HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1978-05-04, Page 39`ane f
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in the
I'm in the checkout Zine at the liquor store, just buying
some cooking wine, you understand, when a farmer friend
of mine speaks.
"I read your stuff in the paper all the time. Sometimes
it's pretty good but other times, you're crazy," he said.
Standing in the line at the liquor store is no place to
start an argument so I tell him to write me a letter and
tell me about it.
"Just put a few thoughts on paper, tear a strip off my
hide if you like, but write a letter," I said.
"I just might do that," he said.
He never has. And I doubt if he ever will.
Yet most newspapers carrying this column also include
a return address.
I have said it before but it needs repeating: Farmers
must abandon their role as a silent minority if they wish
to be heard in our society, especially if they wish to get
any major legislative changes.
Agricultural ministers have a tough time selling cabi-
net colleagues on farm programs because politicians no•
longer have to pay much attention to farmers. The so-
called farm vote is a myth. '
Less than six per cent of the population is actively en-
gaged in farming. No segment of the population votes en
masse; national figures indicate that only about 50 per
cent of the electorate cast ballots.
If only 50 per cent of those eligible cast their vote, then
the farm vote ends up being about three per cent of the
population and few 'politicians are going to spend much
time worrying about three per cent of the population
which will not vote for one party anyway. Politicians
cater to the urbanites. Of the 125 seats in the Legislature,
less than a dozen are purely rural ridings.
WATER WELL DRILLING
"76 YEARS EXPERIENCE"
• FARM • SUBURBAN • INDUSTRIAL • MUNICIPAL •
• FRESS ESTIMATES
• GUARANTEED WELLS
• FAST MODERN EQUIPMENT
• 4 ROTARY & PERCUSSION DRILLS
"OUR EXPERIENCE ASSURES
LOWER COST WATER WELLS"
DAVIDSON
4 Rotary and Percussion Drills
PHONE 357-1960
WELL DRILLING LIMITED WINGHAM
Collect Calls Accepted
"ONTARIO'S FINEST WATER WELLS SINCE 1900"
Letters are appreuated by Bob Trotter Eldale Rd Elmira Ont N3B 2C7
To get back to the original idea, then, farmers must
become more vocal. They must become letter writers. I
never cease to be amazed at the lack of response from
them to the ideas and opinions expressed in this column.
Either they can't wtlite or they can't read. Orboth. Sure-
ly, a great many disagree yet the telephone calls and the
letters certainly don't surprise the mailman.
This column appears in about 25 or 30 papers across
Ontario from Dresden and Goderich in the west to
Iroquois and Eganville in the east. It may be, of course,
that it is so boring most farmers won't read it. I prefer
to think they do read it but don't find the time to write.
It is certainly time for most farmers to abandon the
role of a silent minority because they have a lot of edu-
cating to do.
Most people in the cities have an idea of farming that
is 50 or 60 years behind the times. They get a picture of
a farmer from those stupid. television shows such as
Funny Farm which picture farmers as imbeciles.
Most ,city people know nothing of farm problems and
don't care. They have the mistaken idea that farmers are
highly subsidized by the government when the truth is
that Canadian farmers receive less in subsidy money than
any other free nation in the world. Less than two per cent
of the federal budget goes to farmers. ' e't, big business
continues to get monumental forgivable loans.
It's a bad time to tell farmers to write more letters. In
a week or two, they'll be on the land again and won't have
time to 'write their bankers for more money but they
must do more than bitch in private to their own people
and within their own organizations.
They must get dff the back .forty long enough to make
their presence felt right to the top.
1.
Enrol right away
•
The Ontario Beef -Calf
Income •Stabilization
Program support price has
been set at 51.5 percent per
pound for 1978. The enrolment
fee is $8 per cow.
Enrolment forms have
been mailed to producers who
have been in the program.
Applications are to be
completed and mailed by
May'31, 1978.
Any producer who did not
receive his enrolment form,
or has not .been in the
program and wishes to
participate may do so by
picking up an enrolment form
at the Ontario Ministry of
Agriculture and Food Office
in ('linto'n.
