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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1984-04-04, Page 16a • 16 Times-Advocat. ril 4, 1984 SIGN UP FOR SOCCER — Jason Wein signs up for the forthcoming Exeter minor soccer season with officials Bob Drouillard and Bev Bierling. T -A photo Beef producers beef Eleven Huron County beef producers voiced their opi- r Farmer s -m Book Now To have your spring grain and beans custom cleaned on YOUR farm. We clean, treat, bags or bulk and we offer germination tests. CANADIAN MOBILE SEED CLEANING LTD. 1-519-289-5602 `or (416)775.6994 j on March 23. nions on the present beef marketing system and the proposed beef marketing agency at a meeting held here The public meetingwas part of a series of 22 -sessions being sponsored by the Ontario Beef Commission. The commission hearings are being held across Ontario to receive briefs from local beef pro- ducers. The commission will study the recommendations on how the beef marketing agency should operate. The three man commission, including chairman Henry Davis, Murray. Gaunt, former Huron -Bruce MPP and Ralph Barrie, former president of THE CASE FOR GOOD BUSINESS SENSE. Visit us in Exeter Every Wednesday REPRESENTATIVE: Bruce Gagnier 1 t simply makes good sense to meet with the representative of the Federal Business Development Bank who will soon be in your area. There is no obligation and no cost to you. And there is so much you could gain for your business. Come talk with us if you could use financial aid, in the form of loans, ' loan guarantees or even selling an equity position in your business. We have experienced counsellors who can help you plot a course of growth and success for your business. And we can provide you with direction to government assistance, both federal and provincial, as well as other vital information. For an advance appointment call: 271-5650 (collect) COUNSELLING or write: 1036 Ontario Street Stratford, Ontario LI Federal Business Banque federal° Development Bank de dbvetoppement Your future is our guarantee. Canacri the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, will take the pro- ducers' contributions to Agriculture Minister Dennis Timbrell. Local beef producers em- phasized that the needs of the small operator should be con- sidered and the proposed agency should not control the beef industry or present marketing options. Bill Armstrong, a Goderich Township farmer suggested, "The agency shouldn't do any buying or selling." He sup- ported Mr. Timbrell's alter- native that the agency should act as a market information agency, not involved in actual sales. - George Adams, a Wroxeter area farmer noted, "If pro- ducers operate the marketing agency, it should be done under the Ontario Cat- tlemen's Association. .Mr. Adams said that he supported the open auction marketing system and has had satisfactory results from the Brussels Stock Yards. He noted that small sales yards (like Brussels) allow. producers to market their product in a very effective way. Mr. Adams noted, "The producer has up-to-date infor- mation and the choice of method- of sale _that- will achieve • the maximum return." In his support of small operations Mr. Adams also told the commission that, "smaller packers are the backbone of the industry. They're the boys that provide the competition -for the big fellows." In analyzing Mr. Adams' brief, Mr. Gaunt noted, "Therefore the beef marketing agency should con- sider the concerns and needs of small packers as well as small producers." Frank Falconer of Tuckersmith Township, president of the Huron -Perth Shorthorn Club reminded the commission members, "I may operate small, but I'm still operating. I think the agency should keep that in mind." He noted that he is satisfied with the present marketing systems and said, "direct sales are the only way to go." Mr. Falconer also said, "I don't know how you're going to improve on the system." Similarly, Dave Gardiner, a Kirk ton area beef producer stated that he was satisfied with the present system and felt there wasn't any need for government involvement. "We market our cattle ourselves and we don't need government involvement," Mr. Gardiner stated. In reply, Chairman Davis remindethhe beef producer Nowhere in the news col- umns of Canada's self- proclaimed national newspaper, the Toronto Globe and Mail, were farmers men- tioned in coverage of the Throne Speech. Orland French, the witty Queen's Park columnist, gave passing mention to the ad- visory committee on