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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1978-02-23, Page 17• • Whelan says farmers, paying The farmer is paying a lot more for the privilege of feeding the country, Canada's agriculture Minister Eugene Whelan told farmers at the Canadian Federation of Agriculture's annual meeting last week. He cited a drop in net in- come to the farmer of 11 per cent and an expected drop this year of six per cent. Part of this could be remedied, he said, if farmers took ad- vantage of legislation that is in place now for their protection. "All of you know my position on marketing boards..." He went on to compare the prices paid by consumers for products that are regulated by supply management marketing boards to prices on the free market. In all cases, he said, that the regulated product changed little in price, gave the producer a decent income and the con- sumer a reasonable price, while in the U.S., without the benefit of a regulatory agency the prices fluctuated wildly, from sky high to depressingly low. Over there neither the consumer nor the farmer was happy. Right now Mr. Whelan said, consumers see beef prices up and figure the farmer is making a profit at their ex- pense. He complained bitterly that the stabilization program was being abused in some provinces. "I heard of a case where apple producers were told they would only get paid a few cents a bushel for their produce. They were told not - to worry. Why? Because Whelan would make up the difference." He went on to say that these are dollars out of our pockets and that he would not allow the stabtlizal.1ui► Lund to be abused. He called on hog producer organizations to have their people produce more hogs for in 1977, Canada bought $100,000,000 worth of pork from the United States, which he strongly condemned as being inferior in quality. On the GATT negotiations he had some strong com- ments also. The agriculture ministers ' of the different countries fouled their agriculture so important that tl%y had decided to meet every five years, he said with heavy irony, "I'think I got my point across. We may see them meeting a bit more frequently in the future." He also would like to see the agricultural countries organized on the same basis as the oil producing coun- tries, for food is ultimately the currency of the world. OFA concerned about food problems Farmers are concerned that the National Food Conference (Feb. 22-23) will not recognize the major problems facing food production in this country, says Peter Hannam, president, Ontario Federation of Agriculture. Speaking at a news con- ference at Queen's Park, on Monday, Mr. Hannam said this lack of appreciation of the real issues facing farmers has forced the OFA to hold its own conference in Ottawa, at the Chateau Laurier, Wed- nesday, Feb. 22, 1978, at 8 p.m. "We want to present a positive viewpoint," said Mr. Hannam. "Of course we welcome the participation of not only all aspects of the food industry but also of the general public. "But at the same time, we must remember that the production sector is primary and most important to the health of the whole economy. "Agriculture, not only in Ontario, but . all across Canada, is at a crossroads," said Mr. Hannam. "Farmers are caught in a vicious cost -price squeeze which has driven net incomes down for three years in a row. Farmers are being in- creasingly forced into debt and it has become almost 4-H leaders at convention 'Jim Papple of RR 4, Seaforth, John Carvalho of RR 1, Walton, Don Watson of RR 4, Clinton, Bill Brock of Exeter, Barry Elliott of RR 1, Lucknow and Ken Gemmell of RR 2, Kippen, represented Huron County 4-H leaders at the annual provincial 4-H L,;eaders'. Conference held at g xe,,-Strpraton Centre, Toronto, on February 10 and 11. During the conference, the leaders took part in workshops and discussion groups covering numerous aspects of the 4-H program. With an emphasis on im- proving communication skills, participants were exposed to various methods of presentation and effective teaching methods. John Gillham, a well-known communicator from Toronto, opened the conference with his thoughts on the "Importance of Expressing Yourself Well". Discussion groups, demonstrations and illustrated talks, followed the theme throughout the two days. Niagara North County 4-H members Kathy 'Deifxberry, Wendy Deuxberry, Lisa Merrit and Theresa Paolosini presented their demon- stration on pruning grape vines to the leaders. on Saturday morning. This group were entrants at the 4- H Demonstration Com- petition at the Canadian National Exhibition in 1977. The 100 delegates to the conference represented the 1,500 agricultural 4-H leaders in the province. impossible for young people to get into agriculture. All the signs are present to indicate that our industry is in serious trouble. "We had hoped that the National Food Strategy Conference would address itself to these issues but it has not. Instead,, the structure of the Conference is such 'that agriculture will be treated as only a peripheral issue. This is completely unacceptable to farmers and ' it should be unacceptable to every citizen who is concerned with the future of this country." Hannam outlined a 13 -point program which the OFA feels must be considered im- mediately in order to alleviate the problems in agriculture. These include: a firm commitment to an adequate income for far- mers; a rejection of a policy which would make food so cheap that no one could afford to produce it; a commitment to agriculture as a basic sector in the national economy; a commitment to farm marketing boards. - a stronger position by the federal government for Canadian agricultural products in foreign trade negotiations; a consultative role for farmers in all policy development which will af- fect agriculture. Hannam concluded, "The government and the public must realize that without a healthy farm industry, there cannot be a food system -- without farmers, the whole Canadian food system collapses." Farmer's problems discussed A wide range of agricultural problems were .discussed at the annual meeting last week of the Canadian Federation. .of Agriculture. From the cost and hazard of pesticides, machinery parts, energy and taxes to some social issues, very few delegates from across Canada left the con- vention floor. The meeting asked the Ogovernment not to hand over research funds to private bodies if it can be done in- house, and to increase research in such fields as the development of nitrogen fixing plants. This would be a great saving on petroleum pi oducts. In (order to give some in- centive to part time workers in harvest seasons, the delegates asked that unemployed persons would not have to go through a new