HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1977-04-07, Page 30Y
PAGE IQA—tiODERIC H SIGNAL -STAR, THURSDAY, APRIL 7, 1977
IncOloot in the
lurrow' byZ7
It is probably too early to start the grave -digging but
reports indicate that the National Farmers Union is all
but dead.
1, fur one. think it is a shame
Blake Sanford of Kingsville. a regional co-ordinator for
the NFU. sounded the warning at the recent district con•
vehUon in Walkerton.
"The union faces a dilemma. he told the membership
"It can close up the national offices and go bankrupt or
a can cut its services to the bone. The other answer is
to pump more money into It through memberships.-
Therein
emberships.-Therein is the problem. Although the union has tor
many years refused to reveal to the press as actual
membership, it was learned' at the convention that the
union now represents, country -wide. about. 8.200 farm
families Which is a far cry from the rival organization
the Ontario Federation of Agriculture. The OFA boil y,;d
an individual membership last year of more than 25.000
in Ontario alone.
- Without active members. any organization will die
Back in the 1960s. the old Ontario Farmers Union was
a power to be reckoned with in Ontario agricultural cir-
cles When Mel Tebbut of Markdale and John Dolmer of
Corbetton- and Walter Miller of Tara were • presidents,
. people listened to them.
In 1966, the union boasted 360 locals in 35 counties of
Ontario although individual membership was not reveal-
ed 1 was fortunate enough to attend a few provincial con-
ventions of the OFT in those days and I never mel a
friendlier. more concerned group of people fighting for
q farmers.
Another personal note. The mistake was made at the
provincial convention in the 1960s when the OFA' mem-
bership decided to go national... that ts, amalgamate
with the sister organizations in other provinces and dis-
pense with the title Ontario Farmers Union and become
the National Farmers Union. -
From that time until today, the union slowly lost credi-
bility Walter Miller, although he ran strong campaigns.
ended up second fiddle to Hoy Atkinson of the Prairies
and the union voice in Ontario became a stifled whimper
Letters are apprei,ated br Bon Trotter Eidaie Rd Eimna Om N38 2C $
when he was defeated last year inan attempt to retain
his vice-presidency
Probably the greatest single difference between the
union and the lederation of agriculture is in the attitude
ut militancy The union has always taken the position that
farm policy should he decided by dues -paying members,
Until Gordon Hill. a Inrnrer president of the union - 1957 to
1960 -- took aver as president of the federation. the OFA
was considered a sort of toothless organization Ile. learn-
ed his lesson about membership while in the union and
changed the structure oI the federation so that individual
service members paid dues to the UFA
It was in 1965 that 2.0110 farmers union delegates march-
ed on the Parliament Buildings denlanding better farm
prices In :April of the following year.' 1501) members par•
aded from the auditorium of Ryerson t'olytechmcal Insti-
tute to Queen's Park In June and July of that same year.
union members organized tractor parades to the legisla-
tive buildings to protest farm prices
Probably the biggest single mass march was in 1967
when the union organized a mammoth tractor parade
from all across the province to march on Ottawa in anger
and frustration
W'hat the union lacked in diplomacy was counterbalanced
by aggressiveness
I was out there on the highways covering those tractor
parades and was amazed at the spirit and drive shown
by the farmers union in those dans. Men like :Sam Bow-
man of Elora. Frank Gamble of Chatsworth. Ed :Morden
of h;lrnir'a, Walter Nliller.uf Tara. Mel Tebbut of Markdale
and John Dolmer of ('or•hetlon were young and eager to
see justice dome for larmer•s
If the union in Ontario does die for lack of membership.
it will be a tearful funeral.
I was not always In complete agreement with union
policies. :1t the same time. I have been disgusted now
and again at the wish -washy attitude of the federation
It seems a shame that the zest and the enthusiasm en-
gendered in the early days cannot he re -kindled, Farmers
need every voice they can get to tell their storvr and the
National Farmers Union was always a strident voice for
farmers until re('ently
Farm owners urged
to improve landscape
A competition to encourage
farm and home owners to
improve the look tt, their
property is being spRnsored
by the committee planning
the 1978 International
Plowing Match.
