The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutTimes-Advocate, 1986-09-24, Page 32Pas/ 16A Times -Advocate, September 24, 1986 EXETER 4-H t2t0 „MI TOP 4-H SHOW — Rob Hern, right, had the winning entry in the 4-H beef calf. club conformation test at the Exeter fair. He also placed second in junior showmanship. Other winners in the competition from the left are: Joe Gower, reserve calf and first in senior showmanship; Lisa Hern, second senior showman- ship; Grant Hayter, third senior showmanship; Michael Hern, first junior showmanship and third place calf; Glenn Hayter, third junior showmanship; Rob Hoffman, first in heifer class conformation. Free trade, freer trade, call it whatever you want, is a big question mark for agriculture. - If you want my personal opinion, I think free trade talk is a lot of crap. I do not think the United States is able to bargain in good faith because of that powerful farm lobby across the border. When the United States plays dir- ty, Canadian farmers get dumped on from a great height, in copious quan- tities and with deadly accuracy. Most Canadian are blithely unaware of the fact that the United States and the European Community are involved in a knockdown, tear -ass trade war right now. This war is costing billions of dollars in the U.S. and is eating about 75 per cent of the EC budget, perhaps even more. Canada and most of the rest of the world cannot possibly compete against the huge treasury of the U.S. and the combined treasuries of the European Economic Community. Nor should we try. But that trade war is costing us billions of dollars in lost sales, especially in grain, particularly wheat. Canada and 13 other countries have called for collective action to end the farm subsidy v, ar between these two trading giants. Australian John Dawkins, trade minister, has been a leader of this angry group of nations. He has vowed to "exert effective political pressure to end the unfair subsidies." Wheat Board Minister Charles Mayer: "A strong political commit- ment is needed immediately to de- escalate the subsidy war. We must redress a situation which is growing more intolerable every day." Well, just what can Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, Chile, Columbia, Fiji, Hungary, In- donesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Urueuav do to Uncle Sam? All of them combined do not have the economic and political clout to tug Uncle Sam's beard. Ah, but what about closing U.S. defence bases in the affected coun- tries? Couldn't all 14 nations in a com- bined effort make Reagan's.govern- ment back down on farm subsidies? In my humble opinion, concerted' action by these 14 countries could have a profound effect on U.S. policies. It is also my opinion that the U.S., in an effort to show off to the rest of the world, has embarked on the war with the EC just to prove it is more powerful than the European Community. It is grandstanding -- or sabre rattling, if you will -- at its worst. As usual, when trading bullies get angry, a group of little people get hurt. It has been estimated that U.S. subsidies add up to about $30,000 per farmer. In other terms, about 32 cents of every farm dollar "earned" in the U.S. comes from various government programs. In Canada, it is about 12 per cent. And in this free trade nonsense, Western European farmers get 39 cents of every farm dollar from the EC treasury. The 14 complaining nations are in- nocent victims of a trans-Atlantic trade war. Australian farmers are losing $1 billion a year. In the last three years -- the war has been going on for five years and is escalating annually -- Canadian grain sales have fallen by 40 per cent to about $3 billion a year from $5 billion, If the U.S. wants to put a stop to EC subsidies, why not use a political solu- tion by withdrawing military support in Europe? No way, Jose! That would leave the door open for Russia. So, the small nations can only shout and weep and threaten and wring their hands while these two giants bring about the collapse of world WINS AT SEAFORTH — Exeter 4-H calf club member Joe Gower top- ped the Queen's Guineas class competition among county members at the Seaforth fall fair on Friday. REVERSE THINGS The battle for supremacy in the 4-H dairy calf club show was o two-way one with the only entries coming from Derek Hoonaard and Dan Weigand. Weigand, shown in the front, topped the conformation class, while Hoonaard was judged the bet- ter showman. 4 agricultural trade and our weary farmers trudge to their banks, caps in hand and tugging their forelocks, trying to stave of bankruptcy. Owner loses tussle with fcsir's champion'w and other buyers were Evergreen Wilkin, Freeman Horne and Gerald Farms, A & H EMA Foods, Rick and Phil Johns. EXETER 4-H (4 Rob Passmore may be having se- cond thoughts this week about the fact his top prize animal in the feeder calf club also won for most gain in the an- nual Exeter fall fair show. Passmore, 13 -year-old son pf'two club leaders, Paul, and Darlene Passmore, RR 3 Exeter, came out se- cond best in a tussle with his steer during- the show and ended up in hospital. The 1300 -pound animal dragged the Usborne Central School student along the gravel and then stepped on him. His injury was diagnosed as a bruis- ed kidney and he was scheduled for more medical W' ition this week although he was ,.rule to return to his home. The champion steer was sold to Darling's IGA for $1.10 a pound. The reserve champion, shown by Jim Ellerington, went to Veal's Meats for $1.121/2 cents. Last year the two feeder calf club members were in opposite positions as Ellerington had the top animal and Passmore was reserve champion. Ironically, Jon's dad, Tom Eller- ington, took over showing Passmore's entry when the lad was injured. Passmore's' 1986 entry had a gain of 720 pounds. Placing second and third respectively in that category were steers shown by brothers Jon and Tom Passmore. Bradley Hern took the junior showmanship honors with E1!erirgtun as reserve, while Lisa, Hern won the senior division with Michael Hern in reserve. Darling's and Veal's were top bid- ders on two calves each in the show A true conservationist is a man who knows that the world is not given by his fathers but borrowed from his children. Audubon Masain' DAD WINS — The Exeter feeder calf club doesn't usually feature competition between father and son, but it did on Saturday at the Exeter fair. Tom Ellerington, right, stepped in to show a calf belong- ing to Rob Passmore after the lad was injured when the steer dragg- ed him down and stepped bn him. The steer went on to win and in reserve place was a steer shown by Tom's son, Jon, left. The latter had a bit more to smile about later as his steer drew a slightly higher price than the champion. You Can Deal With Confidence When You Deliv�r Your 1986 White Bean Crop to (7-L-01-1 �s %tau Ken R. Campbell & Sons Ltd., Seaforth Howson & Howson Ltd., Blyth, Ontario Palmerston Elevators Ltd. Bar' B - Dee Farms, RR 1 Bornholm are also white bean receiving satellites for Thompson's We want and appreciate your business Hyland Augusta Seed Wheat Nyland Howsor Seed Wheat Cert. Monopol Red Winter Wheat f ?plc--. .lunolnos GOO 41° AfU • Be sure you buy Blue Tag Seed Only This assures you of "Certified" #1 Seed for "Purity" - "Quality" and "Top Yields." Any other facsimile is not the same. Available only at Thompson's or a Hyland Dealer Also there is Cert. /11 Fredrick seed wheat. "For larger growers" wishing Certified seed in Bulk we can supply. Please order ahead. ALL SEED IS TREATED WITH VITAFLO 280" - Custom Fertilizer Spreading - Soil' Sampling Service - Computerized Reports - Recommendations from a Qualified Staff (0CISII!,. For purity, top germination, disease fret. Sow only Certified Hyland. Seed 1 $ E A N S 1 GRAINS FEEDS SEEDS FIR TitIZERS• Hensall 262.2527 Mitchell 348 8433 Seaforth 3452545 Pt. Albert 529.7901 Ailsa Craig 293-3223 Granton 2252360 4 1• • •