HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1980-02-07, Page 28PAGE 1 OA-GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7,1980
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.For' more than a year,. the Ontario Federation of
Agriculture has been publishing a monthly index of
prices at the farm level and.at the retail level and
comparing the prices.
The federation wants consumers to know exactly
• where their supermarket dollar goes. They want
. shopper's to know how much the farmer gets for the
food he produces and how• much goes into paying for
transportation, processing, storage, handling,
wholesaling and retailing.
It's an a*cellent idea. The federation represents.
almost 23,000 farmers with a direct membership fee
and indirectly as a federation with membership from
almost all commodity organizations and marketing
boards.
The monthly_ figures released .by, thefedPration.hav-e.._.
made a point that most people,in agriculture have
known for years: the increases in the price of food do
not go entirely to,the farmer. To be More specific, the
increases are not reflected to. a great degree in what
the farmer gets paid.
The statistics -- and figures usually baffle me --
prove that farmers got less than half of the 1979 food
price increase.
In fact, the federation says pork prices at retail level
went down by 73 cents a pound and went down 76 cents
a pound at farm level. Beef prices at retail. went up
$2.54 but went up at the farm''level by only $1.50..
Chicken prices went down by 14 cents at the retail
level but went up by a penny at the farm level (maybe
because the chicken marketing board helped the farm
price?)
Shoppe aid 69 cents more for mi k and cream but
farmers . ot increase of only 34' nts. Ice cream
cost shoppers eight -cents more. Farm got only two
cent§`. Chees ost consumers 24 cents more. Farmerg
• got only 14 cents more. Breakfast cereals increased by
11 cents at the retail level but only one cent at the farm
level.
Levers e, app,•c,at,a o, B� T'one' t,oaue Ro fpm •a Ont r438 2C 7
The federation has a good tra.ck record over the year's
though. When its figures have been questioned at othe
times, it has been able to substantiate them.
The' federation suggests that, this time, its figures
are on the conservative side.°Ifanything, the statistics
understate the margin between what shoppers pay
and what farmers receive, the federation claims.
I'm inclined to believe the farmers. They have had
their surveys questioned too often by consumers to be
caught out this time. The newest federal inquiry into
the chicken marketing board has them sharpening
their pencils to prove their points.
What the survey says to me is that the multi-
national companies are getting the biggest share of
the food -price increases,.
__ The j _chorus_awn or..control -the -retail -stores;-the
wholesale outlets, the transportation companies, the
processing companies, thei.;packaging companies, the
flour mills, the sugar refineries and even some of the
loan companies. They have a lot more clout with both
the banks and the government than a single farmer.
The prices used by the federation to come up,with
the figures are based on a survey of five Toronto -area
supermarkets: A&P, Dominion, Loblaws, Miracle
Mart and Food City. Where there was a choice, the
federation said the'lowest price was taken.
A classic example of where the money goes was
cited recently by Mel Swart, the NDP consumer af-
fairs critic from Welland -Thorold. When the price of
milk went up a'couple of months ago; farm prices
increased by 2.9 cents a quart, 'an increase farmers
proved they needed through the increase in production
costs. But processors' margins went up by five cents a
quart at the same time.
Dairy industry profits, says Swart, have increased
dramatically. Beckers' profits went from $506,000 in
1077 to $2.27 million in 1978. Silverwood profits went
from $561,000 tis $1;518,000 and Dominion Dairies went
from $4.1 million to $5.1 million.
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-Huron County Frrn'News
SWINE HEALTH
IMPROVEMENT
WORKSHOP.
BY
DON PULLEN,
AG. REP.
Disease. losses- to the
pork industry are serious
and widespread. Some
, conditions result in a high
r mortality rate while
others are reflected in
lowered rate of gain and
feed • efficiency.
• Respiratory disease
alone have bee
estimated to cost Nort
American pork producer
over 200 million dollar
annually. . Although
presently somewha
stabilized hemophilus
pneumonia outbreaks
have been very costly
Every survey, of course, must be suspect. Much Can anyone doubt who is�tinetthe bulk_ of l efood-...
-depends o,r who -is -paying whom to make the survey, intfreases r' — Y
Consumer should be informed
The Ontario Soya -Bean
Growers' Marketing
Board has reaffirmed its
position urging the -
Honorable Lorne Hen-
derson ,
en-derson, ' Ontario•'s
Agriculture 'Minister, to
approve' blends con-
sisting of butter and
margarine for the human
consumption :markets in
Ontario.
At present the labeling
ingredients may simply
indicate Hydrogenated s.
