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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1989-10-25, Page 46Page 30 Times -Advocate, October 25, 1989 Attempted get -away - Veterinarian D. Doug Thiel hangs on to a cat that isn't sure it wants its rabies shot at the rabies clinic held at the South Huron Veterinary Clinic in Zurich on Saturday. Middlesex plowmen. awarded DELAWARE - A crowd of 175 attended the Middlesex Plowing Match's annual banquet and awards night on Friday, October 20 in the Delaware Community Centre. Neil Fletcher, Komoka, received the Nother's Trophy for the young- est competitor. David Johnson, Thorndale, was awarded both the Edmund and Floyd Wills trophy for the best plowed land by someone under 15, and the Clarence Monroe challenge trophy for an under -18 contestant. The Federation of Agriculture trophy for best plowed land in the home plowing competition went to Mark Moore, Belmont. • MPP Doug Reycraft took home the Royal Bank Lambeth Silver Bowl as winner in the VIP class. Jim's Turf Equipment Trophy, Lucan, for highest points in the an- tique class was won by Clare Paton, Lucan. The Keith Field Challenge • Tro- phy for hoseshoe pitching was pre- sented to Roger Christie, Ilderton and George Coughlin, London. Jennifer Kilbburr1t;, . Mt., Irydges, was crowned Middlesex 1989-90 Furrow Queen by Ontario Furrow Queen Karen Sayles from Brant County, hosts of next year's Interna- tional Plowing Match. Runner-up was Lori Sanders, Kerwood. THEO'S MOBILE - WASH High pressure steam cleaning, chemical brick cleaning and tractor trailers, buildings washed inside and out, heavy equipment degreas- ing, bridges and parking areas, also restaurant exhaust fans and hoods. Contracts available. Bill Theo R.R. 2 Business: Centralia, Ont. NOM 1K0 (519) 228-6270 SLIPPLATE® GRAPHITE BASED FPLMLUBRICANT 41 SLIP el PLATE r t3RICANT -'144 our AP40 IIO'J" A'Kra '39+EUS GALLON (3785U1f PIATE_. G,q �tH1 icA�� ,c 'v w „opt AMO •' t ,,.r eImo •'" Wherever you have a problem with sliding friction... C.G. Fann Supply limited Sales and Service - Repair Phone 236-4934 22 Main Street E., Zurich Ont. It was called the Scientific Re- search Mix Credit Program. It was one of the worst fiascos ever visited upon a gullible public. It called for the federal govern- ment to give tax-free money to pro- jects approved as scientific research. Dozens of companies hopped glee- fully onto the grant bandwagon. One of the biggest was Dream - street, a fIolstein-brding company that intended to run $55 million worth of dairy research projects at a farm purchased near Bright, Onta- rio. The farm is for sale and the com- pany has reached an out-of-court settlement with Revenue Canada. the research will not proceed. Dreamstreet became nightmare alley for those quick to criticize the government. Even so, somewhere around $18 million was spent before the deal was quashed. Dreamstreet sued Rev- enue Canada and the settlement, even though it already involved $18 million tax dollars, is to be kept confidential. In other words, neither party -- Dreamstreet nor the govern- ment -- wants you to know what happened to your money. It was ever thus. Maybe someday soon, an enterprising reporter will dig up the terms through freedom of information. Don't hold your breath waiting. The original proposal was to compare 1,000 head of traditional black -and -white Holsteins with 1,000 red -and -white purebreds and to develop superior breeding stock for export. The hue and cry when the project was announced was loud: It would be a waste of money. Far more im- portant dairy research projects need- ed money. Holstein breeders know many years ago - - when they pro- duced two breed books, one with the "red" factor in it -- that colour had nothing to do with production. Many people laughed. Dreamstreet and. the firm was pressured to change the proposal. Extensions were granted. Nothing came of it. It was too hot a political potato to handle. Jack's Jottings Jack Riddell MPP Huron From Queen's Park Ontario Farm Tax Rebate Program Many constituents have called to ask for more details about the 1989 Ontario Farm Tax Rebate Program. This program, which provides municipal tax rebates to eligible owners of farm properties, will provide some $140 million in tax relief to Ontario farmers this year. As many of you are already aware, the program has been changed this year to eliminate benefits to property owners who do not farm their land to reduce or eliminate benefits to property owners with significant off -farm income. 