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The Citizen, 1987-04-01, Page 18PAGE 18. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 1987. Corn hearing planned SEED Oats Donald*Ogle* Elgin The new executive of the Grey Township Federation of Agriculture was elected at the organization’s annual meeting in Ethel on March 28. From left, the executive includes Gerry Rijkhoff, RR 3, Walton, township director; Sharon Boylan, RR 2, Listowel, secretary-treasurer; Keith Williamson, RR 3, Walton, president; and Hugh Crawford, RR 1, Monkton, vice-president. MP Murray Cardiff, a Grey Township farmer, was the guest speaker at the meeting, marking the first time he has been asked to speak at a township Federation of Agriculture meeting. 'Keep the faith' Cardiff urges Murray Cardiff, Huron-Middle­ sex MP and Grey Township farmer, assured his neighbours that the federal government is looking out for their best interests, and suggested that they keep the faith during current international and bilateral negotiations. Speaking to about 25 members at the annual meeting of the Grey Township Federation of Agricul­ ture on Saturday, Mr. Cardiff said that his government is only interested in deals that benefit Canadians, including Canadian farmers. Although recognizing that there are farmers who favour free trade as well as those who are opposed to the concept, Mr. Cardiff promised that Canada is seeking to improve access to lower tariff levels and to establish a better mechanism for resolving trade disputes in the current free trade talks with the USA. “But we have no interest whatsoever in negotiating away our right to decide what kind of marketing systems work for our farm commodities. We are work­ ing toward a mutually beneficial trade agreement with the U.S.,” he said, noting that Canada has some 35 agricultural advisors providing input to the negotia­ tions. Internationally, Mr. Cardiff said that Canada is pushing hard for a new international trade agreement on agriculture under the general agreement on tariffs and trade (GATT), with the determination that “sanity be restored to the world marketplace.” After a round of enthusiastic applause, Mr. Caridff answered questions from the audience, mostly on subjects that Ontario Federation of Ariculture (OFA) fieldman Blaine Stephenson quip­ ped were “uppermost in every farmer’s mind this spring” - free trade, crop insurance, and animal rights activists. Although the politician manag­ ed to sidestep a question from Monkton-area farmer Hugh Craw­ ford on the federal government’s position on the current crop insurance review, and another from Listowel-area farmer Murray Bray as to the chances of the government paying farmers not to plant corn, he did agree that farmers must guard against the inroads on agriculture that the animal-rights activists may make. “Emotion runs high on these issues,” Mr. Cardiff said. “We all have to support our colleagues to make sure these people don’t lobby hard enough to make changes in our (agricultural) industry.” Brenda McIntosh of RR 4, Seaforth, first vice-president of the HF A and a member of one of the federal Farm Debt Review Boards since January, was also on hand to explain the role of the Board. She said that her duties had taken her away from home four days a week over the past few months, explaining that the pro­ blems afflicting farmers were much the same all across the province, the major one being the necessity of leaving the farm to work outside. She said that the Board had received 454 applications for debt review to this date, and that 144 of these files had already been completed, while another 194 are still active. “We are trying to bring compas­ sion into the process of debt review,’’ Ms. Macintosh said. “Where there is any chance at all for a farmer to stay on the farm, we have been able to come to some arrangement with his creditors to make it possible. We want to see them still on the farms in a few years, and able to meet their financial commitments.” Grey Township Reeve Leona Armstrong spoke briefly to the meeting, as did HF A representa­ tive Blaine Stephenson, before elections were held for 1987-88 officers of the township federation. Canadian corn users who stand togainby thelifting of the hefty countervailing duty imposed on subsidized U.S. corn imports on March 6 will get another chance to plead their case at an unusual public hearing scheduled for May 26. Arthur Trudeau of the Canadian Import Tribunal said the Ottawa hearing was called at the request of feed grain buyers and industrial corn users who fear the counter­ vailing duty of 84.9 cents U.S. per bushel imposed by Canada on March 6 will lead to higher prices for domestic as well as imported corn. Canada imposed the duty after the tribunal ruled that subsidized imports were hurting Canadian corn producers. Revenue Canada had earlier determined that U.S. corn production was subsidized under the U.S. farm bill. Seed corn, sweet corn and popping corn were excluded. The duty has been loudly denounced by corn producers in the U.S., and last week the U.S. Senate finance committee formally protested the countervail and Farm future is HFA topic The future of farming in Ontario will be the topic for the Huron County Federation of Agriculture when it holds its monthly members meeting at Hullett Central School, Londesborc on April 8. Colin Reesor, of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food at Markdale will be the guest speaker. The meeting, at 8:30 p. m., will give farmers a chance to get an incite into what farming in Ontario may have in store in the next few years. asked President Ronald Reagan to start an investigation that could lead to U.S. retaliation against Canadian products. After the May hearing, the Canadian Import Tribunal can make a recommendation to cabinet if it concludes the duty should be lifted. The final decision is up to the federal government. Barley • Leger • Bruce • M icmac •Herta •Birka*Rodeo • Perth Spring Wheat - Glen lea Field Peas-Trapper Mixtures made to order from these varieties. Acompletelistof Red Clover, Timothy & Alfalfa varieties Order directly or from your local dealer R.T. Bolton & Son Seaforth 527-0559 At Auburn call Ralph Lubbers 526-7229 Dependable Quality Pedigreed Seed Marketing Assistance grant goes to Toronto packer The Ministry of Agriculture and Food is awarding its first grant under the Marketing Assistance Program for Pork (MAPP) to Quality Meat Packers, Agriculture and Food Minister Jack Riddell announced recently. Quality Meat Packers of Toronto will receive $237,500, or 25 per cent of the capital funding for two of its projects which will cost a total of $950,000. “Our assistance to Quality Meat Packers for equipment in their hog packing operations will greatly improve the company’s efficiency in marketing,” Mr. Riddell said. The five-year, $10-million Mar­ keting Assistance Program for Pork is aimed at enhancing and modernizing the processing of Ontario hogs. MAPP provides a quarter of total capital funding up to $2 million per project in packing and processing operations. The . incentive is given to upgrade facilities and improve technology. “Quality Meat Packers is an important and respected member of this industry. We are confident that the company’s plant improve­ ments will add to the overall strength of the Ontario pork industry,” said Riddell. Savings SEAFORTH 527-0120 47. 17. FARM EQUIPMENT LIMITED S1AIORIH • AYR • ( AMBRUKd • -WOODSUM K Pre-Season LAWN RIDERS - New plug and change oil - Check ignition and adjust carburetor - Clean air cleaner - Sharpen blades - Check bearings, drive belts, chains - Check oil and tires - Check battery/cables - Wash / clean complete unit - Parts extra LAWN MOWERS AND STRING TRIMMERS - New plug - Check ignition and adjust carburetor - Clean air cleaner and change oil - Sharpen blade - Wash / clean complete unit - Parts extra GARDEN TRACTORS - Check ignition and new plug - Change oil, clean filter - Adjust carburetor - Sharpen blades - Check drive belts/chains/bearings - Check transmission oil - Change transmission filter Check battery/connections Wash I clean complete unit Parts extra CHAIN SAWS - Check ignition I new plug - Clean air filter - Adjust carburetor - Check blade and bearings in clutch - Sharpen chain I wash unit - Parts extra Vi i; w 4; > 1