The Lucknow Sentinel, 1985-03-20, Page 33FleXibility may solve problems
BY Randy ' Thtendyle
Flexibility by the Farm Credit Corpora-
tion (FCC) and other lending institutions
may be the key to solving some farm
financial problems.
A pilot program, , started u> Grey and
Bruce Counties earlier this year, may be one
of the ways that farmers and lenders can
achieve that flexibility.
The three month program was initiated by
the Federal Minister of Agriculture John
Wise and Gary Gurbin, Bruce -Grey MP.
The program is designed to bring farmers
and lenders together on an informal basis in
an effort to work out a satisfactory solution
for both the farmer and the lender.
A. panel, made up of farmers and lenders,
is formed to hear each individual case and
make recommendations on the future of the
farming operations. The Panel varies ac-
cording to the type farming operation being
studied.
Gurbin said if the program is successful in
Bruce and Grey counties, it may be adapted
for use on a national level.
He said the Farm Assessment, Review
Board has heard a large number of cases.
The board has met almost every day during
its three month mandate to /discuss and
consider individual cases.
The program is -ow nearing the end of its
mandate. "It is at he stage now where the
propositions and proposals that have been
prepared on L. -number of cases are being
brought forward for final consideration by
the lending institution involved,"/ said Gur-
bin.
FCC is one of the largest farm lenders iri
the country and Gurbin said he has been
working toward getting the "flexibility" the
FCC will need to respond to some of the farm
financial problems. Some "creative solu-
tions" will be needed, he said.
"The key to the problem ... is whether we
get that flexibility." He said the review
board has received excellent co-operation
from farm organizations and other partici-
pants in the program.
Proposals put forward by board have not
been limited to suggesting that only lenders
make concessions.
"There's a whole range of things that are
possible, from suggesting someone actually
leave farming, to suggesting ... rearrange-
ments at the FCC or the banks," Gurbin
said.
The voluntary program, allows the farmer
and the lender to appear before the board in
an effort to work out the problem without
having to_resort to the courts or other legal
procedures. The recommendations of the
board are non-binding.
The board assesses each situation after
looking at the history of the farming
operation, and considering "how things
have gone over the years." Once that
assessment has been made the board" suggests what it believes is "the most
reasonable solution." -
If solutions ' to some of the problems
suggested by the board prove successful,
Gurbin said there may be a chance the.
program can be extended across the, coun-
try.
The program has been working as well, if
not better than expected. But Gurbin cau-
tioned, "if we aren't able to achieve that
flexibility with Farm Credit it's going to fall
short of what I would hope it can accomplish
in total."
Red meat development program
receives enthusiastic response
By Randy Threndyle
Bruce County Farmers are signing up in
record numbers for the provincially spon-
sored Red Meat Development Program.
The program was announced last year by
former Minister of Agriculture Dennis
Timbrell as part of a $62 million program
aimed at helping the provinces beef Indus-
try.
Part of the program, which suggested the
formation of a beef marketing agency, was
scrapped by the government earlier this
year after it met with opposition from some
beef farmers and farm lobby groups. But
the development program appears to ,have
been well received by farmers in Bruce
County.
Murray Emke, the Bruce County Red
Meat Advisor, described the program as a
"self help plan for farmers."The proposals
are designed to help producers increase
efficiency in their cattle and sheep herds.
The plan is split into three areas—cow-calf
development, stocker and slaughter cattle
development and sheep development.`
Various grants are being offered to farm-
ers who sign up for the program. So far, the
response had been better than expected in
Bruce County. Originally, the Ontario
Ministry of Agriculture and Food (OMAF),
who administer the Red Meat Plan estimat-
ed 175 to 200 producers would be interested
in the program. To date, almost 350
producers have enrolled.
"The response is greater than we figured.
But we haven't got them (producers) all
yet," said Emke.
He estimated abouthalf the 'producers in
the county are registered. -
The' latest figures released indicate 'pro-
ducers have registered over 13,000 cows in
the cow -calf program and over 42,000 calves
in the stocker program. Slightly more than
4,000 sheep have been registered by 40
producers in the county.
The response surprised Emke' and other
OMAF officials because details of the plan
were not announced until last summer.
Emke said a lot of the "more progressive
farmers" have signed up.
"There's a lot of producers out there who
could sill benefit from the program.
One ofthe main purposes of the policy is to
help farmers get better information about
hard management and improve herd health.
hi the cow calf program, producers are being
offered incentives of $20 and $25 for each
calf. To qualify, producers must record
birthdates and rate of weight gain for their
calves which are registered.
The records from all the herds in the
provinces will be analysed and compiled by
OMAF. The results will then be made
available to farmers.
Emke said the purpose of compiling the
records is to help producers get information
to compare with their own herds. The
farmers will be provided with information
regarding weight gain and weaning dates of
all the calves in the program.
The information can also help farmers
identify cows in their herd which may be
below standard.
tum to page 16
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