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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1993-12-29, Page 15CLINTON Times•it, mer -tie 1 993 Most farmers aptimistic Onecan hardly tx: optimistic heading into a New Year as a tanner. So many things look so bad that only a fool would be blissfulabout 1994 in agriculture. We have the threat of supply management be - ing dismantled by GAT['. Wehave the Nation- al -Chicken Marketing Agency in gambles. We have a new government in Ottawa and a lame duck government in Ontario, both of which are so broke -they cannot afford a free lunch for a canary. One cannot helpbut feel sorry for Agminis- ter Ralph Goodale and Agminister Elmer Bu- chanan. They are right between a rock and a hard place. They are being pressed from the top down and from the bouom up. Grassroots fanners want better aid programs, even more than the $2.4 billion now being giv- en to agriculture by the federal government which faces a $46 billion deficit. How can you get marc money film a government that owes so much, a government that has m . • . ' a :third of what it collects in.taxes j t t• vice - iqsay the interest on --the debts it •, ; muted :for the past 20 years. Yet, I would be willing to.bet that 99 percent of the farmers in this country are optimistic. They will watchthe this spring with great anticipation, just itching to get on the land.again. They may behrhronic complainers, hitchers extraordinaire, but they are still the -most im- ponant sector of the economy and do not let anyone tell you. different. These men and wom - enprovide the food that the rest of the world eats. In Canada, they make up less than four percent of the population yet everyone else de- pends on•them . Theyilo their thankless tasks, yearin, day in day out, and they do it in spite of the adversity of low farmgate prices, high input mires, high labor costs, high taxes, bad weather, callous politicians and an uncaring public. They work in -the dust and1 stn, the heat and the cold, the vagaries of nature which, `in a few minutes sometimes, can bankrupt them. I can recall a good friend of mine,weeping one day as he looked out his barn door at hail hitting his corn seedlings. In about 15 minutes, his en- tire crop was ruined as the hail pounded the sprouts to death. And how many other industries and business- es are getting about the same price for products now as they -did 20 years ago? I know of none but some farm prices are no better now then they were in 1970. Yet they stick to it because it is a way of life. It is, to -many of.them, the only possible way to make a living. They are born to do Wand would not even think of quitting. This is the reason why farm failures are so tragic. When bankruptcy faces a farmer, it is not just his way of making money.that.goes down the tubes, it is his wayof life, a way of lifethat includes the beaute earth, the sun, the stars, the moon, azpart of God. Sure;'not all of them feethat waybutmany of them.do. That same fanner who -watches his cam: crop:d sappear was out She following day with agrin on his face.as he resplantedthe :crop, hoping against hope that he could salvage enough heat units:inthe year to.at least get a -partial harvest. That's what these people are like. They -are ever hopeful and, as we: go into 1994, I wish every one of them.the happiest of Now Year's. May their best day of 1993 be comparable to their worst day of 1994. • Bless 'em all. TORONTO - Rem Credit Cor- poration (FCC) announced a Scholarship Awards Program de- signed to extend the corporation's commitment to tie. Canadian 4-H Council by 'providing sixteen 51,000 scholarships to 4-14 mem- bers, commencing April 1, 1994. "4-1i is well-recognized as one of Canada's premier rural agricul- tural organisations and Farm Cred- it Corporation is already a proud sponsor of the national body," said James Hewitt, Chairman and Chief Executive. Officer of FCC. "This year, our Board of Directors ap- proved an expanded role for FCC, recognizing the value of our young people in Canadian agriculture. As well, our new mandate calls for FCC:to assist in strengthening ru- ral Canada. We are pleased to pro- vide our new 4-H -scholarship pro- gram 10 assist future Canadian farmers and rural youth." Robert Aumell, Vice -President of FCC's Ontario Region, made the announcement November 12 on behalf of Chairman Hewitt at the Canadian 441 Council's nation- al conference . in Toronto. "The main purpose -of our new scholar- ship program ass to reaffirm our commitment tnrural Canadian and the agricultural .community," he said. "it reflects our role as a cor- porate citizen.as Tuve embark on a new