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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1981-02-25, Page 23If you're )NEW IN TOWN and don't know which way to turn, cal/ the ifircomAlort., hostess at 324-9676 You'll bel glad you did hiummeinsummommuid q 1 r• et( itt iurrow.' ' b Lette,s a,e ,top et also bt SO 1,011e, Elde,e Alf O^1 N3B 2C I .=.0 My old grandmother called February the suicide month. The older I get, the more I appreciate her nickname for this most miserable of months. Although this year the weather has been unusually mild, it is just the thought that winter is far from over yet that makes it that Much harder to bear. High winds as cold and wet as a dog's nose and just as probing still whine and howl through the bleak, black hardwood limbs in the bush behind the house. No Canadian will truthfully allow that' winter is over. We hunker into our heavy coats and scarves and slog through the snow knowing full well that at least,one more, probably two or three, storms will swoop relentlessly across tale land. It's depressing. We have already been through three mon- ths - some years four - of winter. I get snarky and morose in ' February. I'm sick of snowbanks, knifing winds, yellow snow, white snow, brown snow and black snow. Every time a supercillious television announcer says we are going to get five centimetres of the "white stuff" I feel like punching him in the mouth. I'm even snarling at Ozzie, our playful, little Siamese cat. She doesn't know the winter is going on out there. A smart cat, she won't even go outside the door; hasn't been out since the first snowfall. And why do those announcers insist on calling it white stuff? Surely, there are more creative people available in those fancy newsrooms. Getting out of our long laneway becomes a real problem. Although we have a snowblower remove most of it after every snowfall, there is a buildup and we have to be careful ittake another not to dig through the crust or will half-hour to get to work. 'I'lu like a skunk in -February. I feel like sleeping 'love the land -and the rural life to remain, in farming. If they -all the -time -so -ll -liege. leave-eneugh-Binns--to-get out-af-t-he--werer't-so-good-ax what-they-do;--half-of-t iis-irdtion-would-by lane. I'm late more often than I like to be. My old-fashioned, wandering around with distended bellies suffering from Protestant work ethic keeps me punctual the rest of the year. malnutrition. To make matters, even more depressing, along comes Statistics Canada with that annual story on cash receipts for farmers. They do it every time. They only tell half the story: Farm cash receipts rose 11.1 per cent to $15.6 billion in 1980 from a year earlier. That's it. No mention of increased costs, just that farm in- come rose 11.1 per cent. Every city slicker in the nation reads those figures and comes to the conclusion that farmers are. living high off the hog, tripping over subsidy cheques when they pick up the mail at the farm gate, if they can get through ° the snow. It must make farmers angry. StatsCan doesn't say that feed costs doubled during the same time period, that land costs keep escalating, that in- terest rates have hit farmers harder than any other sector of the economy, that fertilizer costs have doubled, that labor costs are up 10 to 15 per cent. In a recent study, a group of farmers was polled by statisti- - -pians at the University of Guelph - -which houses one of Canada's best-known agricultural colleges. After those farmers paid themselves wages, they ended up with a rate of return of about 3.5 per cent on the capital invested. How many other people would stay in business, with a return like that? These were more profitable farms that were studied, too, commercial -scale farmers. Looklat those huge profits racked up by oil companies in recent years and you wonder why anyone would be stupid enough to stay in agriculture. It is fortunate for Canadians that enough men and women Huron farm news By Stan Paquette, Assoc, Ag. Rep. Should 1 buy more land? You've heard it said, "They're not making any more of the stuff." There's also the non-resident owner- ship question and the fact the Germans are buying it up. Does this frustrate you? Maybe it does, but should it to the point that you feel you must- go out and buy more land, either for the sake of buying before someone else does or for the sake of own- ing more land? At current land values in Huron, which run from .