AgriculturewhichAgminister Dennis Timbrell has ad- vocated for months. But the news coverage failed to men- tion the committee. That may be just as well because the committee could be a gutless crew with nothing more to add to Timbrell's knowledge than what farm lobbyists have been telling him since he took over the post a couple of years ago. The reason for this committee is obscure. It may be just another scheme by the Davis government to delay doing anything substantial for farmers. Perhaps that is why the Globe virtually ignored it. Another, more valid reason, for ignoring agriculture may be that the Globe doesn't care whether farmers get into the news or not. It is known as a businessmen's newspaper. The editors are well aware that farmers make up only about four percent of the population and, as the politi- cians do, the Globe can ignore such a small segment of the economic mosaic. The Globe, in my humble opinion, sorely misses people like Eldon "Stoney" Stonehouse who died March 19. For many years, he was available to give the details on the farm scene. Stoney was born in Lambton County near the village of Wyoming where his father farmed about 150 acres. His father was an old - _fashioned farmer„ a mixed farnler; WLla had both beef and dairy cattle and grew a in the r I.'I' II MI •pp, st•oed SOblio,y, IISW kn.,•O+. h 31, 3C/ bit of grain and some sugar beets. Stoney will be missed on a newspaper that gives better coverage of the local, national and international scene than any other paper in Canada, with the exception of agriculture. This committee to advise the minister sounds like a good idea but is it really necessary? Farm unionists, federation of agriculture of- ficers, breed organizations, marketing board officials and even consumers have been hurling advice at Timbrell and other agricultural ministers for years but the advice seems to be falling on deaf ears. It does not take an unwield- ly committee to figure out what ails the agriculture com- munity. It may sound simplistic but better com- modity prices would solve most the problems. When it costs you around 80 or 85 cents to produce a pound of pork and you are getting around 65 cents a pound in the marketplace, it doesn't take an economist to figure out your losses. The same theory applies to beef although the prices are different. The feathers in- dustry is in the same quan- dary although this thorny question of quotas, both federally and individually, is yet to be solved. The same is true of the dairy industry. Cash crops are hit by the same problem as the red meat industry. It costs the producers more to grow the stuff than the open market gives them. Timbrell, to be fair, is in the damned -if -I -do or damned -if - I -don't position. If,* he guarantees a floor price for all commodities, he has to fight the top -loading from other provinces, as well as deal with the North American market and the European Economic Community. And Farm crews ready Over 600 youth in Ontario will work on farms and learn about agriculture this sum- mer through two programs sponsored by the Ontario Youth Secretariat and the On- tario Ministry of Agriculture and Food (O.M.A.F.). For those young people with no farm experience, the Junior Agriculturalist pro- gram offers an opportunity to 16 to 18 year olds to live and work in rural area. Farmers supervise and work with the students to help develop skills and knowledge used on a farm. that the government does have interest and involve- fi ent in the beef industry since it has given out some $57 -million in funds. Some farmers voiced con- cern about supply manage- ment and Chairman Davis emphasized, "We're not con- sidering supply management in any way or form. I can't see how the supply manage- ment concept can be applied to the beef. industry." The commission meetings will be held throughout the province until May and fin- dings will be presented to Mr. Timbrell. • A training allowance of $8 a day is paid to the par- ticipants. O.M.A.F. con- tributes $10 and the farmer pays $8. Also, the room and board provided by the farmer is valued at $8 a day for tax purposes. Worker's Compen- sation and Unemployment In- surance is paid by O.M.A.F. The only prerequisits for Junior Agriculturists are energy, enthusiasm' and an in- terest in agriculture. Agricrew involved young people aged 16 to 24 and offers fourperson crews that can be booked by farmers on a daily basis. Crews can be hired to paint, weed, hay, clear fields, and do many other jobs around the farm. Most par- ticipants will have experience working on a farm or doing physical labour. Farmers pay $90 a.day for an Agricrew and transporta- tion is looked after by the crew foreperson. Both programs begin June 25th and run untilAugust 24th. Program co-ordinators, university and college students, can be contacted through your local O.M.A.F. office. Hill AM) 11:1/ FARMS IIMITFI VARNA ONT. FIRST LINE SEED SEEP CORN Sales Representative P•tar Rowntr•• will serve customers at the ClInfleld Elevators and the Elevators at Varna. '1626 (2550 CHU) Exceptional Yield • Superior stolk strength 1646 (2800 CHU) Exceptional Yield - excellent stalk strength. 