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Home My WebLink AboutClinton News Record, 1981-04-09, Page 13Others rate better CLINTON NEWS -RECORD, THURSDAY, APRIL 9 ,1981—PAGE 13 tario's young armer programs are under par, Coiema BY ALICE GIBB Every other province in Canada has better agricultural programs for young farmers than Ontario - that was the message delivered by Bob Coleman of the Huron County Federa- tion of Agriculture's young farmers' committee. 410 Presenting his brief at the annual members of parlia- ment dinner in Clinton Satur- day, he said, "The only substantial assistance this province offers farmers' comes from the tile drainage program. This is of little solace to the young fanner who can't afford to buy a farm in the first place." Calling the Ontario Young Farmers' Credit Program, which allows farmers to bor- row bank funds pt p e prtfs one, "antiquated", Mr. Col- eman told Murray Elston (Liberal MPP, Huron - Bruce); Murray Cardiff (Cons. MP, Huron -Bruce) and NDP agricultural critic Donald McDonald of the York Snip riding that young Nova Scotrian farmers can borrow up to $200,000 at reduced rates and Quebec farmers can borrow up to $250,000 at interest rates from two -and -one-half to eight percent. The young farmer told the three politicians that besides the chartered banks, the on- ly other place Ontario young farmers can get money is the Farm Credit Corporation, adding "the waiting lists are getting longer at FCC offices and the available funds fall short of supplying everyone.'a. needs. This. Check your tractor before you go out Many farmers are anxious to get out to work on the land and in their haste neglect tractor safety and machinery maintenance. "Tractor rollovers and tractor -related accidents ac- count scount for more than one half of all accidental farm. deaths," says Larry Swinn, public relations co-ordinator of the Farm Safety Associa- tion of Ontario. "Many of these accidents occur in ear- ly spring." 1 "Too many farmers try to beat the gun by getting the tractor out on the land before the soil is dry," he says. "The end result is that they lose time pulling the tractor out of the mire." Attempts to pull the trac- tor out of the mud can also end in injuries. and fatalities. With enough pull, an improperly hitched trac- tor can flip in less than two seconds. "There's only one way to hitch a tractor and that's from the drawbar," warns Swine. In the spring rush, many farmers also neglect routine machinery maintenance. Failure to keep pmachinery in godititlidirfitisiitswenittlk downtime during peak season and can also cause personal injury. . "In the past couple of years we've become increas- ingly concerned about preventative maintenance," says Swinn. "An increasing number of farmers are try- ing to get an extra year or two oiit of their old tractors and related equipment to avoid buying new equip- ment. Older models need routine work or complete overhauls to operate safe- ly." Swine urges farmers to take the time to repair old equipment before the season Heat changes cost $1 million EXETER - The old central heating system at Huron Park will be replaced with 15 separate plants in a project that Is expected to cost over $1 million. The ministry of govern- ment services has called tenders for the installation of the heating... -plants at the former air force base which now houses Huron Industrial Park buildings. David Goodyear, in- formation officer for the Ontario Development • Corporation (ODC), said the existing steam plant was worthwhile when all com- panies were using steam in their processes, but now it is uneconomical and suffers a high heat loss, up to 30 per cent. Of the planned individual gas-fired heating plants, only two will use live steam and the other heating plants will be hot water units. Work is expected to be completed by October and Mr. Goodyear said that a staff of three will be required to operate the new plants. The current staff of eight will be cut down by attrition, with several employees retiring and two others being relocated. Funding for the change over will be handled by the ODC, an agency of the ministry of industry and tourism, but Mr. Goodyear said any government pur- chases over $1 million is handled by the ministry of government services. begins. Order spare parts before they are needed because parts for older trac- tors may be difficult to find on short notice. Be sure to replace all safety shields before using the tractor. "Safe operation of tractors and farm equipment takes time, but not as much time as it takes to recover from injury or the financial loss of downtime during the grow- ing season." shortfall must be filled." Mr. Coleman recommend- ed that retiring farmers be allowed to invest their farm proceeds in Farm Credit "to keep it an ongoing viable source of financing." Murray Cardiff said his party would like to see in- creased funding to the Farm Credit Corporation, adding he's concerned with the time an applicant must wait to