Called a Farmstead and
Home Improvement Com-
petition, the committee will
offer prizes in three
categories: most improved
farmstead and entrance;
most improved rural dwelling
and grounds; and most im-
proved urban hbme and
grounds.
Organizer of the plowing
match, which is slated for
September 1978 in Morris
Township, want people to
beautify their homes and
farms in anticipation of the
thousands of visitors who are
expected to attend the Match.
The contest is open to all
residents of Huron County.
The closing date for entries in
the three categories is June
Ist, 1977.
Judging will take place
ufter August 1, 1978.
An entry fee of 85. must be
submitted with the ap-
plication to the secretary,
.Aim Murlock, RR 2, Crediton.
Information and application
forms may be obtained by
contacting one of the com-
mittee representatives listed
below; or theOntario
Agriculture and Food office
in Clinton. Committee
representatives are:
Officers - chairman - Glen
and Sharon Miller: RR 3,
Parkhill. 238-8259.
Vice -Chairmen; Doug
Drop in wheat price reflects in earnin
The world price for wheat
has dropped about 82 per
bushel since 1974 and this
decrease will be reflected in
the price Ontario farmers
receive for their 1976 wheat
crop according to Chairman
of the Ontario Wheat
Producers' Marketing Board,
Irving Kleiman.
Mr.' Kleiman made his
remarks to a large number of
area farmers attending an
agricultural day at Pineridge
Chalet recently sponsored by
Cook's.
The total price to Ontario
producers for the 1974, crop
was 84.26 per bushel; for 1974
84.35 per bushel and for 1975
83.63 I/7 per bushel. Mr.
Kleiman informed those
present - the situation has
deteriorated even further for
the current crop year.
In explaining just how the
farmers were paid for 1976
wheat crops, Mr. Kleiman
said the initial price paid to
producers during the 1976
crop was a basic 82 per bushel
paid by the agent to the
producer when wheat was
delivered. The board . then
reimburses the agent for the
money paid to the producer
plus the agent handling
charge. The wheat is then the
property of the board which is
responsible for the purchase
and sale of all wheat in the
province. The remainder of
the price per bushel is paid by
interim payments to the
producer as the wheat is sold.
Mr. Kleiman - said
producers have sold a little
more than 22.1 million
bushels of the 1976 crop to
date and that volume is an all
time high since the board was
established in 1958.
Out of this 22.1 million
bushels, about 7.5 million
bushels has been 'sold for
domestic human con-
sumption a record 720,000
bushels for seed and about 11
million bushels has been sold
for export leaving just under
3 million bushels unsold at the
Spread money around
Acting on a` recom-
mendation of their
Development Committee,
Huron County Council
authorized a letter be for-
warded to the Ministry of
Agriculture and Food,
Drainage Section, suggesting
that any money not required
by municipalities in Huron
County be allocated to other
municipalities in Huron
which could use the funds.
The recorrimendation was
the result of a meeting bet-
ween the committee and Don
Pullen, Agriculture
Representative for Huron, at
which Mr. Pullen presented a
report which 'set out the
methods used by the Province
in allocating funds and
amounts allocated to
municipalities in Huron and
the surrounding counties.
McKillop Township Reeve
Allan Campbell asked just
how the funds could be
redistributed when each
township did not know until
November at least how much
money they had used.
Morris Township Reeve
Bill Elston explained that it
would in fact be funds from
the previous year which
would be redistributed to
cover the cost of projects in
other area.
Council also approved a
budget of 86,850 for the
County Exhibit at the 1978
International Plowing Match.
Another council en-
dorsement went to a
recommendation for the
continuation of the ARDA
program, on the same basis
as in the past, and that the
Ministers responsible for a
new agreement, and Federal
and Provincial Members of
Parliament be advised,
WATER WELL DRILLING
"76 YEAFiS..EXPERIENCE"
• • FARM • SUBURBAN • INDUSTRIAL • MUNICIPAL •
• FREE ESTIMATES
• GUARANTEED WELLS
• FAST MODERN EQUIPMENT
'• 4 flOTARY & PERCUSSION DRILLS
"OUR EXPERIENCE ASSURES,-,
.LOWER COST WATER WELLS"
iamb.