Cow -calf men who have not
participated in the program
previously are asked to
complete a contract as well
and return both forms to the
Ontario , Ministry of
Agriculture and Food office
by May 31.
If the average market price
of Ontario produced calves
sold in September, October
and November is less than the
support price of 51.5 cents a
payment will be made.
The grant will be .85
'multiplied by 450 multiplied
by (51.5 - market price),
°being calculated • on arrmt
average 450 pound calf and an
85. percent calf crop.
•
GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, THURSDAY-, MAY 4, 1978—PAGE 15A
Tax-free transfers okay
Effective immediately,
incorporated family farms
can be transferred to a son or
daughter without payment of
capital gains tax, the federal
budget speech announced.
Tax-free transfers have
been allowed for unin-
corporated family farms but
incorporated farms were
excluded. Many farmers
have complained that this is
not fair.
A finance department
spokesman said there are
roughly 15,000 'incorporated
farms in Canada, many of
tl'fem family operations.
Many farmers incorporated
to take advantage of tax
advantages given to small
businesses.
Without the special rule, a
farmer taking over the family
farm from his parents had to
pay the gains tax. The rule
does not free them -totally
from this tax; they must pay
if they ever sell it to someone
else.
The spokesman said having
to pay thousands of dollars in
taxes would be a great burden
for a young person taking
over a family farm.
The exemption also applies
to farm partnerships.
To qualify, the 'corporation
or partnership must be
farming in Canada, sub-
stantially all of its assets
must be used in the business
and at least one member of
the farmer's family must be
actively engaged in running
the farm.
Good year ahead
The Bank of Montreal's
farm newsletter forecasts
that 1978 should be a good
year for Canadian farmers.
Several encouraging signs
have appeared, according to
the April issue of First Bank
Farm Profit Management.
"The biggest turnaround
has• been in cattle prices with
substantial gains over last
year. Hog prices have held up
well in the first quarter and
world wheat stocks continue
to move more in line with
consumption," the newsletter
states.
Oilseed acreage boosts are
likely in both Eastern and
Western Canada. Hog -feed
ratios have held at profitable
levels • and increased
production should . add to
,gross farm income as prices
'Match or exceed"Ias.t year's
levels.
Costs have been held to
Agriculture is a "GROWING' Business
modest gains and ., strong
competition among suppliers
has allowed many op-
portunities to price capital
purchases below 1977 levels.
Land price gains have also
moderated in most areas.
The Canadian Wheat Board
final payment was higher
than expected and has added
a note of optimism to the'
Western economy. 41
"All things, considered, we
expect 1978 to be a better year
than anticipated - a major
reason will be that many are
expecting the cost -price
squeeze to continue and have
planned • accordingly. Most
farmers have used several
sharp pencils this winter in
preparing their financial
plans and when the books are
balanced,next Degelnlaer,..,.
they shold be pleasantly
surprised," the newsletter
concluded.
FARM CLASSIFIED SECTION
A. For sale
SEED BARLEY, cleaned or
from the bin. Phone 524-7351
or 524-4529.-16,17,18
H&N "NICK CHICK"
leghorns, 20 weeks .old,
available for spring or
summer delivery; also
Hubbard Golden Comets
(brown egg layers) for early
June delivery. Orders now
accepted for heavy "roaster"
cockerels day-old, for spring
delivery. Call McKinley
Farms & Hatchery Ltd., 262-
2837,-10-22ar
SUPER SPRING
DISCOUNTS on Shell motor
oils and tractor fluids until
April 30 at Edward Fuels,
Goderich, 524-8386. Limited
supply on quality hand
calculators. $7.95 com-
• plete.-15-18ar
B. Custom work
WILL custom spray corn,
beans and grain. Will also
plant corn or beans. Will._
supply fertilizer, auger, and
wagon upon request. Phone
482-7192.--16,17,18
PIONEER
SEED CORN
Roy Brown 529-7260
Sharron Brindly 524-8114
B. Custom work
BULLDOZING, Allis-
Ct{almers No. 650, with six
way hydraulic blade. Bill
Robinson, RR 2, Auburn, 529-
785.7.-16tf
C. Wanted
PASTURE for 20 head of
cattle. Phone 524-9086.-17,18
E. Farm services
FOR RENT, for CASH CROP
— 40 acres. Phone' 524-
7632.-18tf
EDWARD FUELS, Goderich
524-8386 now booking orders
for Bladex, new high quality
Shell Atrazine, new Blazine
and Birland for root worm
control.-15-18ar
PIONEER
SEED CORN
VARIETIES AVAILABLE
3990 (3W) 2600 H.U.
