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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1992-04-01, Page 18Page -18 1 Imes-Advocale, Apr1I 1, 1992 The Americans have been play- ing hardball - baseball - for more than 150 years, since Abner Dou- bleday supposedly invented the game in 1839. They are, therefore, much better at playing hardball than are their trading partners to the north. When they play hardball, they play for keeps. They play all the percentag- es. They do not wait for the federal government to give them help. When negotiators and politicians lay .that the United States is a "friendly" neighbour and will not harm Canadians in trade talks, they may be spouting the truth. Ameri- cans will make concessions. They will act benevolent, until... Until one of their own gets hurt. Washington and its lobbyists do not hesitate to beat _up !their best friend. If farmers want proof, all they have to do is look at what happened to Honda cars built in Alliston. The Yanks say the tars are teas than 50 percent Canadian. They have con- veniently ignored the fact that Can- ada's claim of 66 percent North American content was convincing. Hog farmers, too, are very wary of the American propensity to hit where it hurts. Ask hog producers here about the fair -play of those great exponents of free trade to the south of us. The countervailing du- ties slapped on Canadian pork for the last five years have made it much more difficult for Canadian fanners to compete. The latest controversy hag hit British Columbia with a bases - loaded homer. The Americans slapped a 15 percent duty on Cana- dian exported softwood. When "free trade" is not to their advantage, Americans use every- thing in their power to make sure that they come out on the winning side. They play hardball. As John Core, chairman of the One Foot in the Furrow By Bob Trotter Ontario Milk Marketing Board said last month, no rational Canadian can trust the Americans to open their borders to dairy and poultry products from Canada or anywhere else." He called the case of a new world trade agreement incorporating tar- iffs instead of import quotas a "load of rubbish." To believe that tariff i - cation would "open U.S. makets" to milk, cream, poultry and eggs is "bilge," according to Core and I'm on his side. Past history - recent history - proves beyond any doubt that Americans will keep the playing field level only when it is to their advantage. The_big .problem is that _Canada • nnot compete in a trade war with the U.S. of A. It would be like a squint trying to rape an elephant. It would be like sending kids from kindergarten to fight with water pistols against a well -armed and well-trained army. We cannot win against such a massive economy in a game they invented. They have, to mix a metaphor, all the marbles, all the bowling balls, in any trade war. American interests will wield all the bats in their bag before allow- ing free trade to work the way it was originally intended. They will, because of international repercus- sions, obey the letter of the free trade agreement but not the spirit, certainly not in this, an election, year. Canada can apply pressure through GATT and the free trade dispute settlement mechanism but these things take time and money. Canadian farmers cannot afford either one and the Americans know it That is why they take the settle- ments into extra innings. The long- er it takes, the more vulnerable Ca- nadians become. Hurondale 4-H club meets By Lori Kernick ELIMVILLE - The Let's Landscape 4-H group from Hurondale had its fust meeting on Monday, March 23, at Bev Prout's. The new leaders are Bev Prout and Judith Parker. President is Aimee Bayer, vice president Becky Case, secretary Sarah McAllister and treasurer Erin Parker. The group talked about herbaceous and woody plants and then tried to identify some in Bev Prout's yard. After they had looked around the yard they went into the house and discussed what they had aeon. Competitiveness In the egg and poultry sectors OTTAWA - "Canadian agri- cultural products can be on par with German automobiles and French fashion," says Larry Martin, Chairman of the Agri - food Competitiveness Council. This was just one of the ideas put forth at the Joint Annual Meeting of the Canadian Egg Marketing Agency, the Canadi- an Broiler Hatching Egg Mar- keting Agency and the Canadian Chicken Marketing Agency in Ottawa March 24 during the speeches and a keynote panel discussion on Global Competi• tiveness. While encouraging the devel- opment -of Agri -food products in an international marketplace, Martin continued by saying that, in both the domestic and export marketplaces, 'We aim to have Canadian agricultural food prod- =tsets -to be the -most ants ending Aland on.quality, valueand-ser- vice." Waldie Klassen, Chairman of the Canadian Chicken Market- ing Agency says that poultry and egg industries are