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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1977-07-21, Page 26$(i 17.x.. V • is r PAGE 10A--GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, THURSDAY, JULY 21, 1977 ^t+ e If you thought farmers were chronic complainein this country for 50 years, you will soon be hearing that famous quote of Al Jolson's: "You ain't heard nothing yet." Because farmers are being forced into becoming more vocal. Item: Beryl Plumptre — yes. Virginia, she's still around — former chairman of the food prices review board. spoke to a group of reporters in Guelph recently. The 68 -year-old economist said she iS not against marketing boards — hah? — but wanted people to make a distinction between monopo- listic marketing boards which the national Ones are and the provincial boards which are not. Inother words, she is not going to let it go. She spent much time and effort and paid big money (o. other economists to pooh-pooh marketing boards when she was with 'the food prices review board. Item: Ruth Lotzkar,president of the Consumers Associa- tion of Canada, wants a government assessment of market- ing boards. "We're not nut" to of rid of every marketing board in Canada," she said. "Brit we don't want a national chicken agency and dairy -policy needs scrutinizing '" Mrs. Lotzkar says the consumers association is not: out to get rid of marketing boards. But down deep in my doubting Irish heart: I have a feeling that the association would like nothing better. She said marketing boards that do not deal fairly or effi- ciently should be modified or outlawed. Outlawed"' Item: Farmers won't accept more consumer representa- tion on marketing boards if those consumers are out to de- stroy boards, said Peter Hannam. the articulate young presi- dent' of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture. The comment came when suggestions were made that. marketing boards should have consumer representation on them although the provincial food products marketing board. which oversees all boards in the province. already has such representation. Item:: Tony Abbot, the minister of consumer and corporate Affairs, has had to explain many times that his amehdments to the Combines Investigation Act are not intended to out- law marketing boards. But few farmers are believing him. in ! J Letters ate appreciated by ,Bob Troller Eldale Rd Elmea Ont N38 2C7 They maintain that if marketing boards are included in the proposed amendments, those same boards would be destory- ed, It, has, taken many farmers many years of hard work to get their foot in the door of the marketplace through the organization of marketing boards. , Item: Herbert Grubel of Simon'Fraser University in Brit- ish Columbia has called for a sharp reduction in the power of farm marketing boards to control the price and supply of food in Canada. Marketing boards, he maintains, have gone beyond their original purpose of protecting farmers from bad weather and unfair competition and are making. food more expensive. He maintains that it costsan average of $2,000 to buy the right to sell milk from a single B.C. cow, twice as much as the average cow is worth. Marketing boards, he says, are using their powers to inter- fere with product improvement and innovation under the pretext that consumers cannot be trusted to know what is best for them. He has suggested all marketing boards should be abolished. Regular' readers ot this column know that I am an, una- bashed supporter of marketing boards. 1 have spoken at a number•of ,tarn meetings recently in defence of marketing boards. I know of no other single thing in recent history which has improved the !ot of the farmer In respect to prices received for goods than marketing boards Which isn't to say that I would defend them with my lite 1f somebody out there, somewhere. can come up with a better idea which wit' give farmers the same .clout in the Marketplace as marketing boards have given him, then let me know. Because of my staunch defence 01' marketing boards. 1 •have been called everything from a socialist to a Communist. Which I am not: My grandfather would roll over in his grave if he thought 1 voted anything else but Conservative. Mind' you, 1 have but I didn't ;ell him. And those items will only make farmers that much more vocal in defending their organizations. If you thought they _bitched up to now, you ain't heard nothing yet. They had better get out and tell. their story because nobody else will tell it for them. , Raymond Scotchmer, curator of the Huron County Pioneer Museum demonstrates how this shtipgle mill, first patented in 1881, was used for making cedar shingles for roofs. The Farmers- - It pays to advertise shingle mill which came hayfield in 1960 is set up photo) CLAY — Silo Unloaders Feeders Cleaners Stabling Leg Elevators„ Liquid Manure Equipment Hog Equipment BUTLER — Sllo Unloaders Feeders Conveyors FARMATIC — Mills Augers, etc. ACORN -- Cleaners Heated Waterers ZERO -- Bulk Tanks ; Pipeline & Parlour, Equipment WESTEEL-ROSCO Brinariei ' - R. i L - HOS Panelling LOWRY FARM SYSTEMS KR 1, Kincardine, Ontario Phone 3P3-32114 • IA MUST Against RUST Hot -dip galvanizing gives you extra years of pro- ' tection: Butler barn equipment is totally immersed into molten zinc to protect it both inside and out. kButler does not sell painted barn equipment. We also install cups, stanchions, stalls, pens, wnd ventilation systems. La ' Limited ROUTE 1 KINCARDINE,. ynn Lowry Farm k ONTARIO PWpN E 519-395=5286 from -.'the Lindsay family in in the museum's yard. (staff .A 9 ederal .