know where his loan stands. Mr. Coleman agreed, say- ing, "People who go (to the FCC) tell their friends it's a waste of time even to go." Murray Elston saidro- vincial assistance for farmers was an issue raised by all candidates in Huron government made only $25 million available to farmers. He said only $5 million of that was claimed by farmers. Mr. McDonald added, "If you think Quebec has an ad- vantage over Ontario now,, it's going to be infinitely greater after this election. (in Quebec)." He said the parties are outbidding each other in offers to that pro- vince's agricultural com- munity. He told the fanners it isn't that Ontario doesn't have the money, since "if you can hand out multi - p million dollar grants to com- panies like "Ford and Chrysler", then the funds .:are there, but aren't being Bruce in the recent provin- made available to the farm tial election. He said, "It industry. behooves our people here in Tony McQuail, speaking for:the-Huron-County Energy Committee, said the federa- tion is concerned "while On- tario Hydro appears to be mounting a promotional- campaign romotionalcampaign for new corridors, it has not yet released its Southwestern Ontario Study which was to be released at the end of October 1980. We believe this study should be released immediately so that the farm community can have adequate time to examine Hydro's plans." The committee also ex- pressed concern about a change in direction "which appears to be taking place at the Bruce Agri -Park pro- gram." Mr. McQuail said emphasis. seems to be shif- Pilt8P9 to_.na~i0_-41.1re. Wert competitive, not only in manufacturing, but also in the farm industry." He sug- gested now is a good time for farm organizations to be presenting a very strong lob- by both to the party in power and to members of the op- position. Donald McDonald criticiz- ed the federal government for believing the way to con- trol inflation is to increase interest rates, but levelled most of his criticism at the provincial government for failing to assist the farmer. He said in Quebec, the government set aside $67 million to offset high interest rates, whereas the Ontario Discussing The Issues - Hugh Rundle, Usborne Township F. of A. president (far left), Reeve Paul Steckle of Stanley Township and Ron White, first vice-president of the Ontario Federa- tion of Agriculture, discuss some of the issues facing farmers at the annual members of parliament dinner, sponsored by the Huron Federation of Agriculture, held in Clinton Satur- day. (photo by Gibb) CO.OP For the Profits you could be missing • Modified single cross for 2800 heat unit areas_ • Great looking in field, great yield in bin • Easy harvest, rapid dry down • Tall and leafy — excellent silage yields • Long, slim cob with top quality grain • Tough to beat single cross m Muria? height • Rapid dry down • Easy shelling • 2650 heat unit single cross • Proven producer of top quality grain • New for 1980-81 High yielding modified single • 2600 heat unit maturity • Large blocky cob • Dry ear on a green stalk • Tall and leafy ,t?1W • Top yielding early hybrid • 2550 heat unit maturity single cross • Quality grain • Rapid dry down • Easy shelling • Excellent emergence • Modified single cross for 2800-2g00 areas • Blocky cob with deep kernels • Excellent du& purpose hybrid • Shells easily, dries down quickly 3W0 • Standard of the grain tiybrids in 3000 heat unit areas • Excellent stalk strength, Cylindrical ear has loose husks • Dries down well and shells easily • Consistent performer over many years Good agrOnornics is good economics HENSALL DI$TRICT CO-OP lruesfiald Zurich Hansolll 462-9e23 236.4393 262.3002 ting to an "industrial park" that will be diverting high quality steam before it drives the electrical tur- bines, which means it's "no longer a project using "waste" heat." Both Mr. McQuail and HFA president Gerry Fortune, in her brief, said that an industrial park would mean decreased transportation problems for Huron County which would affect the agricultural com- munity. The energy committee's brief also called for Canada to "move rapidly toward world prices for oil provided that the windfall profits from such an escalation will be placed in a special fund to develop Canada's renewable energy resources under Canadian control." Donald McDonald, who was chairman of the govern- ment's Select Committee on Hydro Affairs for five years, said Ontario Hydro is stall- ing study results since they plan to present three or four alternative power corridor routes. Also, he said if the new lines had been announc- ed on the eve of provincial election, it would have been bad since "everyone from here to Collingwood would be upset." "Who runs Hydro?" Addressing the difference in rural and urban Hydro rates, Mr. McDonald pointed out there are now four pro- vinces in Canada where the differential,between rural and urban ower costs have been eliminated. He said, many people wonder "if the government runs Hydro or Hydro runs the