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The Rural Voice, 1983-11, Page 21action, rather than any heavy handedness. "We must preserve the family farm," stated John Mac- Auley, also from the Bruce Federa- tion. MacDonald replied: "We're in agreement 101 per cent on this score." Martin DeBruyn and Ross Eedy of the Huron County Pork Producers concluded their presentation by say- ing "We are pleased to know that the N.D.P. agriculture policy supports all of the points we have made in our brief. If there is not widespread sup- port in Huron county for the N.D.P., it must be for other reasons than your agriculture policy." The laughter from this statement was balanced by DeBruyn's further statement that he had sold weaner pigs for $25. each this year, the same price he had sold them for in 1971. Another farmer remembered selling weaners 30 years ago for $27. Jim Boak, associated with a group of farmers in Huron county who are dissatisfied with government and ex- isting farm organizations, said there is a total lack of understanding of the problems of farmers. He said "in 1981 the average farmer earned $15,000 but $13,000 of this was from off -farm income. Often both hus- band and wife have to work off the farm to support it. No other industry requires its workers to do this. It is simply not fair." After a rousing speech, he apologized for not being better prepared. MacDonald replied: "If this is being unprepared, I'd hate to see you prepared!" In contrast, the Huron County Egg Committee said in their brief that egg producers are faring well, probably due to the regulated marketing prac- tices in the egg industry. The meeting was livened by a spirited presentation by Gisele Ireland representing the Concerned Farm Women. She quipped: "The advertisements say Ontario is a place to stand and a place to grow --- well, we farmers are standing in a trench. The labour of women and children are not taken into the cost of produc- tion, yet we can't afford to do without this labour. When women are burdened by the stress of threatened foreclosures, all the help they get is tranquilizers from the doctor. When one farm woman phoned her banker to ask him to ease off the presure on her husband as he had threatened suicide, the banker replied it would probably be the best thing for him to do. FARM NEWS "I had one of those bankers in my home and I fed him tea and muffins," Ireland continued. "We're the ones who take the 100 per cent Toss, he took the muffins and no risk at all." Other presentations were made by the Bruce Sheep Producers, Grey and Huron Cattlemen's Associations and the Huron Milk Producers. Bill Jongejan of the Christian Farmers Federation referred to the problems of soil erosion and the need for research into the effects of adverse cropping practices, chemicals and pesticides. Mel Swart explained many of the problems the N.D.P. see in the agriculture industry. "After years of discussion, no tripartite or other ade- quate farm income stabilization has been put in place. Timbrell seems determined to forge ahead with his higher qualifying criteria for farm tax rebates. The new criteria will make almost 20 per cent of Ontario farmers ineligible." These are the kinds of issues which the task force will be pursuing. It may well be that the time has come for them to be dealt with by an all -party task force of the Ontario legislature or by a royal commission. p THE RURAL VOICE, NOVEMBER 1983 PG. 19 tafac® growth proinotant finishes hogs in less time. By finishing your hogs sooner you finish dollars ahead. You speed that finish with Stafac° (virginiamycin) growth promotant added to your feed. Stafac slows the feed and keeps it working overtime to help your hogs gain faster and more efficiently. Stafac works in the hog's digestive tract - reducing the number of bacteria that compete with your hogs for energy and protein. In so doing it makes more nutrients available to your hogs. And, Stafac slows the passage of the feed so your hogs can turn these nutrients into more meat to finish faster. So use Stafac to stretch your feed's value and help cut your feed bill. Another important benefit is that no with- drawal period is required when you use Stafac. You can take full advantage of top market prices without having to wait - and perhaps miss out. Ask your feed dealer to include Stafac in your hog rations. Both you and your hogs will finish ahead. Stows the feed to speed the finish. For more information contact: SALSBURY LABORATORIES LTD. Kitchener, Ontario, (519) 893-7610 Stafac' - Registered trademark of Smith Kline & French (Canada) Ltd SmithKline Beckman Corporation. 1982 THE RURAL VOICE, NOVEMBER 1983 PG. 19