The Rural Voice, 1983-12, Page 26FARM NEWS
Treasurer Grossman reviewing
provincial agricultural budget
The new Treasurer of Ontario
Larry Grossman is reviewing the pro-
vincial budget and the agricultural in-
dustry is watching closely.
On October 28, Grossman met with
farmers in south Dufferin County at
the request of Ralph Barrie, President
of the Ontario Federation of Agri-
culture (OFA) and Dufferin Federa-
tion of Agriculture (DFA).
Grossman commented that he
"wanted to witness farming opera-
tions, management practices and
listen to farmers' concerns."
Grossman and his nine-year-old
son Robbie toured the swine farm of
DFA President Fred Armstrong, the
Ellcliffe dairy farm and the beef farm
of Doug Gear.
Grossman later met with 75 pro-
ducers and representatives of DFA,
Bruce County Cattlemen's Associa-
tion and Women for the Support of
Agriculture (WSA). He opened the
meeting by saying, "I was disturbed
to learn how many farmers were pru-
dent and careful, yet are still losing
their farms. They weren't farmers
who borrowed too much, or didn't
understand the markets. It was quite
the reverse."
Grossman said he had been spen-
ding time, with Dennis Timbrell,
Minister of Agriculture and OFA
President Ralph Barrie, looking at
agricultural problems. He said he was
prepared "to designate funds to
agriculture. The trick will now be
how to target the money to those
most in need."
Addressing the Treasurer, Norma
Peters, WSA, questioned the inade-
quacy of the one per cent figure in the
provincial budget designated for
agriculture. "WSA requests more,
such as the Agribond Proposal being
lobbied by OFA," she said.
"Creative solutions must be im-
plemented for the suffering
industry."
George Cook, Bruce Cattlemen's
Association echoed those statements.
He said the cattle producer in Ontario
is being forced into a non-competitive
situation with other provinces
because of subsidies paid in those
provinces. "The average Ontario
price of steers in September was the
lowest in four years, yet feed costs
have increased. This continued to
place Ontario beef producers in a
financial loss position," he said.
"The level of support given to
agriculture is not sufficient,"
Grossman responded. He explained
the one per cent figure saying that the
Ministries of Health, Education, and
monies to the municipalities take up
72 per cent of the provincial budget.
"As costs skyrocket, the portions for
the remaining sectors decrease," he
said, "The taxpayers end up in a war
against each other."
Interprovincial co-operation and
stabilization programs will help, said
Grossman, but with Quebec and
other provinces heavily subsidized, he
was sure the problem would not be
easily resolved. "It is difficult," he
says, "for government to begin to
move massive amounts of money into
a certain area of the economy. This
can buy more time but doesn't solve
the situation. No part of agriculture
will be abandoned by the govern-
ment," he said.
Fred Armstrong outlined DFA's
proposals to Grossman which is in
agreement with OFA's. He suggested
the provincial government make in-
termediate credit available, a term of
one to 10 years, with subsidized in-
terest rates. "This could be done by
reinstating the Farm Improvement
Loan program at an interest rate not
to exceed eight per cent," Armstrong
said.
Armstrong urged Grossman to
recommend to his federal counter-
parts the importance and necessity of
the Agribond concept to insure an
adequate supply of Farm Credit
funds. Armstrong continued, saying
that all 328 members of Dufferin
Federation were surveyed regarding
the Ontario Farm Property Tax
Reform and there was only one
dissenting vote.
In closing, Grossman acknowledg-
ed the complexity of the problems
facing agriculture. He commented on
the strong turn out at the meeting:
"In no other sector of industry would
I have seen such deep concern, as I
have seen today."
Grossman said his mandate is to
Wishing all of our purebred. commer
cial and international customers a very
Merry Christmas and a very pro-
sperous New Year!
22nd PRODUCTION SALE
Thursday, Dec. 29 at 1 p.m.
80 OPEN GILTS 50 BOARS 10 BRED GILTS
Sale being held at the farm of Warren Stein located 1 mile south and 2 miles west
of Tavistock.
We offer you one of Ontario's largest selection of R.O.P. tested and veterinary
approved breeding stock. Our herd is maintained as a closed minimal disease
operation. Ranked "Good" by the Animal Industry Branch.
A good selection of boars and gilts available for sale at all times. For further in-
formation or catalogues, contact: -
RICHARD & WARREN STEIN
R.R. #6, Woodstock, Ontario. N4S 7W1
PH. 519-655-2942 or 462-2704
Fartuts
YORKSHIRE DUROC HAMPSHIRE LANDRACE & HYBRIDS
PG. 24 THE RURAL VOICE, DECEMBER 1983