HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1982-07-21, Page 1414 Times -Advocate, July 21.1982
RUTABAGAS IN PARADE — The Ontario RutabagaProducers
c ssn (t inatuay'sHetge Days
parade in Exeter. From the left are Rudy Rutabg Kate Neufeld Brenda Stevens, EriVriMonique
Vincent, Donnafaye Milton and Pat•O'Rourke. photo
Some farmers out there in
the boondocks can write.
Some of the newspapers
with editors brilliant enough
to use this deathless proBe
every week carry a heading
'with ' the column which in-
vites letters. Sometimes, I
get one in a week.
Sometimes, half a .dozen,
especially if I write a column
extolling the virtues of
nuclear energy for peaceful
purposes, especially to
supply energy, come rolling
into our mailbox at the end of
the lane.
ne foot in the
It would be impossible to
acknowledge every letter
that comes my way.
However, one arrived a few
days ago that is extremely
interesting and much of it is
worthy of reprinting. -
It was written by R.
Stephen Thompson, RR 2,
Clinton, Ontario (I always
;have reservations about
people who use a first initial
in front of a given name,
Stephen. Ain't it sort of
pretentious?) _ `
Ido agree; though, with
much of what R. Stephen
higher prices to farmers textile wor
letters a,e sppreuated by Bob Trott*, Etdate Rd Elmna Om N38 2C7 ✓
Huron farm and home news
Tax time not only time to eh.ck books
For most farm people it is
not inc ome tax time. Possibly
we should have income taxes
filed quarterly. because it
seems it is the only time
many farmers really ex-
amine their books.
In working with the Ontario
Farm Adjustment Assistance
Program, I have been as-
tounded how little many
farmers know about their own
farm operation. It • appears
they take the shoe box to the
accountant once a year, and
that's it In most cases.
Would a business man do
this? Not very likely. He
would be taking off gross
sales, likely each day or
week, and keeping tab on his
expenses and prepare a pro-
fit and loss statement
regularly.
I'm not suggesting a profit
and loss for farmers. I do feel
they could easily keep runn-
ing totals on what income has
been received and expenses
incurred. A scribbler, farm
account book or the accoun-
tant's record book should be
kept up regularly., Keep in-
come and expense totals for
each month and bring these
figures forward for totals.
This way you would know
your position at each month
end.
Why leave it to year end or
next March? Know as you go.
Stan Paquette,Associate
Agricultural Representati"e
Thompson has to say. many other f an
He is a farmer by oc- compare total food costs of
cupation, an economist and a one or two relatively un -
businessman with a couple of processed components - as
degrees to his credit. Mr. Whelan continues to do -
Here's what. Mr. Thomp- is misleading and of little
son has tb say: value:
"No one can deny that And Mr. Thompson is
retail prices for supply absolutely right.
managed goods are higher He also maintains,. though,
than in the U.S. and higher that the key question in
than they would be without supply management is: How
marketing boards...which long is society willing to pay
were formed principally to extra to support certain
increase and stabilize prices segments of the agricultural
to the farmer and have been industry in Canada?
successful. Naturally, these He compares farmers to
kers and suggests
eventually become higher they, too, should be given
retail prices because of the protection since Canada has
generally inelastic a cold climate and clothing is
processirg costs. To deny necessary. Or shoe
that food under, supply manufacturers.
management costs more "I cannot believe," he j
than in similar open market states, "that we farmers are
systems is to deny the any more important than
original purpose for in- any other special interest'
troducing supply group."
management. Which is where 1 part
"Mr. Whelan's statement company with Mr.. Thomp-
about food price increases is I spn.
I believe that farmers are
different.
I believe that agriculture
is so basic to this entire
nation that farmers must be
treated differently. The
textile industry in Canada is
almost dead now yet few
mourn its passing. But food
is too basic, too necessary.
1 remember some years
ago listening to Gordon Hill,
a past -president of the
Ontario Federation of
Agriculture, who has con-
stantly maintained that
farmers and farming cannot
be compared to any other
segment of the economy.
"We are more than
businessmen. We are dif-
increases would probably be ferent. We are, dammit; we
far less than 75 percent It is
POULTRY JUDGE — Gordon Ridler, Guelph, judges
poultry ct the Zurich Fair. A director of the Royal Winter
Fair, he will be chairman of the poultry department in
1983.
a classic example of the type
of misleading
generalizations I try to
. unravel. Food prices...
