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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1986-02-05, Page 17• Federation talks to task force Times -Advocate, February 5, 1986 Page 5A Financia/ erisis just hlttlng HurOn farmers The farm financial crisis experienc- edfor several years in Bruce and Grey Counties is just starting to hit Huron County farmers, says the president of the Huron County federa- tion of a :+ culture. Doug Garniss of RR 4 Wingham, made the statement in front of the three-man Liberal agricultural task force that is traveling across Canada. The task force, chaired by Algoma MP Dr. Maurice Foster was in Winghamtemng to one's on't'hurs- day, January 30. "We're just starting to see farmers write down their loans or go out of business," said the federation president. A CUTAWAY TRACTOR — Jack Van Bussell who established Huron Tractor 26 years ago explains a John Deere 2950 Cutaway tractor at Monday's farm and industry show to Osborne former John Oke. LET'S GO — Anna -Marie and Albert McFalls of RR 8, Parkhill climb aboard ,a John Deere riding lawn mower during Monday's farm and industrial show at Huron Tractor. Chatting with the youngsters is Earl Long of Huron Tractor. T -A photo A few farm families will get day care this spring through the largesse of the provincial government. A few frm families will get day care this spring through the largesse of the provincial government. Farm families in Lambton County, Dufferin County, Simcoe County and Northumberland County as well as the northern district of Timiskaming will be targeted for the service. It is about time some rural families got a piece of the subsidies for day care. The larger centres get all kinds of helpfrom senior levels of govern- ment but the rural areas are left in the boondocks when it comes to some government hand8uts. Social Services Minister John Sweeney has said his ministry is con- ducting a survey to determine child- care needs in rural Ontario and is "very interested in developing a flex- ible approach to child care that farm and rural families will find more useful... than the traditional centre - based care." I can think of a great many services provided to city -folk that farm 'families do not get. Rapid transit in most cities gets some provincial help but few farmers ride the buses and street cars in the cities. Cities also get grants to build sewage plants but farmers have to provide their own septic tank and sewerbed system. And when the pump in the rural well dies, ruralites pay for the new one. In the big cities, grants and subsidies are available for water systems. These are just a few items where government grants go to cities and where few farmers ever get any benefit. It is, therefore, only fitting that rural areas should get some of the day-care subsidies now going to urban areas. And it is interesting to note that Sweeney is talking of a flexible ap- proach rather than traditional day- care centres. The amount of travel needed to transport pre-schoolers to a day care centre would prevent them from being successful. I don't have any idea what the minister's "flexi- ble approach" means... maybehe doesn't know yet, either, but the plan will have to be different to work in the country. Officials hope to provide the four counties mentioned with some kind of "Cliff Knip Livestock Equipment Sales" Livestock scales (beam), catt e an. ing equipment etc. Scales and Capital facilities eligible for 2/3 grant under provincial 5 year red meat plan. Stocker Slaughter, Cow calf and red veal Additional $950/annum - weighing incentive grant Cliff Knip, RR 1 Lucan NOM 2J0 Phone 227-1152 Hyland Seeds. a. A Growing Tradition Soybean Seed Apache, Crusader Corn Seed janoIa Seed Hanna LG 2350, HL 2280 Marion and Dennis Pfaff RR 2 Crediton 234-6471 service by the spring. It will be an in- teresting challenge for the ministry. How can day care be provided where it is needed at a reasonable cost? Certainly, it is needed. More and more farm wives are being forced to work off the farm just to keep the farm afloat. And too many farm wives have been forced to take the children with them when they had to help in the fields or in the barn. It certainly helps to keep a family together when the kids are in the work place with mom and dad but it is far from being the safest way to rear children. Too many times, a toddler can be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Being forced to take the children in- to the work place has been a big fac- tor in making farming one of the most dangerous occupations in the entire world. I would rather see more day care in rural Ontario than have farming continue to be a dangerous occupation and getting more dangerous all the time. The federal government would be wiser to spend on day care the $6,300 they have given for a display to im- prove the image of farm women. The grant from the feds is also to increase membership in the Wellington chapter of Women for the Support of Agriculture. Seems a waster of money to me. Farm women do not need their image improved, I don't think. They need help in many other areas first. —BRANDY POINT— FARMS CENTRED AROUND ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION • Our breeding stock provides our buyers with proven genetics from the top 3 ani nals tested across Canada. • Our program enables us to offer quality and health at a price that is hard to beat • We have an ongoing sypply of A.I. sired 'H rpp Duroc, York Landrace boars & F1 York Aandroce gilts • Our closed herd