Vegetable Oil and . in
brackets (may contain
Palm Oil).
It -is the contention of
the Board, the consumer
should be informed of the
oil used and percentage
of sane ivhether it be
soyoil, rapeoil,., flaxoil,
sunflower oil, corn oil,
etc. as well as lards, fat
or marine oil.
Since 1973 the per
capita consumption of
margarine' has escalated
from" approximately 7.62
pounds " to nearly 10
pounds coming mostly at
the expense of butter fat.
It is the contention of
the Board, ,should the
Consumer prefer. a blend
of margarine, a definite
program should be ap-
proved '
Workshop for farrow to
finish operations will be
held at the Londesboro
Hall from 10 a.m. until
3:30 p.m. Registration fee
of $7 will cover the cost of
hot pork dinner and hall
- rental.. .•
Dr. Peter Oliver and
Dr. John Martin, Swine
Diseases Consultants,
Veterinary Seizvices
Branch, Ontario, Ministry
of Agriculture and Food,
Guelph will- conduct the
s workshop session.
n Subjects include the
h disease process - en-
svironmental influences,
s discussion of common
diseases of pigs and their
t prevention, disinfection
and sanitation, principles
of, disease control, im-
munity, proper use of
chemotherapeutic
agents, drug residues and
withdrawal period, feed
additives, internal and
external parasites, how
to start feeder pigs, the
reproductive process and
reproductive problems,
and a discussion period.
It is important to
contact Don Pullen by
February llth so that
firm plans may be
finalized for the noon
meal.
If you anticipate dif-
ficulty leaving home on
February 14th, bring
your "Valentine" with
you.
--with--losses in soine'herds
ranging up to as high as
50 percent during the past
two years.
Enteric diseases of
baby pigs are common.
Mortality rates from
birth to weaning can be
20-25 percent - in many
cases, due to 'health
problems.
At the same time, it has
been stated by many
people that pork
producers have a com-
placent attitude to
disease: This "we have to
learn to live with it"
philosophy is not one that
should be commended or
encouraged in the light of
managerial practices
that are known and
available to the industry_.
Traditionally;: in times
of lower pork prices,
some producers are often
more reluctant to engage
the services of their
veterinarian: However, it
is clearly evident that it
makes great economic
sense to use the expertise
of our highly -qualified
veterinarians in swine
health matters ' at all
times.
On • • Th-ursday,
February 19,' a Swine
Health Improvemen
OVC admits morewomen than men into veterinary pro
The Onta-rio Veterinary
College 'passed another
milestone this year- For'
the first time in its 117 -
year history, the college
admitted more women
•than men into its
veterinary program.
"Na one was surprised
that more women were
admitted than men;"
says Dr. Tom Hulland,
academic Associate
Dean. "The number of
women enrolling has
been increasing for
several years."
During the past five
^years, the, number of
women in the veterinary
.college has averaged ,40
to 45 percent. Enrollment
in the pre -vet program
this year is 64 women'and
56 rnen. .
Dr. Hulland believes
one of the major reasons
for the increased number
of •women is social
change. Until 1960, there
were very few women
graduates, perhaps two
out of a class of,. 80
students. Before 1960; the
employment op-
portunities° were
primarily in large animal
practice, and women
were not attracted to this
role. -Recently, however,
the_ trend has been away
-from purely large animal
practice, in :•favor -of
mixed animal practice.
The mixed practice
avoids the extreme
Fish farming seminar held
The next rainbow trout
you see on your plate may
have been grown on an
Ontario farm.
"Fish farming is a
growing industry in the
province," says Dr. Stan
Slinger, of the Depart-
ment of Nutrition,
University of Guelph.
To mue[:thedeMand for
information about this
new type of farming, a
seminar .is being spon-
sored by the Ontario
Ministry of Agriculture
and Food, the Ontario
Trout Farmers'
Association, and the
University of -Guelph. The
seminar is being held at
the University of Guelph,
University Center Room
103, February 23 from
9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Registration fee for the
seminar, which includes
lunch, is $15 per person.
To register, write to the
Continuing Education
Division, Room 103,
Johnston Hall, University
of Guelph, Guelph,
Ontario NIG 2W1 or pay
at the door.