1 would like to clarify some of the questions you have asked about the program. First, the program changes apply for the 1989 year only. A review committee made up of farmers and Ministry of•Agri- culture and Food staff have begun a comprehensive review of the program to advise upon its future direction. Serving on the committee are: Earl Smith, RR1 Tamworth, dairy farmer and former township reeve; Dave Older, RR4 Thamesford, president of the Oxford County Federation of Agriculture; and Charles Warner, RR3 Englehart, former chairman of Farm Tax Re- bate Program Appeal Board. Representing the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food are Norm MacLeod, director of the farm assis- tance programs branch and Elizabeth McLaren, assistant deputy minister of finance and administration as chairperson. The 1989 program provides 100 percent rebates if you farm your own land and make less than $40,000 from sources where there are tWo or more owners on the farm title. Reduced benefits are available if you make from $40,000 to $60,000 in off -farm income. This lev- el is increased to $80,000 where there are two or more owners. Some of yetf have asked about custom work. I am told that if Gus - tom, work is part of your farm business it is not counted as off -farm income. The program does offer exemptions for retired farmers, spouses of deceased farmers or those who have reduced production because of illness or disability. For these people, the requirement to personally farm the property is waived. Also, although properties that are rented do not quality for are= bate, sharecropping arrangements are eligible for rebates. Detailed informational brochures are being mailed to all assessed property owners along with application forms. Accord w* conservation TORONTO - leral govern- ment and Ontario have signed a soil and water conservation and de- velopment accord. The accord will enhance the co- ordination of federal and provincial soil and water conservation activi- ties and sen c as an imibrella for future federal -provincial agree- ments on soil and water conserva- tion. Under thew accord, federal - provincial activities will focus on research, protection of marginal or sensitive lands and promotion and awareness of soil conservation is- sues. Initiatives under the accord will also concentrate on education, dem- onstration, monitoring and provid- ing financial incentives to produc- ers to adopt soil conservation practices and technology. "There is a direct link between soil conservation and the mainte- nance of a strongly, competitive and diversified agri-food business in Ontario," Mazankowski said. "Ontario is a leader in soil and warm Ramsay said. "The Ministry of Ag- riculture and Food has allocated substantial resources, in both funds and personnel, to a number of suc- cessful programs." Existing federal -provincial con- servation programs include the Soil and Water Environmental Enhance- ment Program (SWEEP). Signed in 1986, the $30 -million, five-year program's objective is to reduce phosphorus runoff from agricultural land into the Lake Eric basin. Current Ontario programs include the Land Stewardship Program, which provides financial incentives and rants to encourage conserva- tion in farming practices and Food Systems 2002, whose goal is a 50 percent reduction of pesticide use by the year 2002. The federal government also con- tributed $1 million under SWEEP to help establish a Soil and Water Conservation Information Bureau at the University of Guelph. "We're in the process of winding down the business," said Frank Wood, president of the company. Dreamstreet was, at one time, an investment company for those with bucks who wanied a tax dodge and also wanted to own a piece of rural America. The company once held farms in New York, Pennsylvania and California. Even the U.S. com- pany is folding, according to Wood, because dairy policies in the U.S. have reduced milk prices to the point where farmers can no longer afford to buy superior breed- ing stock. Dreamstreet, only a few years ago, owned some of the world's most expensive dairy cattle. The American government also closed some tax loopholes which were attracting wealthy investors to Dreamstreeta As this is written, the farm is for sale. It was purchased for $1.25 million. - Company officials say farmers can no longer afford expensive pu- rebred cattle and the project here was too much of a political hot potato. That is why the company is going out of business, they say. I would be willing to bet the ma- jor reason is because the American government closed the tax loop- holes and the Canadiai ovemment cancelled the Scientific Research Tax Credit Program. Dreamstreet was cancelled be- cause the public trough was closed down. About time, too. Is your tractor built as well as a Ford? The entire Ford tractor line from 32 to 170 PTO horsepower is better than ever. Come see for yourself. • Whisper -Quiet Cab available on 62 PTO horsepower and larger models. • Ford New Holland offers factory cab comfort on more smaller tractors. • Every power size is available with optional front -wheel assist. •Free 3 -year or 2,500 operating hour limited warranty' on big 105 to 170 PTO horsepower TW Series models. Ask us for details. • See us for details on limitations and exclusions. Carter'sH Farm Equipment Sales & Service Limited 2 1/2 mites North of r Exeter on Hwy. 4 263-3333 -- Poly Dome Means Healthier Calves. All mea Don't Eliminate Profits P 'y r)ome will help, put money back into your pocket faster. `, .'hy risk burnt lungs, frozen ears and tails? Poly Dome will help eliminate ammonia build-up. Your calves will be healthier and they'll grow faster. Your heifers will be part of your money- making milking herd sooner. And with three different dome styles to choose from, you can select the one that works best for you - Poly Dome, Poly Square or Mini Dome. L.G. Farm Supply Limited Sales and Service - Repair Phone 236-4934 22 Main Street E., Zurich Ont. WE ARE READY TO RECEIVE YOUE; 1909 CORN and SOYBEANS Varna Grain Hill & Hill. Farms Ltd. Varna Hill & Hill Farms Ltd. Bev. 233-3218 Varna Pete 233-7908