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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1984-11-28, Page 12Page 12 Times -Advocate, November 28, 1984 Sheep producers endorse red meal marketlng proposal In an attempt to cut into heavy imports of lamb and stabilize the volatile Ontario industry, the Ontario Sheep Association voted unanimous- ly Saturday for a sheep marketing agency - without price -setting or production control powers. The association annual meeting at Campbellville ask- ed for "immediate" im- plementation by provincial Agriculture Minister Dennis Timbrell. Imports account for 70 percent of Ontario sales. "We'd rather Timbrell do this while he's still mipister of agriculture rather than pass it on to the next," association president Geroge McLaughlin of Beaverton told deputy minister Bill Doyle who was at the meeting. Timbrell is running for the leadership of the Ontario Progressive Con- servative party and expects to be out of the agriculture portfolio in January win or lose. The association voted to ac- cept in principle the agency proposal as recommended by a special sheep marketing agency commission set up earlier this year by Timbrell. Timbrell also established a beef marketing agency com- mission but because of the strong divergent opinions within that industry, he has called for a plebiscite before an agency is put in place, Because sheep farmers are more united, McLaughlin hopes Timbrell will initiate the agency first, with the stipulation a plebiscite be called in three years if the government feels it necessary. Among agency recommen- dations made by the commission: • The agency register all producers. • Sheep, lamb and wool buyers and sales agents be licensed along with all abat- toirs and packing plants and Filter Queen "1P4 THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN VARNA" 482.7103 APPLIANCE REPAIR Large or small, we'll fix them all... Our repair experts will have your ap- pliance in tip top shape fast. Call us today at PECK APPLIANCES "In the Heart of Downtown Varna" VARNA 482-7103 The Westeel-Rosco Agri -System designed to grow with • your needs Your new Area Dealer for Westeel-Rosco Storage and Hop- per Bottom Bins CaII us for all your material handling and storage needs Dougall Construction Exeter 235-1281 all truckers handling licensed products. • All lambs sold live in On- tario, including lambs pro- duced outside the province, must go through the agency, but live farm -gate sales direct to consumers and sheep sold for breeding purposes are excluded. • Sheep, lambs and wool be sold exclusively through agency -appointed selling agents. • A marketing fee - not to exceed two percent of the gross sale value - be collected at point of slaughter. • The agency implement a live grading system. During lengthy discussion of the proposal Saturday, fears were expressed over the position of feedlot operators under an agency. But agency commissioner Jack James of Russell said feedlot opera- tions will be encouraged if the industry expands as hoped. And several sheep farmers were concerned direct sales Plan session on hydro line After four years, months of study, seven weeks of hear- ings, and a court case, On- tario Hydro is back where it started, trying to figure out how to transmit more power out of the Bruce Nuclear Power Development. Hydro had developed routes and tower sites from Bruce to Essa, near Barrie. Toronto cottage owners and local lan- downers derailed the process when they took Hydro to court, and won, claiming they had not received adequate notice. After the court decision, Hydro decided to study and develop routes and tower locations for one or two lines, from Bruce to London. These routes will then be used at a future hearing which will compare the Bruce to Essa, and Bruce to London pro- posals and make a decision on which lines should be built. The Huron County Federa- tion of Agriculture has taken a keen interest in this process over the past years. It is hosting a public meeting on December 6, at the Hullett Central School in Londesboro at 8:30 p.m. There will be a panel discussion with Ken McGregor of the Ontario In- stitute of Agrologists, Dave Abbott of Ontario Hydro, and Tony McQuail of the Foodland Hydro Dommittee. The meeting will provide an ' opportunity to find out what Hydro is planning, and to discuss ways of defending the prime agricultural areas of southwestern Ontario. of sheep to consumers - which now account for about 30 per- cent of all sales - will come under the gun. James said those farmers in the "freezer" sales to consumers will be free to continue selling live animals as they wish, and will only have to pay a $1 agency fee if they sell through an abattoir. McLaughlin, who chaired the discussion, at one time was chairman of the Ontario Milk Producers' Marketing Board. He called for full discussion on the agency pro- posal before a motion was put to allay what he said were un- founded fears of moving from a free market to agency powers. "My experience with marketing boards is that many have the initial expec- tation that all of a sudden they have a dictatorship sitting on the agency that's going to make all the decisions. That's