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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1979-09-27, Page 34PAGE 14A—GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1979 Kevin Smith placed first in junior showmanship with this Holstein heifer in the 4-H judging which was part of the annual Dungannon fall fair last Thursday afternoon. (Photo by Joanne Buchanan) ARM PAS bne foot in . furrow' iF77; _•___._---_ V""`v- _ - letter• are aDDrected by Bob Trotter EldaIe Rd Eim,ra Ont N38 2C7 ,Family farms are safe from corporate farmers, says Donald Shaughnessy, a partner with a big firm of chartered accountants in Cobourg. Mr. Shaughnessy may be great with figures but I wonder how often he gets manure on his boots? I firmly believe that the family is not safe, par- ticularly in Quebec. A recent study confirms what many farmers and a few farm writers have suspected for years: That four firms now controlthe hog in- dustry in the province. The study, prepared by Dr. J. C. Montigaud for the federal government, was sup- posed to be secret but the details were released almost a year ago. The four firms are Canada Packers Ltd. with 35 percent, The Co-op Federee with 35 percent, Purina with 15 to 20 percent and Nutribec with 10 percent. These big companies supply the money and the know-how. The farmers take the risks and provide low-cost labor. In other words, farmers end up being paid em- ployees. Another fact worth remembering is that ' Quebec, for the last 18 months or more, is opt - producing Ontario. More hogs are being grown in Quebec now than ever before in the history of Canada. Mr. Shaughnessy writes a "general financial ad- vice" column for the .Institute of Chartered'Accoun- tants. He gives some excellent reasons for com- placency. Big corporations engage in farming the way they produce cars, refrigerators or television sets. If something goes wrong along the way, it can ..be corrected later. And hegives some examples: A farmer must plant corn by June 10. But if an agri-business firm has a 10 - day strike, no amount �f overtime 10 bays later is going. to m‘ake up the lost growing time. Greyhound Corp. in the United States, Boise Cascade and other large American firms have been anxious to get out (1'f the growing business, says Mr. Shaughnessy. And , he's right, too. It's the outside control farmers must fear. When four firms can control almost 100 percent of the hog production in Quebec, it can happen here too. That's one reason why a hog marketing board which some farmers are determined to organize in Quebec, has taken on all the trappings of a young war. The big companies to not- want one because the marketing of hogs will be taken out of their hands and given to farmers. r An- excellent example of why family farms will WATER WELL DRILLING "79 YEARS EXPERIENCE" • FARM a SUBURBAN • INDUSTRIAL a MUNICIPAL u m FREE ESTIMATES • GUARANTEED WELLS e FAST MODERN EQUIPMENT u 4 ROTARY & PERCUSSION DRILLS "OUR EXPERIENCE ASSURES LOWER COST WATER WELLS" DAVIDSON WELL DRILLING LIMITED 4 Rotary and Percussion Drills PHONE 357.1960 WINGHAM Collect Calls Accepted "ONTARIO'S FINEST WATER WELLS SINCE 1900" survive is cited by Mr. Shaughnessy. The state -con- trols agriculture in 'Russia. Farm workers .are em- ployees and do things the way the company -- the state -- wants them done. But farm workers are also allowed a maximum of 1.25 acres for their own profit. The result is that the small, private plots account for only three percent of all cultivated land yet they produce almost 30 percent of the food in that nation. The Canadian family farm will survive simply because farmers are hard workers, willing to take a chance, willing to invest huge sums of time and money to remain competitive and because many marketing boards keep them stable. An American corporation was feeding 300,000 steers, says Mr. Shaughnessy. The U.S. government allowed more Argentinian and Australian beef to be imported, undercutting the American price. For every one -cent -a -pound the price dropped, the corporation lost $3 million. But farmers cannot sit complacently back and watch big businesses lose their shirts. They must remain vigilante and keep .the corporations out of the barnyard. If you think food is expensive today, just watch what would happe,,,n if big businesses control food production from one end to the other. They'll set a price and you'll pay for it, just "the way you pay for your 'car or your refrigerator or almost anything else. Multi -nationals control the oil business, 'don't they? Let them control food and we'll be paying $10 a pound for butter and $20 a pound for filet mignon. Ontario Ministry of Housing -THE PLANNING ACT Notice