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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1987-03-18, Page 9(ALMAR) • Speaks at Clinton outlook event 0 Senator outlines serious repercussions for soil "Soil degradation is a serious na- tional problem, it needs national at- tention," said Senator Herbert Spar- row in opening his speech at the Bank of Montreal's First Bank Agricultural Outlook. The senator, and three bank representatives, were speakers at this agricultural meeting that was held at the Clinton town hall on March 5. While he noted that most farmers would feel that the economy is the most serious problem facing the agricultural industry, he said this pro- blem would hopefully last only two or three years. "Beyond that, the most serious crisis is soil degradation, our soils are at risk, our future is eroding. he said. The senator could be termed an ex- pert in this field as he was on the senate committee that put together the soil degradation and conservation study which was published in the book "Soil at Risk". He explained that when this sub committee sits, they meet with anywhere from 30 to 50 farming groups. When the committee raised the question of whether there was a problem with soil degradation with the farm groups, Senator Sparrow said it was evident there was a problem. In February of 1984 the sub commit- tee got permission from the Senate to do the study, and they released it in July of that year. "What we found was the problem was much more serious than we realized. We found it was so serious we couldn't take two or three years to do the study. We decided to work seven days a week to do it, it was that serious," he said. While carrying out the study, the. committee found there was a great deal of conservation knowledge within the farming communities, but at the same time there was a great deal of frustration because nothing was being done to save the land. The senator stated, "We found the cost of production is so high, and the returns so low, that if a farmer wanted to be a conservationist he couldn't afford to. Different forms of degradation were found to take place across Canada. These include erosion by water and wind, soil compaction, salinization of soil and soil being ruin- ed or used up through man's expan- sion into farmlands. "These forms (of erosion) are tak- ing place in every community in our nation. I could talk about one form, but there are so many forms, we're talking millions of acres," said BECKER FARM REGISTRATION - - In charge of registration at Fri- day's sprayer clinic at Becker Farm Equipment were Kathy Keller and Jon Barry. T -A photo Huron's dairymen urged to hit quota Dairy farmers were urged to meet a larger per tent of their milk.Supply quota at the annual meeting of the Huron County Milk Producers held Friday in the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community ('entre, Brussels. Although members of the Ontario Milk Marketing Board recognized the controversy on over production -they told dairy producers at leat 98.5 per cent of the quota was needed, rather that the 96 per cent currently being realized. Changes in the levy structure and the increase in fluid sales and cor- responding higher payout percen- tages prompted this request of pro • - ducers to fill a larger percent possibly even 100 percent. of their MSQ. Representatives from -the Ontario Milk Marketing board told Iluron County producers they were running close to the same pattern as other pro- ducers in the province, and added total marketings would have to Ix. one per cent higher than a year ago, on average, for each of the remaining months of the dairy year to fill the FOR QUALITY FARMLAND DRAINAGE a I TRUST THE "ALL -PRO TEAM" . YOU CAN DEPEND UPON. na as o am no crnarny t.'tM erre.•. u.erw ,.,r„ /.ct✓r M r•rro. nwrw. Yen Ir.y eVps nano is Oa nt rag Mneno� r.0=rdr dePold .n a For ,. b11I stal4tion contact Hodgins & Hayter Ltd. FARM d MUNICIPAL DRAINAGE RR 3 Parkhill 519.238.2313 Call bs for all your drainage requirements. Ask for Allen Ho ter or Bruce McKichan v 1 rin DUCT i • (y)At VT V 11.4'J/411041N provincial quota. Total milk marketings to the board were 2.2 per cent lower in January 1987 than in January 1986. Total marketings have been lower, com- pared to the same month a year ago, for eight months in a row. The OMIMIB said it expected the trend towards lower decreases in milk marketings, compared to a year ago, to continue as producers respond to the revised levy structure and adjust their feeding programs to compensate for poorer quality feed. Under the current levy structure the recently reduced within -quota levy of $4.65 per hl applies up to 98.5 per cent of MSQ and a special export rate of $27.50 per hl applies on the re- maining 1.5 per cent of MSQ. The full overquota levy rate of $38h1 applies on shipments over 100 per cent of MSQ. The percentage levels of MSQ at which different levy rates apply will be adjusted at year-end to reflect any under utilization by producers within the province. A year-end adjustment for increase domestic requirements was not anticipated at this stage due to declining butter sales. Dr. Jim Ashman. of the Dairy In- spection Branch, entertained the Iluron County group, with a graphic comment of the various hats worn by employees of the Dairy Inspection 13ranch. Ile then gave a slide presen- tation on the new dairy inspection laboratory in Guelph. and assured farmers that the milk testing process, like the American government, was a system of checks and balances. "The system was designed with four separate checks if you want to take it that far," he said, adding farmers should use it, if they feel they haven't been given a "fair crack". Also at the meeting Walter