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The Goderich Signal-Star, 1979-05-10, Page 37ne hirrowfbw IL A Jarvis farmer who sued a farm equipment dealer for $5T400 -over machinery he claimed was defective has lost the court case. Iitthe judgement, he was ordered to pay the farm equipment dealer $16,400..1t began when the farmer bought a four-wheel-drive 'tractor worth $45,000 in 1975, a sprayer and a cultivator. The farmer claimed the tractor and the other equipment broke down just when he needed it most and he lost $22,000 a year for two years. The disgruntled farmer took the equipment and dumped it back in the dealer's yard and refused to pay for it. He refused to make more than one payment on a total purchase of $69,407. He paid only $10,000 because, he said, the tractor did not have enough power to pull the equipment and the other implements wouldn't do the job they were supposed to do. The farmer lost 140 hours of use of his tractor because he couldn't get it repaired after rocker arms broke a week after he bought it. It was also out of commission for five weeks, he claimed at a time when he needed it 12 hours a day. The equipment dealer denied the tractor was defective. They said they repaired it 14 days after it broke down and did not charge the farmer for repairs because the tractor was still under warranty. They also claimed they lost more than $21,000 when they resold all the equipment. The judge agreed with the company although the farmer was allowed to deduct $4,500 for lost time. Another case is before the courts to be heard in June involving a leased tractor, also supposed to have broken dowry when needed. These are only two cases. Hundreds of others could be cited. Ontario farmers are spending $240 million a year on machinery with no 'guarantee the 'equipment will do the job they bought it for. Farm equipment warranties claim the companies will repair a tractor for any defects during the first two years. But• the dealers and the manufacturers spell out in no uncertain terms that no money will be FARM Letters are aPOrec,ale0 bv Bob Trotter Eldale Rd Ebmre On, N38 2C7 , paid for, time lost or crop losses if the equipment will trait Flu tlee job. In Saskatchewan, Alberta and Manitoba, govern- ment legislation• forces farm equipment manufac- turers to replace defective parts within 7 hours or pay for crops or time lost. The only recourse farmers in Ontario have is the toothless tiger called the farm machinery review board. Its five members can only investigate and make recommendations. They have gabsolutely no power to do anything. This board's clout is so minimal that the Ontario Federation of Agriculture doesn't even bother to refer cases to it because the federation believes -- although it has no legal powers with farm equipment manufacturers and dealers either -- it can get more action on its own. Farmers are not included in the Consumers Protection Act and have to fight warranty battles on their own. The urban consumer who gets a defective car or an appliance has a warranty backed by the act. Companies which do not honor their warranties can be charged and the province will help the consumer fight the case. Legislation has forced manufacturers with farm dealerships in western Canada to keep large in- ventories of parts on the Prairies. I agree with Ed Morden, secretary -manager of the National Farmers Union regional office in Guelph: "A tractor that used to cost, $10,000 now costs anywhere from $40,000 to $70,000. If it doesn't do the job, there isn't a thing you can do except sue. The Ontario government just won't move in the direction of government warranties." A promise to help farmers was made in the Throne Speech when this session of the legislature opened. Nothing hs been done so far. The budget for agriculture in Ontario increased less than three per cent.