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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1987-05-27, Page 23Mey-2.7:-4982-- PagQ2� _..._ Now budge t outlines »es five a r �` /ture inftiativCs 9 The Ontario government has an- nounced five major initiatives to help the agricultural • industry. setting aside a record $563 million for the ministry of agriculture and food in the new provincial budget. - In his budget statement. Treasurer Robert Nixon -said low commodity prices. declaring farm -asset t Ines and high debt loads are still squeez- ing Ontario's agricultural sector • Ths_budget reconfirms our con- tinued Lemma meal to the financial- ly distressed agricultural -sector Since taking office. this government has increased spending 00 agriculture by 72 percent." he said. "The initiatives announced in the budget are practical programs aim- ed at putting money into the pockets of the farmers that need it,'' said Agriculture and Food Alinister Jack Riddell. "In the face of the continu- Ing credit and commodity price financial assistance to farmers for crunch, farmers have been forced to restoring soil productivity and reduc- let tt -sonic parts of their operation go ing environmental damage on pro - Repairs ductive and marginal lands. A learnt Management Safely and "This will improve the stewardship Rep` irs assist will provide $50 _ of Ontario soil and water resources million to assist farmers with farm which will be needed for future analysis and planning, farm safety, generations;" said :Riddell. -machinery repairs and shop equip- The popular Ontario Family Farm moot, and on -fano feed and grain Interest }tate Reduction (OFFIRR) storage. Under this program, the r program, which provides interest ay to $2,500 fagovernment med. Ali `farmersuwith a gross farmtdebt. will be continued on long-term and at a levegl farm income of at leas( $12,000 per of 100 percent for the 1987 program year are eligible for the program year. The program was to have which runs from June 1. 1987 to May geared down to the 70 percent sup rt 31, 198n. level September 1, 1987. . Another new Initiative for The Treasurer also announce agriculture is a Land Stewardship changes, valued at $18 million which • Program. This program will provide will increase the total value of farm • $40 million over three years to en- lax rebates by 17 percent. The amend - wile( courage sound land management ed Farm Tax Rebate program in- -creases The program will provide creases the level of farm tax rebate • A herd of cattle grazing contented- ly beside a stream is a beautiful bucolic sight. A couple of cattle [mists 'step into the stream for a drink. Up comes the switch and down drops the manure. - - It is still a pretty picture but it can have far-reaching results. Big business and big industry gel blamed for most pollution problems whether it is air or water pollution. And when enforcement officials catch them. these industries pay fines. Because they are up -front and visi- ble. industries are seen as the villains. But agriculture is just as guilty in some instances and it is high lime farmers realized it. On the road home to our house. a municipal drainage ditch run -s Parallel to the highway. I have been ROTARY MOWERS NOW ON SALE Priced from $5415 • H.D. Construction retractable knives, Cot. I hitch, shear pin protection. PTO drive shields NOW ON DISPLAY FARM EQUIPMENT LTD. Serving Yo, Fry . »3-4 lathe.121 Mall Dos h wood 737.3242 • t.tpt.10y. womoaud by sob Tofu, EIdiet Rd Um./ Om N38 2C'7 travelling the route for more than 20 years. A 20 -foot piece of grass was left on loth sides of the ditch to prevent .erosion. The former farmer also threw reeks and stones from the field onto this grassy margin. Even during the spring run-off, little erosion from the field was visible. Until this spring. Last season,- the new owner plowed to within a few in- ches of the ditch-. Ile spent a couple of days picking stones, too. His corn field comes right to the bank. For- tunately. the run-off this spring was slow and gentle so the erosion was not noticeable. When spring floods come another year -- and come they will -- I'm sure huge rivulets will carry tons of topsoil into that ditch because a greedy farmer plowed and sowed loo close to• the water. This same practice can he seen in many farms and it's time to stop it. ('ottagers along the Grand River,- the Conestogo River and the Nith River are cornpk, g about p''lution caus- ed by cal nd, espec illy, hogs. Another major complaint stems from the practice follpwed by. many dairy farmers of flushing milk into drains and streams. Milk house rinse water has become a major pollution problem. The bad housekeeping habits of dairy- fanners. hog producers and cattlemen. are easily solved. Don't allow cattle to roam into streams and ditches. fence 'em off. Don't flush milk into streams or ditches. Don't allow hog manure to reach streams. It is air pollution that is more dif- ficult to prevent. How do you stop farm smells from wafting across the land'' We have lived in the country for 20 years. We were relatively free 'from odors until last year. For some reason or other, the smells coming now are overpowering: I think it is coming from a hog farm half a mile west of us. But why are we getting smells now that we didn't get in earlier years? Because the barn was improved and huge fans installed. The fans send the fresh air into the barn and the smells out. We know the hog farm was there, whenwe built a home in the country: We do not feel justified in complain- im s SerVeSeaforth R.R. 1, Spraying - Seeding - Fertilizing co ,ra • Don't be fooled by other "Claims" • Call on 21 years of agriculture flying on all types of crops • Guarantee your satisfaction in 1987 11 Contact us early so we can schedule your application on time In Seaforth contact: Milton J. Dietz