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The Huron Expositor, 1976-07-15, Page 14" Huge amounts of money are being spent on promoting everything from elephants to elbow wrestling in this coun- try. For many years, few agriculturalists felt the need to pro- mote their products buf all the evidence points to a new and more enlightened attitude in recent years. Probably the first organization to allocate a lot of money in promotion was the Ontario Milk Marketing Board which will spend more than $2 million this -year. I can't say I'm enamored with the television. advertisements Which must have been okayed by the board but that's their business. • • In fact. I still do not understand why they call it a mous- tache. My nine-year-old daughter says it is a milktache. My wife calls the milk-moustache commercials obscene. But the milk board doesn't have to sell my family on the product.-[ drink more than a quart a milk every day. The "everything-is-better-with-butter - slogan hit the public fancy a few years ago and I'm wondering why the dairymen didn't stick with that slogan longer. . The.. egg producers have some intriguing ideas in' pro- motion„too. Their newspaper and television advertisements are excellent. .When that psuedo-Chinese chef giggles at' the end of his on•camera stint. I can't help but giggle along with him. . Some years ago. the milk board came up with Some-ter- rific summer drink recipes using milk — one of them was called a mooting — and I looked for the formula dyer the weekend but couldn't find it. If Haynes Davies or„any of his staff read this deathless prose., maybe he'll send me an -- other copy. At the annual meeting of the egg producers in April, the promotion and public relations staff spent considerable time telling all producers just what they have done, what the are doing and what they plan to do to keep their pro- duct in the public eye. Not one producer suggested that .too much money was being spenton promotion. The members were certainly more vocal about a lot of other things., It took them threedays to make a decision Jack's Jottings on raising their production quota unilaterally. They spent Monday, almost all day Tuesday, Tuesday night and Wed- nesday discussing the move before a decision was made. Thank heaven they decided to-continue spending as much as possible on advertising and promotion. Anyone who thinks farmers are inarticulate should have attended that meeting. Those fellows were never at a loss for words. • The Ontario Pork 'Producers Marketing' Board is also spending time and money on projecting a new image and I, for one, think they are doing an excellent job. To millions,of Canadians living in towns and cities, those engaged in the„business of raising, hogs are generally re- ferred to as pig farmers, a term thai4aoks the romance and status of 'other agricultural endeavors. The pork board, trying to get a little more glamor into the business, has sent a letter to all members of the news media-suggesting that the actual business of breeding, rais- ing, transporting, buying and selling hogs is highly sophisti- cated. Electronic tape and closed-circuit television hookups with processing plants to data-processing equipment at marketing board offices are parallel to the action generally associated with corporate boardrooms, I've said it before but it is worth repeating. I know a couple of pork producers with equipment so highly technical that they can feed, water and clean barns just by pushing a couple of buttons and pull- ing a switch. In other words, farming is a highly technical industry and should be promoted and advertised the same way. I've forgotten what the automatic . checkoff is for beef cattle — I think it is now 25 cents a head -- but when cattle- men met at their annual meeting in the Grey-Bruce area, one producer said why not make the checkoff a dollar a head? He could have been' kidding because that figure is pretty high but it is certainly that,same spirit which will bring agri- culture promotion out of the back ,40 and into the•20th cen- tury. JUNIOR AGRICULTURALIST — David Gresty of Merlin is getting a taste of what farming is all about this summer on the farm of John Carvalho ofR.R.1, Walton. The junior agriculturalist program is open to.' young people 17 y9ars of age who are from urban areas and want to learn about farming. (Staff Photo) xpositor :-;... --- - :,?..-;;;-/ .;.•::......f.---„„„..-5--,.,......„.„......:5„--,„„ .j• ,,,.,../ --: ,---------- .--W" ,.. ,..,---,,,,......:, .4 .-';‘,..•.-------/ 0 ,..,..,_ -------%'_.--ei ----------_------ ,..-' • "0.- 0., -'--..' -,' •---,-1-'''--^' ---/---- F'-''' .1"-': :',"%. , .-„,:- --..,-;-. • .---,..5--- ,.