(include) processings
handling and retailing
costs...For many years,
consumers have been
demanding increasing
amounts of packaging with
food items. Thus, the far-
mer's share of the food
dollar is continually
declining as the consumer
seeks even greater
processing and services.
"There is nothing sinister
or mysterious about this. If
the total food purchases in
1981 were made in the same
format as in 1976, the price
Drainage pays off
with increased crop yields
Good drotnoge is on investment towards improved crop
yields with sod condition improved more water fertilizer.
and o* ae tradable to the roots to encourage optimum
plont growth
roth drainage
LIMITED
FARM DRAINAGE SYSTEMS
Gads HIII, Ontario NOK 1J0 0 (519) 858.2818
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(
are farmers," he said, "and
the increased amounts of we deserve different
processing , and the rapidly- treatment."
increasing costs of that 1 still cannot explain it
processing which are after writing about
causing the 75 percent in- agriculture for more than 20
crease." years.
Mr. Thompson maintains Bu! Gordon Hill was right.
that poultry, for instance, Farmers are different,
takes less processing than dammit.
4
How sweet it is
With the current economic
conditions, many livestock
producers are choosing to fine
tune their operations rather
than expandthem. This is be-
ing done in the hopes of im-
proving their operation and
maintaining a profitable posi-
tion.. Farmers have long
realized the value of animal
manure how now many more
are realizing the value of an
investment. in time and
money in this resource.
By being concerned with
the proper management of
manure, farmers may be able
to save money on their handl-
ing of livestock manure and
save again when the time
comes to supply supplemen-
tal nutrients to field crops.
Through my work this sum-
mer with liquid swine manure
removal systems; I have
become aware of the concern
most swine produces have
with the proper utilization of
liquid swine manure. My
work at the Clinton Ontario
Ministry of Agriculture and
Food office has involved a
study of various liquid
manure removal systems and
a comparison between them.
The study is basically a
means of identifying the
various components of a
manure removal system and
then determining its overall
performance. The systems
being studied are; top loading
tankers, vacuum tankers,
spreader systems, injection
systems and irrigation.
Items checked with each
system include the labour and
energy requirements, unifor-
mity of application and
nutrient losses on application.
By observing many dif
ferent operations and gather-
ing comments from farmers
on their views of the benefits
and faults of each system, it
is hoped that useful informa-
tion can be presented for the
use of all producers. `..
My work will be continuing
throughout the summer and I
am hoping to visit many more
operations. 1 would welcome
any comments from pro-
ducers on any of the topics
covered in my survey. The
completion of this report will,
in my view, be further sup-
port for the concept of
treating livestock manure as
a valuable resource rather
than a waste.
Norm Stoner,
Summer Engineering Asst.
As we pass the hall way
point in the Agricrew '82 sum-
mer program, everything
looks bright for an incredible
finish. Farmer bookings are
coming in at a tremendous
rate with many being put on
a waiting list. All crews
within Huron are hired until
August 5,
As the program ends on
August 13, there is not much
time left to get those unfinish-
A WINNING CALF ---- Mark Erb stands proudly beside
the animal that won him the trophy for best junior
heifer in the Zurich Calf Club at the Zurich Fair.
1
McCann Redi-Mix Inc.
DASHWOOD, ONTARIO
ALL TYPES OF CONCRETE WORK
REDI-MIX CONCRETE
& FORMWORK
PRECAST PRODUCTS DEALER Phone Office
MANGERS STEPS 27-3647
SLATS CURBS Lloyd 236-4819
ed jobs done. Anyone in-
terested in hiring a crew for
the few remaining days can
contact the O.M.A.F. office in
Clinton, at 482-3428.
As well, any student in-
terested in being an alternate
on a crew, in the event that
one of the regular
crewmembers is sick, contact
Bob Black at the O.M.A.F. -
office.
Finally, as you drive
4•.
throughout the county, keep
an eye open for the
Agricrews, and hulk or give
them a wave. It is because of
their efforts and hard work
that this program is a
success.
Rob Black
Agricrew -Coordinator
Huron County
Box 159, Clinton,
Ontario.
FOLLOWING THE QUEEN — The
close behind the Queen at the
competitors- from
fair
the
parade Saturday.
fair queen contest
FLIT
followed
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