of Application for Amendment to -Minister's Restricted Area Order -749/73 Township of Goderich Take notice that application to amend the restricted area order filed as Ontario Regulation 749 73 has been received by the Minister of Housing. The appli- cation is: (1) Applicant. R E Thompson—Clerk File No • 40Z 170 / 79 Proposal To revoke the order as it applies to part of Lot 76, Bayfield Concession The subject lands are covered by Restricted Area By-law 8 of 1979 which controls the use of the lands, so that the order is no longer required All submissions in support of, or in opposition to, the 'application described above, and received by the Ministry of Housing, 7th floor, 56 Wellesley St. West. Toronto, Ontario M7A 2K4 on or before the llth day . of October, 1979 -will be fully considered before a final decision is made thereon. Please refer to the file number indicated above. • In addition, under section 32(9) of The Planning Act, any interested person may request a hearing by the Ontario Municipal Board on an application for amendment to a restricted area order. Claude F. Bennett Minister of Housing Conference is set In early rural Ontario, social contact away from the farm was often limited to the church, the school, and the farm supply store. A- one -day conference at the University of Guelph will examine the roles these services played in the develop- ment of rural society in ( Ontario. "Much of Ontario's social history is farm - oriented," says Ross Irwin, co-ordinator of the fourth annual Agricultural History of Ontario conference. "This conference is held each year to promote a better understanding of the province's agricultural history." 'More than 100 people are expected to attend the conference, October 27. The program. is spon- sored by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food and the University of Guelph. The morning session begins with a discussion of the role of agricultural services in the rural community. Leonard Harman, former general manager of United Co- operatives of Ontario, will explain the ' development of co- operatives. Historian, Felicity Leung, will present a pictorial look at flour and grist mills from 1790 to the 1880s. Women's organizations=- were also important social forces in early rural society. Margaret McCready, former dean of the Macdonald Institute of Guelph, will discuss the role of the Women's Institute movement and church organizations, such as the Ladies' Aid. Th.e afternoon session features Robert Gidney of the University of Western Ontario, who will discuss the schools and communities in the 19th century rural Ontario. Katherine Brett of the Royal Ontario Museum will review the costumes of rural Ontario. Cost of the conference is $25 per person, and $15 for senior citizens. CLAY — Silo Unloaders „Feeders Cleaners Stabling Leg Elevators Liquid Manure Equipment Hog Equipment BUTLER — Silo Unloaders Feeders Conveyors FARMATIC — MiIIs Augers, etc.' ACORN — Cleaners Heated Waterers WESTEEL-ROSCO Granaries B & L - Hog Panelling LOWRY FARM SYSTEMS RR 1,.Klncardine, Ont. Phone 395-5286 FARM CLASSIFIED SECTION A. For sale CORN header for 600 or 660 Case Combine, in good condition. Phone 529-7194.-39,46 NEW IDEA corn picker, sheller, Model 325 picked about 300 acres, $500.00 off appraised value. Phone 529-7936 or Brussels 887-9342.-39 B. Custom work CUSTOM silo filling,' limited number,accepted. Phone 524-8021.--38,39 CUSTOM combining of oats, wheat, barley, and corn. Swathing also available. Phone Philip Steckle 565-5324 or Arnold Steckle 565-5329.-29TF C. Wanted CATTLE - We pay good prices for 'reasonably injured or unthrifty cattle. Easy loading. trailer with winch. Call collect 238-2796 Grand Bend. -37-39 WANTED TO RENT: Crop land in Colborne, Goderich and Ashfield Townships. Top dollar paid for top land. Call Steve Buchanan, Goderich 524- 4700.-38tfnc D. livestock FOR SALE: Purebred Hampshire boars, Yorkshire boars, also York X Landrace boars and Hamp X York boars. Reasonably priced for today's market. Bob Robinson, RR4 Walton 345-2317.--39,40 CUSTOM CORN DRYING Buy - Sell - Store or weigh out to your account ROBERTSON FARMS George Robertson R.R. 5 Goderich 524-6658 Scolia Pl loan appmvajs are t. When you want to borrow money, you want . • that money now. That's where we believe a Scotia Plan Loan has a strong competitive edge: our Scotia Plan Loan Officers. You'see, every•Scotia Plan Loan Officer has full authority to approve most loans on'the spot. No need to check with computers or higher-ups. Now, that kind of system has to be faster, doesn't it? Every. Scotiabank branch has at least one Scotia Plan Loan Officer. 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