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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1985-12-11, Page 17Huron Federationtackle financiers Bankers want to deal with farmers on a one to one basis without being told to do so by government legislation. Representatives of three financial institutions, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC), Farm Credit Corporation (FCC), and the Royal Bank, squared off with about 15 members of the Huron County federa- tion of.agriculture on Dec. 5. Snow and other agriculture meetings reduc- ed the number in attendance. The informal discussion between the two sides took the form of the federation's monthly meeting which was held at Hensall public school. The debt review board and a possi- ble farm credit arrangement act were the two main items discussed. The three representatives said they and their firms are willing to work with farmers on an individual basis to come to a satisfactory solution on financial matters. "I'm hearing from all three of you, a willingness to consider deals," com- mented federation director Maria Van Bommel of RR 1 Dashwood. She went on. "Why are banks opposed to debt restructuring ,legislation'?" "We don't want legislation telling us we have to write down loans. It PLAN SKATING Area separate school youngsters will have the opportunity to take ad- vantage of a "PD Specials' this Fri- day December 13. The South Huron Recreation Centre is offering a "Free skate" from 1:30 - 3:00 p.m. It's hoped there'll be enough interest to offer further PD day programs for separate school youngsters in the future: wasn't the government that told you you had to come in and -borrow money," said Steve Fraser of the Royal Bank in Clinton. George Spence of Walkerton, district manager for theJarm Credit Corporation said he personally is not in favor of legislating farm credit arrangements. "We still prefer to deal with each situation individually," said John Harris of the CIBC in London. "We still feel we can work a solution out." Ms. Van Bommel noted that farm credit arrangement legislation wouldn't necessarily reqire financial institutions to write down a loan. A judge, she says, would make the final -decision after both the farmer and •creditor have agreed to go that route. She also criticized the FCC's current moratorium on farm foreclosures. "What is the Farm Credit Corpora- tion doing - saving face over Christmas?" asked Ms. Vah Bommel. Spence also said he isn't happy with the moratorium. As far as he knows, no program has been developed to handle the debt problems once the moratorium period is over. "The FCC moratorium - what is it doing? The interest clock is still tick- ing on. It's like a referee blowing a whistle while the two sides calm down," said the federation director. Spence agreed. The Farm Credit corporation's district manager spent some time discussing the debt review board of which he was a part. "It's hard, for the limited slumbers we had, to know how successful it was," said Spence. He said 85 farmers in Grey and Bruce Counties applied for the review and only 23 were granted hearings. From the hearing stage, four cases went on to the creditors, said the district manager. However, Spence said the debt review board did not carry on until the end as it should have. He said not all membrs of the board could agree on all points in preparing a report on the review board. -Spence and others on the board feeling the same way, wrote a separate report. "we couldn't always get cases heard. There were some real organization problems," said Spence. In thanking the panel members, federation member Chris Palmer of RR 5 Winghaln commented that low commodity prices are at the root of the farmers' problems. Rabies still threat for area residents The increase of rabies in Middlesex shows no sign of declining and one beef herd in the north part of the count' ty has been quarantined after one animal was found suffering from the disease after being bitten by a rabid fox. Biddulph Township farmer Mike Blake, owner of the 175 beef cattle, is also undergoing shots after being ex- posed to saliva from his dog which had tangled with the fox. The dog was destroyed, along with one heifer that showed signs of the disease. The herd will be quarantin- ed until January 13 to ensure no other 'animals came in contact with the disease. the encounter with the fox occurred in mid-November on the farm one kilometre northeast of Elginfield. The quarantine period for the beef herd is 40 days. If any animal shows signs of the disease, the quarantine will be extended. About a week after Blake's brush with the fox, three employees at W. G. ,Thompsorb and Sons Ltd. grain elevator in Granton were chased by an obviously rabid fox. The employees took refuge in a nearby elevator and the animal was shot by an OPP officer. The incidence of rabies has been JUNIOR FARMERS EXECUTIVE ed Friday night. Back, left, Mark Lori Kerslake. Front, secretary president Marg Pavkeje. — The new 1986 executive of t e South Huron Junior Farmers was nam - Ryan, Brian Steele, Mike Stewart, Monty Steele, Mike Ryan and treasurer Kim Prance, vice-president Al Renning, president Rob Essery and past T -A photo A long list of obstacles to develop- ing compassionate programs to help farmers has been identified by the `Jubliee Foundation for Agricultural Research. the research arm of the Christian Farmers Federation. Help for embattled farmers is go. ing to come from the fanning com- munity. they figure, and not much can be expected in the form of com- passion from any level of govern- ment. Existing support groups and advisoors for farmers need training to help farm families in distress. "Our paticipahts in the con- ferences concluded that large amounts of money or many profes- sionals are not the key elements of compassionate help," said Ed Den Hann. chaplain at the University of Guelph. "The hest place to start and build is with neighbors and com- munities to develapself-help." - I agree. Farmers must help farmers. And make no mistake about it, there is an urgent need for compas- sionate help. "Each farm financial crisis can mean the loss of far more than a business enterprise for a farm fami- ly," said Den Haan. "Families lose their incomes. their family land, their heritage. their status in the local community and. for some, even their identity." The conference identified some of the obstacles. For instance. anxiety freezes people Many farm families fear the consequences of reaching out for help or are too proud to ask for * MONEY -BACK SATISFACTION GUARANTEE * * ON * STAR -TRACK * SILO UNLOADERS * •, * * • stainless steel * chute liner * * • stainless steel * * wrapper on blower * * * Prices starting as low as 2895 * * * * ...Liswiwarar Ev.mn9f 237 320S * * * * * * * • ' 12' - 30' * • 9' drive ring for * .