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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1982-09-15, Page 22B6 — THE HURON EXPOSITOR, SEPTEMBER 15, 1982 "fir. . AT YOUTH CAMP—Joe Vermunt, R.R. 2, Zurich, attended the 16th annual Youth Camp sponsored by United Co-operatives of Ontario (UCO), at Geneva Park just north of Orillia, during the week of August 14-20. Joe was sponsored by Hensel! District Go -operative. United Co-operatives of Ontario is the largest farm supply and marketing co-operative in the province. It provides a complete line of farm inputs, including feed, seed, fertilizer, petro- leum and hardware through 180 Co-op outlets across Ontario. It also markets livestock, grain and poultry. UCO is owned by 49,000 individual members and 48 member co-operatives repre- senting an additional 40,000 members. Eugene has On* O©© nn nth@ by Ebb b 41poff@1i If Canadian tarmers had any doubts about the clout of Eugene Whelan in the Liberal cabinet. those doubts have been disspelled this month. Whelan has been Promising for weeks to meet with his provincial counterparts to discuss farm price supports across the country. But Eugene's stalling tactics may have pushed the meeting into oblivion. Remember when Whelan led the attack on the Tories dean across Canada. when he delivered a dozen or more rural seats after barnstorming from coast to coast? He was Trudeau's white-haired. green•Stetsoned boy in those days. His down-to-earth speeches impressed more than just farmers. But when Pierre announced his retirement, Eugene jumped into the leadership race. That was enough to put a dent in Trudeau's arrogance. Since then. Whelan has had a less•than-impressive cabinet presence. n put it bluntly. he has had great problems getting anything for farmers. In Halifax in July. Whelan promised he would attend a meeting with provincial agministcrs in August to discuss stabilization plans for all thc major agricultural products marketed in Canada. At the meeting. he fretted and funned and stalled any talks on stabilization until late in the day. His excuses included a dela} in getting his papers on the suhlcst from Ottaw a In the afternoon. he hedged again he saying he needed more time to make topics of those papers when they did error When a clic,ussinn was held, a document only three or tour pages long was tabled and a couple of ministers•• including Dennis, Tim• hrcll of Ontario, said the paper tabled was nothing hut a rehash of old stuff. Whelan admitted he had no mandate from the federal iahinct to make any commitments. This is not the old: flamboyant, shoot•fror GOO P. Timbrell tries out IPM furrows Ontario minister of agri- culture Dennis Timbrell donned a plowman's jacket and cap last Thursday at Lucan to plow a couple of furrows in a sun -baked patch of land on the site of the 1982 International Plowing Match and Farm Equipment Show. The minister demonstrat- ed his plowing skills before a large group of newspaper photographers, radio and television reporters and plowing match organizers„ providing a sampling of what is to come when the IPM gets underway Sept. 28. Organizers of this year's match expect more than 150.000 to attend the event which is being held on the RR's ti tr farm of Lucan farmer Alan Scott. Mr, Scott, declared "mayor" of the tent city which will be erected within the next few weeks, will preside over more than 600 exhibitors who will converge on the 800 acre site set aside for the match. In his remarks at the special "media day" Thurs- day, •Mr. Timbrell congratu- lated the Middlesex County organizers for their efforts in preparing for the big event. He also used the opportunity to note some priorities of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food: One of his ministry's prior- ities, he said, is to provide more direct financial assis- e is Liberal Leader David Pet- erson recently- stated his views on the controversial question of wage and price controls, 'aware that "every -Serious minded citizen across this province and this country is deeply concerned about our current economic condit- ions." "There are," he said, "no simple or foolproof answers to the problems of high unemployment .ipflation... interest rates and 1s2w pro- ductivity...never before has Ontario been in such dire need of strong leadership front its provincial govern- ment to put us back on the road to economic recovery, "It has been my fervent hope that we would be forging a provincial, inter- provincial and national, con- sensus in response to the challenges which presently beset us...Ontario is Can• ada's manufacturing heart- land. its historic economic foundation: it is not only in our vital interest but it is our basic responsibility that Ont - clout gumw i tance to farmers as well as to provide them with more financial advice. Mr. Timbrell noted that his ministry has expanded the Ontario Farm Assistance Program which provides in- terest rebates to eligible farmers and extends new lines of credit. He said more emphasis is being placed on financial planning and that workshops will be set up to find out how the ministry can better assist farmers with their financial problems. At the county level, the ministry will be encouraging the setting up of 4-H financial management clubs to ensure that young people will acquire the necessary fore,_l eters.)n s ,D©ck o ,D®tit rivo BY JACK RIlliDELL. IbIPP ario be at the forefront of the national debate on our econ- omic recovery strategy. "I believe the time has come for across-the-board wage and price controls. No single sector can be singled out to bear the sacrifice we must all undertake. Equity demands that wage controls be implemented across all sectors. and these must be coupled with corresponding price controls." "No one can guarantee that a wage and price control program. of whatever shape or form. will be entirely equitable or fair. Neverthe- less we must ensure that those at the lower end of the income scale do not bear a disproportionate burden... the elderly, single family supporters, who must devote a far greater share of their income to the necessities of food and shelter. 