Elliott and Kevin Kale were re-ellected to the Iluron County Milk committee and a by-law passed that committee members be limited to no more than three consecutive terms on the com- mittee, starting with new elections in 1987. Approval was given to the 1987 pro- posed budget of ;7,916.28. John Oldfield, a Huron County Milk Producer, was presented with the gold award, and 67 others received the general award recognition. Senator Sparrow. "We owe the future generations a right to a livelihood in this nation. In all of Canada only nine percent of land is suitable for growth. Half of that is suitable for agricultural growth," he explained. The first specific area he touched on was Atlantic Canada, an area he described as a very crucial part of Canada's agricultural industry. "They started with 18 inches of top soil, they are down to six inches," he said, adding that it took less than 100 years for this soil to vanish. "Very little is being done about it. The way they're losing topsoil, they will lose agriculture in 30 years. All they're going to have left are rocks." Farmers in Quebec are losing a large amount of their soil due to runoff. Because the soil has been well worked, it has become very powdery, and when the rains come it is being carried off into the low lying areas such as lakes and streams. "A study was done by the federal government, on these soils, and if they continue losing them at the rate they are today, they will be gone in 20 years," said Sparrow. "We can't afford to lose those farms, we need those voices, that pro- duction," he pointed out. Ontario suffers from many of the erosion problems, and the province's problems are exagerated when it comes to degradation through urhan expansion. "If you look from the CN Tower on a clear day you can see 50 percent of the number one and number two top- soils," said Sparrow. "Urban expan- sion is eating it uliat'26 acres an hour. In less than 10 years we lose over three -million acres to urhan expansion. "I believe Ontario has only 40 or 50 years of viable agriculture left if they don't care for the land." He pointed out that just looking at one's own community will not help the problem as the nation's agricultural industry is at stake. Senator Sparrow tried to persuade the gathered farmers to read the report. "Please read the book. The methods of conservation) you do agree with, try to incorporate with your plan. Talk to your neighbours about it. Soil conservation has to be a part of it. Any one of these issues can save topsoil. If you can save one ton, it's worth it." Ile added that the farmers alone cannot shoulder the responsibility of making sure the soil is saved, and the consumer is going to have to help out through paying higher prices for - goods or higher taxes to the govern- ment so they can help the farmers out. "These soils belong to future generations, we must be guardians. The consuming public has to be spen- ding money or in 30 years we'll be im- Huron Apothecary LtdJ . T WILSON PHARMACIST PHONE 235-1982 440 MAIN ST EXETER. ONT. PRESCRIPTIONS We accept most major drug plans Blue Cross, Green Shield, Drug Benefit, Hours Mon. Tues., Thurs. & Fri. 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Wed. 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Sat. 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. "Your Independent Pharmacist" otc. Do You Need That OLD FENCE REPAIRED OR A NEW FENCE Then Give Us a Call CHAPARAL FENCING R. R. 1, Lucan Ontario NOM 2J0 ALL TYPES FREE ESTIMATES Phone Bob Hardy 227-4160 porting all our food into this country," he said in conclusion. "If we destroy the soil, the soil will destroy us." The other panelists for the meeting included Lindsay Barfoot, vice- president, agriculture for the bank, Kenneth Summers, vice-president and district executive of the bank and Randal Goodfellow, agrologist for the bank. All of these speakers stressed that there is a future for agriculture in Canada and the market will grow. They pointed out that in order to maintain their share of the market Canadian farmers will have to be very competitive and keep on top of modern policies and technologies. The chairman for the meeting, Linus Kuntz, summed up these ideas when he stated, "Farmers are seek- ing the competitive edge. Today's successful farmer explores the possibilities, looks for the competitive advantage, sets goals and objectives, develops a strategy and seeks the edge to ensure success. This is the essence of today's farmer." The Bank of Montreal also releas ed a commodity forecast summary for 1987 at the meeting. It predicts that with the large global supplies and continued production Canadian crop prices will remain under pressure in 1987-88. "Corn plantings in 1987 are ex- pected to increase five percent to 3.5 million acres in response to increas- ed feeding activities, the countervail action against United States imports and less burdensome stocks," noted the report. According to the report, oilseeds will provide the best cash crop pro- spects of major crops in 1987. On the meat market Canadian feeder steer calf prices are expected to remain strong, with Calgary prices averaging $106/cwt, which is up seven percent from the 1986 level. Slaughter prices will also be high due to a five to six percent reduction in U.S. and Canadian cattle slaughter. "Outlook for hogs continues to sug- gest relatively strong slaughter prices. March 18, 1987 Page 9 On location or Studio Bart DeVrie PHOTOGRAPHY COMMERCIAL • WEDDINGS PORTRAITS - GROUPS • PUBLICITY Telephone 235-1298 137 Thames Rd., East, Exeter, Ont. Ontario Federation of Agriculture - invites you to meet and hear... Brigid Pyke New President of O.F.A. 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