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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1993-07-21, Page 12Page 1 Times -Advocate, July -21;11193 One Foot in the Furro I A. Zoniudia College$ 4gVenture ,Camp finitret► fir week wt1h:suflrte 'outdoor fun. Above, a line of students and parents do a _balloon toss while at rght Jacquie Geurts tries not -to get splashed with the water balloon. Service is the name of the game. Apparently, it is the fastest- growing segment of the workforce, if we can believe the statisticians and the pollsters. One can find some consolation that at least one sector of the working world is ex- panding instead of contracting. Certainly, the industrial sector is shrinking alarmingly. In our area, at least a dozen major plants have been closed since this recession hit between the big toes. Seagram's is gone, Labatt's is gone from here. A huge Uniroyal plant is gone. Van Dresser is gone. 'The list can grow. Yet, some of the better -managed companies arc still going strong. It seems to me the companies that ere growing are the companies providing the best service. The Christian Farmers Federa- tion of Ontario, a small but power- ful farm organization, is saying much the same thing. "We are increasingly getting our advice where we buy our inputs," a recent statement from the CFFO says. "We are increasingly wilting ,to pay for good advice and we buy where we get good advice." The CFFO is suggesting some sweeping changes in the way the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food is organized. The recent statement says about half the county extension offices could be closed because farmers can get better advice from others. It makes sense, this idea of cutting extension services. There are about 40 counties and regions in this province. Although all of them do not have an agricultural extension office, most of them do, yet farmers make up less than four percent of the population today. The county ag office was needed 50 years ago but many have out- lived their usefulness., The CFFO's goal is "to get farmers contmunicatigg directly with re- searchers %without extension spe- cialists fimctioning as interpret- ers." Sounds.likeagr'eat idea. In addition, the researchers too, would be encouraged to talk direct- ly to farmers and help answer ques- tions posed by the people who arc right out there on the firing line. Eliminate the middle man and women. Getting back to service, the big companies are spending big bucks to hire and train people who will talk right to the farmers who are using the products. Communication links, says the CFFO, such as 800 telephone numbers, same-day cou- riers, faxes and computer modems make extension specialists redun- dant in many parts of the province. However, the CFFO says some of the existing county oflkes eta an asset -- about half of them -- and should be located at or close to research centres. As mentioned, this Is a small or- .ganization with about 500 mem- bers but those members have con- sistently been in the forefront and should be heeded when they come up with innovative ideas. All the suggestions may not be necessary but they make enough sense to be seriously studied. Such as cutting subsidies to farm- ers who do not meet environmental standards. Now,. there's a hot potato if ever I saw one. 1 would not want to be a member of the committee that decides who does not meet standards. Once again, though, the idea has merit. In other words, it the rest of the world wants farmers to be environ- mentally sensitive, then the rest of the world should help the farmers implement those sensitivities. Good idea. Sales & Service Phone (519) 236-4934 Fax (519). 6.7330 22 Main 1�.... ,:Zurich .;; Huron County gram growers may reap from others tragedy By Erin Lobb T -A Staff EXETER - As the Mississippi riv- er flood level continues to rise, so does the price of Huron County crops. "It's too bad that someones prob- lems make for someones gain," said Earl Wagner, President of the Hen- sel! District Co-operative, But, with the extent of damage in Iowa, Ne- braska, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Minnesota unknown, Huron County farmers, prices have in- creased by about 50 cents per bush- el. "Cash crops are critical to this are- as fami economy," note. tian Boyle, agriculture representative or the Ministry of Agriculture and Food. "Fifty cents of every dollar is from the sale of cash crops," he said. Ian Carter, General Manager of London Agricultural Commodities, says that due to the wet weather conditions of last years growing season, farmers have planted a record of three-quarters to one mil- lion acres of soybeans, which means soy growers can look for- ward to good profits this season. When asked if he felt the market value had peaked, Carter remarked that he thought that the prices were high enough, but had just risen an- other 16 cents on Friday. "This has been a volatile market, it's Iwo pretty exciting, but I'm almost:ab* Keep the EXETER - Studies show., that every year, several kids are injured or killed on Canadian farms. Farm- ing is the only industry where kids under 16 years of age are fatally injured in occupational accident Because farm kids live at the workplace, they are subjected to workplace hazards. Therefore farm parents must guide and protect their children on the farm. Every ting numb now. Things can go up in a hurry but they can also go down." As for forward contracting, Carter said he had only seen a bit more than usual, but was unable to give a percentage. Bob Humphries, agricultural rep- resentative of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food (OMAF), says the recent warm weather, aver - .aging in the high 20's for the past week, is helping to move the corn along as well. 'Right now, in many parts of the county the corn is waist high. We have very good growth development, " he said. "Everyone I talked to is quite optimistic about the corn crop." Com too will benefit from the tragic weather in the south as Fri- day's market had risen 25 cents. Last fall's poor weather took it's toll on the wheat fields by reducing the amount planted. Despite this the crop is progressing nicely and should be ready for harvest the sec- ond or third week in July. With some farmers preparing for their second cut, hay bas flourished in this area, and remains the biggest crop. Though the quality varies from place to place, hay too has „aonefitted from the warm weather, AM reasonable precipitation . With clean crops and a strong .market Huron County Farmers will .�saitely reap the benefits of this •sead,grfiwiptimoon, farm safe farm parent must decide when their children arc ready to help and what jobs arc appropriate for their level of development. Operating farm machinery is an adult's job, And allowing a 10 year old to guide a tractor is risking that child's We. One of the moons children have traumatic accidents is because they arc doing the work of adults. * Fast Unloading * Accurate Grades * Competitive Prices * Quick Settlements `FOR YOUR /93 WHEAT CROP Allis year deliver your crop to the W.G. Thompson & Sons elevator nearest you! "The Home of Karena, Rebecca, Augusta and Ruby Seed Wheat" •