Clinton News-Record, 1979-11-01, Page 12it
PAGE 12 CLINTON NEWS -RECORD, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1 ,X979
As interest rises
Farming outlook is bleak
BY 4EFF SEDDON
Farmers looking for
that one good year to get
themselves off an
economic tightrope may
have been dealt a
finishing blow by
government recently
when interest rates
soared to record levels.
Government decisions •
to allow the interest rate
in . Caxrada to increase to
stay abreast of United
States' lending rates
could spell disaster for
many farmers working
under a heavy debt load.
Spokesmen for farm.
organizations, govern-
ment agencies and len-
ding institutions all voice
the same opinion when
discussing how high
interest rates will affect
agriculture. All claim
that unless those rates
drop soon there will be
quite a few farms going
up for sale this winter and
next spring.
The gloomy future
painted for some farmers
is no indication that
agriculture will suffer
any more than other
industry. High interest
rates combined with
reduced spending will
mean any business that is
operating slightly
overextended will be
forced to drastic survival
tactics.
Stan Paquette, a field
man with the ministry of
agriculture and food
Clinton office, is op-
timistic themajority of
farmers will be able,.to
weather this economic
pinch. But his optimism
is mixed with doubts.
Paquette noted that the
high interest rates and
reduced spending has
already made its
presence known. He said
two areas, cattle and
swine, have suffered
price dips that some
farmers simply won't be
able to afford.
He said swine farmers,
now operating with a high
debt margin resulting
from purchasing
animals, expanding
barns or installing
equipment, will be hurt
by falling prices. He said
many of those farmers
took on the debt ,with the
intention of getting 65 to
70 cents a pound for hogs..
That price has dropped to
58 cents a pound which is
not enough return on
investment to allow
survival.
Pork (producers are
normally the first to feel
any economic pinch since
they will Iikely be the
ones with the greatest
debt load. Pork is one of
the few agricultural
products not regulated by
market quotas which
encourages many young
farmers to invest in pork
production. Not having to
• purchase an expensive
quota convinced many
young farmers to raise
hogs and now those
recent investments may
come back to haunt them.
Paquette noted that
cattle replacement prices
have also been affected
by the country's
economic plight. In the
past six weeks cattle
prices have dipped to less
than a dollar a pound and
many producers pur-
chased calves for feed
lots at $1.25 a pound.
Cash crop farmers are
probably in the best
position of any but are not
without problems. Facing
huge bills for equipment,
seed and fertilizer that
are normally paid after
crops are harvested and
marketed those farmers
are getting squeezed by
Mother Nature.
With interest costs
mounting many badly
need a break in the
weather to allow corn
crops to be. taken off::
Most have money
borrowed against those
crops and the quicker
those loans are paid the
more money stays on the
faun. ,.
Paquette said the next
three weeks may be
critical for corn growers.
He said wet weather has
delay, ed corn harvesting
and `brought it c,lo se to the
time When.. snow could
become a factor. He said
if the corn is not off the
field before the snow
"hits and stays" some
farmers. will be "pretty
well licked".
The dismal future
painted for farmers by
the soaring interest rates
has not escaped
politicians. Huron -
Middlesex MPP Jack
Riddell is well aware of
what could happen to
many farmers this winter
and has been trying to
find out what, if anything,
thelprovince intends to do
to help weather the
storm.
Riddell said he has
petitioned Premier
William Davis and the
minister of agriculture
and food, to see if the
government is willing to
do anything to help the
plight_ of the farmer.
Riddell is concerned
about the impact
bankrupt farms will have
on the economy of Huron
County. He noted that
Huron, unlike most other
counties in Ontario,
depends heavily on the
agricultural industry for
survival.
Both Paquette and
Riddell seem confused
about the benefits of
allowing the interest rate
increase with the United
States' rate. As Paquette
noted "I can't see how it
helps the economy to
have people go broke". -
Not unlike other
problems that have beset
the farming community
in the past this latest will
still affect the minority of
farmers. The basic
principle, a successfull
farmer will rely on, good
management, will allow
himto carry on in
bu•sness.
• As Paquette points out
there will be -a. "pinch"
but farmers, like
everyone . else, will just
have to "slow down
buying".
Expansion of equip-
ment, land or buildings
will just have to wait until
interest rates make that
expansion economically
viable.
nutrition matters
BY GRACE BIRD,
HOME ECONOMIST
FOR HURON
COUNTY
D• o you live alone or
with only one other
person? " Does this cause
any problems for you in
the way of meal planning,
maintaining a good
nutritional diet and
consequently your
health?
Living alone or with
one other person can
cause several problems
- along this line and in fact
meal time can become a
real burden. If you would
like some help and en-
couragement, the
Ministry of Agriculture
and Food and the Huron
County Health Unit have
the program for you. It is
entitled the "Common
Sense Approach to
Nutrition and Cooking for
One or Two." We are •
offering it to anyone who
would like to share and
take home some new
ideas on meal planning.,
and nutrition as it affects
them.
