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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1991-03-27, Page 16Page 16 Times -Advocate, March 27, 1991 Ready for spring Farm safety net programs underway for spring OTTAWA - The federal govern- ment recently announced the details of a new generation of farm safety net programs which will be availa- ble to farmers before spring seed- ing. Enabling legislation will be introduced early this year to provide Canadian farmers, particularly Ca- nadian grain producers with a per- manent, predictable and truly effec- tive safety net program. "This program was designed from the ground up by farmers, provinces and the federal government working together through the policy -ieview process. this represents a unique ap- proach to public policy making. Together, we have designed a land- mark program which should mini- mize the need for ad hoc assistance. The new safety net delivers assis- tance, equitably to farmers in all re- gions and encourages good manage- ment practices based on long-term market trends," said the Minister of Agriculture Don Mazankowski. The new safety net program was designed by a committee of 19 farmers and 14 provincial and feder- al representatives as part of the Agri -food Policy Review. It con- sists of a Gross Revenue Insurance Plan (GRIP) and Net Income Sta- bilization Account. (NISA). "This is the kind of program that farmers really need for the long- term", said Charles Mayer, Minister of State for Grains and Oilseeds. For 1991-92, the GRIP program will be available initially for grain and oilseed farmers and could be ex- tended to other groups in future years. Farmers can apply for NISA for the 1990 tax year. Farm -fed grain will be covered under both programs and NISA will be availa- ble to cover edible horticulture crops not covered under a National Tripartite Stabilization Program. "The program marks a new ap- proach to income stabilization in the agriculture sector. The basic principles of the new safety net maybe applied outside of the grains and oilseeds sector to other com- modities with the agreement of farmers and provinces," said Mini- ster of State for Agriculture, Pierre Blais. In making the announcement, ministers said the two new pro- grams are expected to provide an estimated $3 billion in benefits to grain and oilseed producers in the 1991-92 crop year. Ag leaders off to China GUELPH - Members of the Ad- vanced Agricultural Leadership Program (AALP) will travel to China this spring to see how its' agricultural challenges are met. A 30 -member group includes Rick DeBrabandere of. St. Marys, Lynda Hodgins of Granton, Vale- rie Lind of St. Marys, and Steven Twynstra of Ailsa Craig. They will spend two weeks meeting with government and uni- versity officials in Beijing, Jinan, Shandong Province, Nanjing and Shanghai. They will also visit farms, processing plants and a farm machinery factory. "Canadian Embassy staff have been very helpful in coordinating this study travel experience," said Patricia Mighton, Executive Direc- tor of the Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program. "They have arranged for us to meet with Mr. Hans Dall, the U.N. Food and Agri- cultural Organization representative in Beijing. Mr. Dall is very familiar with the problems and opportuni- ties in the agricultural sector in Chi- na. He will also tell us about future policy? The study tour will include a look at social and political issues in Chi- na. AALP participants will visit an old age home, a school for gifted children and a hospital. From Shanghai they fly to Hong Kong where they will examine the political' impact of the 1997 Chi- nese takeover. "We hope to meet with several graduates of the University of Guelph, now living and working in. Hong Kong. Some of them are very optimistic about the benefits of be- coming a part of China. Others are already making plans to return to Canada permanu,.,tly. They will help us understand what the takeo- ver might mean to them and us." Petfood sales expanding TORONTO - With pet owner- ship in Europe on the upswing, Ontario manufacturers are gearing up to tap into a rapidly growing market - pct food. Studies done by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food's (OMAF) market development branch revealed that Western Eu- ropeans own 28 million dogs and 25 million cats. Pet food imports to Europe totalled $850 million in 1989 - up 39 percent from 1988. "Pet food is a value-added com- modity made with primary