-1. , . t Plan school bus changes, beef program tt URCIsl EXPOSITOR, JULY 15, 1976 e toot in the urrow' by03.4 Letters are appreciated by Bob Trotter. Eidale Rd . Elmira. Ont. N3B 2C7 Keep on promoting agriculture The Honda CB- Are you ready a bigger bike? Honda's 750's are a legend by now. A legend of four-cyllndtir machines engineered for super reliability and gutsy power.you can stay with for years. The CB-750F IS destined to enlarge on that legend. The four-intO-one exhaust helps increase performance and sets ak new standard for Honda 750 quietness. Big disc brakesfroht and rear are sure stoppers. The big, sleek fuel tank has a recessed locking gas cap. And there's a hidden storage compel-1mA behind Making, low contoured seat. Across town. Across Canada. The CB-750F is hard to bat. And we can show it to you. Right now. NEOAMA. • You're ahead on a Honda. Lynn Opy. • s. Enterprise Hwy. 86 East of VVingham Wingham 357-3435 Boyes Farm Supply MF Massey Ferguson Come in soon and check out all the savings during'this special sale! Limited to available inventories until [July 30, 1976] ROOF TRUSSES THE BEST WAY TO TOP YOUR BUILDING ISIJILDING COME Premiums 5 cow 0 (By Jack Riddell M.P.P.) At the Annual Convention of the School Bus Operators Asso- ciation of Ontario, the Minister of Transportation and Communica- tions, James Snow, said that the MTC have prepared a submission to the Ontario Cabinet to improve school 'bus transportation. One of the main recommenda- tions involves a closer examina- tion of the school bus driver's driving record, as well as his or her moral character. Based on recent research conducted by the University of Toronto, which clearly indicates that demerit points are a reliable predictor of future accident involvement and future driving behaviour, the Ministry is propos- ing that an applicant for a.. school bus • licence would be refused when his Or her driving .record shows more than six demerit points. A licence--t4ould be with- drawn from the holder if his/her driving record showed an accu- mulation of at least nine demerit points. Another area under scrutiny, is the denial of a licence to drive a school bus to" any applicant who has had a licence suspension within the past 'year resulting from a driving offence under the Highway. Traffic Act or under the Criminal code of Canada within the past five years. A licence would also be with- drawn from anyone with two or, more motor vehicle 'related offences under the, Criminal Code of Canada within the past five years. A licence would also be denied or withdrawn if an appli- cant or driver has been convicted of a moral offence such as rape-or indecent assault within the past five years. Improvements Improvements recommended by the Ministry would include regulations that on a one-time basis, a defensive driving course, or a course in modern driving, or a school bus driver improvement course would be required before a licence would be granted to operate a school bus. A St. John's Ambulance course in First Aid would be a pre-requisite to the granting of renewal of a licence. The' Ministry would recommend an increase in the minimum amounts of public liability insur- ance required to be carried by a schobl,bus operator. The Ministry is asking that a first aid kit be carried on every school bus, and this would be the kit prescribed by the Workmen's Compensation Board for 5 to45 employees. The Ministry would also seek a regulation that an adult supervi- sor' be present when children. are being transported by a school bus field trip and, on such a field trip ' standees ivould 'be prohibited. The 'Ministry proPpSeS to Make it mandatory or school buses to be exattined twice yearly; that all Oieelg he removed and brakes itistieeted 'at least once a year, These inSpeda tions would be carried out and certified by a licenced - motor vehicle inspection licencee who would apply a Ministry approved sticker to the school bus window certifying that the bus had met inspection standards. Crying Need • • It is -gratifying to 'know that steps are being taken to afford more protection for students travelling by school bus. I have always felt the crying need for action to improve the safety of our school busses. I have introduced two Private 'Members Bills in the Legislature. These bills addressed' themselves to two major areas in school bus safety, the school bus driver and the 'school bus itself. I have also stressed in the numerous speeches I have made that standees should not be permitted and first aid kits should be carried on the buses and that a course if. first aid be mandatory for the drivers. The Minister said the proposals put forward will serve to increase the safety and efficiency of what he felt is already an excellent school bus operation. Beef Program On the last day of the Session, the Minister of Agriculture and Food announced details of the 1976 beef calf income stabiliza- tion program. The premiums for this year are to'be $5 per cow and • the Minister's 50 cents a pound. This production cost differential is very important when consider- ing the effectiveness or otherwise of the beef calf stabilization program. As the Minister stated, the scheduled payment under the program is based on four factors - -the support price for calves, whi6 is 50 .cents a pound this year; the weighted average market price for calves, which will be calculated from fall sales; the average number of calves from 100 cows, which when calculated for the whole province is 85; and the average wei'ht of the calves in the fall, which is 450 pounds 'each." Agriculture and Food Minister William G. • Newman haq announced the details of the 1976 beef calf income stabilization program. Speaking in the Legisla- ture, Mr. Newman said the premiums for this year