HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1977-12-15, Page 354
ne .foot in the
furrow' ••
2.4
it Is not much -fun being a farmer at the -best of tines
Interesting, challenging, different, precarious. fulfilling
perhaps. but not much fun anymore.
And if we can believe the guessperts, some of the tun that
is left is soon going to be wiped out.
Three -top agricultural men spoke at the annual meeting of
the .Eastern Canadian Farm Writers' Association last
month. They feel the future is pretty grim for farmers.
Dr. Gordon MacEachern of Ottawa. president of the Agri-
cultural Economics Council of Canada. told the farm writ-
ers that farm prices and profits are declining -- now, that's
not news. for farmers. is it' — world markets are becoming
more competitive, the domestic market is being eroded by
imports, energy costs are rising, government budgets are
showing increasing deficits. unemployment is high and in-
flation is too high.
None of this is news to farmers.
Underlying everything, he said, like the submerged part
-of an iceberg. is the rising cost of producing food in Canada
and this is pushing the industry out of world competition.
Gaetan l.usster of Ottawa._ deputy minister of agriculture
for Canada, said farming will remain competitive only in
some commodities. W Which ch means others wilt be sacrificed.
lie did not suggest which commodities would bcsacrificed.-
Canadian agriculture: he said, will require more efficiency
and improved.productivity. access to more markets through
trade, agreemehts and policies, a land -use policy to pre-
serve the best farm land, adoption of new technology and a
farm -level economy that will offer "stability and security
for farmers so they can plan ahead. -
Bill Doyle. one of the most influential figures in agricul-
ture in Ontario — he has Bill Newman's ear. i hear -- made
a lot of sense. He%is executive director of the marketing
division in the On ario Ministry of Agriculture and Food.
learn e,r spas, gird Dr But, ,„iWigle Ru fit","a 61,i NIB 24.1
He said Canada must keep production costs in line and
should look for sales where high quality at a high price can
be developed
'['hat makes a good deal of sense to Inc. ()manor's produce
the best pork in the world and Ontario farmers should get a
good price for a superior product on world markets
'Mr. Doyle maintained that C=anadian agriculture must
drop- the- attitude that we can sell anything anywhere: Zero
in on certain commodities and markets where success is
likely. Good satesnren, I guess, can spot a market and tap
that Market. Canadians „joust become good salesmen in
world markets
l)iiyle also suggested that Canadians may he wise to pro-
tect markets for certain domestically -produced foods even
if lower-priced supplies are available on world markets.
This. of course, hearts protective tariffs, a route which
has been taken by many European countries. especially
those within the European Common Market.
It is.
tine for Mr. Doyle to make such statements and [
heartily agree with hint. 1 think Canadian farmers should
be protected by tariff restrictions. But Mr. Doyle is with the
provincial. gov'rnment and the province has little or no clout
in establishing
tariffs. This Phis
I
the tE'Ecr<tI' '
li\c c •'
rnmenf's
g
responsibility. Bill Newman has been Lighting ever -since he
was appointed minister of agriculture. for better protec-
tion for farmers,. He has not been able to make much head-
way.
It seems quite clear to this observer that Canadian farm-
ers do face some tough times and one of the biggest threats
to stabilizing the industry is in costs of production. Farmers
are forced into it. E.vervthing they buy is costing more and
there is nothing they can do to prevent it.
Biggest increase is in energy costs. They must pay.more
for fuel and this alone could force thein out of world mar-
kets.
GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15,1977.MA.G
Lea. -Fonds Co-op
re-elects president
At a directors' meeting
following the annual meeting
of Gay Lea Foods Co-
operative Ltd., held in Guelph
on December 6, Walter
Hamel of Elmwood, Ontario
was re-elected president.
