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The Times Advocate, 2006-09-06, Page 17Wednesday,September 6, 2006 Itall startsonthe culture 17 TIMES -ADVOCATE CAIS changes will help producers OTTAWA — Changes will be made to the Canadian Agriculture Income Stabilization Program (CAIS). Federal, provincial and territorial ministers of agriculture are moving forward with immediate changes, assisting producers in becoming eli- gible for extended coverage. Canada's government announced these changes at the annual meet- ing of the Ministers of Agriculture. Part of this announcement includes working with provinces and territories to ensure producers with negative margins would receive better coverage under the CAIS program. Broader coverage is a step towards new margin -based pro- gramming to stabilize income. Negative margins occur when a producer's eligible expenses exceed eligible income. Positive margins occur when eligible income exceeds eligible expenses. Starting with the 2005 program year, coverage for producers will improve. There are two key changes: • There is no limit on the number of negative margin payments a pro- ducer can receive in a five-year period. Previously, producers could receive only two negative margin payments in a five-year period; • Producers with a negative refer- ence margin are now eligible for CAIS benefits. A reference margin is a producer's average margin over the previous five-year period, where the years with the highest and the lowest margins are dropped. Producers are now eligi- ble if they have two years of posi- tive margins in the three reference years. CAIS participants do not need to apply separately for negative mar- gin coverage. Their benefits will automatically be calculated when their 2006 and 2005 CAIS applica- tions are processed. This commitment of $80 million (cost shared 60/40 between the fed- eral and provincial/territorial gov- ernments, approximately) will pro- vide assistance to farmers facing income pressures due to sudden price declines, and increased costs for inputs such as fuel, fertilizer and seed. POLICE BRIEFS Boat and trailer stolen GRAND BEND — Sometime during the night of Aug. 21 unknown parties stole a boat and trailer from a Grand Bend area property. The white 2005 Doral boat is 19' in size with a tan top and black stripe down the side with an extended swim platform. The licence plate number is 24E21719 and the VIN number is CAQEQ0H288A505. The boat is valued at $30,000. The 2006 EZLD BNK boat trailer's licence plate number is C5160N and the VIN num- ber is 12EAAYNU66A005828. Impaired ATV driver LUCAN BIDDULPH — A 19 -year-old male of Fourteen Mile Road in Middlesex Centre is charged with driving with over 80 mgs of alcohol in his system. He was stopped by police on the Roman Line near Highway 4 in Lucan Biddulph. Applicants for Premier agriculture awards TORONTO — The McGuinty government is recognizing innovation in Ontario's agricul- ture sector by launching the Premier's Awards for Agri -Food Innovation Excellence, Minister of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs Leona Dombrowsky announced recently. "By fostering innovation that starts on the farm, the McGuinty government is helping Ontario's farmers prosper through new prod- ucts and new markets," says Dombrowsky. "This program recognizes the innovation that farmers have always shown in running their businesses," Dombrowsky adds. The ministry is accepting applications for the program. As many as 55 regional awards, valued at $5,000 each will be presented. The recipients of the Premier's Award which is up to $100,000 as well as the Minister's Award which is up to $50,000 will be selected from the regional winners. "An investment in innovation is an invest- ment in Ontario," says Premier and Minister of Research and Innovation Dalton McGuinty. "One idea can generate new products, new jobs and new opportunities. That's why we're recognizing and honouring the spirit of inno- vation that thrives on our farms, by creating the five-year $2.5 -million Premier's Award for Agri -Food Innovation Excellence," McGuinty adds. Four broad criteria will be used to identify the winning innovations, uniqueness and orig- inality, stage of development, the impact or benefits of the innovation and adoption and/or commercialization. Applications must be received by Nov. 30 and will be reviewed by an independent panel from across Ontario's agri-food industry. $1.15 million to support fairs OTTAWA — The Canadian Association of Fairs and Exhibitions (C.A.F.E.) is receiving $1.15 million in fund- ing for its Consumer Protection Programs for Farm Animal Contact at Fairs, Exhibitions and Shows program, announced Minister of Agriculture and Agri -Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board Chuck Strahl