$1,000 to $30100 per acre, depending on location, topography, soil type and drainage, it becomes very difficult to finance new pur- chases. Even if financing was available, can youreally substantiate the neve pur- chase? Currently, F.C.C. in- terest is 123/4 per cent and payments over. 29 years would be $131.55 per annum per $1,000 borrowed. A 1981 corn budget shows a break even of about $2.56 per bushel with no land cost in- cluded. A 95 bushel crop at $4 per bushel would returnj380 gross and a net of $136.80 per acre. Land costing $2,000 per acre would require annual payments of $263.10 for 29 years to retire: Ridiculous possibly, but it isn't thaLecut-- and dried. A lot of factors would enter in on the deci- sion making. A few guidelines may help you make your decision: Buy one acre for every two acres now free of debt. Have a good asset -liability ratio. Good ratios are: For current assets: current liabilities -1112 - 2 : 1; For fix- ed 'assets: fixed liabilities - 1"4:1. Simply, it means you should own 11/2 to two times the dollars in livestock, feed and supplies as you owe against them for the current situation. With fixed assets such as :'land and buildings, • own 11/4 times the value for every dollar' owed against them. Beginning farmers might .be better to buy productive assets first, • such as livestock. Buying good used equipment would also be wise. The beginner should alsotry to remain solvent. . Established farmers may be advised to buy ne�v equip- ment if they are in a taxable position. Some questionsto ask before buying more land: Does the new purchase fit with existing operation? Will current equipment be adequate? Is labour available and adequate? Do you have a good track record on crops and livestock? Are you currently using management tools such as soil and feed testing and a good bookkeeping system? Have you or can you diver- sify? Do you have, off -farm in- come? . Could you rentthe proper- ty for a few years with an op- tion to purchase? Have you seriously looked at your credit situation? Look at net farm earnings. Will it handle the extra debt load and have the capacity to, retire the debt? Is it what you and your ., family really want? '41 GODERICH SIGNAL•STAR, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 251 -PAI E 74 junipr Farmers .compete ill games About 600 people attended the Ontario Junior Farmer association's provincial winter games held in Exeter, Saturday, February 14. Wayne Shapton, RR 1 Ex- eter, was , chairman of the Huron County organizing committee. He was assisted by the association's Huron County provincial director, Bill Armstrong, and a com- mittee of 10 local members. Teams from. county organizations, representing the various Junior Farmer provincial zones, competed in basketball, badminton, volleyball, bowling, curling arid cross country skiing. The Huron County ladies' basketball team won their tournament.'Shapton said he was quite pleased with the win, saying they did "quite well", considering they had only six players for they final game against Middlesex. Team members were Kay Morrison, Mary Thompson, Kathy Larone, Faye Car- nochan, Pam Carnochan, Susan Pullman, and Dianne Wilson. Winners in the . other categories, were: men's basketball, . Waterloo Coun- ty; ladies' badminton, Peel; men's badminton, North Simcoe; Mixed' . volleyball, Bruce; men's bowling, Peel; ladies' bowling,. Haldeman; mixed curling, Hastings; men's , curling; Peel. The cross, country skiing was • What can be done in'81? • Come and find out! EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. ACRES OF EXHIBITS AND 1981'S NEWEST FARM MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT OPI.N DAll t 10:10 A.M. 10.10:30 P.M. Ic ....• Friday .. 4:00 P.M.) western . fa i r FARM 8HOW March 3 to 6,1981 WESTERN FAIR GROUNDS; LONDON •\I)MI!..,It)N $2 IN) It hikin•n tirwl.v I2.,,+rnrn,kimed bt ,,,'ntlult- 1 Hill e the gnen ioabritht idea. If your organization has a pm.ject worth doing this sun1111er, Summer Cana da'S! «ill help -pay for students to help get it acme. It \.,I t'rt•.II,1 „r::.rnt_,In„n \1411 .1 ,tn;:ul.lrl\ good Ova that nett, dtnn(:. R•r114.1411,r that rhe t It „lilt: d.trc tor •I Pill, anon), tt,r `111111ln'1 (' nta.l.l .S1 I, 410,t11).: to ' t\l.trth Ih• I`t.'+I t.••ht• It \u• dtat't ha\t \.,tit alq,ll,., 11.,11 alrcad\'..n t utt' . \\'t nrt•d I t l,t t.'rr ,l r . a n 4.,'1 \ •c \ , ;, t r h, n•ahra.l. lir di,. \\her,\\1rh.11 t., ;a't It ^.•Irl/: Lets gill t° dollars and sense. `Thi rule, t, ,hi,ttld Is, tine I4.111d u,u ,.nl rcall\ }:ct nit.,. with \4,11r heart and \.,lir held Prole, 1, L:1\ lot; I,nunt\ t., park. , rpt rc,ltnm and ,Ln , .111,1, eJ; hc.111It and :.,t 1.)I •n to r,, emit:\ t. m,rr\.111' n, \\ AN, n'.%Ii tc,.Ind,11 \In,ntnrnt,naln.nl..un,nt ani ult11ral de\rh,la11ent \\„1111 t't•rt.nt11\ 111.11,'1' ,t•11.,c t., 11, r And tor 1,r4 It t t, a. , pined. \\•CII rut up, ,.Ilan n;,,nrnhu tlt,ll< equal r„ du. I,1•.,\ 114 1.11 MI11lt1111111 wage. And ill, r., ti 3i „\ rrhrad, l,cr The Qtial tiers. 