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Home My WebLink AboutClinton News-Record, 1985-3-13, Page 3Page'3 sONN{5?wS-fMEcom ■fEPJ,1ESak+F9 *`Y'rtai 13, 1385 • Concerns from Huron County agricultural groups and committees were exp MP Murray Cardiff, MPP Murray Elston and MPP Jack Riddell during the Huron Federation of Ag;i ieoliure Members' of Parliament Dinner. Also present to answer ques- tions and listen to concerns on March 9 at Wesley -Willis United Church was Huron Coun- ty Warden Paul Steckle. (Anne Narejko photo) Farmers voice concerns ® a from page 1 order for it to survive, it is believed a long term financing program at reasonable interest rates is needed. "Gross income is generally 2-1, meaning a farmer invests $500,000 and with that investment, can maybe generate $250,000. In sales in business this is completely different. The gross income is many times more than the total business investment, therefore high interest rates of the past five years have hurt farmers more than any group. A Tong term low interest financing program would certainly help this situation," said Mr. Eedy. Another point brought forward by the Pork Producers concerns grading fees. They feel that the government adding to eS Se t0r ' C�' �Jx 13 EYa%iiTu sry'i4S'gi. ba..g^:t w1o•fik"s�.c?u'� a< been invited to attend a meeting with the Canadian Egg Marketing Agency this month, showing that they are interested in learning about Canada's egg plan. Mr. Scott commented, "It would be ironic if we dropped supply management or made radical changes to it and the USA turned around and put a supply management system in place for eggs and then dumped their surplus eggs into Canada. "In these times of trimming the.spending of tax dollars, obviously supply is a better program than any. kind of stabilization program that depends on tax dollars and unrestricted production." 1 Finance Committee The Huron Federation Finance averages and incomes. "Our research found that 10 percent of all farmers are over 65 and about half of all farmers are over 50...Our concern is with the younger group who will be expected to refinance the older group as old age take its toll. As time passes these low equity young farmers will be a larger percentage and as the older high equity farmers retire, the average equity of farmers will decline," reported Stephen Thompson, Chairman of the Finance Committee. The White Paper indicates that farmers' .incomes are comparable to other occupations. However, the committee's belief that the older farmer makes more and the younger farmers make less farm income because of their debt load and principal payments. • Research has shown that off farm income made up approximately 30 percent of net farm income in 1976. - "What we want to illustrate is that if off farm income were subtracted, farrn income by itself would not • appear to provide farmers `wage parity' with non farmers, especially for young farmers," stated Mr. Thompson. Absentee Foreign Ownership "Ten percent of Morris Township land can be classified as absentee foreign Clinton ®NIP approval from page 1 share of the municipal funds needed to com- plete the work. Club president Jack Arm- strong is certain that the money will be rais- ed. He noted, "We'll just have to decide to set some money aside." He said that Optimist fund raising efforts usually see money put right back into com- munity sports, but now money would be designated for the ball park. "In the long run it will benefit the youth," he said. The ONIP projecttotals for the three years run in at $359,600, which includes a $15,000 administration fee. Mr...Anderson ex- plained, "In each case total funding comes out just a little over $350,000." He said that project costs were estimated high as a safeguard and if costs were deter- . mined to be exceeding the allowances, some would be cut. . - Already the ONIP project list has en- countered trimming, much to the surprise of the Clinton Lawn Bowling Club who had an- ticipated funds to build a new clubhouse. The lawn bowling club first proposed a new clubhouse some four years ago. They work- ed with council to obtain an ONIP grant and fully expected to receive some funding. Representatives who attended the March 6 meeting were surprised to see no mention of - their project in the ONIP proposals: Mayor Chester Archibald explained that the ONIP committee did "a lot of soul sear- ching" before making their final recom- Travel Ontario Is Coming April 1st menaatlons. He said that to finance the lawn bowling clubhouse would have required a $15,000 municipal contribution. This money, he said, would have to be financed by the town in 1985, 'since council is not allowed to take on a debt for a new council (to be elected in November). He noted that Clinton is applying for another ONIP grant and suggested that the lawn bowling request would be considered in the future. - Milford Durst, representative from the lawn bowling club asked the mayor who determined the priorities for ONIP funding. Mayor Archibald replied, "We had more suggested projects than we had money. We. chose projects that would most likely go ahead (receive government approval) and would be the most benefit to the most peo- ple." Mr. Anderson also noted, "There were twice as many projects suggested as money available to accommodate them. The com- mittee narrowed them down to three op- tions." Other proposals that had been suggested to council, but did not appear in the