HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1985-03-20, Page 494;
f
and len
an effort to molt out a aatisfac
.
for both the farmer and the
41,4101;luade up of farmers and lenders,
is fortaidite hear'eaeh,
make recomniendatns on the future of the
farniing operations. Yil.Paxlel varies AP:
Cordiutte the typo,farming operation heti,*
studied,' t •
Gurbin said if the program is successful in'
drum and Grey counties, it May be adapted
for use on a national level^
said the Farm Assessment Review
Board)* heard a large number of cases.
The hoard has met almost every day during
its three, month mandate to discuss and
consider individual cases.
The program is ^ow nearing the end of its
mandate. "It is at he stage now where the
propositions and proposals that have been
prepared on number of cases are being
brought forward for final consideration by
the lending institution infrilved," said Gur
bin.
FCC is one of the largest farm lenders in
the country and Gurbin said he has been
working toward getting the "flexibility" the
FCC or thebanks," Gurbht
, •
The volwitary program, allows the fa
.and tbe OP. - AO* ore'llIP board
an 44 to, *Olt out thepr.bient without
Ihaving te regettlfltmeottrta or other legat
PrIceCh*ea The r,004*, exaktitia:0;40
boardarenbnbinding•
The board ,assases each sltuathie after
looking at the history of the farming
operation, and considering "bow OOP
have gone over the years." Once that
assessment has been made the board
suggests what it 'believes is "the most
reasonable solution."
If solutions to some of the problems
suggested by the board prove successful,
Gurbin said there •may be a chance the
program can be extended across the coun-
try.
The program has been working -as well, if
not better than expected. But Gurbin cau-
tioned, "if we aren't able to achieve that
flexibility with Farm Credit it's going to fall
Omit of what I would hope it can accomplish
in total."
Red meat development program
receives enthusiastic response
By Bandy Tluendyle
Bruce County Farmers are signing up in
record numbers for the provincially spon-
sored Red Meat Development Program.
The program was announced last year by,
former Minister of Agriculture Dennis
Timbrell as part of a $62 million program
aimed at helping the province's beef indus-
try.
•
Part of the program, which suggested the,
formation of a beef marketing agency, was
scrapped by the government earlier this
year after it met with opposition from same
beef farmers and farm lobby groups. But
the development program appears to have
been well received by farmers in Bruce
County.
Murray Emke, the. Bruce County Red
Meat Advisor, described the program as a
"self help plan for farmers."The proposals
are designed to help producers increase
efficiency in their cattle and sheep herds.
The plan is split into three areas—cow-calf
development, stocker and slaughter cattle
development and sheep development.
Various grants are being offered to farm-
ers who sign up for the program. So far, the
response had been better than expected in
Bruce County. Originally, the Ontario
Ministry of Agriculture and Food (OMAF),
who administer the Red Meat Plan estiniat-
ed to 260- prodiicerS wdulti-be-interested—
in the program. To date, ahnost 350
producers have enrolled.
"The response is greater than we figured.
But we haven't got them (producers) all
yet," said Emke.
He estimated about half .the producers in
the county are registered.
The latest figures released indicate pro-
ducers have registered over 13,000 cows in
the cow -calf program and over 42,000 calves
in the stocker program. Slightly more than
4,000 sheep have been registered by 40
producers in the county. .
The response surprised Emke and other
OMAF (Mei* because,detailt of the plan' '
.were.. not announced until last summer.
Emke said a lot of the "Mole p1"-ogressive --
farmers" have signed up.
"There's a lot of producers out there -who
could sill benefit from the program.
One ofthe main purposes of the policy is to
help farmers get better information about
hard management and improve herd health.
Jul the cow calf program producerres!re being
offered incentives of $20 and $25 for each
calf. To qualify,producers must record
birthdates and rate. of Weight. gain for their
calves which are registered.
The records from all the herds _ in the
provinces will be analysed and compiled by
OMAF. The •results will then be made
available M. farmers.
Emke said the purpose of compiling the
records is to help producers get information
to compare with their own herds. The
farmers will be provided with Information
-regardiag-weightgainand weaning, dates of
all the calves in the program.
The information can also help farmers
identify cows in their herd which may be
below standard.
turn to page 16
IT'S NICE T010044,
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