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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1987-11-21, Page 7Farmers want specific commitments Throne speech disappoints OFA OfA disappointed by Throne Speech While welcoming the government Throne Speech's -"commitment to develop innovative approaches to assisting Ontario farmers", the OFA is disappointed that there is abso- lutely no indication of what form those approaches might take. OFA president Brigid Pyke says,"At a time when farmers are undergoing difficult economic times, we are very concerned that the gvernment does not rank farm issues high enough to offer some ideas for an agricultural agenda." During the election campaign, the Liberals responded to an OFA elec- tion questionnaire with promises to look at the crop insurance program, price stabilization programs and farm financing requirements. There were also promises to introduce Right -to -Farm legislation this fall and to develop policy guidelines on foodland preservation and wetland conservation. Pyke says, "The Throne Speech does not mention any of these issues. Nor docs it an- nounce anything new." The OFA agrees with the provin- cial government's concerns about the failure of the federal govemment to deliver a final text of the free trade agreement with the U.S. The OFA looks forward to the govern- ment's plan to "release detailed stud- ies on the agreement's potential im- pact on selected Ontario industries." Pyke says, "We assume that one of these studies will look at the ramifications of the current deal for agriculture. We would like to see the government go further and make some commitment to adjustment assistance programs for economic sectors that will be adversely affect- ed by the deal." The OFA welcomes government plans to increase support for munic- ipal recycling programs, to preserve areas of outstanding environmental significance, and to increase the range of services for Ontario parents who require quality care for their children. The OFA will be presenting its annual brief to the provincial cabi- net on December 10. At that time, the organization will be seeking specific commitments on agricultu- ral issues. - "It's a blip on your disc," he said as though I knew what a blip was. It was a lesson in terminology for an old codger who is only now be- ginning to tentatively approach computers. Students coming into college know all about computers. They are computer friendly before they leave public school these days. But I have always been afraid of ma- chinery. When tape recorders became avail- able to everyone in the reporting profession, I was one of the last to • use one, And I had good reason. The recorders would work for everyone but me. The moment I touched them, the batteries went dead, the head atethe tape and the whole ma- chine malfunctioned. The blip was a forerunner of things to come. The blip turned into a disc that had to be destroyed. My luck with machines has not changed in 40 years. The blip was a harbinger of bad news. And that is what the experts are saying about the recession in agri- culture. It has been nothing but a blip so far. It is due to get worse. Most other sectors of the economy arc beginning a slow recovery but not agriculture. The worst is yet to come if we can believe the experts in financial circles. Basil Haefling, a consultant with Price, Waterhouse, told farmers at an agriculture credit conference re- cently that the farm situation is so bad now that even governments cannot stop the slide; it can only slow the adjustments because there is not enough money to halt the slide. Since 1982, farmers have lost $22 billion in equity. In other words, their land values have dropped that much across Canada. Farm debts have increased by 10 percent to $21 billion and farmers are now earning only five percent on their remaining asscts, far worse than government bonds or even interest on a bank ac- count. Ontario farmers are making 10 times as much from off -farm in- come as they are in profits from farming. If they were paid the aver- age industrial wage for the hours they work on the land, they would earn 12.5 times as much. The farm economy, said Mr. Hae - fling, is so bad now that farmers need 70 percent equity to survive, yet the average equity for young farmers is about 45 percent. Which means a great many more farmers will go broke in the next few years. The loss of even a few farm fami- lies has a significant impact on small towns and rural communities. The trouble with the farm economy is that it is losing mid -career, ag- gressive, well-educated, young farm- ers who will be sorely needed in the next few decades in agriculture. The people who are left are older, less aggressive. They have passed their prime. They are not innova- tive. Or that is what Harold Baker, a professor of extension, said at the same conference. I'm not so sure I agree with him 100 percent. I have known older farmers who are just as innovative Major changes in OPIIP to better serve producers Major changes -have been made to the Ontario Pork Industry Improve- ment Plan (O.P.I.I.P) in order to make it more consistent with the needs of Ontario pork producers. The changes involve the areas of roduction records and rodent con - T e Production Record grant has n changed from $100/year to $5/ so equivalent/year (a sow equival- ent s either a sow or the sale of 15 .