SAVE ENERGY
and
Insulate U.F. Foam
8. Fiber Insulation
Serving Huron County
15• years
COMPARE..CONTACT
STEWART'S
ALUMINIUM &
INSULATION
101 Huron Rd. Goderich
524.8821
WATER WELL
DRILLING
'79 YEARS EXPEifIENCE"
• FARM • SUBURBAN • INDUSTR)AL • MUNICIPAL •
• FREE ESTIMATES -
• GUARANTEED WELLS
• FAST MODERN EQUIPMENT
• 4 ROTARY & PERCUSSION DRILLS
"OUR EXPERIENCE ASSURES
LOWER COST WATER WELLS"
DAVIDSON
WELL DRILLING
LIMITED -
N
1
7
89
ICH,
..i-/, -; ill
1lithiuivb
'.
fluctuations " which a
• large • practice is suh-
m,jected to, being sensitive
to the market prices, or -
'
cattle and pigs. The
mixed ' practice offers
' more stability because it
does not depend on one or,
two species of animals.
Another important factor
in the increased interest
by
by women has been the
development of better
drugs to .sedate large -
animals.
Many people -assume
that women graduates
prefer small "animal
urban practices.
However, the college
statistics show that the
distribution of women in
large, mixed and small
animal practices is about
the same as for men."
"Most of our graduates
do not enter small animal
practices, as is popularly..
assumed," says Dr.
Hulland. "In recent.
classes, about two -third
of the graduates en r
large or mixed.' animal
practices. Traditionally,
most students„ try to
spend some time working
with large animals when
they first graduate."
The type of practice the
graduate enters depends
•on the . opportunities
available, Through '' the
r1960s and 1970s there
were many jobs available
in urban, small anima
'15ractices, but'this'tre'd
seems` to, be ending. ir,
Hulland says op-
portunities are now
shifting to mixed •ractice
in small towns •.nd on the
outskirts • cities,
because of e increased
number of eeople keeping
sheep, goats and horses
a5 pets, and the higher
price of individual
ani als raised for show
or ►reedin g.
he future 'job market
or veterinarians is
difficult to predict. In -the,
past few years, there has
been a surplus of jobs,
FARM PHOTOS
BY
_ R.ONFLEMING,
AG. ENGINEE
•
vantages of having your
own air photo? The most
popular use is.simply-the
satisfaction of looking
over your farm and
seeing things from a
different. viewpoint.
Distances between
buildings and sizes of
fields can be scaled off
the prints. Recently -
completed drainage
works show up fairly well
making the photo a good
• recorti'"-ofi; tile Locations.
Some1farmers trace their
fields on a plastic overlay
and keep records of•
cropping practices over
the years.
The good part about
this story is'the price. A
40 -inch by 40 -inch print
with a scale of 208 feet to
the inch costs just under
$10. The same area in` a 10
inch by I0 -inch print costs
about $2.50. This covers
an area of. about 21/4
square miles.
Photos of Huron County
were last taken in 197
These are available from
the Ministry of Na ral
Resources in Toron o.
Information o- how to
order is avail .le at the
Ministry of Agriculture
and Food . Clinton and
Ministry 'of Natural
Resour s in Wingham.
What does yo farm
look•, like from he air?
There's an e- .y way to
find out that ost people
don't know about. Every
couple o years, aerial
photos are taken of
sectio of the province. .
Thes black and white
pho os show a lot of detail
a'd are available in
everal sizes and
enlargements.
What are the ad -
am
despite the fact at the
veterinary col •ges'now
graduate ice the
number of. •eterinarians
they did I 1 .ears ago. •
The • tario Veterinary
Col le _ e accepts 120
stu'.•nts each year. To
lify, , students must
ave one year of study in
iological science or
agriculture at a
recognized Canadian
university. Once ad-
mitted to • the college,
students spend one year
ANNUAL
MEETING
of the
Huron County
Wheat Producers
will be held in the
Agriculture Board
Room, Clinton.
TUESDAY, FEB. 12
at 1:30 P.M
Centralia College
of Agricultural Technology
Your Career in
FOOD SERVICE MANAGEMENT
• hospitals and • hotel and , • catering
health core - restaurant companies
CONSIDER CENTRALIA COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY
• two year diploma courses
• residence living
• good recreation facilities
• co-educational atmosphere
• excellent agricultural location
Phone or write for more information
F.
TWO YEAR DIPLOMA PROGRAMS
Agricultural Business Management
�? Food Service Management
APPLY NOW FOR
SEPTEMBER 1980 TO:
4 Rotary and Percussion Drills
PHONE 3S7-1960
WIFIGHAM
Collect Calls Accepted
"ONTARIO'S FINEST WATER WELLS SINCE 1900"
Centralia College of
Agricultural Technology
Community Home Economics Huron Park, Ontario
NOM :IVO
Animal Health Technology (319) 228-6691
in an intensive science
program in preparation
for thefour-year_
veterinary program:
LAY
Silo Unloaders
Feeders
Cleaners -
Stabling
- Liquid Manure..
