HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1980-09-25, Page 24THE
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S.PPIEMBER'1§'vil98P
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Farm pOpu
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ation shrinks
It is time Canadians realized how important the family
farm is to this nation. ,
• Years ago, -almost every one had some knowledge and
perhaps even some connection with a farm or farming.
Most people were aware of farm problems: Not so today.
In Canada, less than Six pier cent of the population is
actively engaged in farming, In other words, five or six
people feed and clothe the other 94 or 95. And this is dotte
so Well by this small group of people that even in these
times of -high inflation, foo&pricelhave not risen nearly as
much as other main living costs.
Literally millions of people have been freed by the
expert farmers of this country ,to swell the ranks of the
workers throughout every other sector of the economy.
Industry, by the way, owes a huge debt to agriculthre for
this supply of manpower.
,( You can deny that food in this ocuntry- is a bargain but
the denials simply, do not stand up under scrutiny.
Canadians spend about 17 or 18 per cent of after-tax
Income on food, second only to the United States where it
is 16.5 per cent. This compares with 23 per cent in Britain
and Belgium, 25 per cent in Finland, 26 per cent in France,
28 per cent in Denmark and 35 per cent in the Soviet
„ Union. In some developing countries, the food -cost share
is between 50 and whopping 80 per cent of disposable
income. -
Not only do American and Canadian farmers feed the
people of this country but they help to feed millions of
others around the WOrld, another debt this country owes to
the agricultural sector.
I get a huge chuckle out of the heads -in -clouds people
who advocate a return to the old methods of fax ming. the
good old days of horses and buggies. How many of these
advocates would leave- their city jobs in order tohelp
agriculture return to this method of production? They
would last a few hours and return to town. At last one
industrTaT worker in every four would be needed on the
farm without the big machines. In addition, where would
farmers get and train a couple of million horses to ,would
the
jobs? Production would obviously fall because more acres.
of grain and grp„ss would be needed to feed those million
horses.
Food would cost at least twice as much as it does now
and not enough would be left to4hip to needed nations
around the world.
it is true that a handful of excellent farmers, the Old
Order Amish Mennonites, still cling to the old ways and
Record harvest
expected this fall
A record Canadian apple
harvest is expected this ye.ar
according to*figures recently
released by Agriculture
Canada.
Apple production is esti-
mated to be more than
475,000 tonnes. Agriculture
Canada economists expect
production will continue to
climb in the next few yeas.
reaching 500,000 tonnes by
1985.
Growth in the demand for
apples ' and apple products
bath at home and abroad is
expected to keep pace with
the larger production.
A continued 'shift in tan-
adian eating habits is reflect-
ed in statistics on food
consumed in Canada in 1979.
Last year, Canadians ate
about six pounds less red
meat per capita than in 1978.
Most of this drop was due to
a 13 per cent decline in beef
consumption:
Canadians ate more pro-
tein from alternative sources
last year. including chicken.
eggs and cheese.
Fruit and vegetable con-
sumption continued to rise in
1979, but there was a decline
in the volume of wheat -flour
products eaten.
Remember it takes but
rnarnent to place an Ex -
pxsitor Want Ad. Dial 527.
0240.
remain successful and competitive but.they work longer
and harder than 99 per cent of the people in this country
do. They also get considerable help from family and
church members, a way of life that is almost forgottrn for
most of us.
Of course, a return to the good old days would mean
independence from energy snortages. But agriculture
consumes less Than six per cent of total energy in Canada
anyway, -so the use of horses would not -help the nation
very mudif.-
Wholesale application of modern technology in farming
right across Canada has made the greatproductiOn
increases possible. Granted, some better land manage-
ment inecessary to prevent erosion and pollution of land
by unnecessary applications of fertilizer, but any return to
the good old days is a ludicrous prospect unless Canadians
are willing to pay 51.50 for one apple or 53.50 for a loaf of
bread or 53.50 for a quart or milk.
Besides, those Who advocate the old methods wouldn't
last. A few years ago when so many youngsters favored
communes, they managed to find a few spots that lasted
more than just months. How, many are in existence today?
Darn few, because it takes too much work to keep a farm
productive especially without modern technology.
, Facing a one -acre lot whiefi-mtist be duOy liand is too
much for any potato fancier on a commune. -, •
Final 1979
payment
expected
A final payment to Ontario
wheat 'producers on 1979
crop wheat in the amount of
$5.90 per tonne will be made
by the Ontario Wheat Pro-
ducers' Marketing Board.
Board chairman Robert
Buffer., R.R. 1,, Croton, said
the payment will be made by
mid-September to about
16,000 producers who sold
wheat between July 1st, 1979
and June 30, 1980.
Producers received an ini-
tial payment pf S83.00 per
tonne on the 1979 crop, and
In addition to the final pay-
ment, the board made an
interim paYment of 540.42
per tonne in February 1980
and another one ,in the
amount of 518.37 per tonne
in June.
The total of all payments
for the 1979 crop 'is 5147.69
pr tonne or 54.02 per
bushel.
Total 1979 crop producer
sales to the board amounted
to 655.155 tonne. All stocks
were sold by the hoard with
approximately, 36 per cent of
the wheal going to the do-
mestic market and 64 per
cern to export markets over-
seas. ,
Remember u ,takes but a
moment to place an Ex-
positor Want Ad.
TRAMISOL
$21.49 extra profit per head
at Thorlakson Feedyards.
Sam G. Raarlaub
Vice -President, Thorlakson Feedyards
recent trial at litorlakson Feek‘ards. Airdrie. .\iberta„
-0 head of cattrw treated with TR \MEWL dewormer were compared
with a -0-head control group.
\l 1 horiak,on 1-erAards the elfiract of a &wormer is determined
hc measuring rate of g,ain and feed (4firience. .\fter 11.3 da s.
t1'.11 R \USN treated cattle had gained ,ila inerage of
hr untreated group. gained 3-i !b. per head.
ih differen: 2(1 eN. tra ib per head with TR \\MSOL.
\ nd at market that meant a nrt return of S21.49 extra profit per head.
FR \1 ISO! ft pak s oft
111, iCVAAFAATifsizaCi
The OFA (Ontario
Federation: of .Agriculture)
has commended the provin-
cial gOlterionent for adopting
new. Occupiers' Liability and
Treaspass laws. The OFA
has beep pushing for this
legislation for 20 -years.
Jim McIntosh, Director for
Huron County Federation of
Agriculture, says,
"Trespassitig can be a
problem when hunters,
fishermen, skiers, und hikers
damage fences' and scare
livestock. However the act
will have More meaning in
the larger centres inch ''as
Kitchener and Stratford.
'Here in Huron County we
have the wimp feature of
having no .cttis in 00
county, In this arda, the
urban and rural pedple
understand each other's
problems, so trespassers do
not pose as big a thtleat
here."
The new Trespass Act
Includes a find up to
$1,000.00 for trespassing, an
increase of $900.00 -from the
old law. Offenders
Convicted may be ordered tp
payup to $1,000.00 for
damages. Under the old act,
civil action was required to
collect compensation for
damages.
Under the 'new Occupiers'
Liability Act, owners have
0
13isitint
0. 0
4,^
"a dub' Of reasonable care"
to 'Make sure the prenalSe
are safe -to avoid acts po-
tentially lointiouS to other
persons. However. owners.
are free from this "duty of
reasonable care" if the
person enters at their Own
risk, trespasses, or is
'involved in a recreational
activiry where no fee is paid.
Owners may be responsible
to trespassers :if they
deliberately create a danger
for the trespasser.
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