Mr. Hamel owns and
•operates a dairy farm in
Bruce County and has been
active .in farm and co-
operative organizations for
some years. He has been a
delegate in the co-operative
since the early 1960s and was
elected a director in 1968. in
1974 he became a ;fiirector of
the Dairy Farmers of Canada
and in 1976 he was elected
president of Gay Lea Foods
Co-operative.
Russell McCutcheon . of
Owen Sound was re-elecred
as a director and as first vice-
president. Robert Turner of
Owen Sound was re-elected as`
a director and as second vice-
president. Elected to the
board in December were
Edwin Miller of Exeter and
John Stafford of Wroxeter.
The remaining directors
are: Howard Wilson
Sound; John Campbell of
Bayfield; David Ireland of
Teeswater and Mel Proud of
Tara.
At the annual meeting
which preceded the election,
President Walter Hamel said
that the year under review
had its problems, its
challenges and its successes.
Sharply reduced milk.
volume necessitated cure
tailment of operations in the
milk plants. However, net
earnings permitted payment
of a cash patronage dividend
of 10 cents per hundredweight
on 93,6 per cent of members'
rifalk �'xrrd•-three cents per
pound butterfat on members'
farm -separated cream.
Mr. Hamel said it was
impossible for the co-
operative to generate ear-
nipgs in the egg grading
business and that the
e f production topic at Jan. 5 conference
fspecialists will discuss
to efficient beef
ction, January 5, as
part of the Ontario
Agricultural College (OAC)
Agricultural Conference at
the University of Guelph.
T.D. Burgess, morning
chairman of the beef
o extra help here
Carlo Agriculture
r William Newman
there is "no
fication" for the
nment to provide
onal assistance, other
crop insurance, to the
ince's white bean far -
man said in a brief
release last week he has
dered the situation of
year's white bean crop
sustained considerable
from wet weather
ge
fall.
The minister said about
100,000 acres, or two-thirds of.,
the white bean acreage, are
coyered by crop insurance.
He said that as of Dec. 1, $7.5
million had been paid in
claims and the total is ex-
pected to rise to $9 million.
"On the basis of facts
known to me and on the basis
of representation made to me
by the bean producers'
marketing board, I am df the
opinion athat there is no
justification for the gover-
nment to provide assistance
other than crop insurance,"
he said.
Bean producers in Huron,
Perth and Middlesex counties
are expected to claim nearly
$12 million in insurance to
compensate for the loss _of
almost 80 percent of this
year's crop.
Until the wet weather hit in
the fall, bean producers had
predicted a record crop. The
bean marketing board's
statistics show this year's
crop to be the worst in 55
years.
program,says the day -long
session will prove in-
formative to producers and
others interested in the beef
industry.
The session, which will be
held in the University Centre,
is expected to draw more
than 150 people.
The morning session will
cover growth promotants,
their economics, frequency of
use, profits and problems, as
well• as a discussion of the
recently licensed feed ad-
ditive, Rumensin.
During - the afternoon
session of the beef program,
researchers and represen-
tative,s of breeding
associations will discuss new
breeding research and -goals
of breed associations.
There is nofegistration fee
for the beef program, one of
nine ' separate programs
offered during the OAC
ome course for pork producers from Guelph
k production is
mins more specialized
producers are deman-
or sale
Pat manure handling
m, swing type, in ex-
t condition, paint still
ft. of chain, 3 years old,
chute. Phone 524-4350.
Iyestock
SALE purebred
pshire boars, ser-
ble age, ROP tested,
crossbred boars. Bob
on, RR 4, Walton, 345-
-50,51,52
y
NEW HOME
NIARRANTY
PROGRAM
ding highly trained
speople to operate their
farms.
To meet the need for' this
type of training, the Ontario
ministry of agriculture and
food sponsors a homestudy
course called Pork
Production.
The course, written by
swine specialists under the
direction of Doug Jamieson of
Centralia College . of
Agricultural Technology, is
popular among producers
who want to keep abreast of
changes in the industry, says
Gary Hutchison, of the
University of Guelph Office of
Continuing Eucation.