government" and that "there's no doubt on the differential issue." The MP said if OHIP costs the same anywhere in the pro- vince, he doesn't scc why equalization can't also be achieved for Hydro rates. Mr. Elston advised the federation to broaden their public relations campaign in .order toachieve equalization of Hydro rates, since without a strong campaign "sharing costs with their rural neighbours may not be what urban users want to do." He told the federation he would be available to channel their concerns about the Bruce Agri -Park to the govern- ment, adding, "I look for- ward to keeping a sharp eye on that project." Murray Cardiff said the farm community could be pr lid of the fact it hasn't in- creased its energy consump- tion in the past 18 months - "we get an A for our efforts" he said in maintaining levels of energy use. County ' Warden Fred Harberer, addressing con- cerns about the Bruc development changing directions, cautioned, "I would hope we're not jump- ing to conclusions here, that we have the facts..." Tony .McQuail said.- _the, committee obtained its infor- mation at Kincardine public information sessions and from MP Garry Gurbin's Christmas letter in which "the agri-park seemed to have metamorphosed into an industrial park develop- ment." Mr. McQuail said cheap, subsidized steam from the Bruce nuclear plant will make it attractive.for in- dustries to move to the park, but would this mean ef- fluents and pollutants will cause problems for the sur- rounding farm community? Donald McDonald said while in theory the agri-park plan was an admirable pro- ject, opening Bruce County greenhouses might mean "it will drive belly -up greenhouses iii Essex and Niagara." He added if the stories he's been hearing are true, it's Westons that will be moving into the Bruce pro- ject, which would lead to even more vertical integra- tion in the food industry. John Van Beers, HFA vice-president, in his brief on a food strategy for the pro- vince, called for more tile drainage funding, more pro- vincial government commit- ment to both the farming and food processing industry in the province to make them self-sufficient and support for food processors in modernizing their plants. Mr. Van Beers also called for more understanding between the consumer, labour and agriculture rninisteries. He said, "Also the opposition critics in those departments should be made aware that having a con- sumer critic criticize marketing boards and argue for imported food while the agriculture critic demands more security and protection for farmers, only leads to confusion." His humorous solution - "Perhaps a man- datory week on the farm would be very educational, but we realize that the idea might not be practical." Murray Elston said during the recent election cam- paign, "there didn't seem to `be much direction for farm- ing, let alone the food pro- cessing industry." He said there must be future plann- ing so people will know where they're headed as an industry and so the govern- ment can plan programs in this area. Donald McDonald, in call- ing for less reliance on im- ported food, said in the 1960s and 1970s, .1,379 food pro- cessors closed their doors in the province. He said until these closures are stopped, there will be an increasing loss of jobs, often in essen- tially rural communities. Murray Cardiff said the bottom line is promoting the homegrown products - "we have a selling job to do not only at home but abroad." OFA vice-president Ron tells White of Middlesex County said there should also be a review of the retail food in- dustry in Ontario since five chains provide 70 percent of the food trade for con- sumers. He said the retail food trade "have got around to wagging the whole dog." Mr. White said OFA research found food can be provided to the general public through private chains at a lower cost than through the large chains which are swallowing up the smaller stores. Merle Gunby, absentee - foreign ownership commit- tee chairman, delivered another plea for more pro- 'ciincial government action on absentee foreign owner- ship of Ontario farmland. He said, "after examiniln absentee ownersup"`fegisla= tion in various provinces, the - Saskatchewan Farm Owner- ship Act appears to be the most effective. Our commit? tee felt that this act should be suitable as a basis for similar legislation in On- tario." Jack Riddell, Huron Mid- dlesex MPP was on holidays and unable to attend the members of parliament din- ner. HFA president Gerry Fortune 'said Donald McDonald, the NDP agriculture critic, was in- vited to attend the dinner as a guest, which "did give us the privilege of having all three parties . represented" at the session. In the past few years, only the local MPPs and MPs have attend- ed the annual event. CrAIVAM/Q Farm Supply Centre R.R. 4 CLINTON, ONTARIO. NOW AVAILABLE 28% LIQUID NITROGEN FERTILIZER Excellent nitrogen source for.... *SPRING WHEAT *CORN We can custom apply. 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