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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1979-12-13, Page 36PAGE 12A—GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1979 Subtle changes Warns against false friends By Bev Brown, Huron Fed. of Ag. Toronto: "Ownership of Ontario farm land is subtly being transferred through the instrument of the mortgage to urban based credit agencies," Del O'Brien, a lawyer and dairy farmer from the Ottawa Valley, told delegates on the final day of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture Con- vention in Toronto. In his opinion, "the effects of changing the taxation formula to market value assessment will be far more serious for the farmer than foreign ownership of farm land." He told the delegates that the farmer must learn to rely on his own resources and organization for he has traditionally had many false friends. His best allies, the elected politician and agricultural ministers, have consistently sup- ported the farmer and Stood solidly behind the marketing legislature most vital to farmers. "However," Mr. O'Brien continued, "we . must accept the fact that Governments are under increasing pressure from urban groups who con- sistently challenge their support of the farmer." "Even more serious is the fact that many civil servants and many educators in the field of agriculture identify with urban rather than rural interests." He went on to tell about a professor at the University of Guelph who had a theory that the cost of land ought to be removed from the food dollar by eliminating the ownership of land by the farmer. This ambivalence on the part of the agricultural in- telligentsia has createda vacuum in agricultural leadership as it relates to the • politics of agriculture, which the Ontario Federation of Agriculture has at- tempted to fill, according to Mr. O'Brien. "The recent hearings with respect to the discounts in the food industry illustrates the weakness of much of the agricultural leadership. They have failed to support the farmer, leaving the burden to the O.F.A, It is natural that farmers should take an adversary role in the Commission because they recognize that they will be the next victims, in the food chain to be ab- sorbed by the Corporate Food Giants." "The farmer, if he is not to be the next victim of the corporate take- over, must get off the "Back Forty" and invad the market place," Mr O'Brien urged the delegates. "He must organize collectively and the best form of organization that has emerged is the producer - elected marketing board. It is taking its place in the free enterprise system beside the union organization and permits true bargaining to take place between parties of equal, or nearly equal, strength." O.F.A. delegates ap- plauded when Mr. O'Brien said that the "horrendous cost of advertising food is an unjustifiable rip-off in the food story." He went on to say that the Food Cor- porations have an the media by the leverage given them through Turn to page 13A • What better way to show people what scouting is all about on a cold winter day. These innovative scouts fought back the winter chills in Saturday's Santa Claus parade by building a small camp fire on their float. (photo by Jeff Seddon) Guelph professor claims bne loot rnthel genetic potential lost It is obvious to any intelligent person that this country is in grave economic trouble. North American, particularly Canadian, manufacturers just cannot compete. Productivity in Canadian industry is pricing our products right out of world markets. Only a few smart, progressive manufacturers have been able to overcome this dif- ficulty. The trade deficits in manufactured goods,,,for the most part, are offset only by agriculture and a few other primary industries. And agriculture,_it must be, noted has remained competitive in spite of the fact Drawn from letters to Agriculture Canada and Agriculture Minister John Wise Dear Mr.• Wise: • • 1 hope you - are con- sidering dismantling market- ing hoards. I think it is time we returned to marketplace governed by the principle of supply and demand. • P. L. Thornhill, Ont. Dear P.L. Most marketing boards are stewed in the same pot by their critics despite the fact that they perform a variety of roles, depending on how and why they were set up. Some are essentially mar- ket information sources, offering price and supply information to both sellers and potential buyers, as well as promoting their products. Some help to improve the position of the producer in the marketplace. Others work to stabilize commodity prices and producer returns through producer quotas. It is the latter boards, with supplya management powers, that raise the most conceals. But, only a very few of the more than 100 marketing boards in Canada have these powers. These boards must prove to government supervisory agencies that there have been significant increases in prod- ucer costs before they can increase the price of a coril- modity. The supervisory bodies