DAVIDSON
4 Rotary and 1Percusslon Drills
PHONE 357-1960
WELL DRILLING LIMITED WING -HAM
Coliect Calls Accepted -
"OPITARIO'S FINEST WATER WELLS SINCE 1900f"
present tiThe.
Mr. Kleiman says the board
recognizes the fact the export
Market accounts for the
largest portion of the crop,
and efforts are being made to
generate continued or new
interests overseas.
The estimates on seeded
acreage of wheat in Ontario
last fall show an increase of
about. 20, percent over the
previous year for a total of
about 620,000 acres, with a
potential for a 29 to 30 million
bushel crop -this year.
Mr. Kleinman informed the
meeting the board has em-
barked on a new export sales
promotion brochure and is
looking at possible ways to
increase domestic human
consumption,as well.
Mr. Kleiman added the
Ontario board works closely
with the Canadian Wheat
Board, but the Canadian
board does not contract ex-
port sales of Ontario wheat
and recent sales that have
been announced by the
Canadian Wheat Board for
sale to China do not include
any Ontario wheat.
Mr. Kleiman was not the
only speaker on the agenda
S
for the meeting at Pineridge.
Dr. Ernie Rinebergs of the
University of Guelph spoke to
the farmers present con-
cerning malting barley and
Allan Magrath, Market
Analyst of the Ontario Bean
Producers Marketing Board
discussed the• white bean
market.
Following lunch, Sean
Usher of 'Ridgetown College
of Agricultural Technology
discussed the -corn crop and
representatives from several
fertilizer companies
discussed what's new in
chemicals.
Bw 10 gallons
'u�a'
ofiCaco'srnlbr
and you'll save 20C a gailon.
Now is the time to save on this
special offer. You'll save as much as 20C
a gallon on current farm prices.
You know the high quality and
performance you can expect from
our big names... Havoline, Ursa,
Rando and Texaco TDH and
now you know you can buy -
them at the best possible price.
r•
(/140/0 ii
Free
Farrri Services
Write for our tree brochure "Your Guide
10 the Care and Maintenance of Farm
Equipment" to (f)ealers name and
NAME
ADDRESS_ '
1
Offer oxplreiJuly 311, 1077
VIC WALDEN FUELS LIMITED
141 MAITLAND RD. S.
GODERICH, ONTARIO
524-u12
and Gerry Fortune, RR 2,
Wingham, 335-3801;
secretary -treasurer - Jim
and Nancy Morlock, RR 2,
Crediton, 234-6297; publicity,
Muriel Coultes, RR 5,
Brussels, 357-1908.
Directors - Ashfield -Phillip
and Dianne Foster, RR 6,
Goderich, 529-7851; Ralph
Foster, RR 6, Goderich, 529-,.
7202; Colborne, Dennis and
Connie Connely, RR 3,
Goderich, 524-6084; Goderich,
Larry Sturdy, RR 2,
Goderich, 524-8045; Grey, Bill
and Mary Beth Mann, RR 1,
Monkton, 887-6717; Hay
Glenn and Lois Hayter, RR 1,
Zurich, 236-4171 ; Howick,
John and Betty Stafford: RR
I, Wroxeter, 335-3604; Hullett,
John and >nalda Flyn, RR
I,Clinton, 4M-3318; McKillop,
Stanley and . Jessie Hillen,
Box 1015, Seaforth, 527-0077;
Morris, Bill and Muriel
Coultes, RR 5, Brussels, 357-
)908; Stanley, Paul and Kathy
Steckle, RR 2, Zurich, 565-
2197; Stephen, Jim and Nancy
Morlock, RR 2, Crediton, 234-
6297; Tuckersmith, Elgin and
Grace Thompson, RR 3,
Kippen, 262-2633; Turnberryy,
Doug and Gerry Fortune, RR
I, Wingham, 335-3801;
Usborne, Bob and Pat Down,
Hensall, 235-2557; E.