not how they work. If they do, they don't live very long," isn't treating them fairly have McLaughlin said. the opportunity to appeal "People often say they're a their case to the farm pro - government imposition, and ducts appeal tribunal which is that's a lot of garbage. A also in place. government wouldn't put Initially a politically sen - them in place unless it had sitive government usually ap- assurance it would be sup- points an executive which will ported by the producers." be acceptable to producers, He said the government has and following that will insist in place a policing Farm Pro- on annual elections by pro- ducts Marketing Board which ducers, McLaughlin said. An ensures the agencies don't ex- effective agency also consults ceed their powers. And pro- with the handling sectors ducers who feel the agency beyond the farm gate before changing policy. GETS SCHOLARSHIP Funk Seeds has announced that Mary Taylor of Woodstock, Ontario is this year's recipient of the Funk Seeds $500 Scholarship Award. Now in its 10th year, the Funk's scholarship is available to alt 4-H members attending their first year at the Ontario Agricultural Col- lege in Guelph. Selection is based on involvement in 4-H and other community ac- tivities as well as scholastic abilities. Mary was chosen from over 30 outstanding applicants, for her strong leadership abilities and extensive contributions to community activities. The 19 year old has been a 4-H member for eight years and completed 24 projects. She maintained an 88 percent average in Grade XIII and has been actively involved in community activities in- cluding Church Camp counsellor, Sunday School teacher and Multiple Sclerosis volunteer. 1) 0 m 1± GROUP CONSERVATION from the Ausable-Bayfield Club. Above, Gerry Uniac of the Authority. WINNERS — The group conservationist of the year award Conservation Authority was won by the Bayfield Anglers accepts the award from Dan Kenanley and Bill Thirlwall T. -A photo It is a hoary old joke that has been told for 30 years but it is more relevant today than ever: Two people are talking, one is a farmer. "What would you do if you won a million dollars in a lot- tery?" the farmer is asked. "I guess I would just keep farming until I went broke," replied the son of the soil Farm bankruptcies in 1979 totalled 124. In 1983, the total was 488. In the first nine months of this year, the total hit 417. By the end of the year, it could hit an all-time high of 500. Insolvencies on the farm are still increasing in spite of the general economic recovery in Canada: As Johnny Carson would say, there's more to come. Average farm income in 1981, says StatsCan, was $9,841 which is $189.25 a week, not much better than minimum wage. So what? Farmers have the right to go broke just the same as anyone else. If they cannot PROPERTY ASSESSMENT and your 1985 Municipal and School Taxes Regional Offices located throughout Ontario are responsible for assessing all real property for the purposes of municipal and school taxation. The resulting Assessment Rolls are delivered to municipalities which use them to set their mill rates and compute municipal property tax bills. The amount of property tax you pay on your home or business depends on the assessed value and the mill rate set by your municipality. The assessed value multiplied by the mill rate will determine your 1985 property taxes. Open House Sessions Open Houses are your opportunity to fully understand your assessment and to evaluate its equity. Open Houses are held in every municipality at convenient times and locations, to provide you with the opportunity to discuss your assessment with staff of the Regional Assess- ment Office. An assessor will be pleased to explain the basis of your property assessment and is authorized to amend any information as may be necessary prior to the delivery of the Assess- ment Roll to your municipality. If you have any questions but are unable to attend the Open House, please contact your Regional Assessment Office at the address or telephone number shown below. Assessment Notice Property owners and tenants will receive an Assessment Notice only if information regarding their property or assessment was changed during the past year, if the assess- ment was appealed last year, or if the prop- erty has been reassessed under section 63 of the Assessment Act. If you receive an Assessment Notice, it may reflect changes you have requested in your school support designa- Ontario TOWN OF EXETER Ministry of Revenue tion, in the amount of your assessed value, or other recorded information on last year's Notice. Appeal Procedure lf, after attending your local Open House, you are still dissatisfied with your assessment, you have a right to appeal it to the Assessment Review Board. The Assessment Review Board conducts informal hearings and is responsible for determining whether the assessment under appeal is fair and equitable with the assess- ments of similar properties in the vicinity or neighbourhood, and may alter your assess- ment accordingly. Appeal Deadline The final date for appealing your assessment is January 9, 1985. Your appeal must be forwarded, either on a Notice of Appeal Form or as a letter, to the Regional Registrar of the Assessment Review Board on or before January 9, 1985, noting your property address, Roll Number and the reason for the appeal. To assist you in this regard, Notice of Appeal forms and the address of the Regional Regis- trar of the Assessment Review Board are avail- able at Open Houses, your Regional Assess- ment Office, or your municipal office. Schedule of Open Houses Dec 3 & 4. 