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The Rural Voice, 1978-06, Page 19only paying about 10 per cent of their assessed taxes, he said. As for the OFA policy of people taxes for people services and land taxes for land services, he said, the problem was just what were the services to land. The land itself didn't need any services if there weren't any people around. Without tax reform, he said, how could Ontario farmers compete with farmers in Alberta or New Brunswick who don't have to pay property tax? He said the new policy for farm tax reform was a good one because he thought the government was going to raise a lot more money from land taxes in the future than they had in the past. The OFA had two options, he said. It could continue to say it would go along with the old policy, or it could say "we've tried, but now it's tinte to make a deal." Jim Hallahan, R.R.3, Blyth termed Mr. Hill's arguments "a lot of bull". He said he had recently taken part in a survey of farmers in East Wawanosh township and many were irate about the OFA policy. He said that if OFA went through with the policy it would lose half its membership in Huron county. Frank Wall of the OFA executive was present at the meeting and said that the report of the committee studying land tax reform recognizes the rights of the farmer to his land even if he doesn't pay taxes on the land. Others supporting the OFA policy said that the ownership of the land depends not on who pays the taxes but on who owns the deed. But Mr. Ross argued that just because you have the deed to property doesn't mean you own it. Another speaker warned that if the government is looking ahead with' this policy. it's looking ahead to a cheap food policy. The policy will be a great incentive to farmers to buy up more farms, wipe out farm houses to keep down the taxes and just work the land. It will make the countryside look barren, he argued. Mr. , Gunby then returned with an emotional speech in support of the OFA policy, refuting many of the earlier arguments against the policy. He claimed that a move by Huron county to oppose an OFA policy would weaken the position of OFA and make it look ridiculous. He said that the new proposal wouldn't mean that farmers weren't paying their fair share of taxes because it likely wouldn't mean any difference in the amount of tax they paid. He said that if the government really did want to get control of farmland then it could find much easier ways than under the new tax proposals. He argued that farmers shouldn't be against seeking a better break for themselves because industry is always taking governinent tax concessions. Mr. Gunby said that he hadn't seen the figures of what market value assessment would mean to tax bills in Huron, but in Halton region it would mean an increase of four times the present taxes and farmers couldn't afford a bill like that. He said the OFA stand was approved by about 90 per cent of the directors from across the province at the March meeting in Toronto. A procedural hassle then arose since the meeting had run past the 11 pm. deadline set by the Federation for completion of the monthly meeting. Several people insisted that a vote be taken on the motion. Mr. Gunby tried to block the vote by moving another motion to table because he said the motion was not properly directed as to who it should be referred too. This was shouted down. Finally Gordon Hill suggested the motion be sent to the OFA as the policy of the Huron Federation. The vote was taken and showed strongly in favour of the motion, opposing OFA policy. Mr. Gunby said he could not argue in favour of the motion in Toronto and offered his resignation. Mr. Hill said that wasn't necessary saying the motion can simply be stated as policy of the Huron group without having to be supported by Mr. Gunby or any of the other Huron directors. Research into methane production underway Methane from swine manure may be an alternate energy source for the future, but it is not practical for most producers now. That's the opinion of Dr. Jack Pos, School of Engineering, Ontario Agricultur- al College in Guelph, who is currently working on methane research. Methane gas is produced when manure, mixed to near liquid consistency with water, is allowed to decompose in an airtight container. This digesting process is made possible by the action of bacteria in the absence of oxygen. Dr. Pos says that while the technology to produce methane gas exists at the present time, ready-made systems are not available. Capital costs for a typical 300 -gallon per day digester can range from S10,000 to $20,000. In addition to cost, storage of the gas poses problems and can be hazardous under certain conditions. Funded by a research grant from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Dr. Pos is designing a methane digester for the new swine research facilities at the Arkell Research Station near Guelph. During the next three years, he will be looking at the efficiency of methane digesters and the utilization of the gas as an energy source. Methane digesters, used on a limited basis after World War II in Europe, Asia and Africa, employed manure and crop wastes to produce an alternative source of energy. The future of methane as an alternative source of energy in Ontario will depend on the availability and cost of other types of fuel. FARMERS WE NEED YOUR TRADE-INS - DISC'S PLOWS, CULTIVATORS & TRACTORS A new McKee Ebro 3 models to choose from. 350, 45 h.p 460, 57 h.p. 4I0, 67 h.p. All with Perkins diesel (cab & loaders available) GOOD FINANCING AVAILABLE TO SUIT YOUR BUDGET Riegling Farm Equipment General Farm Machinery Max A. Riegling -- 7 miles west of Lucknow RR 1. Lucknow, Ont. -- on Highway 86 Phone Ripky 195-5107 THE RURAL VOICE/JUNE 1978. PG. 19.