currently fac- ing challenges and change at home. "I believe that one of our first priorities is to find the ap- propriate way to fashion a new relationship with our customers - the processors, the further pro- cessors and the marketers of chicken to the final consumer." This concept coincided with the federal government's strate- gy to explore prosperity and glo- bal competitiveness, as present- ed by Anthony Eyton, Associate Deputy Minister of the Prosperi- ty Secretariat. The government has opened a dialogue with the public, to find the keys to revers- ing Canada's declining share of the world trade and its falling productivity. Focusing on Canada's trade policy, Gordon Ritchie, of Stra- tegico Inc. commented that de- termining market access for im- port and export products will be a key issue. He projected that "over the next ten years there will be some significant shake- out occurring in the industry," regardless of the outcomes of the NAFTA and GATT agree- ments. However, according to Brigid Pyke, fonner president of the Ontario Federation of Agricul- ture, change is not without its costs. "The battle for market share will have a devastating ef- fect on our industries." She con- cluded that thetarif#ieation pro- posal will not solve this problem but worsen it. The future of the family farm • is one of prime concern. Ron Drohomeregki, Chairman of the Canadian Brener -Hatching "Egg -- Marketing Agency, emphasized =_ that family farms have a role to play in Canadian agricultural policy that extends beyond com- petitiveness. "Does competitive- ness mean the family farm goes the way of the dinosaur or does it mean that we are going to as- sure a proper utilization of land and water resources, and once having assured that,...must pro- duce as cheaply as possible?" Maintaining the supply man- agement system and the poultry and egg industries is key to Can- ada's future says Ken Tjaden, Chairman of the Canadian Egg Marketing Agency. "Our supply management systems are the envy of farmers around the world. Our industries contribute more than 10 billion dollars an- nually to the Canadian economy - and in Canada today, we need every penny of that 10 billion dollars. Exeter 4M shares facts EXETER - The Exeter II 4-H club .held, their. ftseting on Thgtaday..11Aanch.26,:fiey, .started with the 4-H pledge. They each told an interesting fact that they learned at the sugar shack. Linda Russell then talked to them about the process of heating and making maple syrup and the differ- ent types and shades of maple syr- up. They all . got to taste some sap from the trees. They ended the meeting by making a snack. of Ma- ••••••••••••••••••• • • Save p• ■ 1 ■• •• Sit An Aciv • Mien yeu use a el LEONE DF Mrd Duet and purchase LEONE DF aid DPINNACLE i SPECIAL OFFER FOR SOYBEAN GROWERS II Here's an offer that can give you a lot! Cleaner soybean fields. Easier harvesting. Less dockage. Higher soybean yields. 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Full REBATE OFFER details and separate Claim Forms for Part 1 and Part 2 of the SPECIAL OFFER are available from your local ag chem supplier. • .AtprsbrMirrusart rmastrosansisdr ee• on ur own, rams s. qprrM,aor / rMwlimpet Gem -1r+r.rYrek •t pr IS Ilium I Wart 4 ti - 1111 ww w •r,.1. Mr, r..ru4ray= ,,eV" • ■ ■ • • ■ • • • 1 1 • • ■ • 11 a to Ow. ■ 111111111111111111111.11111111111 ■aiaa■.■■i pie Oatmeal Squares and Maple Butter Tans. Brinsley 4-H holds meetly By Jennifer Hodgson BRINSLEY - On Tuesda4March 24, The Brinsley 4-H held its sixth meeting. The president and vice-president were both absent so the leaders took over the meeting. They began the meeting by handing in project, and then talked about the upcoming achievement night and finally decided it will be April 7, at 5:30 p.m. at the Parkhill Conservation Area. We would invite our family to this evening. The club then talked about the meeting and answered our roll call which was 'If our school saved 5750.00 by saving energy, I think they should spend it on..." Most of the members suggested recycling at school and put- ting the money towards an environmental project. Junior leaders Tara Conlin and Jana Lyn Rowe talked about different energy sources such as wind, solar, biomass just to name a few. The group then had snacks and adjourned the meeting. Attachment Options For All Residue levers Stay NO o�ots ,PpVer18pie No-till and min -till attachments allow you to adapt your planter to your tillage practices. ■ Four no/min-till coulter blades • Optional cast or rubber dual range from fluted to rippled to closing wheels feature four bubbled There's one to match pressure adjustments. variable your soil and residue levels. width adjustments and staggered positions for better • I•rame-mount coulters are ideal soil/seed contact. for all no -till conditions...even tough trash and heavy soil. 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