recently. The federal funding under the Advancing Canadian Agriculture and Agri -Food (ACAAF) Program is allowing C.A.F.E. to deliv- er training pro- grams to com- munities across Canada for reducing the risk of E. coli outbreaks to help protect consumers at events promot- ing human con- tact with farm animals. "Protecting the fair -going public from the risk of contamination while handling farm animals is a responsibility that we all take very seriously," Government commit to replace CAIS OTTAWA — The government is committing to replace the current Canadian Agricultural Income Stabilization Program (CAIS) with simpler, more pre- dictable and bankable programs, according to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri -Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board Chuck Strahl. "On Jan. 23, Canadians voted for change, and that includes change in agriculture. This government rec- ognized that the current farm income stabilization pro- gram was not working," says Strahl. NOW AVAITABIT AT TIMES -ADVOCATE "WHITE ITE SOUIRREIL SOU Y EX " • magnets • bo0kmark • post card •grin • note" Ards • pini ti‘ -411IP 424 Main St, S. 519-235-1331 "During the election campaign, we promised to replace CAIS and we are carrying through on it as we have done with all other campaign promises," Strahl adds. At their June Federal -Provincial -Territorial meeting, agricultural ministers strongly endorsed the need to create a new margin -based program that separates catastrophic disaster assistance from income stabiliza- tion programming. Denfield Market Report The market at Denfield Livestock sales traded on all classes of fed cattle with fancy cattle bringing a premium. A good offering of cows traded at steady prices. Stockers strong, holstein bull calves active at stronger prices sows and boars steady. Morley Hodgins, Parkhill sold 12 steers average weight 1366 average price 93.87 to a high of 96.75 purchased by Norwich Packers. Bob Hodgins, Lucan sold five 1610 average price 89.59. Choice Steers 92-96.75 Good Steers 68-92 Plain Steers 80-85 Choice Exotic Cross Heifers 92-96 Good Heifers 88-91 Plain Heifers 70-80 Good Beef Cows 45-55 heavy steers average weight D1 Si D2 Cows 32-38 D3 & D4 Cows 25-30 Shells 15-25 Good Beef Bulls 50-60 Good Holstein Bulls 35-45 Good Holstein Bull Calves 100-190 5■0°/0 50,+ 5.35%75,+ R. GEIGER FINANCIAL 519-236-4784 519-857-3846 says Strahl. "Canada's new government is pleased to sup- port the Canadian Association of Fairs and Exhibitions in its efforts to mini- mize the risk to humans and animals," Strahl adds. The primary focus of the C.A.F.E. project is to deliver training work- shops to individ- ual fair, exhibi- tion and show operators. In addition, the program will feature a contin- uing education component pro- viding resource materials as well as follow- up training for program partici- pants. "The issue of E. coli and other pathogen out- breaks is of great concern to the fair and exhibition indus- try sector in Canada," says general manag- er and CEO of the Western Fair Association Gary McRae. "The C.A.F.E. program is a pro -active step to ensuring that potential for E. coli contamina- tion is mini- mized and that animals can continue to be an integral part of Canadian fairs," McRae adds. stop smoking discussion group Beginning September 28 6:00-8:00 p.m. Huron County Health Unit Hwy 4 South of Clinton Register by calling 519-482-3416 011..° NOTICE OF INTENTION ' TO CLOSE HIGHWAY The Council of the Corporation of the Township of Lucan Biddulph has determined that a portion of Breen Drive road allowance lying west of Concessions 4 and 5 known as "Saintsbury Line", legally described as Part of the Road Allowance between Lots 20 and 21, Concession 4, in the Township of Lucan Biddulph, now designated as PARTS 1, 2, 3 and 4 on Reference Plan 33R-16594 is a redundant highway and it would be proper to close the said highway pursuant to the authority of Section 34 of The Municipal Act. Council intends to pass a By-law closing Breen Drive at its meeting on Thursday, September 28, 2006 after providing notice of the intended road closing for a period of four consecutive weeks in the local newspaper. Persons wishing to make representations, presentations or written or verbal comments may do so by attending the public meeting immediately prior to the matter being determined by Council at the Council Chambers to be held at 33351 Richmond Street, Lucan, Ontario at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 28, 2006. Those wishing to make written comments are asked to deliver same to the Clerk -Administrator of the Township at 33351 Richmond Street, Lucan, Ontario NOM 2J0. Any questions may also be addressed to the Clerk -Administrator at the above noted address. Ronald Reymer Administrator -Clerk