Wawanosh, Karl and Lin
Linda Lentz, RR 5, Wingham,
357-1087; W. Wawanosh, Cecil
and Marybelle Cranston, RR
2, Auburn, 529-7691.
Towns: Clinton, Harold and
Caroline Lobb', Clinton, 482-
7009; Exeter, George an,d Lee
Dobbs, 39 Riverside Drive,
235-1130; Goderich, Bill and
Myra Henry, 166 Sunset
Drive, 529-2082; Seaforth,
Mrs. Brenda McIntosh, RR 3,
Seaforth, 527-0358;J, Mrs.
Isabel Scott, Brucefield, 482-
'7135;
82-
7135; Wingham, Miss Gwen
Norris, 103 Patrick East 357-
2055.
Villages: Blyth, Mrs. Viola
Haines, 523-9240; Brussels,
Jack and Esther McCut-
cheon, 887-6862; Hensall,
Doug and Kaen Shirray, 88
King, 262- 2422; Zurich, Ron
and Marilyn Heimrich,
Zurich, 236-4941.
Prizes and awards will be
given at the conclusion of the
Competition.
A County Champion and
Reserve Champion will be
selected in each claw,
A. For sale
BARLEY grown from Cer-
tified Laurier, either cleaned
and treated or from the bin,
Contact George Wraith, 524-
7351 or 524-
7002.-10,11,12,13,14,15ar
SERVICEABLE AGE
Hampshire boars. ROP
tested and commercial. Also
York boars. Bob Robinson,
RR 4, Walton 345-2317. —14,15
ONE tractor International D-
414 diesel. Front hydraulic
loader, 3 point hitch and live
power takeoff. Good tires.
Phone 524-7632.-13tf
GOOD quality conditioned
hay. Phone 524-6371.-13,14
For details
Corn, Spring,
Grain, Beans,
Hay 8, Pasture call:
GEORGE TURTON
319 HURON, ROAD
GODERICH 524-7411
PM1st s dansline
fory aPPI
Ittlkeela
1 •
lug �
C. Wanted
WANTED.. to Rent.
land, for ten to In
cattle from 300 tod
Apply in writing tor
Clinton News,Record,
CLAY —
Silo Unloaders
Feeders
Cleaners
.Stabling
Leg Elevators
Liquid Manure E
Hog Equipment
BUTLER —
Silo Unloaders
Feeders
Conveyors
FARMATIC —
Mills
Augers, etc,
ACORN —
Cleaners
Heated Waterers
ZERO —
Bulk Tanks
Pipeline &
Equipment
W ESTEEL-ROS(
Granaries
B & L - Hog Panelling
LOWRY FARM SVS'
RR 1, Kincardine,
Phone 395.5111
Il
Adolescence: the age
child tries to bring
parents.
L WlarrH' -7O0L
KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON! . .PM
Repres
• Save MONEY and get RESULTS. Use the Your Di
Acremeter to apply your crop inputs exactly, gales and
• Make ONE unit do4he work of THREE.
Use the low cost transfer kit to easily move it
from your tractor to swather to combine.
• Continuous readout in acres (to 1-100 acre)
RDS agrican Ltd. Box 367, Goderich, Ontario, NAM
kir
519-524.7441
ATTE1
TION FARMERS
FLAX
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT FLAX
AS A CASH CROP 1N'1977
1. Flax Futures for 1977 continue at an
attractive level.
2. Flax Plantings in our area have continued to
grow.
3. Input Cost for seed, fertilizer and spray less
than $20.00 per acre as of March 31, 1977.
4. A market is available immediately for all
Ontario grown flax.
5. Quick unload as compared with other cash
crops.
6. Forward selling available (ask Manager for
• details)
7. Storage available (ask Manager for details)
8. Contracts available (ask Manager for details)
9, Crop insurance for flax is available in 1977
(See your Agent for details)
Don't delay because interest in this seed `is hi
To avoid disappointment call today.
For
16 'Wrier'
TOPNOTCH FEEDS LIMITED
FEEDS LIMITED
Milverton,, Ontario
phone '595-4941,
seed pleae)e contact:
or ANDERSON FLAX PROD
Lucknow, Ontario
phone 528-21126
142
Gc