Zurich Citizens News, 1973-11-29, Page 5TI-IURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1973
ZURICH CITIZENS NEWS
PAGE 5
Farmers not their own boss
Farmers must accept that their
land is no longer their own,
Ontario Federation of Agricult-
ure president Gordon Hill, of
Varna, told the OFA's annual
convention. He was addressing
more than 500 farmers from
across the province at the Oshawi
meeting.
"We must accept that for the,
good of all the people in Ont-
ario, society has the authority
to decide the purpose for which
our land can be used."
In return, Hill seeks a fair
deal for farmers. He demanded
three chief guarantees:
* Assurance by the provincial
government that farmers who
produce food on land locked
into farming can make a profit.
* Special areas in each coun-
ty set aside for poultry and live-
stock production. "It is not
acceptable that livestock and
poultry units built in good faith
be closed down because of odour
complaints."
* No lnorebig city garbage
dumps outside the city limits.
"If our urban friends have suffic-
ient funds to squander this count-
ry's natural resources in such
profusion, they had better have
enough money for recycling."
Land -use legislation passed in
early•summer gives no such guar.
antees, claimed Hill. "These
three bills are really planning
for development rather than
planning to put our land to the
use for which it is best suited."
He also reprimanded farmers
for leaving it up to the trade
and governments to find and
develop export markets. "They
Paper bags
protect potatoes
from light
The "see-through" trend in
food wrappings permits you to
evaluate the contents before
buying. Food specialists at the
Ontario Food Council, Ministry
of Agriculture and Food are
frequently asked why potatoes
are packed in paper bags. Pot-
atoes exposed to light develop
"greening" --a form of sunburn.
They are packed in paper bags
to maintain good quality.
The green color on the surface
of the potato, or under its skin,
develops when potatoes are
exposed to natural or artificial
light. See-through wrapping
allows artificial light to reach
the potato, so that greening
can develop at the supermarket
or even in your own tome.
Keeping potatoes in the dark,
wrapped in paper, protects them
from light and prevents greening,
Another type of bag is see-
through on one side, opaque on
the other. In the supermarket
and at home, it should be kept
opaque side up so that light
can't affect the potatoes.
Bill Smiley
(continued from page 4)
- Calimyrna figs.
Chlorine - purple extremities -
asparagus.
That's just a sample. If I
meet someone with cholera,
bruiting fingertips, sand in his
eyes, and purple extremities,
I imagine I'll give him a wide
berth. But don't say I didn't
warn you.
You're going to look pretty
funny, thouoh, going around
with a pocketful of dandelion
leaves and another of asparagus.
have failed, and farmers may
lose market opportunities today
because we've sat on our butts."
He called on farmers across
Canada to unite, and take the
initiative in exporting farm
products. "If farmers were strong
ly organized today, I'm sure we
could sign up long-term cont-
racts. I'ni also sure we could be
selling a larger degree of proc-
essing in our export products."
Howver, farmers are losing
these markets be default, added
Hill, because they are not
strongly organized to take adv-
antage of the seller's market
that exists across the world to-
day.
"Regardless of how efficient
we are as producers, if we do
a poor job of marketing, we are
throwing money away." He told
the farmers present that the first
step to cornering export markets
is for farmers across Canada to
band together. Them they
would be strong enough to work
with governments and the trade
as a team. Success, he added,
will only come with an industry-
wide approach, not a continu-
ance of the hit-and-miss efforts
of the past. He warned that
quibbling between provinces
over export markets must end.
Hill predicts another sound of
soaring input costs at the farm
gate during coming months.
"Farmers can expect to pay
another $15 -million next year
when the price freeze on fuels
is lifted. Ontario farmers can
count on a 5¢ -a -gallon increase
on heating oil and a 6¢ a gallon
increase on diesel oil and gas."
Hydro costs will be up anoth-
er 1CTjo in the new year. Fertiliz-
er prices on some analyses are
already 35310 above last fall's
prices. Hill alerted farmers to
the short supply of fertilizer for
the coming spring, and the
tight delivery problems they can
expect.
He called on the Canadian
government to negotiate with
the U.S. government to ensure
that Canadian farmers have
enough phosphates to supply
their needs. Hill pointed out that
the U.S. depends largely on
Canadian potash and natural
gas (used to produce nitrogen) to
supply its fertilizer market.
Canada, in turn, is deficient in
phosphate rock which is shipped
up from the Southern U.S.
Although Canada should be in
a solid bartering position, Hill
warned that Canada's fertilizer
plants are divisions of internat-
ional companies. "Our Minister
of Agriculture Eugene Whelan
said publicly that he has had
discussions with the fertilizer
companies, and has been assured
that adequate supplies will be
available. The integrity of the
fertilizer suppliers is on the line.
If any of them fail to follow
through, their privilege of doing
business in Canada should be
Independent Shipper
to
United Co-operative
of • ntario
Livestock Dept
Toronto
Ship Your Li' tack
%vith
Roy Scotc'hmer
Monday is Shipping
Day From Varna Stockyard
CALL i3AYFEELD 56s -2d36
y 7:30 a.rn. Monday
For Prompt Service
No. Charges ova Pkk. jp
anewirsesamestammommatto
withdrawn.
He said that the hardships
created by rising input costs are
being intensified by the govern-
ment's refusal to halt inflation,
while the same government is
prepared to hold down food
prices to consumers. "This place;
farmers in an intolerable positior.
Hill cautioned, that although
farm income in the last few
months has been higher than in
everal years, dimmer days are
ahead.
"It's a fast moving world,
nd we're living in the day of
Ie lobby. Either farmers dig in
and get our share, or learn to
hie satisfied with what's left
over. "
Noma 25 Light
Outdoor Sparkle Set
Clear bulbs in traditional
Christmas colours to add a
glittering Yuletide: touch to
your home. CSA approved.
Floodlight Kit
Built in outlet and
safety socket, ground
spike, mounting bracket
6 ft, cord and clear bulb
included 3.33
Floodlight kit with
coloured bulb. Red,
Blue, Green or
Yellow3.99
Noma 15 Light
OutdoorTwinkle Set
Independently twinkling
bulbs wink on and off at
random in colours of
Red, Blue, Green and
Yellow.
Noma 25 ft. Outdoor
Extension Cord
Weatherproof cord for
safe outdoor lighting.
3 -way outlet. CSA
approved.
ZURICH
PHONE 236-4911
HARDWARE
MAIN INTERSECTION — ZURICH