relationship with one of our country's key Agricultural organi- sations." -To qualify for :xhc education :scholarships, 4-H members must write a 500 to 1,000 -word essay on one of the following topics: • The importance of Agriculture in Canada. • Agriculture 'orid the aviron- rnent • Why Support Rural Canada? in addition 10ial assis- tfl�!t ncc for poste y educa- tion, the awards rittlintni is de- signed to youth awareness of al issues and to •encourag r education goal -setting. App1ieehts must be active 4=H members and have been registered members for or during the past two years. Scholarship winners will be selected based on their essay sub- mission, which will demonstrate their 'knowledge of Canadian agri- cuftun l issues, end financial need. The number and allocation of scholarships is based an FCC's business portfolio. client base and 4-11 national membership. The scholarship program will be administered by the Canadian 4-1-1 Council in conjunction with pro- vincial 4-H Councils. For more information, contact: D.E. (Ted) Young, National 4-11 Representative, Farm Credit Corporation, Guelph, Ontario (519) 821-1330. Challiman awls els airgagiswirad TORONTO - "Reports of our de- mise have been greatly exaggerait- cd," said John Corc, Chairman of the Ontario Milk Marketing Board. "Producer quotas arc still in ef- fect and will remain after we move to border tariffs in mid-1995," Core said. Our farmers need to 4inow as quickly as possible that 411 of our current operations arc aunchanged, including our regular monthly quoia exchange. "Stabili- _GATE agreement flatiStalS 111901111 higPiCatillin I OTTAWA - Federal and provin- cial agriculture ministers renewed their commitment to maintain. a sstaongsagri-aGeod.indusury. in Cana- daat a meeting to discuss the im- pliaaiions . of the • recent GA'FC agreement_ Ministers reviewed the agree- ntstaent, noting the major benefits srsuch as: • Rules that -apply equally to alt countries -- the risk of damaging trade actions will be reduced be- cause new rules will apply equally . to all countries and country - specific exemptions will be elimi- nated. • Supply management. able to :tsltontinue -- supply management • anan continue to exist as a Canadian ..agripproach w producing and market - ..ming dairy, poultry and eggs. ':Export subsidies will be reduced - Canadian fanners and processors will be less subject to,unlair coin - petition resulting from foreign ex- port subsidies. Reduced 'export subsidies in the grains and oilseeds mean world -price. in- creaseS oveYthnc. - Improved access to foreign markets -- increased export oppor- t:atutiues will come from improved ;,:access to foreign markets, includ- i i.ng Europe, Japan, Korea and oth- ss►er rapidly growing economies .in - and.Lat.in America. • Health and sanitary ,rules -- a framework of rules will prevent misuse of health and sanitary -measures .as disguised barriers to trade. Ministers - stressed the impor- .aaice of working co-operatively ,.and constructively to ensure Ca na- da makes the absolute most from the opportunities presented in the new international agreement. Ministers recognized ized thhat the new GATi' Means Canada will Ontario 4griculture and Food Inclustg leaders diac,tis viaion for year 2020 have to examine a-mmbcr of com- mitments related to export subsi- .dics and adjusting dmnesuc sup- port. up- port - They pledged to work together with industry over -the 18 months before .the .agreement lakes effect on July I, 1995, to ensure smooth and effective changes .to faderal and provincial agriculture policies and programs. Although Canada's preferred op- tion of strengthening and clarifying .Article XI regrettably did not carry rune day in Geneva, Ministers were ;satisfied that the schedule of.tariffs advanced by the federal Minister will sustain the environment for continuing national supply man- ageauent systems in Canada. Ministers agreed Canada should take all necessary measures to maintain the tariff equivalents put forward in Geneva during techni- cal discussions before the legal TORONTO - representatives of a towed cross-section of the Uatario agriculture and food industry agreed at a conference in Toronto to work nwre closely with one an- other to increase competitiveness and capture domestic and interna- tional markets. Approximately 170 industry level- ers gathered at the Vision 2020 conference November 30 and De- cember 1 to discuss tonitnon con- cerns .and potential opportunities end to develop plants for following upon recacmimenda Lops. All Sectors involved in the foal chains were represented, inclutl agricultural production, food pro- cessing and manulacturing, distri- bution