Ag. conference Jan. 3 - 5 at Guelph
Nine programs covering a
variety of agricultural topics
will be featured at the Ontario
Agricultural College (OAC)
Agricultural Conference
January 3, 4 and 5 at the
University of Guelph.
The Conference, called "If
It Concerns Agriculture", It
Concerns All of Us," is
sponsored jointly by OAC and
the Ontario ministry of
agriculture and food.
W.S. Young, coordinator of
agricultural extension at OAC
says thousands of people
including producers, con-
sumers, and agribusiness
5 YEAR
WARRANTY
ON NEW HOMES
INCLUDING CONDOMINIUMS!
Purchasers should buy ONLY from a Registered
Builder and be assured of:
1 Deposit and downpayment protection.
2. Correction of defects and deficiencies during
first year.-
3.
ear_3. Protection against -major structural defects for
5 years.
4. Mediation in disputes.
"tckw'thyour builder, solicitor of real estate broker, or contact
HUDAC NEW HOME WARRANTY PROGRAM
rip 8toor Si West. Toronto. Ont M5S 2V6 • (4161 922.3005
administering ONTARIO NEW HOME WARRANTIES PLAN ACT
representatives are expected
to attend.
Programs on the first day,
of the Conference, January
3, include "machinery on.the
farm" "trimming corn
production colts", and
"alternate cash crops for
central Ontario". The
"poultry industry school",
will he held January 3 at the
Arboretum Centre.
Programs scheduled for
January 5, the final day of the
Conference, include "aids to
efficient beef production,"
and "erosion - one of
Ontario's agricultural
challenges."
There is no registration fee
for the Conference. However,
there is a $2 charge for the
Ontario Food Processors'
Fieldmen's Conference. All
program sessions, unless
otherwise noted, will be held
at the University Centre.
For more information
contact Dr. W.S. Young,
Ontario Agricultural College,
University of Guelph, Guelph,
Ontario, NIG 2W1.
•
WATER WELL DRILLING
"76 YEARS EXPERIENCE”
Agricultural Conference
January 3 to 5. The con-
ference is sponsored jointly
by OAC and the Ontario
ministry of agriculture and
food.
For more information
about the conference contact
W.S. Young, Ontario
Agricultural College,
University of Guelph, Guelph,
Ontario N1G 2W1,
WALTER HAMEL
(Photo by Bob Cunningham)
directors had decided to
accept an offer to purchase
the egg grading stations at
Seaforth and Strathroy. He
said that this was a very
difficult decision for the
directors to make but vertical
integration in the egg in-
dustry ruled, out successful
operations in only grading
and packing.
He also stated that the par
value of common shares had
been increased from $10 to $15
and that this change had
necessitated transferring
$893,000 from the general
reserve and contributed
surplus accounts to the share
account.
Mr. T. E. Brady, executive
vice-president„„and general
manager, dtgriounced a
decrease in sales of 3 per cent
to $89,882,043, due to the
decrease in milk receipts
from a year ago but net
earnings at $1,053,000 were
slightly ahead of last year.
He said that the financial
position of the co-oper ve
continued to improve, havin
reached a current ratio of 1.6
to one for the first time and
that members' equity had
increased to 31.4 per cent of
total assets. .Outf earnings
arnings
the Board of Directors had
declared a divident of $1.20
per common share, which is
an increase of 50 per cent
over a year ago. Mr. Brady
said that the dividend on
shares, plus the patronage
dividend on milk and cream,
toula return half a -million
dollars in cash to the member
shareholders.
Wanted
RABBITS
Top market prices paid for fryers- 4-6 lbs.
Heavy - 7 lbs. and up.
Shipping dates every second Monday Com-
mencing Monday, December 19/77.