waiting period if they worked a limited time only, such as harvesting. A sore point with almost all the farmers was the manner of reporting the food index. They urged that ' the food index be designed so that the Canadian farmer not always get the blame when Florida lettuce increases in price. A long debate folLcwvpd the. resolution by the Saskat- chewan Federation of Agriculture that asked that a "national livestock and meat authority" be established, with no marketing powers or pricing powers. Some op- ponents of the proposal in- s!sted that this was a marketing board and the proposal was defeated by a surprisingly small margin. More realistic com- pensation for livestock or- dered destroyed by reason of disease were demanded and a responsibility in the use of medication was shown by asking for better labelling on the proper withdrawal periods of medicated feeds. As a vehicle, for the better understanding of Canadians from different parts of the country and the promotion of unity, there can be little doubt as to its usefulness. One finds soon that there are very few "rednecks" among prairie people. That Quebecois are happy tc be able to. speak the other Canadian language through a simultaneous translating system., That all across the nation all are plagued by the same problems and have in the main the same advantages. SHUR.GAIN ANIMAL HEALTH PRODUM Shur -Gain has all the Animal Sanitation Health Products you need -- available from 35 MARY ST. CLINTON 4$2 9797 Open: Mon. -Fri. 11100 4:00 p.m.; Saturday 1:00.12:00 noon. CLINTON NEWS -RECORD, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23,1578 --PAGE 17 Don Pullen, ag. rep. for Huron County, was the featured speaker for the Huron delegation at the annual meeting of the Ontario Plowmen's Assoc. in Toronto last week. Don outlined the history of the county and emphasized Huron's position, as an outstanding food producer. At left are County Clerk Bill Hanly and Warden Gerry Ginn. (Advance -Times photo) news farm news Warren speaks at F of A meeting The chief negotiator at the upcoming agricultural Multilateral Trade Negotiations spoke to Canada's farmers at the annual convention of. the Canadian Federation of Agriculture last week. Ambassador Warren said that agriculture is of vital importance at the talks, and may -spell the difference between success or failure.' There is a difference' of approach between the countries of the European Economic Community and the United States. The EEC wants a managed world market for agriculture while the U.S. wants a free market. Canada is, as usual, in the middle with the attitude that it doesn't really matter what system you use, as long as it brings results. Mr. Warren said that, he expects the U.S. to open their border more widely for agricultural products before we can open ours, but it is inevitable that we have to give something in return. Non -tariff barriers will be looked. at very closely, he said. Such things as support prices must be considered as being unfair trading prac- tises. The Canadian gover- nment has firmly stated that they won't be satisfied with anything less than full reciprocity in agriculture. We are in a position to negotiate OFA pres. to speak ,on taxes Peter Hannam, President of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, will speak at the Clinton High School on Monday, February 27 at 8:30 p.m. on the subject of the O.F.A. policy on the property tax reforms being proposed by the Ontario government. This special meeting has been called by the Huron Our Mistake Sometimes the boys are hard to distinguish from the girls, as the Clinton News - Record found out last week when trying to identify a photograph. As a result the News - Record incorrectly stated that one skater at the Varna Ice Carnival was Brenda Consitt, when in fact the youngster was David Draper, grandson of Bob Peck. The News -Record apologizes for any in- conveniences this error may have caused. County Federation of Agriculture in order to give all interested persons an opportunity to discuss with Peter how the proposed property tax reforms will affect the farming com- munity and what the O.F.A. policy is towards these reforms. MORE NEWS MORE FEATURES Keep informed with the News -Record Smile A committee room is ' a place where everybody talks, nobody listens, and everyone disagrees afterward. + + + A yawn is at least an honest opinion ANNUAL MEETING Howick Farmers' Mutual Fire insurance Company, Wroxeter, Ontario% The 105th Annual Meeting of the Company will be hold at the Company Head Office, Wroxeter, Ontario. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24 1978; at 1:30 p.m. : 1. To receive the Annual Statement and Auditor's Report. 2. To elect two Directors to replace Clare Hutchinson and Ron' McMichael whose term of office expires, both of whom are eligible for re-election. 3. To appoint an Auditor -for 1978. 4. To amend the following by-laws: No. 33 Remuneration. 5. To transact any other business which may rightly come before the meeting. R. R. McMICHAEL President R. C. HUTCHINSON Manager in part on the basis of con- cession withdrawal. Particularly in the hor- ticultural sector, Canada has granted previous concessions that can be withdrawn if the U.S. doesn't make some new concession in order to better equalize barriers between our two countries. Quota year set up hurts milk processing industries .Milk -processing industries are hurting because of the present setup of the producers' quota year. Grant Smith, vice-chairman of the Ontario Milk Marketing Board, told Perth County milk producers in Stratford Smith said there will likely be a change in the quota year and suggested the next one could run somewhere bet- ween 14 and 18 months. He said there was con- siderable pressure to have the year changed because processing plants are running out of milk during the winter months, near the end of the quota year. Because producers are nearing their quotas late in the quota 'year, they must cut back on production, leaving the processors with a shor- tage. Some have suggested the quota year be extended to 18 months to spread the low - producing months over a longer period, Smith said. The province has suggested the next quota year run from April 1, 1978 to June 30,1979,a period of 14 months. a While Smith said he doesn't believe Ontario will win its case, he anticipates some kind of "saw -off" with the quota period extended from April 1 this year to about August 1, 1979. Bill Jarvis, MP (PC -Perth - Wilmot) told the milk producers the shortage created during late winter by the present system has forced one viable cheese -producing plant he knows of to restrict production to 48 per cent of capacity. (C3t) PIONEER. 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