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Home My WebLink AboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1981-04-29, Page 28PAGE 10A— (ODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29,1981 'Vilma f 111 furrow' ., Chicken feed, said the youngster on the main street as he kicked a penny into the gutter. means so little to He didn't even stop to pick it up; a penny kids today. But the expression he used.;is an anachronism, something out of its proper time. Shakespeare's plays had .dozens of them. The cost of raising livestock and poultry has tripled in the last 10 years. The two major costs of producing a pound of chicken are the cost of the original chick and the cost of feed. Those. two factors account for more than 65 per cent of the costs in raising chickens to market weight. Other factors include labor, energy and overhead including borrowing costs. All these components are going through the roof, too, but the chicken feed ® the stuff poultry eats ® is the highest single factor in the production of chickens whether for laYers or the table. Shipping, killing and packuig costs more than double the place before the. _food_ reach• J your table. The Ontario Federation of Agriculture has estimated that, for every dollar received at the farm gate, another. $1.08 is added before the products reach your table. The same high feed costs are true for hogs and cattle. In facie the pork producers can prove, to their satisfaction anyway, . that it costs farmers as much as $84.47 a hun- dredWeight to raise a hog. Have you checked what they are getting for a hundredweight lately? It has been hovering around$62. How pork producers stay in business is a mystery. Feed acconnte for to 50 of " that $84.47. Any pubhhc school mathematician can figure out that, if these figures are ac- curate, hog farmers are losing more than $22 for every hundredweight shipped. When figured . on cost -of -production, I suggest most producers can prove they are losing m 1 . The gap between what farmers get — a e farm -gate price — Letters are apprec•ared by Bob Tone E!dare Ro Eio a Om N38 ?C7 and what the consumer pays, the retail price, •hs widenlig if we can take the federation of agriculture's figures. The federation says the farm prices for a selected food basket have been rising by about $1.06 a year for the past few years while retail prices for the same food basket have been rising at an average of $3.62 cents a year. • In 1979, the federation says, the farmer received 59.2 cents of every food dollar spent on a food basket but last year, the farmer received 55.8 cents. The processing, distributing and retailing industries get , slammed for taking more money but they, too, have higher costs to absorb including labor and energy. Withthe tremendous concentration in the food industry, there is little doubt that these huge, multi -nationals certainly have the power to gouge consumers. However,'recent investigations indicate many of them are in trouble. Their profit margins are frequently, they say, less than three per cent and the return on their investment is a paltry 6.5 per cent. Compared to interest rates in most other sectors of the economy, that 6.5 percent is pretty grim. So what is the answer? Higher prices for food, without a doubt. Canadians today are the best fed people in the world and are getting their food at a lower cost than any other nation in the world with the possible exception of the United States. Food costs cannot go any place else but up, especially if here is a poor harvest in the Soviet Union this year. When they go hunting the world for grain, the cost of grain goesup. When the cost of grain increases, that chickenfeedneeded to. put eggs and poultry on the table goes sky high. ' It is no longer chicken feed. It costs big bucks to feed chickens or any other farm animal. Be prepared to pay more for food this year and for the next few years after that. 1981 exec The 1981 executive of the Goderich Township Federation of Agriculture is (back row, left to right) directors Case Brand, Walter McElwain,' and Jack Tebbutt and (front row)-. director Laurie Cox, secretary -treasurer Stan McElwain, president Larry Sturdy and director Dan Lobb. Absent: vice-president Garnet Wright. (photo by Gibb) Riddell ag. critic The re -appointment of Jack Riddell as Agriculture Critic for the Ontario