For more information contact
Huronview Commercial
Rabbitry
Phone: 519-7795 Dungannon, Ontario
CLAY —
Silo Unloaders
Feeders
Cleaners
Stabling
Leg Elevators
Liquid Manure Equip
Hag Equipment
BUTLER
,Silo Unloaders
Feeders
Conveyors
FARMATIC —
Mills
Augers, etc.
ACORN —
Cleaners
Heated Waterers
WESTEEL- ROSCO
Granaries
8 & L - Hog Panelling
LOWRY FARM SYSTEMS
RR 1, Kincardine, Ontario
Phone 395-5286
t
LARGEST STOCK
IN THE COUNTY
WORK
BOOTS
—Industrial
— Farm
— Factory
Plain or safety toe
PUNCTURE PROOF
SOLES
ROSS
SHOE SHOP
142 The Square
God'nch, Ont.
etting along together
is important.
This is what Ontario
is doing to help
develop understanding
between people.
• FARM • SUBURBAN • INDUSTRIAL • MUNICIPAL •
• FRESS ESTIMATES
• GUARANTEED WELLS
• FAST MODERN EQUIPMENT
• 4 ROTARY & PERCUSSION DRILLS
"OUR EXPERIENCE ASSURES
LOWER COST WATER WELLS"
DAVIDSON
WELL DRILLING LIMITED
4 Rotary and Percussion Drills
PHONE 357-1960
WINGHAT
Collect Calls Accepted
"ONTARIO'S FINEST WATER WELLS SINCE 1900"
As our ,hilt\ ,rt,w, mitre flavine,
C(,llllllllllltl' trn,tttn, may dr) C trt1111 time
rc, time. Our rc,ptln,lhlllty i 11' hell,
intlivitltctls,groups and con mouth,
rr,c,lvc an\ lthtulnc, that nl,1 tit t IIT.
,inti reduce tension ,r, th,lt ere. err
iiiicrst,intling ,Intl reset t
re;ichctl,
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designeki tci ,i',urc the rlt;ht, ,Intl cli,nit\
of ,ill rcrson, without resiled 1 1 r,It c.
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alit nittk t s. rbc Or)t.irltl { Ionian Right,
( '1)nun1„W!) tvt,rlk` t,'r healthier relations
1,cmccti Lin Lip ,0 the ctinlnlunity level.
( k'im 1nIiiIty tl!Un't'llittg i, tine tit the
!moor miles tit \ttur l)nt,lrltt Ff1ltlLtll
Rt,ht` l t,illllll„It+II. "•e entic,i\'fair tit
hri',11tit,\\'ll tt,0111)11nfi,it lin harrier,
1111t,t1,,rt,11r' }`\ l\,tr{ Irl' 102etiler
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HAMILTON
1 West Avenue South
Postal Zone L8N 2R9
Telephone 527.2951
KENORA
808 Robertson Street
Po,tat Zone P9N 1X9
Telephone 468-3128
KITCHENER
824 King St'eet West
Postai Zone N2G 1G1
re'ephonp 744-7308
LONDON
560 Wellington SI
Postal Zone N6A 3R4
. Telephone 438 7291
OTTAWA
2197 Riverside Drive
Postal Zone K1H7X3
Telephone 731 2415
PETERBOROUGH
267 Stewart St
Postal Zone K9J 3M8
Telephone 743 0361
,SLt:Me BrockTSTE Street
Postal Zone P6A 366
Telephone 9493331
SUDBURY
1538 LaSalle Boulevard
Postal Zone P3A 1 Z7
Telephone 566 3071
THY
41-3/-15U
35 JamesUNDER StBAS
Postal Zone P7E 6E3
Telephone 475 1693
TORONTO
400 University' Avenue
Postal Zone M7A 177
Telephone 9656841
WINDSOR
500 Ouellette .Avenue
Postal Zone N9A 1 B3
Telephone 256 3611
Ontario Human Rights Commission
Bette Stephenson, M.D.,
Minister of Labour
William Davis, Premier
Province of Ontario