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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWingham Advance-Times, 1981-03-18, Page 1414, 46 Advance -Times, March 18, 19$1 ncing for formers topic at HCFAmeeting ' By Rhea Hamilton Young farmers face the same problem as other Iminess people starting out: money. • Finance was the key topic. Ow a panel discussion at a recent . Huron County Federation of Agriculture meeting in Blyth. Young farmers ap- proaching, a banker for funding must be prepared to .discuss past, present and future plans. Bill Bearss of the Royal Bank pointed out that the younger the farmer, the greater the risk for the bank. Although many resent the questions asked, Mr. Bearss said questioning is proportionate to the amount of cash requested' and the risk involved. When requests for loans are evaluated, the character of the one ` making the request together with the capacity to repay and colateral provided all play a major part. "Bankers like to see a good balance of all three points with; character playing a strong part," said M1. Bearss. Be prepared to produce budget plans, cash flow information and future pre- dictions such as price of commodity, he told the federation members. The farmer has to be able to regenerate enough to repay the loan arid .this information should help the banker in rnak4ng a decision. Other records deemed important are rate of gain or yield records. Mr. Bearss noted that a balance sheet is important and that a positive net worth has to be recorded. The • current debt should be balanced by short term assets. He also warned that the debt on equipment should not exceed the value. Often farmers are still making I� payments after equipment has devalued below, the amount left owing. "The one thing that makes farming so attractive contri ' butes to its failure", said Bill Gunn . an acro ant with �p�`vt�o '#arid'enjoy the fact that they don't have to work indoors at a desk. They. also see lin.- proved m-proved production in. the barn or on the field as the way to solve problems; Mr. • Gunn .has observed a weakness in the farm management business. The general approach is tied to the work ethic that a farmer will borrow, more, to buy more, to farm better. This lack " of sound financial management is shared with all small businesses, Mr. Gunn said. ° NOT ACCURATE "Most farmers do not make accurate financial pro- gress reports," Mr. Gunn said. Farmershave to change, the emphasis from produc- tion reports to • financial, starting with comparative budgets for the beginning and.the end of the year. Mr. Gunn also pointed out that well-meaning bankers are providing money wit out enough financial infor- mation. Accountants did not escape comment as Mr. Gunn said cowardly ac- countants are afraid to give the service and charge them (farmers) for it. Accoun- tants are overworked in the spring when the farmer arrives With a shoebox of receipts and records and only the minimum of work is received. But, Mr. Gun' added, the accountants can do a lot for the farmer if he is willing to check out the benefits. •It all comes down to time. The concept of simple ac- counting or bookkeeping system is• not difficult, but there is a demand on time, Mr. Gunn said. Regarding controlling assets, he explained that a look at individual cases would be required. Young farmers received a word of encouragement from Art Lawson from the Perth office of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food. To succeed farmers now need both experience and edu- cation together with money. "Faced with a high rate of inflation it makes it more expensive to get in (to far- ming), but if you are really ,serious you have to take the plunge sometime," Mr. Lawson said. EACH iS UNIQUE When investing in the future each case is unique. Mr. Lawson pointed out that if a farmer's money is tied up in livestock, only 10 to 15 per cent could be making a profit. That is one, of the major things to consider how. much' capital, is tied up in areas not making money? "You have to be cold hearted and objective when assessing what to own", Mr: Lawson said, adding that farmers may want to. have minimum. equipment like sprayers so they can' control • when they want that work done. A solution may be the syndication of equipment, where a group of farmers share the'owpership. Finally Lawson noted lt+ilrhnt At ttti''t'i1e • faniilyanrientet farni acid that young farmers will have to start elsewhere. Although land values are high in Huron, there are other op- portunities:in the province. The final word was from Lorne Luther, a farmer•from the Lucknow' area and a „.member of the National • 'Farmers' Union. Mr. ,Luther outline& the advantages of ' the' Saskat- , chewan land bank com- • mission and suggested that a 'similar program would be bene al to farmers here in Ontario. He told the group that getting into farming today is no, harder than when he was ,;younger. "You can go broke in one year, whereas we could go broke in three or four years." ' INFLATED PRICES The panel,fielded questions from thaudience which included inflated land prices in Huron County. The panel members agreed that foreign investors are only paying the going price of land and are not falsely in- flating the price. The real inflation occurs when two farmers compete for the same piece of land and in- flate the price. All agreed that land is a good