The Rural Voice, 1983-04, Page 40OFA REPORT
PRE -BUDGET
BRIEF PRESENTED
"The economic difficulties the agri-
cultural industry has been experiencing
over the past several years is continu-
ing. Bankruptcies remain high. The
outlook for major Ontario agricultural
products remain depressed.
With these sober comments, mem-
bers of the OFA executive committee,
introduced their "State Of Agriculture"
pre -budget brief to Ontario treasurer
Frank Millar and Minister of Agriculture
and Food Dennis TimbreII. The meeting
took place in Kitchener on March 15.
While recognizing the assistance
government has given the industry,
particularly to the beef farmers and the
OFAAP programme, Ralph Barrie, OFA
president, outlined several areas for
government action in the upcoming
budget.
Briefly some of these points are:
OFAAP criteria should be relaxed to
allow producers with less than 10 per
cent equity to apply.
Interest rates under OFAAP should be
subsidized to 8 per cent.
A request of $150,000 to assist OFA's
Farm Finance Advisory Service for a
trial period of three months.
The government should follow through
with its 1982 promise of assistance for
beginning farmers.
Outstanding FCC loans at higher than
market rates should be lowered to 12
per cent.
The Ontario government was urged to
support OFA's agri-bond proposal.
The qualifying criteria for the proposed
property tax rebate should be no higher
than $6.000. The government should
guarantee the tax changes will not
erode farmer's property rights.
Tile drainage funding be changed to a
revolving fund to bring more stability
when planning tile drainage work.
Instead of capital grants, the govern-
ment should provide low interest loans.
Increased funding for OAC and OVC is
urgently needed.
Some basic knowledge of agriculture
should be taught in Ontario schools.
LAUGHTER FROM MORRIS
The Morris Township Federation of
Agriculture spent the evening of March
10, smiling and chuckling as Neil
McGavin, a local implement dealer,
entertained with jokes and reminis-
cences,
McGavin, guest speaker for the town-
ships annual meeting, spoke on every-
thing from church to disco. For the
more serious side of his speech, he
told of the problems facing farm machi-
IN THE NEWS
nery dealers. He had a joke for every
point and his advice was to keep your
sense of humor and laugh at life. His
last comment was "Tough times don't
last - but tough people do."
Bill Elston, Reeve of Morris Town-
ship, spoke on the secondary plan for
Morris which is in the planning stage.
He said he hoped the federation would
become involved. He mentioned a gov-
ernment grant the township is consider-
ing which would hire three men to do
clean-up jobs. Elson said the Farm
Property Tax Rebate proposal was not
supported by Morris council.
Tony McQuail, President of Huron
County Federation of Agriculture, gave
a County report and answered ques-
tions concerning the proposed property
tax program and foreign ownership.
McQuail presided over the elections
with the following results: President,
Doug Garniss; Vice -President, Bert San-
ders; Secretary -Treasurer, Keith Van
Camp. Line Directors: Glen Warwick,
Bill Robinson, Doug Garniss, Ross
Higgins, John McIntosh. Keith Van
Camp, Bert Sanders, Bert Elliott, Bill
Souch and John Hoonard.
Ann Nesbit
FEED MIXER.
1000LB - Capacity
2" Main Shaft
#80 Chain to
#60 Chain to
2-V Belt Reduction
Runs -
Approx. 20 R.P.M.
BALE FEEDER.
71/2' x 12' x 6' High
Heavy Wall Tubing
Holds Two Big Bales -
Less Waste -
ceorqe Smyth Welding
Arra Machine Skop ,Ctd
"WE BUILD THE BEST AND REPAIR THE REST"
R.R. 2, AUBURN, ONT. TEL. 529-7212
NOM 1E0
THE RURAL VOICE, APRIL 1983 PG. 39