� ket hogs). The minimum grant (fm or finishing operations is $100 and the maximum is $200/year. For far- row to finish and wearer operations, the minimum is $200 and the maxi- mum is $500/year. The Rodent Control grant has been expanded to allow for a produc- er to receive a $250 grant for each calendar year in which he/she com- pletes a 12 month rodent control program from 1987 to 1990. To be eligible for incentive 3ranLs, O.P.I.I.P. requires that pro- duction records be submitted to the county O.M.A.F. office starting with either the quarter of enrolment or the quarter following enrolment. In a significant number of cases producers enrolled, and for various reasons, did not rccord the produc- tion in their barns. As a result they arc unable to go back and complete the required production record sum- mary. For producers in this situa- tion, they will be able to achieve el- igibility status if they commence submitting production records with quarter one of 1988. If this opportu- nity is missed then the producer will have to submit four consecu- tive quarters of records before bc- Exeter 11 4-H Exeter 11 held a dessert party No- vember 4 at McCarter's. We each brought a friend and treated them to punch, fruit and dip, fruit and choc- olate fondue, jellied fruit salad and muffins. . We made up slogans, using words from magazines, for fruits and vege- tables. Our books arc due November 11 ar,d our Achievement Program is November 24 at 7:30 at the Stanley Township Complex. Press reporter - Cheryl McCarter coming eligible for incentive grants. Many producers have had ques- tions regarding incentive grants for the purchase of computers, comput- er software or bureau record keeping services. The enhanced Production Record grant could now be used by the producer to make a significant contribution towards one of these. purchases. For further information regarding O.P.I.I.P., call Andy or Judy at the Clinton O'M.A.F. office (1-800- 265-5170 or 482-3428). Andy Sande Pork Advisor for Huron County and aggressive as some of these younger men who are still wct be: hincj the cars. The professor is correct to a de- gree, . though. Too many young farm families will be forced off the farm and too many of those left will be too complacent to provide leader- ship. It is a sad picture being painted out there by many so-called experts. I hope and pray their predictions will not come true. If what we have seen so far in agriculture is just a teaser, as another speaker said, then agriculture is in much deeper an- guish than I thought. Times-Advocote, November 18, 1987 TIIANKS TO LIBERAL WORKERS - The Huron Provincial Liberal Association held a pot luck dinner in Scaforth Friday night to say thanks to workers and volunteers during the recent provincial election. From the left arc Agriculture Minister Jack Riddell, Stephen Dietrich, Dashwood; Harry Dougall and Gladys Richardson, Exeter and Earl Keller, Dashwood. ' Bumper corn in Huron crop Despite less land in Huron being lower than normal meaning farmers fields. planted to corn this year, bumper can save on drying costs. But there is gcxxi and had in every crops in the northern part of the Farmers also got exceptional situation and the bad may he for county have meant every inch of yields on soybeans this year with high -moisture corn, Mr. Hall said. storage capacity has been put to yields in the northern part of the The corn was actually so dry whcn work, Brian Hall, Crop Specialist -county being in the range of 50 bu- it was harvested that there may be with the Ontario Ministry of Agri- shcls to the acre when 30 would be problems with storage, he said. culture and Food said last week. a good normal crop. While corn yields in the southern While beans also ended up being a part of the county were down be- good crop he said with some yields cause of a hot dry summer, yields as good as last year's crop where across the northern part of the coun- yields never before seen in Huron ,ty average about 120 bushels to the were recorded. The difference this acre, he said, about 10-20 bushels year is that weather stayed good and above normal: The most:phenomen- fanners were able to harvest the al yields have been in the Walkerton crop. arca whe a regular yields arc about North Huron's bountiful crops 80 bushels per acre but yields of up were not the case everywhere. The to 160-170 bushels have been re- U.S. midwest had about normal corded this year. corn and soybean yields and Michi- It all adds up to a situation where gan, the main competitor for Onta- "you can't get an inch of corn stor- rio White Bean producers, had a sec - age this fall," Mr. Hall said. Eleva- and poor crop year in a row because tors across the county are full and of second growth in many bean Phone Bob Hardy 227-0160 farmcrs not using their on-farm storage generally have rented it out to neighbours. The hot summer and fall also helped farmers in that moisture lev- els in the harvested corn are much CHAPARAL FENCING R.R. 1, Lucan Ontario NOM 2J0 ALL TYPES FREE ESTIMATES Industrial Fences Chain•Link & Patio •Farm Fences LUCKNOW SNOWBLOWERS FEATURES: 13 models available (42" - 108") • Extra heavy augers and shafts • Special auger sprockets prevent chain icing. • Tapered roller bearings on fan shaft. • Greasable 1-7 16" bearings on auger shafts (except S40) • Heavy duty gearbox with heat treated gears. • Fan and augers protected by shear pins • Heavy duty P.T.O. with needle bearings. • All double auger blowers equipped with 4 -blade fan. MODEL D75H OPTIONAL, EQUIPMENT Hydraulic chute (cylinder extra) • Hydraulic manual spout deflector Priced from `750 ASK ABOUT OUR USED BLOWERS FARM EQUIPMENT LTD. Exeter 235-2121 "Serving You For 55 Years" ■ MEM Dashwood 237-3242 CO.OP EXETER DISTRICT CO-OPERATIVE ANNUAL MEETING FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20 AT SOUTH HURON RECREATION CENTRE (EXETER) - 6:30 P.M. MUSIC BY "THE ROYAL AIRES" Banquet - Meeting - Dance Banquet tickets $7.00 per person Including lax Dinner 6:30 p.m. Dancing 9 - 1 Advance Tickets Only 235-2081 Tickets available at Exeter and Ailsa Craig Stores and Directors c EXETER DISTRICT CO-OP Exoier Branchef Ailsa Craig 235-2081 and 293.3282 OUR FALL BONUS SPECIALS ARE ABOUT TO DISAPPEAR 4 - L l I— 1 J $100 OFF $200 OFF $300 0 1111\\F\111)\11 \111 k\I (,1\FI k\14I 1\IIII'A'1111,11 FM( IF\11 \ \\II k111,\>II R\111 �1k1 F\14111 114111'\IN IIn\I\t, \ 111 4111 (,\\ fl k\ 11 1 I \/r1 F,\ 1101 1Ik 4 0\IN"1140,", Time is almost up on our -Fall Rollos Specials Cot1u'-I►erentber .1. they 11 he gone And with. them go \ our chances to save on modern natural gas furnaces. central air conditioning. and worrl free natural gas rental water heaters. ' \\ hotter 1 on re on gas or i r\ (I1 up to gas from an oil or electric sys tent. dont lei our Fall Bonus Spaials disappear before 1 our eves. \\ i111 home comfort eyuipn1cm front Clare. I)uonlaltc Olsen. Grimsby (inrdo11 !-11 11\t'nit',1 ,1 \I (:fermi 1-8Q0-265-4173. in 11 iN_ Ili!\.,I I11I\4,1111\\I1R11(1" 41011ONFlFIIKfi111 41 \ , hoberts rong NO PAYMEI\T 11\ Fyl II'\I1:\T I1 411111,1' 1)41 \V%FFk IIF:\TFli 4F\ 1 1i I \11I. A'KII Mti tdmon CRS `V(' bring til(' ('nc gv