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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1988-02-24, Page 14Page 14 Times -Advocate, February 24, 1988 GiFT TO FIRST 1988 BABY - Little Courtney .Kristin Lorraine, who arrived at South Huron Hospital at 1:21 p.m. on Saturday, February 13, was the recipient of a book "Farm in the Family" commemorating the 100th birthday of the provincial ministry of agriculture. The book was presented by minister of agriculture Jack Riddell, shown with the baby's parents Lorrie and Peter Hrudka. The first baby of 1988 in each of the five hospitals in Huron was given a copy of the book. A big question in search of an answer: How long can the federal government spend several billion dollars each year to subsidize agri- culture while the budget deficit is running around S30 -billion annual- ly? To carry it even farther: much of that subsidy money is going to a group of top-notch fanners who arc modern and efficient and could sur- vive if subsidies were eliminated. They arc, in other words, making more money than the average Ca- nadian. The major problem when univer- sality is applied is that farmers may start to produce for the subsid- ies and not for the market. There is probably some evidence available, for instance, to prove -that wet lands have been put into grain pro- duction just to get grain subsidies. I have no evidence to prove this but I'rn saying that evidence could DK 445 DK 445 DK 445 DK 445 DK 445 DK 445 GENETICALLY ENGINEERED FOR HURON TY Paul Coates - Exoter 235-2449 Wayne Carroll - Centralia 227-4079 Glenn Rollings - Lucan 227-1719 Ken Bearss - Kirkton 229-6222 Wayne Keller Zurich 236-4016 • 1 - foot in the Letters are am/ovate., by Bob trotter Eware Ra Elmo. . Ont N38 2C/ probably he found. Statistics•r.an be found to prove almost anything, mind you, but figures are available to suggest that Prairie grain farmers relied on gov- erment subsidies for 88 percent of their net cash flow in 1986-87. Next year, if the U.S.-E.C. farm subsidy wars continue, grain farm- ers could expect almost 100 per- cent of their net cash flow to come from government subsidies. And that's too much of a good thing.• 1t has been said by much better informed farm writers than 1 am that the average taxpayer in this country eventually will turn against agriculture. It takes time to get Canadians aroused but when it happens, the fit really hits the shan. The action is drastic. When farm subsidies arc renewed each year, this encourages farmers to assume they will always be available. Subsidies become a built-in part of the structure of ag- riculture. These payments have be- come accepted and expected. Help has been part of the agricultural picture in this country for more than 100 years. Much of the mon- SEEDS Pride corn, soybeans, forages & Ag Master Forage & Silage fnoculants. BISHOP SEEDS: seed and forage Mixtures. ExRico 23, OAC Rico OAC Seaforth white beans. cot,tect: J.B. COMMODITIES 229-6461 cy from senior governments is jus- tified. I:1 fact, even the huge pay- ments from the Mulroney government can be justified. But the question still needs an answer: flow long? "The approach taken so far is ne- cessary because there is an interna- tional subsidy war going on," says Edward Carmichael, director of pol- icy research for the C.D. Howe In- stitute, an economic think-tank. "But we. must look for a long- term solution to the industry's prob- lems. Canadian farm policies are out of date and are not equipped to handle the reality of saturated export markets and depressed prices." Don't look at me! f don't have any answers. But they must be out there some- where. Ottawa and the provinces could make a determined cffort to slowly wind down the massive sub- sidies and replace them with poli- cies to make agriculture more effi- cient and more responsive to the market. Such a move would put a lot of good men and women out of business or at (cast cause even more suffering. But it might also mean some crop changes as well. This tremendous shift to millions of acres of corn, especially in Onta- rio, cannot be good for the soils of this province. A great amount of evidence is already available to prove that com damages soil. If a gradual faze -out of subsidies stopped some corn production, it would be a blessing in disguise. An answer? Not much of one but surely, these high-priced eggheads - in agministrics and universities across the country could come up with better ones. - Own a John Deere For Less........... 16,987c. 19,976 <.,,„ W/ John Deere 146 Load3r 55 P.T.O. HP John Deere Model 2355 Equip. w/ 16.9 x 30 rear 9.5L)(15, front tires 21 gal./min. Hyd. pump, 540 PTO, 3 pt. hitch, remote outlets • Trades Accepted • Lease available ' 8.75% financing /insurance • 2 yr. power train warranty ' In stock ready to go SALES DEPARTMENT 1-800-265-4220 Exeter 235-1115 Blyth 523-4244 i f l/ 7OICJ eR [ill How is your pressure? by Sheryl Feagan Health Education Consultant Huron County Health Uni We all have a blood pressure. It' what carries our blood to all parts of the body. Blood pressure is th push of blood against the walls o the arteries when blood is bein pumped from the heart. When th heart contracts, blood pressure ris es. When the heart relaxes, blood pressure drops. This means yo have two blood pressure levels. Blood Pressure Quiz Take the following short quiz to find out how much you know about your blood pressure. Chec your answers below. 