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The Rural Voice, 1981-02, Page 7Farm women are fast becoming working partners in a farm operation. A recent conference for farm women pointed out some of the ways women can be active in both farm management and production appointed to the five -member board, she's the second sitting farmer on the FCC board. The agriculture minister told confer- ence delegates if they want to attain their goals of equality, they must become active in farm organizations and make themselves heard, both at the local and national level. One of the main concerns of the conference delegates was farm women's access to credit. Mrs. McIntosh said Rita Cadieux, deputy chief commissioner of the Canad- ian Human Rights Commission, told delegates banks and loan companies do discriminate against women applying for farm credit. She said her commission will investigate discrimination charges, but added women should make greater use of the commission by airing their complaints and problems with lending institutions. Delegates approved a motion asking that lending institutions consider a woman's separate credit history or exper- ience when she is applying for a loan. They also asked that lending institutions adopt equal partnership guidelines in extending credit. Agriculture Minister Whelan said he would also ask the Farm Credit Corporation to look into the matter. The delegates also debated issues related to farm wives and property law. Mrs. McIntosh said delegates concluded the monetary recognition of a wife's farm labour enhances her chances for equit- able division of property. Also, delegates expressed concern that the Income Tax Act now discourages husban.is from giving wives the salary to which their work entitles them (an exception is a limited company operation). But financial concerns weren't the only issues raised at the two-day conference, and a major part of the discussions revolved around the question of how farm women can become more visible in the community. A study commissioned for the confer- ence, titled The Invisible Pitchfork, found farm women are generally overlooked by the Canadian media. They are the subject of fewer than one per cent of daily newspaper news and feature stories on women, although they make up more than six p er cent of the female populat- ion. Mrs. McIntosh said the study conclud- ed women should be portrayed by the media as active in both farm management and production. "Few agricultural wo- men are shown working in farming operations. When they are covered as farm operators, it is generally for their notoriety rather than their valuable farm labour," the study concluded. Mary -Jane Lipkin, co-ordinator for the study, suggested that Women's Institute and other farm women's meetings should be reported to emphasize the community service nature of their organization rather than the recreational or social aspect. Mrs. McIntosh said another excellent speaker at the conference was Professor J. Gil son of the University of Manitoba, speaking on relations between agricultur- al producers and the urban community. He said never before has there been more conflict between both regions and social classes in Canada and suggested this could bepartly overcome if there was more interaction between rural and urban residents. He said farm women could play an important role in creating a dialogue between consumers and food producers since they are both producers and consumers. Mrs. McIntosh said Prof. Gilson told delegates they can tell the urban consum- er why it's necessary to have an adequate return for farm labour, about the large risks in farming and the enormous capital investment involved, and that the occas- ional large crop is necessary to offset losses from drought, wet weather and insects. Prof. Gilson also noted farm women could point out their sons and daughters are raised and educated at considerable rural expense before they are exported to the urban centres. He concluded that farm women could tell the rest of the population why the cheap food policy must come to an end in Canada. The delegates to the National Farm Womet.'s Conference included members of a variety of rural organizations including the Women' Institute, National Farmers' Union, Federation of Agricul- ture, Women of Unifarm (Alberta), B.C. Cattlebelles and some Newfoundland farm wives, whose way was paid by the Secretary of State. Mrs. McIntosh said the conference's emphasis wasn't on forming another rural women's organiz- ation, but encouraging women to work within already existing farm groups. Future plans for conference delegates include a meeting of the National Planning Committee, made up of one woman from each province, to continue working on conference recommendations and resolutions for future presentation to the provincial and federal governments. In the meantime, delegates like Brenda McIntosh will be returning to their own communities to report on the conference, and to try to promote an appreciation both of farm women and agriculture in general to both the rural and urban community BUTLER Ring Drive Silo Unloaders Big Jim Silo Unloaders Volume Belt Feeders Convey -n -Feed Cattle Feeders Single Chain Conveyors Barn Cleaners Oswalt Ensilmixers FARMATIC Blender Hammer Mills Blender Roller Mills Blender Mills for Ground Hi -Moisture Corn Augers Leg Elevators ACORN Cable Barn Cleaners Hydraulic Manure Pumps WESTEEL-ROSCO Grain Bins -1350 to 250,000 bu. 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