The Rural Voice, 1980-11, Page 25RURAL NEWS IN BRIEF
Absentee /and buyers in Huron
Two years ago the Huron County
Federation of Agriculture was so alarmed
at the volume of land sales to foreign
investors they commissioned studies of
the problem and asked for government
action leading to legislation to protect
farmers.
Two years later, their concern as strong
as ever, the Huron federation has passed
a resolution calling for the resignation of
Lorne Henderson, the Ontario minister of
Agriculture and Food. The resolution was
passed almost unanimously at their
September meeting, and later in the
month it was adopted at the directors'
meeting of the Ontario Federation of
Agriculture.
"My main goal is to get through to
Henderson and get it through his head
that this is going on," said John Van
Beers, a director of the Huron federation
and the person who introduced the
resolution. The federation cites sign-
ificant movement towards land deals with
foreign investors in McKillop and other
townships recently as the reason for
demanding Mr. Henderson's resignation.
Objectors to the sale of land to foreign
investors offer several reasons for their
concern.
Bob Robinson, president of the
McKillop Federation of Agriculture,
suggests uncontrolled sale of land to
foreign investors and absentee owners
could ultimately lead to the demise of
small towns.
Marie Hicknell, a McKillop township
councillor, whose husband Franc is farms
in the area , echoes his concern. "If all the
buildings are empty, then first go the
schools then the churches and then the
towns." Mrs. Hicknell and other con-
cerned farmers say they welcome foreign
interests who intend to come to the area
and settle with their families. That does
not depopulate the area, a major worry
of the farmers.
Bill Henderson, a real estate agent
with the Don Hamilton Company in
Seaforth, said there is definitely an
interest from foreign buyers. "There's
people in the area every other day, and
there are some investors," s'id the
agent. "But I think there are even more
that are foreigners who are looking to
move here and settle eventually.
"We're been talking to Canadian
investors too," added Mr. Henderson.
"People are pulling their money out of
apartments and putting it into land,
simply because the return on land in
recent years is greater. It's more secure,
too. There's only so much land."
Another local worry is that a rapid
influx of foreign buyers will drive land
prices beyond the price area farmers can
afford to pay.
Merle Gunby, president of the Huron
County Federation, noted off -shore pur-
chases do put upward pressure on prices,
a claim disputed by real estate agent
Henderson and another agent in his
office, Steve Murray. They note the
asking price for land is $2,400 an acre,
but add that is only the asking price. Mr.
Murray also noted that a local resident
purchased land earlier this year for more
than S2,200 an acre.
That a local farmer was able to pay that
much for land may be the exception,
however, rather than the rule. "To tell
you the truth," said Tony Vanden
Hengel, a McKillop farmer, "I'm not
happy. Here we are scratching away, and
this cuts you right out. Once they make a
hole in the area, you can't compete with
them. We don't have a prayer in hell. I
just bought 100 acres last fall. I'm glad I
did it then."
The hole Mr. Van den Hengel refers to
stems from rumours that agents are
attempting to put together large parcels
of farmland as high as 1000 acres. Both
Mr. Henderson and Mr. Murray deny
they have approached farmers with the
expressed purpose of putting a package
together.
"Just because we go to a farmer and
ask if he wants to sell, that doesn't mean
we have a purchaser," explained Mr.
Henderson. "If a farmer wants to sell 400
acres, we could sell it all to one European
buyer rather than sell to two or three
here."
"But on the other hand," added Mr.
Murray, "it's available to anyone. It's not
necessarily for Europeans."
Dog pack attacks pedigreed sheep
Pedigreed sheep owned by Wayne
Todd, of R.R. 2, Lucknow, were de-
stroyed recently when attacked by a pack
of dogs from area farms running at large.
The loss for Todd Brothers, who have
won Premier Breeder Awards for their
flocks at the Royal Winter Fair, is
estimated at $10,000.
The flocks of Hampshire and South-
down sheep were first attacked in the
evening. Fourteen animals were killed
outright and 17 more animals were
severly injured. Some of the animals died
from suffocation when the sheep crowded
together near the barn to escape the
dogs.
The dogs returned again Friday
morning, and cornered another sheep in
the field. Mrs. Todd was in the barn at
the time, and managed to save the ewe by
chasing off the dogs.
Wayne and Hugh Todd then pursued
the dogs, and after discussions with their
owners, the dogs were destroyed. Later
the same morning, another dog returned
to the farm and bothered another injured
sheep. That dog was destroyed before it
left the farm.
The Toss in the attack may be higher
than estimated, since sheep which
survived may later abort their Iambs or
deliver stillborn. The full extent of
damage won't be known until lambing
time this winter.
Bob Aitchison, animal inspector for
West Wawanosh Township, visited the
Todd Farm to inspect the damage to the
flock. The township is liable tor damage
in the attack, but awards only up to $200
per animal, which won't cover the loss.
The Todds weren't able to tell the
number of dogs involved in the attack,
since numerous tracks were found. The
family is keeping a close watch on their
livestock since dogs and wolves are
known to return until an entire flock is
destroyed.
Seeing is ... .
This year. over 100 volunteers took
turns manning the UrA exnibit at the
CNE. Over 25,000 brochures, explaining
marketing boards and the facts behind
food production, were distributed to
visitors.
However, OFA executive member
Harry Pattinson pointed out there was
one problem. The public didn't seem to
believe the well-dressed, articulate
people manning the booths were actually
farmers.
Harry's suggestion - maybe next year
volunteers would dress up in overalls and
straw hats.
After all, you don't want to confuse the
city folk!
THE RURAL VOICE/NOVEMBER 1980 PG. 23