would be $5. per cow and the support price would be 50 cents per pound, the same as last year. Enrolment closes this year on August 16. Only ' cows in the producer's possession as of June 22 may be regigered. All 'contracts will expire in Junee 1.980. The support price is calculated on 100 per cent of the producer's operating cost. All beef calf producers and cream shippers in Ontario are eligible. Producers who participated last year will receive enrolment forms in the mail. New participants will be able to ,get forms from their Agricultural Reflrpsentatives after July 12. Mr. Newman •said- that "although the• price being Minister announces supported is that for calves, the payments are made On a ger cow basis. "The payment is based on fo‘F- factors," he said, "the suPg00 price for calves, which is 50 cents a pound this year; the weighted average market price fdr calvesi which will be calculated from fall: sales; , the average number of calves from 100 cows, which whet,t calculated for the whole province is 85; and the average weight of the calves in the fall, 'Which is 450 pounds each." • This program was initiated in 1975 to stabilize the income of beef, calf producers and to encourage a continuing supply of Ontario-produced beef. Last year 12,000 farmers Mgisteked:300,000 cows and received net payments of $72. per cow, for total payments of $22.5 million. An Expositor Classified will pay you dividends. Have you tried one? Dial 527-0240. Me support arice will be 50 cents per pound, the same as last year. 'Enrolment closes this year on the 16th August, and only cows in the producer's possession as of June .22 may be registered, All con- tracts will expire in June 1980. According to the Minister, the support price is calculated on 100% of the producer's operating cost. All beef calf producers and cream shippers in Ontario are eligible. Producers who partici- pated . last year will receive enrolment forms in the' mail and new participants may obtain forms frbm their agricultural representatives after July 12. The Ontario Federation of Agriculture has attempted to determine the. costs of beelf-calf production on Ontario farms in 1975. Twenty-five farms were selected, all reputedly producing at above-average efficiency. The • farms were visited by a researcher in mid-summer last year, and again early 'in 1976. Two producers had ceased or greatly reduced production and the farm records of two others proved insufficiently reliable, so that final calculations included 21 fartns only. An attempt was made to select farms engaged solely in beef-calf production, or farms where the costs of other enterprises, such as cash crop or hog production, could be accurately excluded from the cow-calf costs. The growing of WHY ? PROFESSIONALLY ENGINEERED EASILY ERECTED QUALITY CONTROL ECONOMICAL COMPLETELY VERSATILE UNIFORM WHEN P AVAILABLE YEAR ROUND NO WEATHER DELAYS r WHERE ? BALL-MACAUL Seaforth 527.0910 Hems:4111624418 Clinton 482.9514 COMMERCIAL • RESIDENTIAL FARM • INDUSTRIAL feed for the animals was also included in, calculation of the production costs. Most producers had adjusted to the cow-calf prices in the fall of 1974 by wintering at least some of their 1974 calves in 1975 and carrying some 1975 calves into 1976 for sale this.year. It was, not possible to isolate the costs of feeding and caring for these' yearling animals, so the O.F.A. -survey results included the costs and,,also •the pounds gained, of steers and heifers. The average herd size in the groupg was 74 cows, with an 'approximate calf yield of 85% For the purposes of the O.F.A. survey, land values were established at $130. an acre for all land in beef production. This figure was based on current sales values modified by revised assessment schedules for the area. Building values were based' on the operators' estimates, often using the insured value as a guide. Machinery and equipment was valued on depreciated value of actual cost, and purchased feed was charged at actual cost with home-grown feed covered under figures for fertilizer, machinery, fuel, labour etc. , Cull Cows The receipts for cull cows were subtracted from total expenses and from each category pro rata. Where herd replacements were not specifically designated or ANIMINNIMOMMII selected, it was assumed that 15% of the heifers were destined to become brood cows. Their pounds gained were not 'counted as net pounds produced. Opera- tors' equity in the enterprise was charged at 8% interest, and operators were allotted a full industrial wage of $10,400 for managing a 150-cow herd, or any portion thereof .on a per cow basis. ,No management fee was assessed. This survey by the O.F.A. was carefully carried out, and would seem to be an accurate estimate of the situation. The O.F.A. production cost per pound is 7.1 .7 cents - considerably higher than MF Massey Ferguson 527-1.257 Seaforth , Ont. MF 235 Tractor SAVE $200.00 MF 255 Tractor SAVE $200.00 MF 265 Tractor SAVE $200.00 MF 275 Tractor SAVE $200.00 ME 40 Forklift SAVE $400.00 IVIF 50A Backhoe Loader SAVE $700.00 ME 30 Tractor W/Loader and packhoe SAVE $400.00 Wee starting our summer celebration right now with special prices on many new MF units. LOOK AT OUR BIG -SAVINGS: 11•1.== 'NM! a