and retailing, restausantsend &hod services, research and educa- tion, financial . institutions, labour and consumer groups and govern- ment. Ontario Premier lith Kae ad- dressed die conference on Tuesday eveauu g, pointing out that Ontario is Canada's ;largest agricultural pro- ducing province,. sad has 45 .per- cent of C ittWrda's,,tuuestergritaaijaa l 'radueing province„and has 45per- cent of Canada's . food primping industry. "I'm really impressed with every- one's willingness to provide straightforward and meaningful opinions:” .said chair of the confer - vice sleeting committee, Mitaister of re and Fuod Miner Ole he ioclwtry has made a irianli1000towards achieving'great- er catallpelativeness . and prosperity Jur the coming dcc u: The confeessgeoiesia was o rga- nixed by a ,s>tttesting iceoimittee of sector leaders. Most of theconfer- ence was devoted to group discus- sions starting with a review of re- ports which have been produced since the 1992 meeting by six in- dustry sectors: production agricul- ture, dairy and poultry; red meat, edible and non -edible horticulture; grains, edible beams and oilseeds; and post -fumigate. Concerns, opportunities for ruwth and ret:crnmendatiuns were ttablished prior to the conference `. by uacli sector, and those -that were common to all of them were out- lined in a white paper used by con- ference participants as a foundation for their discussions. There was consensus-arntxhg tic participants that as iatternaci)nal competititn is heating up, tie need for then indt astry to be responsive to market demand AO the needs of suppliers . is ::of gwnt ur- taant:c. "The global economy is already here, we must harness the power of eliatige and use it to our advan cage." said limitation. Al tie end, leaders were asked to conduct consultations on a suaoral basis and report back to the steer- ing cuninuittee before another gaUi ening in 1994. "At rtc .,s;tme umc, the 'sectors will determine the speeific.,404ims to,esed puke toaclhieve,a>ur goals," said,80bicen ,president,of tie On- ;Wi0 c„pui noes Association ono mer of the red sheat, sector con "1'hc ;market place is rapidly. evolving :and our competitors arc developing their plans. Now is the time Wise decisive and bold and build new sectoral partnerships," _Said Roger George, president of the kenutrio Federation of Agriculture amid leader of the production agri- ;•tittlture sector consultations. "The conference herd numerous roireative and innovative ideas for section. With continued co- .superation !rum all sector partners we can establish and reach our reg terra goals," said John Tremble, re- searcher for the United Food and Commercial Workers and member of ,the conference steering commit- tee. "The success of the Vision 2020 process is the dedication by each participants to this forum. Only through open and !truest dist u 5&n of our industries a uncems and P- portuniues will success happen," said Keith Wright, president of the Utitario•Fruit and Vegetable Qiuw- ers' Association and leader of the edible .and nut -edible hua;tieulture iiector consultations. , "The Vision 2020 ,process wa meant to be a kickstart for action, a starting point fnian which we can build • stronger links in the food chain,' and a nwre pruaperuus in dustry for everyunc. 1 sincercl s hope Haat we will take with its is settee of iaiwine rims six view Sianm for action experienced .btas Wick to aur business and cummuni ties," said Buchanan agreement is signed in April 1994. It was recognized that adjust- ments will be .necessary, including to supply me-SIt.-as adapts to 0 tine -nein einte trade environment. Ministers agree UJ establish a small .task force to prepare an action plan within 8-10 weeks on now to renew supply management over the next 18 months. This task force would consult all stakeholders.and report to the fed- eral -provincial ministers on Febru- ary 15. At that time, Ministers will also review a strategy on how 10 maximize .new market opportuni- ties in the GATT agreement. All ministers underlined the un- peetance of federal end provincial governments, Tann organizations, food industries, supply mwiage- ment agencies and farmers working together in ,Ute coming period to ensure an innovauve industry. =ty is vital for dairy farmers and we arc open for business as usual," :Core added. Ontario's 8,300 dairy farms pro- duce more than 2.3 billion litres of milk annually at a value of about 1.2 billion dollars. "It's important -that the largest economic sector in Ontario agriculture continues to make its huge contribution to On- tario's rural economy," he said. 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