This course will em-
phasize cooking for one or
two through the used of
food demonstrations:
Recipe books are
available for all who
attend. Meal planning
and shopping hints are
going to be discussed and
we hope that through the
activities, ..you will
become a better meal
planner and food shop-
per.
We hope to help you
understand how pills
affect your diet and look
at those you may require
and- the ones you can do
without. Do you know
what nutrients you need
each day and what foods
they're found in? Come
and find out. And finally,
we'll be looking at an
essential for every
household - an
emergency shelf. Come
and see how to set yours
up. '
Please come! Bring
your concerns about food
annutrition. Bring your
fri nds! The admission is
fr e, the recipe books are
free nd everyone is
Welco e. AO
The dates and places
for these presentations
are as follows: November
14, South Huron
Recreation Centre,.
Exeter, 1:30-3:30 pm;
November 15, Huronview
Day Care, Huronview,
Clinton, 1-3 - pm;
November 19, Huronview
Day Care, Clinton, 1-3
pm ; November 20,
Wirigham Armories,
Wingham, 1-3 pm;
November 22, Wingham
Armories, Wingham, 1-3
pm; November 27,
Huronview Day Care,
Clinton, 1-3 pm;
November -30, Huronview
Day Care, Clinton, 1-3
Pm
If you would like fur-
ther information, please
contact Miss Grace Bird,
Ontario Ministry. of
Agriculture and Food,
Clinton, phone 482-3428 or
Zenith 7-2800.
4-Hnight
9
ti:
e
Huron County Queen of the Furrow, Janet Shapton of R.R. 1 Exeter, left, Is
shown with Peggy Kniesz, of R.R. 1, Brunner, the Ontario Queen of the Furrow
at the annual dinner -dance held by the Huron Plowmen's Association at
Pineridge Chalet Friday. (Photo by Wilma Oke)
news farm news
Huron Plowmen honored
By Wilma Oke
At the dinner meeting
of the Huron Plowman's
Association Friday night
at the Pineridge Chalet,
trophies and awards were
handed out to the winners
of the Huron plowing
match held this fall.
The winners from the
event, held at the farm of
Warden John Tinney, R R
1 Exeter: Queen of the
furrow, Janet Shapton of
Hensallj
by Bertha MaGregor
Mr. and Mrs. Leonard
Noakes attended tie 39th
Convocation at
University of Waterloo on
The thirty-second Friday. Their son,
annual Huron County 4-H Donald, received his
Achievement Night will Master of --11 Applied
be held in the Central-.-Scien e (Sys. Des.)
Huron Secondary School The _,adies of Carmel
in Clinton, on Friday, Presbyterian Church are
November 9, com- holding their annual
mencing at 8 p.m. bazaar and bake sale on
All Huron County .4-H Saturday, November 3rd
Agricultural. Club at3p.m.
members who completed Mr. and Mrs. Joe Flynn
a project -in 1979 will returned home after
receive their awards on spending the weekend
this occasion, as well as with the latter's brother -
those who have received in-law and sister, Mr. and
special trophies and Mrs. Roy Allison in
awards for their 1979 4-H Toronto.
club work. Mrs. Ron Mason of
Everyone who has an Lansing, Michigan
interest in the 4-11 visited this week with her
program is' invited to mother Mrs. Ruby Bell.
attend the Achievement Mrs. Wm. J. McLean of
Night: Exeter was a recent
Established 1876
McK1LLOP MUTUAL
FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY
HEAD OFFICE: 10 MAIN ST., SEAFORTH, ONT.
Mrs. Margaret Sharp. Sec. Treas. Ph. 527-0400
FULL COVERAGE
Farm and Urban Properties
Fire, Windstorm. Liability. Theft
Various Floater Coverages
Homeowner's. Tenant's Package. Composite Dwelling
DIRECTOR'S AND ADJUSTERS
Ken Carnochan. R.R.#4. Seatorth
Lavern Godkin. R.R.101. Walton
Ross Leonhardt. R.R.#1. Bornoholm
John McEwing, R.R.41, Blyth
5tanleq Mcllwain. R.(442. Goderich
Donald Mciiercher. R.R.01, Dublin I
John A. Taylor, A,R.41, Brucelleld
J.M. trewarlha. Box 5 1.OIInion
Stuart Wilson. R.R.#1. Brucelield
482-3354
5277 1877
3452234
523.9390
521.70S1
527.1 837
482-7527
482.7'i 0
627.0687'"
Exeter; senior champion
plowman, Ken Innes of
Brussels; best plowed
land in any class with a
Kongskilde plow, Jim
Pentland of Goderich;
round, the field class with
a Kongskilde plow,
James Papple, Seaforth;
reserve champion.
plowman, John Becker,
Dashwood.. r= ..
The oldest horse
plowman was Edger
Howatt of Belgrave, and
personals
v isiLU1 141111 Mrs. Bertha
MacGregor.