1 he prow,r, 11111,1 1,, t, `I1 i'r.ltir. The h,'nettr, ,h•',,1 1 ht 10nt: Nam. To rh, .1'1,141 I-. \11,1 to 'ht. „tt,lt,ttiinr, n,t pr.,tt•, r trllr,t I`r• , id, IF I,'.l,t thrcc101,, t.•t ,std,lu, I4'1 •I, ttt't'I<, 1 IS t.n,'I•, I I.tlt! I„ nil 1,,,t'.'I1 1111141 that 1 eta r.11 l tilt nr , nll,1.,\ runt l•, •I1,1, • • tri I,I,u1, \\In, II lnnu\ 1,, .illi .In.l,;l •'.-. • • 1941 In:; iii \•,;111:. \t„runt, \ tint•• And tilt dl,al,l„1 A few weals dosing slate` \\'c 8.111\ \t.11I1 1.` ', I: , ,1 :2,ryh11,11.1, 1;111 t\, 1, •. 1,1. 11•„f 111.1714.t 11'\ \11'.' 1 _ t tit .11`11I` .1•.11.1 r.••• • \\• II Oil ha\, 11 1 .II:, .Id. 1 ton, \.`111 l I10d1 1 : 111ent t t r111t .. a 1 1111 ;• •' 1r11r 1 )t'\ t 1oI`t:t.'I,r l lt':. , '\• ,9•\ tilt _'It t I I Ii_lll I, Ur 111,i Canada .p� r Employhient and 'Employ et , Immigration Canada Immigration Canada fovd•Altwnrthy WIMP, Lloyd Aewarfhy Mmrcfre ,b won by Zone 1. (The zone in- , eludes the counties around Prescott. ) The overall *inner was iron 3; whicli includes Peel and North Simcoe counties. The wintergames were preceded by zone competi- tions to decide which county team would represent in the zone. Huron county is in Zone 7 which includes Perth, Bruce and Middlesex coun- ties. Huron County had teams in men's and ladies' basket- ball and badminton. The men's badminton team won their first game, „ but were put out after the se- cond. Ladies' badminton and the mien's basketball teams, • after losing their first games, were • eliminated'. in the second round of the B - division. The sporting events were finished off 'late in the day, with two exhibition broom. - ball room -ball games. The first saw the Mid- dlesex Junior Farmers' beat their Huron counterparts 2-1. The second game was the entertainment highlight of the day. The Huron, county organization's . executive took on the Junior Farmers provincial:directors. --`lite- first half --ended- with Huron leading 1-0. It was agreed the teams would pay $5 for each goal they scored to the March of Dimes, on behalf of the Junior Farmers. The provincial directors quickly overtook the Huron team and began to build up a lead. The • referees seemed to support the province as they called some questionable penalties. The directors in- creased their players to 9 ( from six) and kidnapped one of the Huron team. Huron answered by, play- ing 11 people, and moving their net up the - bluelitie. They also tackled Junior Farmer provincial presi- dent, Tom Callahan, who had scored two province goals. The province played their trump, , sending in Paul Laidlaw on skates.. During half . time, the Huron team agreed to pay $20 for each goal they scored, so with the game en- ding 8-3 in favor of the pro- vince, $100 was raised for the March of Dimes. 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Aerators. Slaporoton WE HANDLE EVERYTHING A1 04.110 LOWRY FARM SYSTEMS, RR_1, Kin4nrdlne,Ont. Phone _395-$Z!6 Cashway .Celebrates With OliddEn ...ANO maw. i t ,1IVIRSMIN CILfBRM'ONI Ends 6 p.m. Tuesday March 3rd!! GLIDDEN FAMOUS SPRED• SATIN LATEX WALL PAINT No. 3400 premium quality washable pant ideal for interior plaster, wallboard, acoustical tile and masonry surfaces. White. Tintable to your choice from our colour range at 500 extra per gallon. GALLON* OUR REG. $19.99 SKYE $6.00 *May be underiYiled for tinting. See label for net contents GLIDDEN BEST LATEX SEMI -GLOSS ENAMEL SAVE $5.30 High -hiding No. 3700 enamel recommended for walls, woodwork and cabinets...ideal for kitchen and bathroom areas.. Dries quickly, stays bright and fresh after repeated scrubb- ings. White. Tintable to your choice from our colour range at 500 extra per gallon. GALLON* OUR REG. $25.29 See Cashway For All Painting Accessories Including Brushes And Rollers, Paint Trays, Scrapers, Paint Thinner And More. FINAL CLOSEOUT! TILEBOARD PER 4'x8' SHEET NOTE:i;Our introduct- ory Price For This First Quality Tileboard Was $13.50 A Sheet. Our Recent Sale Price Was $9.99. Now, During This Final Close-out You Can Buy This First Quality Tileboard For Only S 49 SHEET White With 4"x4" Black Scoring. An Economical, Easy -Care Finish For Kitchen, Bathroom And Laundry Room Walls. Close -Out Price Strictly While Stocks Last!! CASHWAY DPEf'd WEEHDAYS 8 A.M.-6 P.M. SAT. 8:30-5 P.M. ,N SOW ARF A� t1,F �f 14f1141, I (,Milt \,APV citt.1,1 PIFASF CK 1.34 BUiLDI CIE rrRES GODERICH YARD 155 ANGLESEA ST., PHONE 524.8382/524.8383 ATWOOD YARD MAIN ST., PHONE 356.2214 -CASHWAY 'mMtr. , hhrya "FREE DE .1YERT" N• WATIf OOr 0 CASOWA1f CENTRE