final plan, included improvements to the Clinton Raceway . and a children's creative playground. Lawn bowling representatives say they have no alternative plans for funding. In fact, they say they're still waiting for an of- ficial -reply from council regarding their ONIP application, and an explanation to give the rest of the club members. MARIA`S PSYCHIC EUROPEAN SPIRITUAL READER CARD & PALM May Advise On All Problems Of Life Love Life • Business - Health Happiness - Marriage Do not fail to see this gifted lady! OPEN 9 am - 8 pm 148 Wellington Road, London 673-1783 Phone for appointments camas graded. "We are selling pork for too low a price as it is and further fees will only make our situation worse." • During his presentation, Mr. Eedy stated. that in 1975 the average price for pork was $66.98 for 106 pounds and in 1985, they. are getting $72. He feels that with the inflation rate, they should - be receiving $1.20 per pound to stay at the same level of return for 1975. Milk Committee Jim Hunter of the Huron County Milk Committee presented four, concerns; interest rates, false dairy products, milk plants finding themselves- with little milk in the fall and a price increase in Number 1 quota milk. Concerning fall milk shortages, Mr. Hunter explained that the Ontario Milt¢ Marketing Board will try and have more milk produced at that time, however, he feels that this will be difficult as cow's milk production lessens in fall and the costs of extra are greater. • Increasing quota prices also concerns Mr. Hunter. .Price increases for the dairy farmer often effects the price of milk for the consumer and Mr. Hunter asked, "Will the people be able to buy the milk?" He further added, "We have a business to nm and most of our dairy farmers have a. large debt to service and wages to be paid along with so many other things." Mr. Hunter emphasized that the long term objective of the dairy industry is to "ensure the maintenance of the ,commitment of governments to the essentials of Canada's national dairy policy." Egg Producers Free trade and the difference between the. present government's attitude towards supply management agencies and the former government's attitude is the main concern for the Huron County. Egg Producers. - • William Scott, Huron director on the Ontario Egg Producers' Marketing Board said, "The Canadian Egg Marketing Agency is probably one of the few commodity organizations that is not violently complaining about . the imposition of • inspection user fees .by Agriculture Canada." The United States has had low egg prices for the past two or three years. The executive of the United Egg Producers has ownership," said Bert Sanders of Morris Township. He said that this causes problems for the municipality because the tax base is reduced, and since buildings are being torn down, the population is declining. "First and foremost, absentee foreign ownership threatens the family farm. We cannot compete with owners who are willing to take a five percent return on their® investment when we are paying 12 - 15 percent or moree for mortgage money," stated Mr. Sanders. The response people like Mr. Sanders have been getting is that governments don't want to discourage foreign investment. They are also told that absentee foreign ownership is causing no problems, but Mr. a�aesar...:�!+l:"` ,:i�lg� 2cv�.4s��•Fd'��r'��«�r;�.� -' "We need legislation to ensure that our land continues to be ours - the people who produce the food," he concluded. Soil Conservation Programs "The Huron Soil and Crop Association is ahead of the •government and should be financially assisted," commented Mr. Riddell after Gary Baker of the Land Use Committee made his presentation. Mr. Baker's maize concern was for the farmers to be provided with the proper tools if they are expected to practice conservation tillage. He also expressed concerns on the engineering requirement for grants under the Ontario Soil Conservation and Environmental Protection Assistance Program. He believes that an engineer should be retained for complex structures only. Future Solutions Agriculture concerns covered a wide range of topics at the in-depth session between government representatives and local farmers... Federation President Garniss noted, `I hope today" can be one of the first steps in Which , the various farm groups and government representatives - can work - together to integrate these solutions and to set agriculture on 'a course to stability and prosperity for the future," KENT The Canada Oil Substitution Program will pay half • your purchae and installation costs (up to 58001if your free- standing stove is installed by • Kent Tile Fire Woodstoves Winner of Wood 'n Energy Magazine's Space Heater of the Year award. 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Clinton /Vews-Record %o'u n tf'f'rs adneldo; r'; 9e( art, I1fllitirf rl frirint:lluahh• t rtitr r llltll s1ijlL.�l''fll il' voters IIYI' l • tNt %•14.\11 r'`�'1Nt 1NNt .-11111- ti-- t 1\1•,4t* 1,tt,r ' ,.t,u\t1 At the recent Ontario Community Newspaper Association's "Better Newspaper Competition" this is how we placed! t'I,1 His l,r,ulrl n'•1'•r l ' I1,• /1447..cRir - :- ',41i1a1'y Board are inorviharl 1':1� fr,t! ht'lltt ry 111•0L01,1111jj11' mer /;fr/, /r'•Y qVII /*rtx//ir,n rr•i/h rvr//r a Yi:ct p, %4444%, rt.,,•1, •; ' „r s,un 'r, ill,. BEST C%n FEA TURF C RD ISL CE vlr �'Ut TUpE Luvr �i April 1, 98qws-REc®Ro incorporating THE BAYFIELD BUGLE THE BLYTH STANDARD