ensure consumer in- terests are protected. However, this is not to say that marketing agencies cannot be improved. The Economic Council of Canada is conducting a detailed study of marketing boards in Canada. I will be watching this study for practical sug- gestions to improve the per- formance and effectiveness 'of marketing boards. Pear Sir: 1 was thinking of plant- ing some trees near my house to break the wind, but 1 understand some ,tree roots can •cause damage to houses if planted too close. Could vnu tell me what trees to avoid. S.R., Ottawa, Ont. Dear S.R.: Trees are something like icebergs — what you see is only a small part of the whole. The roots of any tree can grow to 10 times its height. This is particularly true of willows, poplars and some maples. Damage can be caused in two ways. Roots coming into direct contact with the foundation can cause it to crack. But, the roots do not have to touch the house to do damage. They remove moisture from the soil causing it to shrink. The foundation loses support and can even collapse. This type of damage is more common in clay soils. If you have this soil in your yard, you should not plant the trees I mentioned. 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 WELLt" DAVIDSON WELL DRILLING 4 Rotary and Percussion Drills LIMITED PHONE 357-1960 WINGHAM Collect Calls Accepted "ONTARIO'S FINEST WATER WELLS SINCE 1900" by Levers are app,ec'ated by Boo Trotter E 'dale Rd Elm,ra On! N38 2C 7 that tariffs to protect the industrial sector range between 20 and 40 per. cent yet agricultural tariffs average less than five percent. We spend millions of dollars subsidizing industry with forgiveable loans and tax incentives but do little for farmers. At the same time, farm productivity has outpaced industrial productivity by 450 percent since the end of the war. What did the farmer get for making these great gains? Nothing but a kick in`the heaad. In 1972, 54 cents af_the annual incxease_.in._the._.cast..of ._food-.w-ent-to the. farmer. In 1977, just five years later, only four cents of the increase went to the farmer with 16 cents going to importers and 79 cents to the secondary food sector. How come? Because the corporate giants have the clout to get a bigger cut of the food dollar. Those recent hearings into discounts and allowances should be fair warning to all of us: The corporate giants weren't shy. They openly told the commission that they would vertically integrate to a greater degree if they couldn't continue with those discounts and allowances. In my 52 years on this plane of tears, I have wit- nessed the destruction of a nation-wide group of small retailers, the corner grocery stores. We have been warned by the giants themselves that they intend to destroy another group by either absorption of takeover, the small processors. Next comes the farmer. Laugh? Don't. You read it here in 1979. I predict that the corporations will take over farming because they are the last link in the food chain to be absorbed. It is coming just as sure as there rs manure in a goose. Farmers are laughed at. Few people respect them. Their marketing boards are under fire from dozens of sources ranging from half-baked women's libbers to agricultural economists who have never been inside a hog stable and who wouldn't know the north end of a cow from the south in an east wind. Already, the courts have overturned marketing legislation. Fortunately, so far any8vay, politicians have had the guts to'plug the legal holes in marketing legislation. The clout of the major media outlets in this nation are already against the farmer. I have heard of one big newspaper in southwestern Ontario where editors have informed reporters to steer clear of agriculture and farm news "because nobody reads it anyway." Pap! The bias of the big newspapers is evident in the fact that they might lose a few dollars in food ad- vertising if they carried stories in favor of farmers and farm marketing boards. The two big newspapers in Toronto -- the so-called national newspapers -- the Globe and Mail and the Toronto Star, do not have a full-time farm • reporter, Why?, Because those reporters might take the side of the farmer and farm marketing boards. And marketing boards are on the hit list of all the major food chains. If a story comes along with anti -marketing board flavor, watch the big newspapers jump on it. The television stations too. I'm a little steamed up over this question as you are probably aware so well continue the discussion after the holiday season when I'm cooled out a little. • Imarmiumiiiseimerir Goderich & District Big Brothers' Association I would like to volunteer to be a BIG BROTHER 1 understand that t will be contacted by a member of the Big Brothers' staff. I am a mother of a fatherless boy(s) and would like to know more about BIG BROTHERS NAME AGE OCCUPATION HOME ADDRESS PHONE (RES.) (BUS.) Signature (Please send to) BOX 382 GODERICH, ONT. Inst Mulhern Vice President 524.8631 Dorothy Cornish Secretary 524-9421 