investment, but cautioned that young .far- mers should start small and avoid flashy equipment. In other business Ray Hanna of Auburn ap- proached the group for sup- port for a proposed conser- vation club. It would be run in cooperation with the 4-H clubs and help has been • solicited from environ- mental science teachers at the Goderich high school and from Len McGregor from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food. The club would be involved in studies of topsoil and water management, togeth- er with bushlot and wildlife management. Mr. Hanna saki he has .noticed a decline in native woods and would like to see a bushlot cultivat- ed. The club would be open to the age group of I 1 to 18. John Nesbitt, chairman of the col.. ,y insurance com- mittee, informed members that The Co-operators will be taking over existing insur- anc e programs which will have a few changes. The cost of $63 per family or $26 for singles will remain the same, but three limits have been set. The total plan limit is $5,000; $500 limit on the drug plan and a $1,00o limit on nursing care per family per year. The company is also picking up unsatisfied claims prior to Feb. 9.and members are allowed to sign up anytime. DIANA BELSHAW and William Dunlop star In'St.Sam and the Nukes', a com- edy by Ted Johns which premiered at the Blyth Summer Festival last summer and now is embarking on a tour of southern Ontario. Blyth nuclear comedy to begin Oniariotour 'St. Sam and the Nukes', Ted Johns' new, updated version of the nuclear power comedy which premiered at the Blyth Summer Festival. last year, will begin a tour of Southern Ontario with' 'a single performance at the Blyth Centre for the Arts at 8 p.m. March 30. Mr. Johns, the funny and provocative playwright who delighted audiences with his wonderful • performance in 'The School Show' has done it again, this time with a satire on the lives of people who work at the Bruce Nuclear Power Development, their fears and joys, their fights and their triumphs: There are five characters in the play. Howard, the plant manager, a creative nuclear • physicist in his youth, now is ensconced at Hydro, supported, and Ethel woman injured in Brussels gcciden� ,tio-AinEtlfel a ►woman is in Victoria Hospital, London, with injuries suffered in an, automobile accident near Brussels Tuesday morning. Karen Eldridge, 37, of RR 1, Ethel, was injured when the car She was driving was in collision with a vehicle driven by Robert Livermore of RR 4, Clinton..• Const. Ron. Bell of the Wingham OPP detachment reported the two cars met practically head-on along County Road 16, 1:5 km. east of Brussels, at 8:20 a.m. Mrs. Eldridge was eastbound along the road while Mr.. Livermore was travelling west. • Both cars were demolished in the collision and Mrs. Eldridge was trapped in her car for some time before she could be removed, Const. • Bell reported. The Wingham fire department was slum- moned to the scene, but the call was cancelled when it was found their assistance was: uot. needed ,,.. . She" was taken by am-, bulance to Wingham and, District Hospital and later transferred to Victoria Hospital. Her condition was reported as fair. . Mr. Livermore was not seriously injured in the mishap. • Police said . the accident still is under investigation and charges are 'pending. " (.ORRIS SEW BUNNIES . Mrs. James Gray is leader and Mrs. William Thornton assistant leader of the Gorrie South girls. the Sew Bunnies. President • is Suzanne Machan and N'•ice president Karen Van Donkersgoed. The girls did extended, facing and interfacing at the last meeting. They plan their exhibiefor Achievement Day to be 'What a Waistband!'. A POSITIVE CHOICE For Positive SOLUTIONS Elect: TONY .QUAIL ase for not POLICIES Promises Authorized by Official Agent for Tony Mc©uatl protected by his special assistant, Paul, an in- telligent and informed trouble-shooter and a young matron his way to the top. On the home front Howard is engaged in a hilarious, on- going battle of witand conscience with his wife Joan, also a scientist, who has the background to cut through the morass of statistics and advertising put out by Hydro and make a case for her profound unease about nuclear's unknown, long-term effects. Adding fuel to the fire is Holly, his niece, who moves in with them and shows no sign of leaving. Her summer job as a tour guide at the plant has captured her imagination and, she ex- plores.the history of nuclear power, its triumphs and disasters, infuriating Howard arid demanding answers from Paul. Onto the seen bursts Sam, a Henry Ford of the eighties, with a scheme to save the economy of Kincardine, the. Seniors' Day The Wingham Happy Gang met in the Armouries last Friday at 2 p.m. There was a very fine turnout for the St. Patrick's Day meeting. After the regular opening exercises, which contained a Short sing -along, the president ' conducted the'. meeting. }4 It was reported that the Belmore Maple Syrup Festi- val's Seniors' Day. has been scheduled' for April 9 and' members were advised that there are still some spots on the bus that the homebound centre has reserved. •r In other business, it was decided that the Wingham and Area Day Centre for the Homebound could use 'the sewing machine when needed. The group was also invited . to the homebound's St. Patrick's Day program last Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. The next regular meeting was set for April 10at' 2.p.m. After the regular meeting.