The Lucknow Sentinel, 1987-03-18, Page 49More favourable income forecast
Agriculture Canada released in January
an updated and considerably more
favourable forecast of Canadian farm in-
come for 1987.
The previous forecast, prepared for the
Annual DAgricultural Outlook Conference
this past December, indicated that 1987
realized net farm income would drop 18
percent from last year.
Departmental economists, after con-
sulting Statistics Canada and the pro-
vinces, have now taken into account the $1
billion Special Canadian Grains Program
and are forecasting 1987 realized net farm
income at $4.74 billion. This shows little
change from last year, indicating the
positive effects of the Program on farm
income.
The addition of $1 billion will raise the
1987 total farm cash receipts of $20.4
billion.
The main impact of the Special Cana-
dian Grains Program is on the income
forecasts for the Prairie Provinces where
the importance of the grain and oilseed
sector is highest.
Mold may be
affecting your
dairy feed
Mold contamination of grain and forage
crops has become an area of concern for
Ontario livestock producers.
Mold spores, which are widely
distributed in nature can infect plants and
grains before, during and after harvest.
With optimum temperatures and . high
humidity, such as we experienced in the
summer and fall. of 1986, spores start to
grow. Evidence of fungus or mild con-
tamination, for example pink mold in corn,
will soon become visible. Some molds may
be harmless, others may reduce the
nutritive value and palatability of feeds,
still others, may produce mycotoxins.
When these toxins are present, livestock
may refuse to eat infected feeds, or if they
do eat them they may suffer adverse side
effects.
It has in the past been .generally ac-
cepted that dairy cattle are considerably
more tolerant to mycotoxin contamination
than simple -stomached animals such as
swine. There is recent evidence, however,
which suggests this is not the case.
Research on vomitoxin, a product of
various forms of the fungus Fusarium, has
suggested that it is not a hazzard to cattle
unless it exists at unnaturally high levels
(60 ppm or greater) . However, the same
cannot be said for zearalenone, a mycotox-
in frequently associated with corn. Levels
as low as 1.5 ppm have been associated
with decreased conception rates in dairy
ca tle, particularly heifers. In addition,
res h as indicated that dietary
zearalenone may be excreted in the milk.
Unfortunately research on zearalenone
has been limited to date and its 'effect on
milk production and pregnancy have yet to
be examined.
If you feel you may have a problen'1 with
mycotoxin contamination in your dairy
feed stuffs, take the following precautions:
i. Contact your veterinarian, Agricultural
Representative or Dairy Cattle Specialist
to have samples of the suspect feed taken
and tested.
ii. Use proprionic acid or another preser-
vative to inhibit further mold growth in
stored feeds.
iii. Dilute moldy feeds down wit clean
feeds.
iv. Avoid feeding moldy feeds to heifers.
v. Keep a careful record of the reproduc-
tive health in your herd and if trouble
strikes remove the source of the mold
immediately.
For further information, please contact
your local Agricultural office.
In Saskatchewan, 1987 realized net farm
income is now forecast to be 34 percet
higher than in 1986, which was a low in-
come year for that province. However, it is
still forecast to decline in Manitoba (down
21 percent), and Alberta (down 29 per-
cent) . For the three Prairie Provinces
combined, 1987 realized net farm income
will still be five percent less than the
estimated 1986 level.
The Special Canadian Grains Program
is expected to have little impact on produc-
tion decisions in 1987, resulting in unchang-
ed crop and livestock receipt forecasts..
The Program is, however, expected to
stimulate some modest increases in pur-
chases of inputs such as fertilizer and
repairs to machinery and equipment.
Depreciation costs in 1987 are expected
to be slightly higher than originally
thought since some of the Program money
will be invested in machinery and
buildings, increasing the value of farm
capital stock.
Partially offsetting these increases
should be a decline in interest costs as the
more financially vulnerable recipients
reduce their outstanding debt.
For many farmers in financial difficul-
ty, the repayment of loans arrears will be
a top priority, the economists say.
Page 9A
Ontario Farm Income
Total Crop Receipts
Total Livestock Receipts
Other Cash Receipts a
Millions of Dollars
'86 Est, net income
updated '87 forecast
1920.0
3392.4
165.9
Total Cash Receipts 5478.2
Income -In -Kind 67.6
Realized Gross Income 5545.8
Operating expenses
Depreciation Charges
Total Op. Expenses & Dep.
Charges
Realized Net Income
% change - 1986/85 4
Value of Inventory Change
Total Net Income
3550.7
607.1
4157.8
1388.0
-11.4
-:159.8
1028.2
1625.8
3556.0
312.0
5493.9
71.0
5564.9
3574.7
608.7
4183.4
1381.5
0.5
a Includes receipts from sales' of forest and maple products, provincial income
stabilization payments, supplementary payments, dairy supplementary payments,
and deficiency payments.
b Percentage change calculated prior to rounding.
NDS MARCH 31st
What are you
waiting for?
i
CUNNINGHAM MOTORS
131 Kincardine Rd., Walker ton 881-0740