, president of the Huron Federation of Agriculture encouraged members to attend .the OFA 's Emer'geney Task Force on Agtricirlture. ' The Huron Federation will be making a presentation when the Task Force meets at the Coliseum In Hanover on October 21. Anyone wishing to speak individually at the meeting. will be offered an opportunity. Ms. ly ortune encouraged people to attend the meeting as a show of support for the Huron presentation. Fran McQuail, chairperson of the Huron Public Relations committee said the presen- tation will be drawn up by vice-president John Van Beers and director Bill Fear for approval by the ex- ecutive. At the same -meeting 1,037 letters from Huron F of A members were turned over to MP Murray Cardiff. The letters demanded that the damaging high interest rates be lowered. Mr. Cardiff was to turn the letters over to Prime Minister Trudeau the next morning. When accepting the letters from Ms. Fortune, Cardiff replied, "This will mean a couple of hours of homework before I present them tomorrow morning at 9 a.m." Cecil R Squire Soles 8& Service Repak Shop Equipment 92 Waterloo St. Exeter 235-0465 yahoos decided 84 years ago to set the rate at half -a -cent a ton -mile. There is, of course, a growing body of people who would dearly love to see something done about the Crow Rates. Even Alberta and Manitoba officials have agreed that maybe, perhaps, uh yeah, well, that something should be done about The Crow. But Saskatchewan remains adamant. Regina won't move. The tail is again_wagging -the dog. Such antiquated legisla- tion does not reflect the 1980s. An 84 -year-old rate for which everybody in the coun- try is paying is like keeping a buggy -whip factory in business because the owner is a blue-eyed Arab with a lot of clout. As Geoffrey Stevens said in the Globe and Mail last winter, it makes whoever dreamed up Mirabel Airport look like a blooming genius. FARM PROTESTS' — Huron -Bruce MP Murray Cardiff received 1, 037 letters of protest regarding interest rates from Huron F of A president Gerry Fortune at Thursday's annual meeting. T -A photo Insulated Coverall Pelma Press polyester -cot- ton shell with nylon -poly- ester insulation for extra warmth in cold weather. Convenient zipper front, `_ Hidden hood under collar? Mtachlne washable Brown For Details On WINTER WHEAT Insurance Call: Donald Weigand RR 1 Dashwood 237-3418 siw Det. 31 ree'n ea perm Heavy Cotton Duck Parka U499 Each Extra long for extra warmth. Hooded parka, features jumbo zipper, half quilted/ half pile lining and cosy storm cuffs. Olive Green. 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