Liberal Caucus was, announced at Queen's Park April 21 by Op- position Leader Stuart Smith. Riddell was recently elected to a fourth con- secutive term as MPP for the riding of Huron - Middlesex. In making the appoint- ment, ppointment, Smith called Riddell, "one of the most effective members in our Caucus, and a stinging debater in the Legislature. He's also one of the most knowledgeable peo- ple in Ontario in the field of agriculture and food." A farmer by trade, Riddell has served as the Liberal's Agriculture spokesman since 1977. Partly through his hard work and pressure,, the government agreed to set up a Royal Commission Inquiry into Food Prices in 1978. "That Commission became a whitewash, unfor- tunately," says Riddell. "There are still some very bad practices of discounting going on in the food industry and our farmers are the real victims. "We'll just have to put more pressure on the government to realiee that when you hurt the farmers, you hurt consumers too." BUTLER - Ring Drive Silo Unloaders sig Jim Silo Unloaders, Volume Malt Feeders Convey -n -Food Cattle Feeders Single Chain Conveyors Ram Cleaners Oswalt Ensilmixers FARMATIC- Rlender Hammer Mills B lender Roller Mills B lender Mills for Ground Hi -Moisture Corn Augers Log Elevators ACORN - Cable Ram Cleaners Hydraulic Manure Pumps WESTEEL-ROSCO Grain Bins - 1,330 to 230,000 bu. Ruck Feed Tanks ACME - Fan -Jot Ventilation Systems ASTON - Ventilation Systems RAL- Completo Hog Confine- ment Systems SLURRY -SLINGER Liquid Manure Spreaders CLAY - Parts and Service fort Clay Equipment AERO -FLUSH Liquid Manure Pumps, Aerators, Separators WE HANDLE EVERYTHING ALMOST LOWRY FARM SYSTEMS, RR 1, Kincardine, Ont. Phone 303-52!15 WATER WELL DRILLING "SA YEARS EXPERIENCE" • FARM • SUBURBAN • INDUSTRIAL • MUNICIPAL • • FREE ESTIMATES ' GU.A-RANTEED WELLS • FAST MODERN EQUIPMENT • 4 ROTARY & PERCUSSION DRILLS "OUR EXPERIENCE ASSURES LOWER COST WATER WELLS" DAVIDSON- WELL DRILLING LIMITED 4 Rectory and Percussion Drills PHONE 357.1960 WINGHAM Collect Coils Accepted "ONTARIO'S FINEST WATER WELLS SINCE 1900" Goderich Twp. council Approve permits • Requests for 17 building permits were dealt with when Goderich Township Council met in regular session Apri120. Building permits were issued to Ray Bush for a picnic shelter on lots 23 and 24, „ Maitland Concession; Richard Kaptein for a swimming pool on lot three, Base Line; Anthony Sch- wartz for a cottage addition on lot 72, Plan 13; John Scanlan for a machine shed on lot six, concession two; Don Bosman for a house on lot 21, concession nine; Doug Robinson for two sundecks on lot 141, Plan 13; Ken Sowerby to, demolish a shed on lot 12, concession 3; Ed Britnell to build a garage and shed on lot 5, concession 3; Martin Van den Berg for a broiler barn on lot 99, Maitland Concession and for a produce stand at the same location; Tony Van Dongen for a barn addition on lots 57 and 58, Base Line; Seranus Martin for a maple sugar shack on lot 72 Maitland Concession; Gordon Lobb for a sun deck on lot 18, Huron Road; Gerald Rodges for feed roonis on lot 22,E Maitland • Concession; Ronald Kruspe for a storage shed on lot five, concession three. Permits were also ap- proved for Nick Den Boer for a dairy barn on lot 37, con- cession 14; Mike Moriarty for a barnon lot 34, con- cession five; and Mrs. YvonnMoyer for a house on e yr u -.•- lot 42, Maitland Concession. But these permits were held pending the proper ap- provals. Accounts totalling $11,823.82' were approved for payment. Of this total, $10,267.88 was for road superintendent payroll and $1,147.50 was for Postill Tile Drainage for the new township hall. The water well and system on Plan number 29 were • discussed but information was not available fromW.M. Dundass. The clerk was instructed to contact Mr. Dundass and set up a meeting with the council and Ontario Hydro. J. Slade was present at the council meeting to explain insurance policies as suggested for the township. Council members asked many, questions but • no motions were recorded. Bruce McClinchey, Ray McClinchey and Peter Imanse were also present at •the meeting to discuss the water system on , Plan number 28. The system presently supplies four users on Plan number 28 and one on Plan number 18. No motions were recorded. Tile drain loans were requested by H. Torrance for $6,025 on lot 