The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutTimes-Advocate, 1987-03-25, Page 12• limes Advocate, March 25, 1987 "I read your column in the paper, Bob, especially when you write about your family, .your granddaughter, your horses, even when you write about capital punishment. "But when you write about agriculture, I quit after the first paragraph or two." These are direct quotes from readers. , They are, of course, urbanites, ci- ty dwellers, surrounded by concrete, bricks and asphalt. They go to work in the city. They come home to a house in the city. They are affluent and articulate, yuppies. in other words: young upwardly mobile. But they are not interested in agriculture. FOR QUALITY FARMLAND DRAINAGE TRUST THE "ALL -PRO TEAM" YOU CAN DEPEND UPON. Tn. ai0 .o DOA Toe Company Im' Sd • C.»O&'s leading manufacturer of aronapa malrW$ e You Mee Our uaurrua ,,at M b' pla)Ic aaetapa arouq Is Ow frost araaaOM. OV rapulabon depend ' r on N., a�A For reliable installation contact Hodgins & Hayter Ltd. p FARM A MUNICIPAL DRAINAGE RR 3 Parkhill 519.238.2313 Call us for all your drainage requirements. Ask for: Allen Hayter or Bruce McKeehan QUALITY PRODUCTS * OUAIITY INSTALLATION It could be my writing, mind you. If people are bored when reading my column, then maybe my column is boring. But it is the same person writing about agriculture as. it is writing about grandchildren and horses. I*plead guilty, at times, for writing uninteresting copy. However, it seems a shame that people are more interested in horses and capital punishment than they are in agriculture. I have said it before but it needs to be repeated: Agriculture is Canada's largest industry. The top 20 industrial corporations in total could not meet the dollar figure of what Canadian farmers have invested to produce farm goods. An estimated 1.5 million across this county count on agriculture for their livelihood. Add their families and you will get a figure of close to 5 million people in Canada who are dependent upon agriculture and the -Canadian farmer for their economic -survival, ----- And you thought our economy hing- ed on the steel and automobile industries? When farmers cry for help from senior levels of government, some of my city friends shout that farmers are getting too much help but I heard few outbursts, when, Ford and Chrysler -- will it be GM's turn next? -- gothuge goverment grants and loans. • What is not understood by most con- sumers is that farmers are getting less and less of every food dollar spent. More than 68 cents of every dollar spent on food goes to process- ing. marketing and retail stores. The farmer gets less than 32 cents. • Food prices have increased in the last 30 years but the average share received by the farmer has decreas- ed steadily yet expenses have increas-_ ed. I know of no other economic area where income has dwindled in the last 20 gars. Certainly. no labor contracts Only 5 Days Left To take advantage of All Case IH parts. (Minimum order $50.00) (Excluding direct ship items) PLUS GIANT SAVINGS On Quality Filters & Lubricants uuu RSV ruLL fln`N aL fILrD ANaraf PLUS USED EQUIPMENT almaiM96 a111Y�j� Vw1411. FINANCING. On purchase of most used equipment* Now th .8011SPRIP FARM EQUIPMENT LTD. Sales & Service Since 1932 Exeter 235-2121 Dashwood, 237-3242 704 lialuu. Maio Aa . tb.wi Ora N have been settled for less money. In Canada, less than 16 cents of every dollar is spent on food, . a" bargain indeed. No other country in the world has a better record with the possible exception of the Excited States. In Russia, for instance, two- thirds of every dollar earned has to be spentoa food. In India, one-half of the average after-tax income is needed for 'food. One Canadian farmer supplies enough food for 80 people. Productivi- ty on the farm has increased five times more than in the non-farm sec- tor, a fact few people appreciate. It means farmers have been quick to adopt modern methods and use technology for the good of everyone. Yet this marvellous story seems boring to most city people. If they on- ly knew! If farmers quit producing, you would have to quit eating. And that is a habit that is tough to break. DARLING'S BUY CHAMPIONS -- The champion pen of steers at Saturday's show and sale at the Denfield Livestock Sales Ltd. was purchased by Darling's IGA. Above, Jim Darling is being con- gratulated by Hugh Filson. T -A photo i SPRING SPECIALS on MINI -SHEDS (1986 Display Units) '86 PRICES LESS 1O% ONLY 4 LEFT Prices on new sheds to in- crease April 1st. ORDER NOW i( M CONSTRUCTION Crediton 234-6401 Another good reason to buy Sutari± in bulk. Now, when you buy 600 litres of Sutan+, we'll give -you this bulk tank complete with pump and meter— absolutely free. That's a $400 value on top of the 20 cents per Titre* you save on bulk over the regular jug price. You also gain these other advantages: • Save time and labour — no heavy, awkward cans or drums to handle. • Less -chance of spillage,- waste and accidents — no pouring. ••Eliminates guesswork when mixing — you can meter out exactly the correct amount of herbicide. • No containers to clean; buFy or, burn. • Buy and pay for only the exact amount you need — no leftover chemical to store. We're so convinced that you're going to like Sutan+ in bulk that from now until May 1, 1987, we'll give you special money- saving deals on this bulk equip- ment even if you try it in smaller quantities. So come in now. We'll show you how to put the program for Sutan+ in bulk to work for you. Limit one per customer. TMSutan and Sutan+ are registered trademarks of Stauffer Chemical Company. U.S.A. * Based on suggested retail prices now in effect. Sutan+ Stauffer Stauffer Chemical Company of Canada. Ltd. ------ 70 Pacific Court. Unit 22 London. Ontario N5V 3R5 • Confidence in crop protection ® Distributed in Canada by Chipman * IEWL,suM ac 1 Stoney Creek. Ontario !MCC J nrtrrviwlr I Sutan HENSALL DISTRICT COOP HENSALL 262-3002 BRUCEFIELD 482-9823 SEAFORTH ZURICH 527-0770 236-4393 AIIsa Craig - 293-3223 Granton - 225-2360 Hensall - 262-2527 Mitchell - 348-8433 Port Albert - 529-7901 Seaforth 345-2545 Centralia Farmers Supply Ltd. CENTRALIA 228-6638 Exeter Dis4i10 Co -Op co-op 4 bucks west of the Fire Hall 4 bucks west of the Fire Hall Exeter 235-2081 Aliso Craig 293-3282 DIVISION OF GERBRO INC. HENSALL 262-2410 CENTRALIA 228-6661 KIRKTON 229.8986 WALTON 327-1340 887-9261