is ranked "Good" by the OMAF fandards of Herd Health Classification. Como and take a look at our stock anytime! Delivery available KURT KELLER R.R. 1, Mitchell, Ont. 519-348-8043 BEST RATES owr.whd twvateam CeeE1f1a.EN 1 r. 1 YEAR 103/4_'G 1 YEAR Dr. Foster got the response from Garniss after promoting his private member's bill which he hopes will "spur the government on" in the area of farm debt crisis. "In Huron County, we're just star- ting to hit the crisis stage," replied Garniss. In his second term as president, Garniss said low commodity prices and the decreasing value of farm land which have followed the interest rates of the early 1980s has hurt the farm sector: He admitted most of the finan- cial difficulties are in the cash crop and red meat sector. In its brief to the task force, the federation presents some solutions to the financial difficulty continually facing the farm community. "The 20 per cent of Canadian farmers who produce 70 per cent of our food find themselves in a financial Forage events are scheduled "Forage - Your Key to Profit" is a series of conferences being held across Ontario during February and March. Locally, the Conference will be held at John McCrae Legion Hall, 919 York Road Guelph. There are three days as follows: February 12 - Hay and Silage Day; February 19 - Cash in on Forages Day; March 5 - Pasture Day. Each day starts at 10'00 a.m. and concludes by 3:30 p.m. Brochures, registration and further details are available through the OMAF Office, Fergus. Telephone 846-5371, 843-2231 or 1-800-265-8332. Fees are $20 per per- son for one day program, $25 for two days and $30 for three days. Cheques should be made payable to Universi- ty of Guelph. The fees include the meetings, dinners and a copy of the proceedings. Hay and Silage Day (February 12) will be of special interest to dairymen. Cashing in on Forages (February 19) will highlight the cash crop potential of forages and also the advantages of including forages in your cropping programs. Pasture Day (March 5) will be of special in- terest to beef and sheep producers but will also have application to dairymen - it will include a number of ideas that are relatively new in pasture management and also emphasize several well proven principles. Brian Hall Farm Management Specialist • I\1'IST'stlA'1'S 33 WEST ST.. GOOERICH 1-800-265-5303 1x41114• crisis. Figures vary from five to 30 per cent of farmers in serious finan- cial difficulty which could easily ex- ceed 50 per cent of our food produc- tion," stated Mr. Garniss. The federation also had some not so nice comments about a proposal from the Farm Credit Corporation called the Farm Development Corporation. "It appears good for one group in particular- lenders foreclosing on farmland and has advantages for farmers in serious financial difficul- ty. But the drawbacks are much greater," vitt Garniss. The couny federation suggests, in- stead, that farm debt review boards and the Ontario Federation of Agriculture's agribonds concept could achieve goals such as stabiliz- ing land values, replacing debt with equity and attracting investors without negative impacts. Garniss said the federation's big fear of the FDC is that it could end up owning large chunks of land and in essence, the government would be competing with the family farm. As for debt review boards, the federation says they must be legislated to provide equality to all farmers. "At present, debt write-downs are occurring with banks and other creditors, but we are concerned that this procedure is available to some, but not to others in identical cir- cumstances. As well, the Farm Credit Corporation has done virtually no write-downs, which makes it difficult to justify write-downs to other creditors," said Garniss. The federation did praise the task force for actually coming out to the grass roots level. "It's a real concern to us that when a political party becomes the govern- ment, this type of consultation becomes rare- we are expected to go to Ottawa, instead of the parties com- ing to us, as you are now doing," com- mented Garniss. MOUNT CARMEL INCOME TAX CENTRE Income tax accounting for farming and business VINCE RYAN B.A. RR 3 Dashwood, Ont. 1 C.G. Farm Supply Ltd. I Zur$Cf1 is pleased to announce that Paul Steckle has rejoined their firm after serving as Huron County Warden in 1985. Paul comes with 12 years experience in Farm and Industrial Farm Machinery Sales as well as many years experience in public life. To Discuss Equipment Needs (New or Used) Call Paul At 236-4934 or 236-4321 After Hours Call 565-2147 "Where a deal is a fair deal" Get your construction equipment in top shape now for less! WI N T E R • SAVINGS. -1 Ask for an Equipment Maintenance Checkup of your Case equipment �'- Now you'll save money when you get your equipment ready for the tough season ahead. During our Winter Ser- vice Savings special, we're offering values designed to improve equipment perforni'ance and reliability for less. You'll benefit from a reduced chance of downtime and save money, too. What's more, we'll send a qualified service technician to inspect your Case construction equipment at your place. Then if you want, we'll do the recommended -work at reduced winter prices. Call us now! SAVE 1 0 on parts when work is done in our Service Center plus 0% SAVE on labor Winter Service Saving, are in effect untn February 28. 1986 Call us today for full details. «�3a FARM SUPPLY LIMITED Sales bind Service 1. Phone 231► -4934, 236-4321 Box 39, 22 Main St. E., Zurich, Ont. 1