1. Blood Pressure begins with a heart beat. T F 2. Blood Pressure stays the same all day, every day. T F 3. Blood pressure helps the blood flow to all parts of the body. TF 4. A blood pressure reading has two numbers T F 5. You can tell what your blood pressure is by the way you feel. TF 6. A healthy person could have a blood pressure of around 120/80 T F. 7. Blood pressure should be checked every five years. T F 8. You can only tell what your blood pressure is by having it . measured. T F .9. Being overweight can lower blood pressure. T F 10. Eating large amounts of food high in salt (sodium) can cause blood pressure to rise. T F 11. Regular exercise will help keep your blood pressure healthy. TF 12. Only a relaxed and easy-going person can have normal blood pressure. T F Answers: 1. TRUE. When the heart beats it pushes blood through the arteries and veins. Blood pressure is created by the force (pressure) of the blood pushing against the walls of the blood vessels, as it flows through them. 2. FALSE. Blood pressure changes moment to moment and day to day. It is usually lowest when we sleep and gradually rises through- out the day. Changes in activity, posture and emotions cause chang- es in blood pressure. 3. TRUE. Everyone has blood pressure. It is not an illness or an abnormal condition. Blood pressure keeps us healthy by helping the blood flow to all parts of the body. 4. TRUE. Systolic pressure (the first or larger number) refers to the highest pressure in the arteries. It occurs everytime the heart beats. Diastolic pressure (the second or smaller number) refers to the lowest pressure in the arteries. It occurs when the heart is relaxing between beats. 5. FALSE. You cannot tell your blood pressure by the way you fuel. t 6. TRUE. The normal range of s blood pressure is between 100 and 140 for systolic pressure (the first e or larger number), and between 70 f and 90 for the diastolic pressure (the g second or smaller number). e 7. FALSE. The Royal College of _ Family Physicians in Canada rec- ommends that a healthy person u should have her or his blood pres- sure checked every two years. If you are pregnant, your blood pressure should be checked more often. 8. TRUE. The only way to tell k your blood pressure is to have it checked. Always have your blood pressure checked by somcope who can refer you for medical care if nocded. 9. FALSE. Being overweight`cart lead to an unhealthy blood pressure. 10. TRUE. Using less salt has proven to be a useful part of treat- ment for some individuals with high ,blood pressure. Most Canadi- ans eat more salt than necessary, so using less salt makes good sense. 11. TRUE. Regular exercise, three times a week for 20 to 30 minutes at a time, can help to keep your blood pressure healthy. 12. FALSE. Blood pressure is not necessarily higher in anxious, over- active people than it is in easy go- ing relaxed people. Rate your score 0-3 Poor. Lots of room for improvement CO.OP 4-7 Fair. You need to improve your score. 8-10 Good. But you can still do bet ter. 11-12 Excellent, But aren't you cu- rious to know more? So, as you can see, it's important to have your blood pressure checked regularly. High blood pressure can be controlled with a variety of medi- cations. Your doctor will recom- mend these to you. You can also help yourself by reducing your salt intake and trying to lose weight if you arc carrying extra pounds. You canlearn more about your blood pressure by reading "How to Keep Your Blood Pressure Healthy", CHAPARAL FENCING R.R. 1, Lucan Ontario NOM 2J0 ALL TYPES FREE ESTIMATES Industrial Fences Chain Link 8 Patio Farm Fences Phone Bob Hardy 227-4160 We're CLOSFD SAT., FEB. 27 For Inventory Regular hours will resume Monday - EXETER DISTRICT CO-OP Exeter 235-2081 1988 BRINGS TWO IMPORTANT CHANGES TO THE ONTARIO FARM TAX REBATE PROGRAM CHANGE NUMBER ONE: The Ontario Farm Tax Rebate program now makes twopayments a year to farmers and farm property owners, compared to one annual payment previously. CHANGE NUMBER TWO: 'i'hose eligible for the program will receive tu'o forms to complete—one in the spring and the second one in-carly fall. Each must he completed and returned to obtain each payment. Completing the first form will generate a payment of approximately 50% of the total 1988 rebate based on the previous year's eligible tax -levy. - Completing the second form will result in a second payment for thc,halance of the property. owners' 1988 rebate and will he hased on the owners'.actual 1988 eligible tax levy. WHAT STAYS THE SAME The Ontario Farm Tax Rebate program is designed to case the tax hurdcn faced 1 farmers. Farmers are not required to pre -pay a portion of their municipal taxes to qualify for the rebate. 100% of municipal taxes on eligible farm land and outbuildings may he rebated-. No.rcbate Will he paid for taxes levied on farm residences and (Ane acre of land. 'i'here will he no reassessment of farm properties unless' changes to the property that would normally require reassessment are made. For more information about the Ontario Farm Tax Rebate program and the changes. c(intact: Ministry of Agriculture and Food ONTARIO .rear rldd a _*resta, David Peterson. Premier • Farm Assistance Programs. - Branch Bay Street. 12th floor Toronto. Ontario M 5(► 2I:5 Or call collect (416) 585-6565.. r