agri- cultural products. Whenever Onta- rio pet food sales increase, the sale of Ontario meat, meat by- products, poultry by-products, soya and animal fat increase and employment is created here," says Rick Hayward, OMAFs export development specialist for Europe. Ontario is Canada's biggest em- ployer in the pct food industry with more than 1,400 employees. After a period of rapid growth, the Canadian pct food market which in now worth over $500 million appears to have reached maturity. Together with Ross McKenzie, an OMAF commodity export spe- cialist, he has initiated a step-by- step export development program to assist Ontario pct food producers to increase European sales. The project began by identifying Ontario producers and determining their interest in exports. a market analysis was then conducted in each major importing country. This analysis was presented to the Onta- rio producers who indicated interest in exploring the opportunities on a trade mission. A trade mission which included representatives from seven Ontario pct food -producing companies, at- tended the CRUFTS Dog Show in Birmingham, England, in January. CRUFTS is the world's largest dog show and this year was attended by over 100,000 people. CRUFTS proved to be an excel- lent opportunity for Ontario pct Egg Board MISSISSAUGA - According to the Ontario Egg Board, 1990 was a year in which the relative stability and prosperity enjoyed by the prov- ince's cgg producers was over- shadowed by a deteriorating situa- tion in the national marketing sys- tem for eggs. This has led the Onta- rio Board to move forward on a proposal for operating a provincial surplus removal program indepen- dent of the Canadian Egg Marketing Agency (CEMA) beginning January 1, 1992. Currently CEMA manages the marketing of higher priced surplus table cggs to the lower priced fur- ther processing market for all prov- inces. To finance this program CEMA charge a flat levy or tax which costs Ontario egg producers and consumers 11 cents a dozen. The Ontario proposal is a direct re- sult of the high CEMA levies re- quited to remove surplus table eggs nationally which continue to run well above Ontario surplus levels. Added to this is a worsening sup- ply and demand imbalance in Onta- rio which has necessitated the im- portation of eggs from Western provinces as well as outer countries food producers to meet potential buyers and see European competi- tive products in the trade section featuring 242 exhibitors. Prior to the CRUFTS show, On- tario exporters received informa- tion and business prospects from sales agents and senior buyers from the U.K.'s major chains which rep- resent 85 percent of the U.K. gro- cery trade. Following the show, the group travelled to Germany, Italy, France and Switzerland to meet prospec- tive buyers through meetings ar- ranged by the local Canadian em- bassy and consulate commercial officers. "Participation in this trade mis- sion produced outstanding results ranging from appointing distribu- tors for new exporters to expanded sales contracts for established ex! porters," said Hayward. "Our next steps may include an incoming buyer mission as a result of the numerous contacts we made as well as an exhibition at an Euro- pean pet food show targeted at dis- tributors," concluded Hayward. Soybean plant closings; called "worst nightmare CHATHAM - Ontario's soybean growers are reeling at the news that the largest of Ontario's three soyb- ean processing plants is closing permanently. Central Soya of Can- ada recently announced that their Toronto plant known as Victory Soya Mills has stoppedrocessin soybeans and will lay off about 80 workers. "It's as though our worst night- mare has come to life," said Larry Michls, chairman of Ontario Soyb- ean Growers' Marketing Board. "We've known for several years that the soybean processing industry has been having major problems, but we were hoping that they could hang on until market conditions improve." Central Soya officials blame the plant closure on government poli- cies that have made the soybean in- dustry in Canada uncompetitive in the domestic and export markets for soybean oil. Transportation subsid- ies for canola and canola products, operating subsidies for a canola crusher and slow action to achieve free trade on soybean oil with the US have all combined to put the soybean industry in Canada at a dis- advantage. Usborne & Hibbert Mutual Fire Insurance Company Exeter, Ontario NOM 1S1 (Established in 1876) Provides Full Insurance