1 00 pm to 7 00 pm. Municipal Office. Exeter HURON. PERTH REGIONAL OFFICE 57 Napier Street, Box 190 GODERICH, Ontario N7A 3Z2 (519) 524-7326 Zenith 66500 4 1 bne loot in the furrow' bw Lene•s ne•pp•etako b, loo from. (Oak Rd U•-,• 0' NIB 1C) make it in this dog-eat-dog world, let 'em go out of business. But the farm scene matters to everybody. Farmers put food on every table in this nation and on a good many other tables around the world. It is a big industry that earned Canada's economy last year a whopping $9.5 billion in exports. The farm machinery, chemical and transportation industries, the food processing and retail in- dustries, have a healthystake in agriculture. The spin-offs affect almost every sector of the economy. When agriculture is healthy, most of the rest of''the economy is healthy, ,too. And we have all heard the free exterprisers: "So what? Too many of them (farmers) expanded in good times and got saddled with insurmoun- table debts. It serves them right." The increase in debt was based on steadily increasing land values with the "expert" help of bankers and economists, as well as government policies which encouraged expansion. Many young, progressive farmers took the advice of the experts in both government and the private sector. The loans were based on land values at that time. But land values stalled then slipped as much as 30 per cent in some areas. The equity in the land decreased, interest rates soared and still are crippling. Farm debt has ballooned to 821 billion and for some farmers, the debt has sur- passed equity through the lower land values. It is unforunate that the debt picture is hitting the most efficient and productive farmers in the nation. The Farm Credit Corporation in a recent survey came to the conclusion that one-third of the farmers with the biggest debt Toad are efficient producers. Ralph Ashmead of the farm credit corporation suggests that one in six farmers is under financial stress. "It's a cancer that's grow- ing or held in a comatose con- dition, very much dependent on the economic conditions --- mainly interest rates and in- comes -- and also dependent on what the government does," he said. "If the govern- ment does nothing, you will see economic forces whittling Best Interest 12% Guaranteed Investment Certificates •subject to change Agents for Canada Savings Bonds Gaiser•Kaeale GCInsurance Brokers Inc. EXETER 235-2420 GRAND BEND 238.8484 CLINTON GODERICH 482-9747 524-2118 • away at that group (the young, efficient farmers)." It could, says Ashmead, result in a less efficient in- dustry which would mean Canadian farm products would not be able to compete in the international market and a substantial increase in food prices right here at home. So, you see, what happens at the farm gate can mean a great deal to everyone. Ignore the plight of the agricultural sector if you want to, but be prepared to pay a heck of a lot more for food in the next few years. 0 U1 a jCrediton \f \\1I I `s, EAVESTROUGH ALUMINUM and VINYL SIDING i__ t ALUMINUM STORM �� DOORS and WINDOWS `� I ALUMINUM AWNINGS REPLACEMENT WINDOWS • RENOVATIONS and GENERAL CONSTRUCTION • FREE ESTIMATES • JIM BECKER CONSTRUCTION DASHWOOD 237-3526 WHte TRACTOR CABS Models Available For Utility & Large Agricultural Tractors. • Tube Steel Frame w/nylon reinforced fabric sides & heat panels • Tempered slanted glass windshield • Side & rear windows are made df transparent Uvex, that slideF. up under root when opened • Universal mounting bracket enables installation on any tractor • Side & rear door opening standard For Your Nearest Dealer Contact: Hwy. 21 North of Grand Bend R.R. 1 Dashwood, Ont. 519-238-2301 Evenings 237-3205 For 01 - Custom Trailers Livestock Trailers eC andSc0Per Model E12T On Special and In Stock It 'Gooseneck livestock General Truck & Trailer and Dump The Canadian Trailer People Custom Welding 234-6738 N 0 3 0 tp —4 0 tD Thermometers For Every Occasion ze 30 40 50 0rl -30" .40.11 S No. 495x9 Dccr 30 4_2_512.119 20 '' 10,/,* 0 f" -101 -20 -30 -4( 80 40 10 80 . • 10 -20 -30 -40 -50 3040 50 1020 6070 -10 -20 — �.. >r 100 .30 3040 60 '-40 20 70 90 100 110 120 130 20/ 30 0 ' No. 497 Temp./Humidity b 30 40 50 6074 8d N 90 100 110 120 No. 49512 Pheasant 2030NSOId 10 1 N '100 if* �" -20'. .30' 40•u 0 -10 -20 20 "-40 / 0 -10 -20 -30 40 No. 49571 Horse 10 30 40 5060 10 ead5 10 20 30 40 50 120, 10 0 / -10 -20 30 -40 u O80 90 100 110 120 No.4564 Fish No. 4959) Gourmet No. 49525 Cardinal No. 49528 Balloons -" --- No. 49584 Roadrunner 20 t� 30' 40'.,•' 70 50 80 » 90 100 110 s• 120 No. 49527 Sailboats No. 495 Plain 20 30 . , 40 50 ''• ,,r•.., 6t 010 �a ;o , 70 No. 49560 Squirrel No. 49575 Widgeon Free alIvEXETER DISTRICT CO.OP,}aur. 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