1 propose that a wage control program be administered according to a sliding scale. whereby those at the lower income range are allowed a larger percentage increase in wages than those at the higher income level.", "I would not...want to 1elude anyone into thinking /that a wage and price controls program is the panacea for our economic woes. It is a the -hip Whelan who dominated the farm scene for six or seven years. This is not the same man who said he may not be the best agricultural minister in Canada's history but he sure was the ugliest. He no longer pokes fun at himself and, by so doing. gets people on his side. It is certainly an indication that Trudeau wants no strong men in his cabinet who might threaten his survival. It is obvious that Eugene Whelan posed a leadership threat and his popularity had to be pruned by Pierre and his pundits, • Farmers are in desperate need of a plan to: prevent the devastating highs and lows of the open marketplace. They need protection to remain in business to which the high incidence of bankruptcies can attest. A record-breaking grain harvest is under- way now in the United States, a huge surplus which will have tremendous effects on all major agricultural products. The entire agricultural economy will feel the effects. The surplus of grain will show up in a year as surplus neat. Forecasters are already saying that the extraordinary pork prices of the last few months will drop to a loss by Christmas and turn to disaster by Faster. Any kind of stabilization plan to protect farmers must he implemented as soon as possible for all the major products. Unfor• tunatcly. there arc differences among the pruvinccs on how to implement the program. Onc reason Mr. Whclan is having trouble getting a federal plan in place is because of thc differences in generosity for the plans now in place in the provinces. He has been asking thc other agministcrs to put an end to this proliferation But hcyh, been unable to get any commitment from thc federal cabinet. Which only underlines the fact that his clout has diminished to that of a backbencher. It's fall . fair season the Fair season in Huron (aunty is now in full swing. s Imton. Zurich. Dungannon ,ind Bayfield fall fairs were • Id 'luring June. .tuts and Vigust. Other arca fairs nnnuc during September. Fi'sth Bolgrase School Fair d the list. on Tuesday, S• po n,'hcr 14. Lucknow Fall f,rs Saturday, September a H',,s,cls Fair is schcdulc•cl I Wednesday, September ' 1•dl,m'd that week b• i, .of c'') Fair on Friday. Sep• n'i t :inti 1 xctcr Fair on S,runl,o. September 25. The I:, •+ Huron (ounty fair is Hntcick Fair on Saturday. October 2. The volunteer directorates of the Agricultural Societies behind these fairs draw most of their strength from the rural population Ag, i<ultural fairs and ex hihitions attract people from miics around. Thcv also appeal to those who base loft the farm and want to •'turn to sec the Fair. They attract others s ho have never seen a farm • people who hong their children to the showing of light and heavy horses, claire and hoof rattle, swine. sheep and poultry and to watch the judging. Many fairs have entertain- ment by local talent, The. various exhibits and classes in 4 1-1, sewing. quilts. arts and crafts, home baking, flowers, fruit, and vegetables round nut a visit to the agricultural fairs. We do hope that everyone with an interest will set aside .time to attend and support ttie lair in your community. • Don Pullen, Agricultural Representative financial skills for operating farms, the minister indicat- ed. Mr. Timbrell also referred to a three-year study being carried out by the former . director of the ministry's home economics branch which will attempt to identify the "current problems and needs" of rural women and the consumers' of food products. 1t is hoped that the study will bring forth recommenda- tions "to better bridge the rural -urban gap." Preparations for this year's IMP have been directed by Delaware farmer Jack McNamara, the execu- tive committee chairman of rice ys step. an important step, yet it can only serve as one part of d total economic recovery pack- age. Wage and price controls can restore consumer and business confidence in the short-term by providing a climate of optimism, by breaking the inflationary spi- ral and protecting jobs here in Ontario for our citizens. In- deed, these achievements by themselves would be a sign- ificant factor in the recovery from the current recession, "Our last experience with wage and price controls in this country has taught us a vital lesson: we must use this period to lay the groundwork for fundamental changes in our economic structures. Our major emphasis must be in the field. of employment. "We must make our industries internationally competitve again. Over the last few years. we have been losing ground to foreign com- petitors, both in terms of our export market and our do- mestic market...We must encourage investment in the new technologies and assist in the revitalization of the old. You are all aware that our country has a pitiable record in terms of its investment in research and development. The provincial government can change our performance in this regard through invest- ment incentives and co- operative ventures. "We must tackle the pro- blem of the