- adjourned, Ethel Holmes conducted .a St. Patrick's Day program that was en- joyed by all. The program was highlighted by several readings, musical numbers and a very entertaining pantomime. The next regular open euchre Will be held March 27 at the Armouries. Howick Jr. Farmers will hold , dance®a-thon The Howick Junior Far- mers will be holding a bake sale this Saturday in con- junction with Junior Far- mers' Week. The sale will be held in the Wingham Town Hall from 1 to 3 p.m., with proceeds going to the March of Dimes. The group also is planning a •dance-a-thon on Tuesday, March 24. from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m at the Wroxeter Town Hall• with proceeds going to the Ontario Heart Foun- dation. Each .lunier Farmer club throughout Ontario will be holding a hake sale, but the all night dance -a -thou is a special event being planned by the Howick club. ti Bruce and Ontario. Sam says, if you've got the power, use it! Together, the wild quintet turns world issues into personal issues and back again, weaving between farce and fear and the all - too -human reactions to the nuclear dilemma. ' After playing in Blyth, `St. Sam' will d tour Hamilton Place, Kincardine, Meaford, Mount Forest, Paisley, Fergus, Stratford, Petrolia, Kitchener, Oakville, Port Hope, the Grand Theatre in Kingston, Arnprior and. Kemptville. -Tickets are available at the -Blyth Centre for the Arts, Box. 291, Blyth, or by calling 523-9300. . Howard W +#ie, ac- co�liiparde t by Miss Betty Wylie . of Toronto, has returned from. a "1110104. holiday at St eetersbttrg and Treasure Island, 1' lorida, Mrs, Leo Duggan, Stayner, and Mrs. Ken Hoffman, Toronto, called on their aunt, Mm.. George Griffith, at Brussels on Sunday and visited with their awit, Miss Maggie Griffith, Sunday evening. Mr. and Mrs. Cliff Marks attended the wedding of their nephew, Ken Marks;.,and Jill Hayden; in Winghatlt United Church on Satuttday, as well as the reception which follow, or! the wedding. Mrs. Wally Nixon, Ford- wich, accompanied by Miss Maggie Griffith and Allan Griffith of Wioxeter, Mrs. Glenn McKercher of Jamestown and Mrs. Bertha Griffith, Wingham, paid " SCOUTING NEWS Bamsiaremosiwurimeemerammv Andrew Kaufman This week we worked on the menu we will have at CJ '81. The choices of menu are great. Some of the dishes include: oranges, eggs, Danish pastry, individual pies and potato chips. Here is a suggested menu for Saturday, July 4: for breakfast there is apple juice, cold cereal, scrambled eggs, toast and jam and milk. For lunch there is vegetable soup, hot dogs, potato chips, carrot sticks, milk or Kool-Aid and in- dividual pies. For supper there is fried ham and pine- apple rings, potatoes and corn, chocolate pudding, bread and butter and milk. It looks like super food at CJ '81. lfA4 +TielS+ •A!e�w,: 04{,4,+.y ply 11er way l oMe to • 1stowel, p' i A amber from ter: Unit Cbtwch co 'l negatipn • attended combined service et 11aim. in !ori United Church when loev: Norman Picks of ' Clinton was the speaker. v GQRR,IE WN SEWS . The girls c e to their flame for the neva ': e,their "Get Ready .Get Set Sew', and elected Kathy,Pentland president. Mrs." Norman Fairies is leader of the group. The girls will make a skirt or vest. Achievement Day will be held Monday, May 4, at 7 p.m. in Howick Central School. iI ater's rofh,. shop, Karef) 1t1 eA, Jennifer Dennis, .rystai vigor, . HealY Halil;ilil;u, :Kirsten Angela Kerr, Michelle Ma 'Dona :d, Kendra Machan, Jennifer Metcalfe, Carla Mowbray, . Shannon Situp s and Beth Ward. Heather Bilop also earned her Book Lover's. Group A is working on macrame plant hangers under\ the . guidance of Mrs. M. WLenuan, Group B discussed the .compass and Group C learned bow to set"' the table and took home a chart for setting the table. " In Pow Wow the Brownies talked about the swim party and were told about the applications for Camp Keewaydin. Brownies may go from July, 19-25 at a cost of $50. Hailey Jo Robertson told about Brownies in Other Lands. WARD & UPTIDROVE tlstowel (519)3914040 CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS Kiitiek9 with world famous Good Chicken! is coming to Wingham SOON QARYhARRON YOUR n CANDIDATE IN HURON -BRUCE GARY.HARRON FOR HURON -BRUCE GARY HARRON IS A FAMILY MAN Concerned about jobs, education, the future and moral issues for our youth. GARY HARRON IS A FARMER (26 Years) Concerned about the farmers' problems -- high interest -- uncertain markets -- the future of family farms. GARY HARRON IS INVOLVED 12 years experience in municipal politics [1 term as Warden of Bruce] gives him the insight to represent all our municipalities fairly acid with common sense. GARY HARRON IS A WORKER Farmer, Politician, chairman of Bruce County Economic Development Committee, vice-president of Formosa Mutual, member of the select committee on energy alternatives. He gets involved -- He will be hoard. GARY HARRON HA THE EXPERIENCE HURON -BRUCE NEEDS FOR THE BEST REPRESENTATION FOR HURON -BRUCE VOTE GARY HARRON P.C. IIIv MARCH 19 For a ride to your poll or other assistance . . . Call the Gary Harron Office cl®sest to you Brussels Kincardine Lucknow Mildmay Port Elgin Wingham Polls open at 8 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. 887-9214 396-3303 528-3010 367-5565 832-5600 357-1322