Ltd. (519)527-0608 or air Field 527-1606 • ing about the smells. However, our former country road now has 13 homes on it and . some of those neighbors are getting fed up with the odors. "We couldn't stay outside for a barbecue last Sunday," said one neighbor. "If I knew who to complain to, I'd call right away." This is typical -of what is happening in urban areas. Many of our neighbors have absolutely no understanding of farmers and farm problems. They moved from the city and farm smells are not considered healthy. Those of us who grew up around farms can take the odors in our stride. If water pollution and air pollution problems caused by farmers are as prevalent in other parts of the coun- try as they are around here, then farmers had better start cleaning up their act before the environmental people start levying fines as large as those handed Qut to industry. - on agricultural land and bpilding;i rebates in two instalments beginning from 60 percent to 100 percent. The in 1988. Also, the prepayment require - farm home and one acre will by ment ty qualify for a rebate is being assessed at the farm property tax eliminated: rate. To speed the rebate process, The budget also makes a commit - farmers will receive the annual ment to extend the Beginning sin .�'.o-�i/ao,lb: a :14 W ..., .,.. Farmers Assistance Program for five years. Agricultural spending in Ontario rose from expenditures of $328 million in 1984-85 to an estimated $475 million last year. Pyke sees headwciy "No doubt about it. With this new provincial budget, farmers have. definitely made some headway in get- ting relief from tough times. We're very pleased," said Brigid Pyke, president of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture IOFAt. The programs the Liberals ear- marked funds for are programs the OFA -identified as crucial areas for improvement in earlier consultations with Government. Increasing the rebate under the Farm Tax Reduc- tion Program and eliminating the prepayment requirement for eligibili- ty for the rebate are items the Federation has lobbied for overthe years. Likewise the OFA pressed Government (o retain the Ontario Family Farm interest Rate Reduc- tion (OFFIRR) program at 100 per.: . cent for 1987_and the new budget pro- vided for this. The newly announced. Farm Management Safety and Repairs Pro- gram and the LandStewardship Pro- gram are also welcome, said Pyke, but full details still- have to be released. "We don't know. for example, to what extent farmers have to finance new grain storage facilities or other capital projects before they can ac- cess the $2500 assistance. But we will STAGE BANQUET The annual banquet and dance put on by the South Huron Rabbit Breeders Association was held at the Kirkton-Woodham Community .Cen- tre, May 2. The lucky . draw winners were Lenore Ebel, Granton $I00.,- Pat Cuverah, St. Marys $75.. Debbie Hislon, London $50.- and Kevin Pin- nell, Granton, $25.00 The lucky door prize won by Gerry P. Blaine. St. Marys. certainly co-operate with Govern- ment in ironing out implementation details," stated Pyke. Once in place, the new program should not only put money in farmers' pockets but will .help whole rural communities. Because of poor cash flow, farmers have invested very -little in new equip- -ment in the last few years, she said. and costly equipment repairs have strained farm budgets. This Farm Management Safety and Repairs pro- gram is a good response to that situa- tion, the OFA president commented. RCAT GRAD --- Steven Thomson, youngest son of Clarence and Isobel Thomson graduated May 15 from Ridgetown College of Agricultural Technology, major- ing in Field Crops and Livestock. Steven has accepted a position with Cuddy Farms of Strathroy. Although pleased with the new in-. itiatives moved by Government in the budget, the Federation identified other major issues that continue to merit serious consideration. "We have to have continued negotiations on enhanced stabilization programs, particularly for grains and oilseeds producers. Crop insurance is another area that requires increased funding. Add to that. Waste manage- ment is still a big worry for many rural and city communities. And, fourthly, there is the issue of long- term farm financing that Govern- ment has to have a long-term policy on. concluded Pyke. • BRANDY POINT FARMS • Our breeding stock pro- vides our buyers with proven genetics from the top 3% animals tested across Canada •. Our program enables us to offer quality and health at a price that is hard to beat • We have an ongoing supply of A.1. sired Hamp/Duroc. York and Lan- drace boars and Fl York Landrace gilts. All Boars are priced from S275-5375 F1 York Landrace gilts are priced S55 above market hog value. • Our closed herd is ranked "Good" by the OMAF BRED GILTS ALSO AVAILABLE Delivery available KURT KELLER R.R. 1 Mitchell, Ontario 519-348-8043 We just grew on you. The next time you pass by, you're going to notice some big changes around here. Because, thanks to your past patronage, we've expanded. And we're proud to ahnounce the addition of the White Farm Equipment Company line to our dealership. It's some of the most innovative equipment we've seen. Like the 5100S Seed Bosse planter—pos- sibly the most accurate sold today. And the Soybean Special attach- ment, which converts most Seed Bossy planters to precise, solid - seeding machines. . The Field Boss' tractor line is bigger. and better than ever. And the Harvest bossy combine line offers a range of models designed for faster, cleaner harvesting. White Farm also has several new lines of conservation tillage equipment for today's soil management techniques. We're growing with White Farm - Equipment Company. You can, too. Stop in and see our bold new line today. FARM SUPPLY LIMITED 22 Nialn $ . E. Zurich Ont. 236-4934 WHITE FARM EQUIPMENT Sales and Service 236-4321 I' fr