Former barber wed
Mr. and Mrs. Joe Flynn
were guests on Saturday
atthe wedding in
Robinson United Church,
London When Sam
Rollins, former Hensall
barber was united in
marriage to Violet
Rogers, London. A
reception followed.
the winner of the horse
class was Tom Leeming
of Seaforth. The junior
champion plowman was
Brian McGavin of Walton
and the reserve junior
champion was Bevan
Shapton of Exeter.
Speakers included Jim
Armstrong of Wingham,
president of Ontario
-Plowman's Association;
Huron County warden,
John Tinney; Donald
Pullen Clinton,
Agricultural represen-
tative for Huron; Ontario
Queen of the Furrow,
Peggy Kniesz of RR 1,
Brunner; and Huron
Queen of the Furrow,
Janet Shapton.
Jack, Riddell, Huron -
Middlesex MPP, com-
plimented the Huron
Plowman's Association
for the fine work and
organization which went
into the 1978 International
plowing match held in
Wingham which showed a
larger attendance than
this year in Chatham.
R.K. PECK APPLIANCES
"In The Heart of Down Town Varna"
• Vacuum Cleaners - Sales and Service of mast makes
• CB Radios and Accessories
• Speed Queen Appliances
• Moffat Appliances
• Smoke Sensors
• Insect Lights and Fly Killing Units
• Handcraffed Gifts
Varna, Ont.
Phone 482-7103
--. BY
PAT LYNCH .
These past feiw days we
have received numerous
calls about harvesting
corn. We think that now
you should start har-
vesting corn as fast as
possible.
It . is true it will
probably dry down more
if "you wait. However, as
of October 25, we
estimate that the grain
corn harvest is only five
to 10 percent complete --
well behind normal. The
wet weather conditions
that exist will already
slow down this late
harvest. This in turn may
turn into some ground not
being fall plowed. If this
ground is not fall plowed
it will hurt our yields next
year. _
This problem is further
complicated by the
moulds that are present
in corn. The 'longer the
corn stays in the field the
more the moulds will
grow. These moulds and
resulting toxins will
lower the value of this
corn when fed.
There are numerous
problems and some
possible solutions to
handling this wet corn. It
is hard to make number
two yellow . corn (stan-
dard for most corn sales)
out of corn testing more
than 32 to 33 percent.
However, this fall the'
competition for buying
dry corn is aggressive.
Normally, there is only
about three cents per
bushel deduction for
number three. This is a
small deduction com-
pared to the loss if this
corn remains in the field
over winter. This year
some elevators may
waive this deduction just
to get your corn.
ON FARM STORAGE
If the corn is being put
into silos on the farm the
percentage of moisture
again is important.
Ideally, the moisture
should be between 28 and
32 percent moisture. If
the corn if wetter than
this, it will, not flow
adequately. This can
make unloading slow or
impossible. Even after
unloading, wetter corn
tends to bridge in
automated feeding
equipment.
You can reduce the
moisture • of corn by
adding dry grain to the
wet corn. You must add
100 pounds of dry grain to
each ton of wet conn to
reduce the total per-
centage of moisture by
one point. That means if
your corn tested 37
percent and you wanted
to reduce it to 32 percent,
you would have to add 500
pounds of dry corn to
each ton of wet_corn. This
'dry corn .should be
cracked to get maximum
benefit from it.
You could also dry all
the corn from say 37
percent moisture to 32
percent. This would not
be real expensive since
the first few moisture
points are the easiest to
remove. This corn should
be cooled down to at least
65 degrees before it is put
into the silo.
MOULDS IN CORN
As we mentioned
earlier, there are
numerous moulds in the
corn this year. These
moulds produce toxic/
which are harmful,
especially t4 pregnant,
sows.
CI ANGE IN: NAM(
INDEPENDENT SHIPPER
United Co.Operativp
of Ontario
Livestock Department)
Toronto
Shipyour livestock
with
FRANK VOOGEL
Dashwood
Monday is shipping
day from
Varna Stockyard
previously
Roy Scotchmer
Call Dashwood 238.2707
. or Bayfield 565-2636
By 7:30 a.m. Monday
for prompt service
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GEO. A. BAIRD`
BACKHOE SERVICE
Excavating and Trenching
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R.R. 3 GODERICH
482-3390 529-7281
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Phone: 519-294-6574 George Glendinning
519-345-2723 Jim Young
Pride
can make the
difference
between a
good year and
a great year.
Why? Because he is the
new Pride corn and King
seeds dealer for your area
and this year he has
something special for you.
Call:
Jack Dunn
R.R. 3 BAYFOELD 9-
AGENTS
E.R. 'Bill' Durst, R.R,N�, Seaforth 527.1455
James Keys, FIRM, S afo'rth 527.0467
Vi. Lelpeir, R.R.#i, t: ndesboro l 5234257
ANAGENT O1
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565-5344
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