HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1983-10-19, Page 521
probiena continue
nullture industry says Riddell
BY JACK RIDDELL,
MPP
Travelling throughout the Province on a
Task Force looking into problems of those
living and working in rural Ontario it
became increasingly obvious that certain
sectors of the agricultural industry were in
very serious trouble. Just recently I wrote
an open letter to the Minister of Agriculture
and Food which I believe you will find in-
teresting. The text is as follows:
"In your travels throughout the Province,
you have no doubt become aware as I have
of the serious economic problems that con-
tinue to face much of our agriculture in-
dustry.
These problems are particularly acute in
the red meat sectors, specifically the beef
industry. With livestock prices low and crop
prices and other input costs high, many of
our farmers may be left to harvest nothing
more than bankruptcies this fall.
Cattle prices have declined from $83.00
per hundredweight in the second quarter of
1983, to the low 70's currently,and are
averaging about $2.00 per -hundredweight
lower than in 1982. Your own Ministry of
Agriculture economic forecasts predict poor
profits in feeding cattle through mid -1984.
Contrary to the assertion in your recent
speed; this past month in Owen Sound,
where you stated that farmers "are on the
way out of the recession, financial binds and
low returns", the sad truth of the matter is
that things have never been worse for a ma-
jority of our hog and beef producers.
Without some emergency financial
assistance from your government, part of
the beef industry will quickly be lost to On -
QUEEN'S
PARK
tario and shift to other provinces. As you are
PhD doubt aware, the Quebec beef stabiliza-
tion program offers a total of $191.60 per
cow, and $165 for each feeder animal car-
ried to slaughter. With these levels of
government guarantees, our farmers can-
not hope to compete with Quebec farmers
who are coming here to purchase cattle, and
who can afford to pay more. In many cases,
these cattle are being fed here and later
taken back to Quebec to be included in their
program. The Saskatchewan Beef Stabiliza-
tion Plan has paid out $2.6 million in sub-
sidies for the month of April, May and June
of this year.
Our beef producers need , emergency
assistance now, in order to keep them in pro-
duction. They can no longer wait for a yet to
materialize Tri -Partite Stabilization Plan.
If there is to be a stabilization program, beef
producers must be assured now that there
will be an announcemeftt for a stabilization
price made retroactive to this year.
Moreover, any such program must cover all
sectors of the beef industry, including cow -
calf, stockers and slaughter cattle."
I also issued a joint statement with my
colleague, Jim McGuigan, Liberal MPP for
Kent Elgin, describing the Government's
Beginning Farmers Program' as "accep-
table to farmers in name only since it lacks
any real substance.
"The program excludes farmers whose
income has been derived 60 per cent from
rented' lancl.or_ rented faCilitles" thus ex-
cluding "enterprising fanners' sons or
daughters who realize that because of the
low down payments on as farm which they
could make and because of the currently
high interest rates, they could not presently
survive as farm owners. As a result, they
have been left to rent their land and often
swap labour for machinery so they can work
leased ground..." -
"These enterprising beginning farmers
are the very people with farming experience
and risk taking attitudes that Ontario should
assist to become farms owners. It makes no
sense whatsoever that it a new agricultural
graduate is successful in making money for
the $100,000 down payment for a farm by'
renting land, then that person is doomed to
be a perpetual renter as far as the Con-
servative Government is concerned.
"Those eligible under the program are re-
cent agricultural graduates who often lack
farming experience and those who have
worked for their fathers or other farmers
for wages.
"The other major drawback of the pro-
gram is that the Government has chosen not
to make the program retroactive. The
farmers who have been in the most serious
financial difficulty in the last three Years as
a result o unprecendented high interest
rates and low commodity prices have been
the young and starting fanners. However,
according to the Conservative Government,
these farmers are also ineligible for finan-
cial assistance. •
"If this program is to be of any real
assistance to Ontario farmers, it. must be
changed to include beginning farmers who
presently rent their land and must be made
retroactive to the last three years. Other-
wise the program is a sham."
Computer used in program
Computer use is becoming commonplace.
The computer run, beef finishing program
is available through the Ontario Ministry of
Agriculture and Food IOMAF ) at the
University of Guelph.
Many beef producers test corn silage and
grains for protein, calcium and
phosphorous, but don't participate in the
beef finishing program.
What can you get out of the program?
The usual reports give a printout on
mineral mix formula, grain mix, batch
weight, financial analysis, cost analysis of
feeds, feed requirement analysis and inven-
tories. Break even selling price is included
in the financial analysis.