Ted Burnside of the University of Guelph suggested there be more records made of calving ease, and of milk production when he spoke at the annual meetingYof the Huron. County Holstein Club held at the Belgrave W.I. hall on Wednesday. "As we go to larger cattle, larger herds, we have • a significant number of cattle that are stillborn• that might have had a high genetic potential," Dr. Burnside said_ adding that '---they would like to get the farmer's help in getting, calving ease recorded in the new year. "We need to know more about reproduction on the female side. I'think we've got cattle, that have a lot more milk and better udders, than we had a decade ago," he said adding that this was the direct result of progeny testing programs. • Dr. Burnside also talked about milk recording, stating he was convinced that 70-80 percent of dairy farmers should be recording milk production. He, said the DHAS program in Quebec, the largest milk recording -program -in Canada today, has seen a rapid increase. He- spoke - about the' Canadian Milk Recording Board which has been running a ,comparison between owner supplier programs and supervisor programs and .he said they have been seeing an expansion in milk recording. Dr. Burnside GODERICH COUNTRY CASUALS specializing in Professional FARMERS & INDUSTRIAL lstLINE GWG WORKWEAR AT BELOW DISCOUNT PRICES Other Clothing Accessories Available 35 WEST STREET Beside French Dry Cleaners said that milk recording has a lot of benefits and he didn't think it was emphasized enough. "It'll enable us to do a better job of breeding cattle," he said. Part of the im- provement in test groups is to get a type classification, he said. He talked about Quebec, where if farmers agree to go on test record, they have to agree to test Turn to page 13A • CLAY-- -- Silo Unloaders Feeders Cleaners Stabling Leg Elevators Liquid Manure Equipment Hog Equipment BUTLER — Sllo Unloaders Feeders Conveyors FARMATIC — MIIIs Augers, etc. ACORN — Cleaners Heated Waterers WESTEEL, (tOSCO Granaries B & L - Hog Panelling • LOWRY FARM SYSTEMS RR 1, Kincardine, Ont. Phone 395-5286 FARM CLASSIFIED SECTION C. Wanted WANTED - cattle. We pay good prices for reasonably injured or unthrifty cattle. Easy loading trailer with winch. Call collect 238- 2796, John Ansens, Grand Bend. -44-50 WANTED TO RENT: Crop land in Colborne, Goderich and Ashfield Townships. Top dollar paid for top land. all Steve Buchanan, Goderich 524- 4700.-38tfnc D. Livestock FOR SALE : Good selection of Hampshire, Yorkshire, Hamp X York and York X Landrace boars. Also available gilts of these breeds and crosses., Bob Robinson, W a-lton345-231fi.-50;51 Your heart is a vital organ, pumping blood to bring oxygen and nourish- ment to the body and re- moving wastes. If your heart stops - so do you. DAVE HAYLOW ELECTRICAL Serving Industrial, Commercial, Residential Needs 524-6038 ARE YOU LIVING WITH A DRINKING PROBLEM? Al -Anon can help! PHONE 524-6001 OR WRITE P.O. BOX 482 Established 1876 'jMcKILLOP MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY HEAD OFFICE: 10 MAIN Si., SEAFORTH, ONT. Mrs. Margaret Sharp. See. Treas. Ph. 527-0400' FULL COVERAGE Farm andUrban Properties Fire, Windstorm, Liability, Theft Various Floater Coverages Homeowner's, Tenant's Package, Composite Dwelling DIRECTORS AND ADJUSTERS Ken Carnochan, R.R.*4, Sealorth Lavern Godkin, R. R.IO, Walton Ross Leonhardt, R.R.rt1, Bornoholm John Mr -Ewing, R,R.N1, Blyth Stanley Mcllwain, R.R.*2, Goderich Donald McKercher, R.R.01, Dublin John A. Taylor, R.R.H1, Brucelield J.N. Trewartha. Box 661, Clinton Stuart Wilson, R,ROl1, Brucelield AGENTS E.F. 'Bill' Durst, R.R.i14 Sealorth • James Keys, R.R.#1, Sealorth Wm. Leiper, R.R.111, Londesboro 482-3354 527-1877 345-2234 523-9390 524-7051 527-1837 482-7527 482-7593 527-0687 527-1455 527-0467 523-4257 CALL AN AGENT OR THE OFFICE I1w vovrViM►firi~�s��'•i►►•� � '•i�r, yrR .��u_!tLi7w . J✓y'. % 7 l,4 I eNt' t �:VylirV4yV��fr4►ie►i/f.i°0wy .� �..+.r+ii , ,�:1�1 ��PIwIAil, • •N.....br!.rl•'/�ii �� d,41•w w��:; a•�a„•,: �..•% / / i _•.:�;r;• is �, .'• ..���V . Ontario highways... we keep them open. You keep them safe. Clearing snow from our highways can be a 24-hour, seven -days -a -week job for the men who drive the prov- ince's snow plows. They work in the worst kind of driving conditions so people and products can keep moving across the province, even in the worst winter weather. bl>(As soon as you see the snow plow's le light, slow down. Be patient— don't try to pass; that's dangerous for you and them. Help them do their job. Then do your part: be extra alert, adjust your speed and driving tactics to suit weather and road conditions. Ontario James Snow, Minister of Transportation and Communications William Davis, Premier r4� Get the free booklet "Defensive Driving Tips"—expert advice on winter driving, freeway and day/night driving. Write: Public & Safety Information Branch Ministry of Transportation and Communications 1201 Wilson Ave. Dowrisview, Ont. M3M 1J8