shortage of skilled manpower, and the misallo- cation of human resources. through job training the job retraining programs, we can ensure that we have the appropriate skilled workforce pool in place to draw upon as we enter the new economic sc of high-technology. "We must promote a more enlightened labour - management relationship. We have ignored the com- monality of interests we share as Ontarians. We can build on that strength. The provincial government can provide leadership in assisting man• agement and labour to recog• nize those arenas where co- operation is obviously mutu- ally beneficial, and perhaps reduce those"instances where conflict has become second nature. It is more and more apparent that the issue of productivity is one which can only be addressed by a common front involving la - hour and management." In conclusion. David Peter• son urged the government to implement clear restraint on all public and para -public wages and prices, mentioned the special need for restraint by Ontario Hydro Farm management topics A feel for the future BY JACK HAGARTY AREA COORDINATOR AND FARM MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST A recent Kiplinger agricultural newslet• to from the U.S.A. starts out "Time for a fresh appraisal of farm prospects. The. rest of 1982 and 1983 can now be projected with a reasonable degree of accuracy. We have talked with many farm econo mists in and out of government...plus agribusinessmen. farmers...to get a "feel". Added our judgment. What we come up with is not too good, but it is the prevailing opinion. So we give it to you straight....wishing that the news could he better." • They go on to say, supplies of most farm commodities are more than adequate. They say "downright burdensome for some. such as feed grains, wheat and soybeans. The following comments are underlined "prices won't get any help from the supply side. things are looking pretty draggy on the demand side, exports will stay soft. and domestic prospects are similar." The one bright note these days is hog prices. They've come dose to hitting the 51.00 per cwt in recent days. The major concern now is for grain and oilseed cash croppers. The one hope is that Russia might come up with a big order that's pretty tentative. One thing cash croppers can do is to sign up for some of the new grain income stabilization plans. The Ontario Farm Income Stabilization Commission has do veloped a new three year grain plan d982-84) for corn, parley, soybeans. white beans and winter wheat. It amazes me that most orodnr'ers don't sign up for these plans. It's like betting on the horses. with one added feature. You always win! Alright. so I sound like the huckster at the tatr, but let me explain. Let's say you own a race horse. You decide to stabilize your earning. You put up 5100. and the Provincial Government puts up $200. If your horse wins._,- great' You get the winning purse. And would you believe it -- you get your $100. hack plus interest. Granted the interest paid may he a couple of points below what you might pay to borrow the money. But your horse won fhe race •• so you win. What happens if your horse loses? Ynu get $300. In other words. the stabilization payment conies from your $100. plus thc Ontario Government's 5200, that has hcen set aside for just such occasions. A farmer's money in the account earns interest and any balance is returned at the conclusion of the program. Those in the old plan will find out sometime later this year whether they will receive a refund or a payout for the 1981 crop. FEATURES OF THE PLANS 1. There are separate plans for each of the five grants, 2. Your participation in any or all of the plans is voluntary, 3, There is a separate account opened for each crop you wish to protect. 4. Yofr Money in each account will earn bank interest, 5. Participants agree to remain in the plan for its duration, that is. up to and including the 1984 sales year. - b. A registration form will be sent to you in the second and third years of the program. This will allow you to register the amount of crop to he sold each year. It is your obligation to complete and file a registration form each year of the program. '. If no stabilization payment is to he made in any year, your balance in the account will apply against the next year's fees. 8. The required fee per tonne for each grain crop will he calculated each year.. 9. Producers who cease farming. nr executors of participants' estates may apply for a refund of any balance in the account. Participating growers in any year of depressed market prices may receive a supplementary payment from the stabiliza- tion fund. The amount of payment is limited by the Ontario support price. This price represents 9S per cent of the previous five•year average market price. as adjusted for changes in cash costs The maximum Ontario support payment in any year will he the difference between 95 per cent 90 per cent of the five-year average market price. Brochures and application forms will he mailed early in September to producers who received a payout in 197' and -or who arc registered in the present plans. County offices will have a supply of htochures and applications forms. Both the fce and the application must he submitted by October 1, 1982. If your banker gives you any hassle, show this article. If the hanker is still reluctant, ask if he/she can give us a call ton the hank's phone). We'll go into our •- can't lose huckster at the fair routine! the Ontario Plowmen's Asso- ciation, in co-operation with 20 local committees involving about 350 people. The plowing match and farm equipment show starts Sept. 28 and continues to Oct. 2. 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