•If the government is not going to do anything in these times of restraint, then it could certainly give thought to putting some, teeth in the_ toothless tiger. Another mil going up Total investment $6 million Another major feed mill construction project was announced by UCO President Robert Coulthard at a sod - turning ceremony in Pexerborough May 2. ",,UCO is in the feed business as demonstrated by the investment and commitment made here today. This construction project, and the•• one announced in Wingham on April 18, represent a total investment of over $6 million. They are part of a plan to improve the total feed service provided to CO-OP members across the province of Ontario." This ceremony marked the start of construction of a new $3 million feed mill to be located on a 12 acre site in Peter- borough's Industrial Park, south of Highway 7. This mill will replace the outdated mill on George Street which was pur- chased by United Co- operatives of Ontario in 1940. It is expected to be operational in the late spring of 1980. The 20,000 tonne . per year plant consists of a mill, ,enclosed receiving and bulk. loading areas, 12,500 square feet of warehouse space and 63 bins with a storage capacity of 2,000 tonnes. Design features of the mill include such major modern technology as fully computerized batch feed manufacturing systems capable of producing feeds within the very close tolerances specified by each for- mulation; provisions to fully utilize locally produced grains; a steam conditioner and roller mill to produce flaked and rolled grains required for the var'ous textured dairy and orse. feeds and a pe11e 1 equipped with quick change dies permitting pellet size to be readily changed from standard to cube sizes. Steel. was chosen for construction rather than concrete to facilitate further expansion of the mill as required. UCO's Chief Executive Officer and General Manager, Julian Smith, stated, "This mill and the new Wingham feed mill are not the end of new CO- OP mill facilities for the next century. If the, demand for CO-OP feed continues to grow at the same rate as it has during the past two years, we will have to provide additional feed manufacturing capacity equal to the capacity of this new mill every three years." United Co-operatives of Ontario is owned by more than 44,000 individual members and 48 member co-operatives representing another 40,000 members across WATER WELL DRILLING "79 YEARS EXPERIENCE" • FARM • SUBURBAN • INDUSTRIAL • MUNICIPAL • • FREE ESTIMATES • GUARANTEED WELLS • FAST MODERN EQUIPMENT • 4 ROTARY & PERCUSSION DRILLS "OUR EXPERIENCE ASSURES LOWER COST WATER WELLS" DAVIDSON WELL DRI LING LIMITED 4 Rotary and Percussion Drills PHONE 357-1960 WINGHAM CollOct Calls Accepted "ONTARIO'S FIN+:ST WATER WELLS SINCE 1900" Ontario. They exercise local control through a democratic co-operative structure. The building of the feed mill at Peter- borough by UCO ensures that ownership of feed manufacturing, and feed services remains with local people. UCO also supplies a complete line of farm inputs including petroleum, building supplies, seed and fer- tilizer through CO-OP outlets across the province and markets grain, livestock and poultry. Got somethin to say? let everyone know WRITE A LETTER TO THE EDITOR CLAY — Silo Unloadors Feeders Cleaners Stabling Log Elevators Liquid Manure Equipment Hog Equipment B UTLER — Silo Unloaders Feeders Conveyors FARMATIC — Mills Augers, etc. ACORN — Cloaners Heated Waterers WESTEEL-ROSCo Granaries B & L - Hog Panelling LOWRY FARM SYSTIMS RR 1, Kincardine, Ont. Phan. 395-5286 De]L et program threat Farm efficiency will . fall if government cut- backs in agricultural programs conti.nue, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) said in its Annual Brief to the Provincial Cabinet recently. The brief pointed out that a major reduction in efficiency will have far- reaching consequences. Ontario farmers would become non-competitive, which would lead to thousands of lost jobs and higher consumer prices. The OFA used several examples to illustrate how services were suf- fering as a result of last year's cut-backs. A further decline is ex- pected in the coming year due to the cuts announced in the recent budget. The brief urged the gover- nment to reverse this trend before the effects become even more serious. In particular the OFA recommended the OMAF increase its tile drainage loan program from $18 - million to $25 -million a year. Tile drainage is one of the easiest ways to improve farm efficiency, while the cost tothe governnment is minimal- -a small subsidy on the interest. They pointed out that Ontario's com- petitors are increasing their programs and so should Ontario. OFA also saith that increased effort in developing new