Coverage for Farm Properties New Applications are Welcomed DIRECTORS & ADJUSTERS Jack Hen{gm RR 3 Lucen .227.4306 Larry Gardiner, RR2, Stetta 346.2979 Lloyd Morrison, RAI St. Marys 229.9277 Lome Feeney, Mitchell 3499993 Jade Hodgen, RR1, Kirkion 2294192 Joseph Chette, RR5 Mtchelt 349-9706 AGENTS Ross Hodgen, Exeter 235.3290 Heed OHfoe, Exew............ 23.43e0 A refund from surplus was declared for all policy hold- ers who qualify are on record and In good stand - Ing as at December 31, 1900 The two main products of soyb- ean processing are soybean meal which is used a a protein supple -1 ment for livestock feed and soyb- ean oil which is used in margarine and cooking oil. Similar products are produced from processing caro la which is grown mainly in the) prairies. "Our whole industry is being turned upside down," stated Miehls. "At the same time that Canada is importing record amounts of soybean meal from the US, we are closing down one third of our own processing capacity." • ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ D ■ • ■ 0 w ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ will help fanners obtain operating credit this spring because the sup- port is targeted to individual farms and farmers will know the guaran- teed revenue for each crop on their farm before seeding. Farmers can take this information to their lead- ers when making credit arrange- ments. The program will also en- sure assistance goes where it's needed most because the program is based on individual situations. GRIP will be delivered through crop insurance agencies. When farmers sign up for crop insurance this spring, they will be able to enrol in a revenue protection com- ponent. By participating in both programs farmers get full GRIP benefits. Premiums for the revenue protection component will be shared about 42 percent by the fed- eral government, 33 percent by farmers, and 25 percent by the provinces. The NISA will enable farmers to set aside money in individual ac- counts. Both levels of govemment will also contribute to the individ- ual account. Farmers can make withdrawals from the fund when their income falls below their five- year average returns after costs, or when their taxable income falls be- low $10,000. Application forms and informa- tion on how to apply for NISA will be mailed to eligible farmers in March. "We recognize the new safety net isn't going to solve all farm prob- &ns. There is uncertainty sur- wnding the GATT negotiations, ongoing farm debt problems, con- tinuing low grain prices, input cogs, requirements for diversifica- tion and the need for improved management skills. Together we must examine ways to deal with these problems," Mr. Mazankow- ski said. When Agriculture Ministers met in Winnipeg in November, they agreed to put their work on trans- portation and farm management on a fast track. That work continues. When ministers met in Brussels, they agreed to establish a process for dealing with circumstances be- yond thescopeof the new safety nem. t federal government will con- tinue to work with the provinces and industry to implement these programs and to address the other problems facing the industry. WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW WHEN CHOOSING A LIQUID PLANT STARTER Thompson's is pleased to offer PREMIER LIQUID PLANT STARTERS to our customers. Careful consideration of the following factors along with a current soil analysis are important steps in maintaining a sound Agronomic program for your farm. • Nutrient Solubility • Nutrient Availability • Nutrient Uptake • Micro -Nutrient Requirements Many of today's farmers are adjusting their crop input pro- grams to take advantage of the convenience of fluid fertilizers. For more information on PREMIER LIQUID PLANT STARTERS, contact your nearest W.G. Thompson branch to get the PREMIER EDGE. BEANS SEEDS FERTILIZERS Seaforth 345-2545 Pt. Albert 529-7901 Hansell 262-2527 Ailsa Craig 293-3223 Mitchell 348-8433 Granton 225-2360 IN ■ al ■ ■ s ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ a ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ 215 Pickard Rd., Exeter, Ontario NOM 1S3 (519) 235-2808 EXETER FARM SUPPLIES INC. PURINA CHOWS 14 Easter Specials TnePoPsh,,nit 25 20 kg. 24 plus tax 449 case General Delivery Woodham, Ontario NOK 2A0 (519) 229-8000 WOODHAM 99 9 kg. plus tax Don't MISS our big Chick Days. CortailIg l soo01 ■ III ■■ III ■■r ■ ■ c • ,I GIv. us a gall ■ ■ III ■ ■ ■ ■ a ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ 1 4