Inputs needed are feed test results of
home grown feeds. age, sex, weight, type of
cattle, purchase weight, selling weight, ex-
pected death loss and implants and growth
hormones to be used. For financial analysis,
information on purchase and selling prices,
discounts anticipated, vet, medicine,
marketing, trucking costs and overhead
costs are required. By using figures from
his own feeding operation, a meaningful
report is returned to the producer. What bet-
ter way is there to help make those decisions
on cattle purchases and feeding programs?
The first computer run is $45, plus $20 for
additional runs within the same feeding
year. OMAF is pleased to assist beef pro-
ducers it completing the input form, feed
sampling and interpretation of the results.
If interested, please contact the OMAF of-
fice in Clinton.
IN OUR COUNTRY,
THESE WOMEN WOULD
HAVE BEEN HONOURED
FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTION
TO SOCIETY...
Mrs. Zhinus Mahmud(,
Iran's first woman physicist.
executed December 27. 1981
IN THEIR COUNTRY,
THEY WERE KILLED.
On the night of Saturday, June
18th, this young woman and nine
other women and teenage girls were
secretly hanged by Islamic Revolu-
tionary authorities in Shiraz, Iran.
Their crime was refusal to deny
their beliefs. For three days prior to
their deaths, they endured barbarous
pressures to sign prepared statements
converting to Islam, at the hands of
Muslim clergymen. who had already
murdered the husbands, son and father
of four of them
These women and girls were
Baha'is. As Baha'is they had refrained
from any involvement in partisan
political agitation. As Baha'is they
believed that mankind i5 one human
family and that the great religions,
including Islam are, in their essence,
one. And they believed, to the depths of
their beings. that women and men are
equal, with equal nghts to education,
opportunities and respect.
Iran's mullahs regard these beliefs
as a "satanic conspiracy" against
Mrs. Shidrukh Amir-Kiya Bags, concert pianist,
executed January 4, 1982
Mrs. Tahirih Siyasushi, nurse,
hanged June 18. 1983
their Islamic State. In the name of
religion, they are engaged in a savage
campaign to force Iran's 300,000
Baha'fs to renounce their faith and
convert to Islam:
Scores of Baha'is, including
women and girls. have been shot
or hanged for refusal to deny
their beliefs.
Thousands of Baha'i families
have hecn made homeless
The pensions of Baha'is have
been cancelled and their savings
confiscated
• All Baha'(, cemeteries throughout
the country have been bulldozed.
• Baha'f children have been expelled
from school as "unclean infidels".
The Iranian clergy have
threatened that these newest execu-
tions are only the beginning. Speak-
ing in the government -controlled news-
paper Khabar, the Islamic judge who
sent the latest victims to their deaths
warned:
"Before it is too late, the Baha'is
must recant.... Otherwise, the
day will soon come when the
Islamic Nation will, God willing,
fulfill the prayer mentioned in
the Koran: 'Lord, leave not one
single family of infidels on
the earth' .
Iran's government, however,
must take account of world opinion.
Nations as diverse as Zambia, Ire-
land, Fiji, the United States, Panama,
the Netherlands, Australia, Togo,
Britain, Ghana and many others have
joined in efforts at the United Nations to
induce Iran to respect the minimal
requirements of international law
and human decency. Canadians can feel
particularly proud of the leadership
which our own country has shown in
this endeavour.
So far, the pressure of that united
opinion has prevented a tragedy of
appalling dimensions. Baha'is of other
races and cultures, in over 130
countries of the world, have joined
together to bring the situation in Iran
to the attention of mankind. In publish-
ing tilts statement to our neighbours and
friends, the Baha'is of Canada want
to express their gratitude to the many
humanitarian organizations, women's
groups, journalists, leaders of thought,
and Canadians of all walks of life
who have shown concern and support.
Many of you have asked what
you can do to assist. We feel that the
most valuable contribution you can
make is to express to your Member of
Parliament the admiration you feel
for the generous and effective efforts
Canada has already made and your
whole -hearted support for whatever
further initiatives are now being con-
sidered.
If you would like further informa-
tion on the situation of the Baha'is in
Iran please feel free to write us.
The Baha;'( Community of Canada,
7200 Leslie Street,
Thornhill, Ontario
L3T 2A1
"Regard not one another as
strangers. The peoples of the world,
of whatever race or religion,
derive their inspiration from one
heavenly Source and are the
subjects of one God."
(Bron( the Writings of Bah/'u'tlath,
Peauder of the Sahel Faith)
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