3977 (3W) 2650 H.U.
3965 (3W) 2750 H.U.
3975A (SC) 2700 H.U.
80 DAYS
82 DAYS
87 DAYS
82 DAYS
Also other varieties available
JACK MAYHEW
RR 3 - CLINTON
PHONE 482.3176
Your representative for
Goderich Township and Clin-
ton Area.
*Any former customers of Mr.
J. Fischer - please feel free to
call me.
AGRICULTURAL
STEEL ROOFING AND SIDING
• 10 Colours . • Custom Cut lengths;
• Galvanized Buy Exact Length Required
• 30 ga. - 28 ga. - 26 ga. • Complete Fascia 8. Soffit Systems
• 3 Different Rib Profiles. • Best Possible Pricet
• For That Complete Building Call
JIM MARTIN CONSTRUCTION
S 129 BRITANNIA RD. EAST, GODERICH
11111111 I 524-9042
=111111101111111 WM=
WE AT M.J. SMITH ARE EVER EXPANDING TOO! KEEPING UP
WITH PROGRESS IN THE FARMING INDUSTRY SO THAT WE MAY ALWAYS HELP YOU
GROW YOUR BEST FOR LESS!
NOW'S THE TIME TO GET YOUR QUALITY
ANDERSON'S FERTILIZER
FOR HUSKY RESULTS AND SAVINGS
Again this year we have an
excellent selection in both BAGS and BULK for all your
Fertilizer needs.
6-24-24 8-32.16 18-46-0 16-16-16
45% UREA 33% AMMONIA -NITRATE
WHATEVER YOUR NEEDS - "BUY WITH CONFIDENCE" WE WILL NOT BE
UNDERSOLD
BULK FERTILIZER
DELIVERY
The Farming Season is upon us again. And again this year. We at M.J. SMITH are ready to
assist you with all your farming requirements. Right now we're set with all your Spring
Fertilizer and Chemical needs. And again this year we will supply you with only the
highest quality good - At the lowest possible prices. That's part of our commitment to
HELP YOU GROW YOUR BEST FOR LESS! And, plan smart business- because we want to see
you again in our 65th year.
IF YOU'VE GOT THE TIME, HAVE
Coffee - on the house
;,• •
,or
.a.
"WE WILL NOT BE UNDERSOLD"
AGRICULTURAL
CHEMICALS
Prompt Service when & where you need It! We
make the Bulk deliveries right to your door - or,
we can quickly service you right at our centre.
ALSO SPREADERS AVAILABLE
INOCULATIONS
CORN
• Atrazine 80W 90W • Liquid Atrazine • Lasso
• Sutan "5" • Chlordane 250 • Corn Oil Concen-
trate
BEANS
• Epson • Patoran • Cobex
GRAIN
• M.C.P.A. Spray • 24D Spray
NOW IN OUR 64th YEAR OF SERVICE!
p r, i�tili..
D.C. RED CLOVER Y.B. SWEET CLOVER
CERTIFIED ALFALFAS RED CLOVER Y.B. CLOVER
CERTIFIED ALFALFAS
PLUS MANY OTHERS FOR ALL YOUR NEEDS
"ALL OF OUR FACILITIES ARE TO
SERVE YOU BETTER"
. SMITH hd.
IChathain
Goderich)
• SEED •GRAIN • BEANS
HWY. NO. 21. JUSTNbRTIiCJSPORT ALBERT
P1'