28, concession five; and by Charles Wain for $10,020• on lot- 30, con- cession two andfor$15,915 on lot. 30, concession' one. Council passed a motion that the township will loan up to 75 per cent of the approved expenditures to a maximum loan •of $12,000 per year per applicant; and that all loans will be made on a first completed, and inspected basis for 1981. A' municipal drain ap- plication was received from Bud Yeo and others. Council useum opens doors The Ontario Agricultural Museum near Milton opens its doors for the third season May 11. Five new. buildings will be open to the public this year, bringing the total facility to 23 buildings. "This is a living museum that's changing eyery year," says Bob Carbe4, museum. general manlier. "We' started with about 5000 ar- tifacts and now the collection is close to20,000 pieces." Among the five new buildings is the carriage house,, a horseshoe -shaped building that houses a complete display of wheeled and ru>pnered vehicles. The display features 50 vehicles including cutters, sleighs, buggies and hearses. The octagonal barn which opened last year is now a landmark alongthe south side of highway 401 near the Niagara escarpment. Are you 'being beaten by veivetleaf, irnsonweed, 'andr11*' cocklebur Lasso® herbicide plus a metribuzin product such as Sencor or Lexonel is the smart choice for tough weed control in soy- beans. These hardworking tank mixes effec- tively reduce competition from hard -to - control weeds like velvetleaf while controlling many grasses like {oxtail, crabgrass, fall panicum and barnyard - grass. They also control many broad- leaves like pigweed, smartweed, common ragweed, nightshade and wild mustard. And Lasso gives you excellent crop safety with no carryover. In fact, if you're switching some acres to soybeans... you'll find that a Lasso tank mix will give you the same. great grass control you're used to in corn. Don't put up with tough weeds. Remember, Lasso plus metribuzin is the smart way to fight back. passed a motion that it be accepted and referred to W.J.' Bartlett and Associates for inspection and report Several tenders were received by J. Potter for supply of a mower. Quotations.. Included the exchange of the present mower. A motion was passed to accept the tender of Clinton Ford Tractors with an amendment that council inspect the various mowers before purchase. Four tenders were received for loading and hauling pit run gravel, crushed gravel and top soil. Council accepted the tender of James Adams subject to the approval of the M.T.C. Council passed a motion that the treasurer be authorized to apply to the Ministry of Housing for an Ontario . Home Renewal grant in the amount of $30,000. The reeve and clerk were authorized by council to sign the deeds selling fourth, fifth and sixth streets on Plan cumber 8, Land severances were requested by Herman Stryker and Robert and . Pearl Hartinap.. C,ouncit decided to deal with Stryker's applieatioiras-per questionnaire and to defer Hartman's for furthet in- vestigation. A waste disposal' site agreement was presented and a motion was passed to have the reeve and clerk sign it Council then adjourned until April 30 at 8 p.m. DAVE HAYLOW ELECTRICAL. Serving Industrial. Comm Residential Needs 524 .6 038 Omni RX295 & RX29 for 260011.U. areas RX 383 for 2700 H.U. areas Cecil Cranston' R.R. 2, Auburn Phone 529-7691 Your authorized Dealer for... ARCTIC CAT SNOWMOBILES SUZUKI MOTORCYCLES HONDA MOTORCYCLES VI XII ! v 'GUMS VARNA, ONT. (HWY. 04, NORTH OF HENSALL, LOOK FOR THE SIGNS) 262-3318. or 2624809 • t • h•1 • Tx- `, J wt, • R�• Lasso'. The Smart Choice Monsanto every farm should reap the many benefits of Daymond Sub -surface Drainage • f 4 • • X44, en you choose Lasso®plus nnetra.buzin... given tough weeds losethe fight. t'e.4, • :, ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW THE LABEL DiRECTIONS Lasso" LS a registered trademark of Monsanto Company Monsanto Canada inc . registered user Sencor is a trademark for a herbicide of the parent company of Farbenfabrlken Bayer GmbH. Leverkusen r • Lezone• is a trademark of 5.1 duPont de Nemours and Companp ' eMonscmtoCompany 1981 Monsanto Canada Inc. Winnipeg. Montreal. lbronto. Regula. Saskatoon, Calgary. Vancouver LN -V-3-81 Lake H u ren Farren Drainage R.R. 1 Dung • ' ' 011.._...Ontario-.._._.____._ • �zy�, y (519) w"a'`t ®7 10