\gricultural Minister Eugene' Whelan Visited- Clinton_last Friday, to talk, .to • I.iherals from the Huron -Bruce riding. Chatting with Mr. Whelan are Goderich delegates vat \dams, left, John Lyndon, Mr. Whelan, and J. Howard Aitken. (News -Record photo) New projects fight losses Agriculture and Food Minister Bill Newman has announced two new energy management projects., to develop practical „a.p- ptications of solar energy to agricultural production and to develop a methane gas prod action. system . rine of these projects will be the design of a practical, c onlrmic. energy-oonserving solar heated greenhouse ilital)te to Ontario's climatic and -crop Con- ditions. This project_-w,il1 also include studies on methods of improving the thermal perform an cc . of • e'xisting greenhouses. - Newman said, "I believe that this is a most important undertaking in view of the' high energy costs greenhouse operators are experiencing." . The other new project is the designing of renewable energy systems for in- corporation into a new swine • rcezrch centre. These are a 'olar heating system for • livestock buildings and a n.y stem for producing methane.. gas from. animal - wastes. Newman also said that three energy management projects conducted lastyear hack shown good results and will he continued this year. They include' a tillage project in which experiments are being conducted to see if crop.yields can be maintained while reducing tillage operations and thus con- serving energy. Another of these ongoing projects involves heating the soil in greenhouses under thermal covers to reduce the amount of fuel needed. In this experiment the •soil is heated with electric cables or steam pipes with less heat being• applied to the air than usual. The therrnal covers prevents -y-•" •heat loss at night. Results with greenhouse tomatoes and flowers were promising last year. - The third project is energy conservation education carried out by the Energy Conservation Resource Centre at- the Ridgetown College f0 Agricultural Technology_..Information on energy conservation,measures applicable to 'agriculture is collected from Opening new doors to small business Bill Lichti one of our representatives will beat The Bedford Hotel, GODERICH on the 2nd & 4th Tuesdays of each month Tuesday July 26th If you require financing to start, modernize or expand your business and are unable to obtain it elsewhere on reasonable terms and conditions or if you are interested in the FBDB management services of counselling and training or wish information on government programs available for your business, talk to our representative. FEDERAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT /3Arv/' For prior inforniaN01'"caii' or write 1036 Ontarlib Street, Stratford • many sources and passed on to farmers through newsletters, meetings, media messages meetings, media messages, extension per- sonnel, and other means. Newman said these projects are being conducted in close cooperation with the Ministry of Energy as, part of the government's energy management program. He also said. "In an era of shrinking energy resources and rising costs,,the agricultural industry haan excellent opportunity to lead the way in revoiutionizing the use of renewable energy resources." CBCfarm info responsibility - "The CBC has a respon- ,, sibility to provide more in- formation for farmers", said Peter Hannam, President of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture. Hannam was speaking in support "of the recom- mendations on CBC - farm broadcasting contained in the Standing Committee on -Broadcasting, Films and Assistance to the Arts report which has been tabled in the House of Commons. Hannam added, "The whole point of having a public broadcast system is to fila needs the private stations cannot meet. Farmers cannot do their job without this in- formation. Isn't this why we have a CBC?" "OFA particularly sup- ports the recommendation that regular noon -hour farm broadcasts of not less than 30 minutes a day a re essential to provide_ the minimum amount of required in- formation about prices, technical developments and na$ional and international.' analysis„." Hannam wenton. ,.. To improve the quality of the farm ..broadcasting, OFA also strongly supports the recommendations that it operate outside the confines of CBC general news coverage; that an Agricultural Advisory Council for the English network be established, provided there are farmer members of the Council; that a full time, well-qualified agriculture broadcaster , be A.. For sale.' •,:.i PHERRIES; -; Pick y sbur cherries; .. at :.Qrchards, Forest, a south of Camp, IPpe Pitting machine availg ;ynssr1eatSvenieint0 -.27: -put• in charge of farm broadcasting: ' and that a Broadcast Complaints Commission be established. Mr. Hannam warned,. however that the success of these changes in the CBC will depend on the attitude with which they are carried out. It must be . recognized that farmers require specific information for the carrying out of their job and this must , be differentiated from food' prbgramming aimed at consumers. "The CBC farm reporters have been doing an excellent job despite the time con- straints they face. What they need is the full support of the Corporation behind them," Hannam concluded. . B. Custom Work CUSTOM Swathing wit 12, ft. swather. Phone 52 —27-30x C. Wanted WEANER .PIGS wante feeder hog operations. S.R. Buchanan 524-6353 seven p.m. 29-30nc E: Farm services NOTICE to Farmers - C Trucking, Dungannon, have trucks and equipm handle grajn to elev Gravel of all kinds rival Tuesday and Wednesd each'week cattle are s to United Cooperat Toronto. Phone 529.7796, 30-31-32x Farm Crate Barn Timbe Farrowing Cra For Sale Contact: Bob Jewell R.R. 6 Goderlch 524-6317 he b r cc b, ar e tc di TI is th a fr e at to a da by n e -s di d h et e L 0 er to 0 g' an an nd as OL an e Hose and Fittings Suction. drain, hydraulic ` Quick Couplers Pumps for every ne Transfer pumps; sewage pa' e _water pumps, spec pumps. 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