crops, new processing methods, energy conservation, ,land conservation and pollution abatement were needed to help Ontario farmers maintain a competitive position in an ever-changing world market. The OFA was critical of the government's ap- proach . to farm machinery problems. The OFA has asked repeatedly for legislated minimum warranties and a stronger Farm Machinery Board with investigative, arbitration and licencing powers. Better yields start and finish with Green Cross atoran herbicide for white beans. Green Cross Patoran controls weed§ from the start of the growing season. And it [maintains that effective weed control - right up to harvest. You get clean fields and better yields. !When applied pre -emergently, as directed, Patoran is safe for beans -white, ;lima, snap, kidney and others. Green Cross Patoran. -The quality herbicide more and more bean growers depend on. For more information, Write to Green Cross Products, 1 Westside Drive, GREEN Etobicoke, Ontario. M9C 1B2. CROSS GREEN CROSS PRODUCTS 1, Westside Drive, Etobicoke, Ontario Division of CIBA-GEIGY CANADA LTD. MONCTON • MONTREAL • TORONTO • WINNIPEG • CALGARY • VANCOUVER Registered trademark E11711 Recently announced government programs, they said, fall far short of dealing with the problem. The --OFA -- - alae recommended a new Agriculture Resource Protection Program. It would assist farmers with the capital cost of new equipment for en- vironmental main- tenance, pollution abatement, storage requirements and market expansion. Over ten years, the program would cover one-third of the •.capital cost, up to a maximum of $10,000. The OFA brief con- cluded that the Ontario Government has the power to assist Ontario's farming industry, not to the detriment of any ,other sector of society, but for the benefit of all. GODERICH SIGNA•L•STAR, THURSDAY, MAY 10, 1979—PAGE 13A A. For sale FARM CLASS.IETP-SECTION TWENTY-TWO Berg sow stalls. Phone 524- 6475.-19 ATRAZINE, BLADEX, BLAZINE, KORNOIL, etc., great prices. ED- WARD D- -WAR.D F -LP E -L S , GODERICH, 524- 8386.-19-20AR MOTOR OILS, Tractor fluids, spring discounts now at EDWARD FUELS, GODERICH, 524-8386.-19-20A R LIQUID MANURE STORAGE TANKS Up to 80' diameter J.D. McPHEE CONSTRUCTION LTD. For free estimates Call John at: Strathroy 245-3218 A. For sale FERGUSON 7085 with loader, $1,650.00; Fe-rguson 9N excellent condition, 3 point hitch, new paint (blue with grey), $1,550.0.0. Phone 482-7552.-18-19 NOW AVAILABLE - Seed grain, flax and rape seed contracts, full line of agricultural chemicals, seed corn, white bean seed. Anderson Flax Products Ltd. Phone 528- 3203 Lucknow.-18,19,20ar C. Wanted WANTED: 200 bales top quality second cut alfalfa. P -hone 524- 6475.-19 D. Livestock FO1K SALE:. PUREBRED Yorkshire, purebred Hampshire and Hamp cross York boars. Good' selection, ser- viceable age. Bob Robinson, RR4 Walton 345-2317.-18,19 BALED hay for sale - F. For rent $1.00 per bale. Phone 482 3340.-18,19x B. Custom work BULLDOZING, Allis- Chalmers No. 650, with six way hydraulic blade. Bill Robinson, RR2 Auburn, 529-7857.-13tf 240 ACRES of farmland for rent at Amberley. Mrs. I. McCreath 396-2313 or Mrs. T. Schilroth 453- 0066.-19,20x !4. POR IU • VERSATILITY .;...makes Kubota mid-range diesel tractors ideal for... AGRICULTURE 30 -HP L295DT with four- wheel drive, and tiller. • Powerful hydraulic lift system with position and draft control. ✓ Category 1. 3 -point hitch LAWN & GROUND MAINTENANCE CONSTRUCTION 16 -HP B7100DT with four-wheel drive and front blade. • 6 forward speeds, 2 reverse. ■ Auxiliary hydraulic tap. 14 -HP 96100 with two -wheel drive and rear mower. • Powerful 3 -cylinder diesel engine. ■ 3 -speed rear PTO. • Front engine PTO. KUBOTA MID-RANGE DIESEL TRACTORS AND IMPLEMENTS ARE SOMETHING ELSE ,c KUBOTA® GEORGE WRAITH EQU PMENT 2 Mi. East of Goderith; Hwy. No. 8 Phone 524-7351 e ses Control the foxtails, fall panic= and crabgrass— in corn and soybeans with Lasso® herbicide by Monsanto. Lasso® is now also registered for sup- pression of yellow nutsedge. See your dealer today. ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW THE LABEL DIRECTIONS FOR LASSO. Lasso is a registered trademark of Monsanto Company. LC -79.3 Monsanto Monsanto Canada Ltd. Toronto, Montreal, Winnipeg, Vancouver ©Monsanto Company 1979 :vyxw...;r..