-a. extra stability • 6 blade * chipper * wheel * (surface drive) *my 71 No.1h of Gesnd Bond R R 1 Dashwood, Ont 519-238-2301 * * * * help so others cannot respond. Too often, compassion is offer(' at the auc- tion sale when it is far too late. Even the churches are too preoccupied with their own survival. in addition, the magnitude of the problem certainly has not been recognized. No concensus has been reached on the scope and depth of the finar1ial problem in agriculture. A survival -of -the -fittest attitude is being fostered .because puhlic attitudes often favor those who see bankrupt- cy as an opportunity to buy produc- tion assets at a low price. Farmers. although they are jacks and jilts of all trades, do not have that piece of paper that says they can weld or fix an engine or paint a house or build a garage or whatever. They (10 not have proof Qp�f their competence and miss alkyl/fate career oppor- tunities after they are forced to leave the farm. In other words. every former farmer can't be_a school bus driver. The conference also questioned the so-called expert advice which many farmers regret following. As a result of experience in the 1970s. farmers are skeptical of the experts advising them. And who can blame them? The importance of financial management has still not been properly recogniz- ed in agriculture. it is still inadequate on many farms. A co-ordinated. long-term policy must be developed to include farmer training. off -farm employment, public education and compassion for those in trouble. The energy. the im- petus for these things must come from the churches and the existing local organizations, the conference concluded. "The urgency of the financial crisis united us in our efforts to seek hope for farm families in financial distress". 1)en Haan said. "At this conference on compassion. there was no blaming of each other for the grow- ing problems in agriculture." The help must come from within, then 11 seems to me that this is the first conference to recognize the pro- blem that fey farmers will survive and that compassionate help should come from within the farming community. The Christian Farmers Federation, a small group in the overall picture of agriculture in Canada. are wonder- fully brave in their approach. God will help them to help themselves. i'nt sure. higher than normal all across Ontario this year, said Dr. Bruce Green, district veterinarian for the federal department's health of animals branch. The increase was first detected in Middlesex County in May and it has persisted since then, Green said, ad- ding "we haven't noticed a break in the pattern yet. I would have suspected that it would have tailed off by now, but it hasn't. We can only hope it happens soon and it probably will with' winter coming on." In the London area, skunks and foxes are the animals most likely to have rabies, but skunks tend to "den up or semi -hibernate for the winter". Rabies is a cyclical disease in the wildlife population, Green said. "It's related to high population cycles and the movement of animals. It seems to strike, or at least it's more noticeable, •when the numbers of animals are high. It decimates the population, numbers decrease and you don't see many cases for a while. , It's a natural form of population control." Because domestic animals contract rabies from infected wildlife, the in- cidence of rabies on the farm is also connected to high populations in the wild, he said. Green said farmers who raise livestock for the meat market generally don't immunize their animals against rabies because the expense isn't worth it. They only have the animals for a year or two before selling them off. "Son)etimes people in the dairy business will vaccinate because they have a more long-term investment in their stock." Green said the ministry will move in to assist farmers and prevent the spread of rabies if it becomes aware of problem areas such as the one north of London. The Upper Thames River Conser- vation Authority has been aware of the rabies threat for the last few months and has been monitoring the situation in Fanshawe Park, accor- ding to general. manager Don Pearson. "We've had a fairly high migration of skunks into the park'this year and we've been concerned." Pearson said conservation authori- ty staff have trapped 20 live skunks since August and relocated them to uninhabited areas in the country. Two skunks suspected- of having rabies were recently killed and sent for tests, which confirmed they had the disease. Green said an examination of brain tissue is the only sure way to deter- mine if an animal has contracted the disease, although experienced animal handlers can often tell by a cr'eature's odd behavior. The two skunks that were shot by the conservation authority were ac- ting "strangely," said Pearson. Hikers and other users of Fan- shawe Park shouldn't be deterred from their normal outdoor activities by the rabies outbreak, he said: "There's no health threat to anyone who exercises a bit of caution. My ad- vice is to keep a healthy distance from wild animals. Most of our trails are Times -Advocate, December 11, 1985 Page 5A PAST PRESIDENT HONOURED — South Huron Junior Farmers past president Marg Pavkeje receives her past president pin from pro- acicial director Florence Ryon. T -A photo Junior Farmers pick top members Marg Pavkeje and Mark Ryan were named Junior Farmers of the Year at Friday's annual banquet of the South Huron Junior Farmers held at the Dashwood Community Centre. The awards were presented by in- coming president Rob Essery and provincial director Florence Ryan who was Western Ontario Farm Show Princess two years ago. The guest speaker was Greg Van Hie who showed slides and provided commentary of a recent trip to Russia. He was .one of two Canadian junior farmers making the trip spon- sored by the USSR government. The members and guests which in- cluded parents of junior farmers were treated to top notch musical enter- tainment. Showing their r, singing talents were local club president Rob Essery and Anne Alton of the West Huron club who finished second in the recent Junior Farmers '85 Sing Swing at Sudbury. They were followed by the contest's male solo winner Jeff wide open, but we do have paths through wooded areas and that's where you are most likely to en- counter them." Pearson said the conservation authority has horses and dogs at pioneer Village. They have been im- munized against rabies. 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