1656 (2900 CHU) Exceptional stalk strength - high yield. H-2300 (3000 CHU) Excellent sildge maker • high stalk strength. 1676 (3100 CHU) High yielding silage maker. "CHECK US IN THE 1984 CORN PERFORMANCE TRIALS" SEED SOYBEANS MAPLE AMBER MAPLE ARROW EVANS HODGSON GRANULAR & PEAT INOCULANT FIRST LINE SEED RED CLOVER SEED PHONE 482-3218 No. 1 DOUBLE CUT Hill and Hill Farms Limited VARNA 482-3218 r Y _-- Ala– ---An. Ma. _..___—__—_ AIL Am. _______ the EEc problems will be complicated with the entry of Spain and Portugal, both heavy agricultural states, in- to the community. On second thought, maybe this advisory committee will be constructive. With the right people on it and some positive support in Cabinet and then in the Legislature, some action for agriculture may be forthcoming. Now, if the Hon. Dennis Timbrell is looking for people to serve, I know a debt -ridden old farmwriterwho has been a keen observer of the agricultural scene for 30 years who could make myself available. My phone number is 519-669-2036, Dennis. More than 10,000 claim crop Nearly 10,000 claims totall- ing over 26 million dollars were paid by the Canada On- tario Crop Insurance Com- mission in 1983. Last years' unusual weather patterns severely reduced or completely destroyed many crops throughout the province. Thiry two percent of all con- tracts sold in 1983 resulted in claims. Corn, the largest acreage insured, saw claims reported on 28 percent of the contracts sold, with $3,800,000 paid in claims. The O.M.A.F. Crop Budget Committee reported that it cost $334.90 to produce an acre of corn in 1983. Crop Insurance premiums at $6.50 per acre accounted for less than two percent of that cost. The 1983 spring grain crop suffered through a drought in many areas of Ontario, Hedging bets Farmers can't just work on the farm and ignore the world around them. That's why more and more of them are starting to con- sider their relationships with other sectors. They're star- ting to study the groups and influences that affect their livelihood, and are taking ac- tion to make sure everybody is working in harmony. In other words, they're "hedging their bets." That's the title of a marketing board conference being held by the OFA, in Toronto on April 9.th • and 10th at the Prince Hotel. The seminar will feature speakers from the various sectors farmers work with daily, like consumers, bankers, civil servants and the members of the food chain. Farmers from across On- tario will be attending the conference, and they'll be at- tending sessions on how to protect themselves from pro- cessor bankruptcies, how to present a better image to the public, and how to push their products more successfully. They will hear projections on where their business is going. The conference starts Mon- day, April 9 at 8:30 a.m. The $85 fee includes everything but accommodation. We'll Do the Job Right... 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Premiums will increase for certain crops, but will remain at a low cost because the Eederal Government pays half the premium cost and the Ontario Government pays the administration costs. Last year alone, the Federal 'Government paid over 20 million into Crop In- surance and the Ontario Government contributed three million. Farmers premiums of 20 million sup- plied over 486 million dollars worth of coverage: Eighteen thousand farmers in Ontario have chosen Crop Insurance as a management tool to reduce risk and protect their investments. • •_,_ Ram — 7It's to late... We still have some good seed com numbers left. 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Check condition of water pump belt 10°k Off on all parrs & Labour Through April 30th Muffler and shock service available Open 9 a.m. - S p.m. Mon. -Fri. & 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Sat. PHONE294.6995 269 Maim St., roar (Rohind "woodland), Parkhill, Ontario 4