Equipment
'Hog Equipment
BUTLER —
Silo Unloaders
Feeders
Conveyors
FARMATIC —
Mills
Augers, etc.,
ACORN —
Cleaners
Heated Waterers
WESTEEt.=ROSCO
Grcnarles
B & L - Hog Panelling,
LOWRY FARM SYSTEMS
RR 1, Kincardine, Ont.
. Phone 395.5286
FARM CLASSIFIED
A. For sale
STRAW FOR SALE. Call
529-7571.-4-6
cf. Wanted.
A. For sale
3,000 BALES of alfalfa
hay, conditioned, with io
rain. First and second
cutting starting at $1.25.
Phone 524-4350.76-9
D: Livestock --
WANTED , TO- RENT•
Crop land in Colborne, FORALE': Service age
' Goderich and Ashfield ,,,p� York, ° Hamp x
Townships. Topdollar '
York alld York x Lam
paid for top land, Call dctrace boars. Also York x
-Steve Buchanan, , Landrace gilts/ Bob
Goderich 524- Robinson, RR4 Walton.
9700.-38tfnc 345-2317.-6-8 -
DAVE HAYLOW
ELECTRICAL
Serving
industrial; Coi mmercial
Residential Needs
524-6038
Established 1876
McKILLOP MUTUAL
FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY
HEAD OFFICE: 10 MAIN ST., SEAFORTH, ONT.
Mrs. tit:r• al'c•t 5h irli_..:Sec. "Frew,. Ph. 527-0400
L.
FULL COVERAGE
Farm and Urban Properties..
'Fire, Wtn'dstorm. Liability, Theft
Various Floater Coverages '
tlorneowner s, Tenant's Package, Composite Dwelling
DIRECTORS AND ADJUSTERS
Ken Carnochan, R.R.a4, Seatorth
Laver n''tiod7lt n. R.R.#1., Walton
Ross Leonhardt. R.R.a1, Bornoholm
John Mr:Ewing. R 0.#1, Blyth
Sianley Mcllwain, R,R.a2:Goderich
,• Donald McKercher, R.R a1. Dublin
John A Taylor R.Rjl. Brucelield
J N Trewartha, Box 661. Clinton
Stuart Wilson..R.R a1, Bruielield
482;3354
527.1877
`345.2234
523.9390
524-7051
527.1837
482-7527
482.7593
527-0687
AGENTS
EF 'Bill Durst, R R.#4, Seatorth 527-1455
James Keys, R.R r71, Seatorth 527-0467
Wrn Leiper, R Ra1, Londesboro . 523-4257
CALL AN AGENT'OR THE OFFICE
here are lour
Ontario1x Credits rea
to help you at tax time.
Doyou qualify?
•
If you`arc an Ontario resident,
you may he eligible for Ontario
Tax Credits even if you have rio
taxable income. However, you
must complete the inauvc
Ontario Tax Credit form and
mail it together Ns'ith yot r
federal income tax ret fr'n.Thc
`Ontario term is included in the
federal income tax schedules.
Property Tax Credit
This credit is designed to reduce
the burden of municipal and
school taxes..
[(you are a homeowner,
roomer or ten ant with,a low
or moderate income, you are
eligible for this credit.
Sales Tax Credit
This credit, based on your
personal exemptions, is available
ti) you if you are not ctainlcd
as a dependant on ,inOther
taxfiler'S return. •
It you are a senior citizen,,
the -a7gLc7exein pti will
increase the amount cit your
•_,,SalesTax Credit.
Pensioner Tax Credit
A credit of Sl10 is available
to every couple or individual
t,5 years or older.
Political Contribution
Tax Credit
Did you make a pulrtiLal cuntri-
hLrt n to a prOvimial party '
or constituency association last
vcar? It so, then you may be
clirihlc for this tax credit.
For complete details or poples
ot the Ontario' tax Credit
booklet, please call our multi -
'lingual Information Centre,
free of charge:
in NictroToronto -965-8470
In arca code 807, ask operator
-for Zenith 8-2000
In all other areas, 1-800-268-7121
Or write to:.
Ministry of Revenue
( ;uarantced Income and
Tax Credit Branch
Queens Park
T})rt')nto, Ontario M7A"2B3
Ontario
'Lorne Maeck,
Minister of
Revenue
• William Davis, Premier
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