The Rural Voice, 1986-04, Page 34• Spicer MacGillivray
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32 THE RURAL VOICE
FARM NEWS
U.S. ready for trade war
The U.S. wants its agricultural
industry to be competitive on the
world market, says Allan Tank of
the National Corn Growers
Association, Washington D.C., in
his speech to the Ontario Corn
Producers' Association Annual
Meeting and Convention in
Waterloo.
Canada's reaction to the U.S.
farm bill will influence the rest of
the world, according to Tank. If
Canadian farmers lead other coun-
tries in forcing the bill to fail, they
may be less happy than with the
alternatives, he says. "If the farm
bill does not work, you will see an
180 -degree change in farm
policy." That change would prob-
ably be in the form of a very
stringent supply management
system. During the farm bill
debates, such a system was sug-
gested four times, and after each
vote, the margin between those op-
posed and those in favour lessen-
ed.
"We are about a heart beat
away from mandatory controls,"
says Tank. "This congress is
serious — very serious," he em-
phasized.
He says when farm policy is
designed, the U.S. doesn't look at
the possible negative impact on
other countries; they make a plan
that will work for themselves.
Conversely, Canadian farmers are
very much aware of U.S. farm
policy because it affects them. He
said it is alarming to him that
many Canadian farmers know
more about U.S. farm policy than
many congressmen and even
farmers in that country. "We're
trying to become competitive (on
the world agricultural market) —
not predatory," he said of his
country's efforts to improve
agriculture in the U.S.
Tank acknowledged that
Canada is trying to put a counter-
vail on U.S. corn for the first time
since the 1930s. Likewise, it is the
first time since the '30s that the
U.S. significantly lowered the loan
rate. He cautioned Ontario corn
producers to think about the
ramifications of such an action
before they do it. The U.S. hasn't
shown all its cards in the
agricultural trade wars yet. It
could be a bloody battle. The U.S.
has 30 -billion bushels of corn that
can be used as cash if necessary.
The potential of invoking protec-
tionism policies is always there as
well.
Varel Bailey, of Iowa, past -
president of the National Corn
Growers Association, has his own
theory about the economic war.
He says that after World War II,
national leaders knew there would
be a third world war and began
planning for it. After the launch of
the first nuclear bomb at the end of
World War II, it was clear that
military war was unpalatable. The
war this time is an economic one
and we're in it now, according to
Bailey. The winner will be the na-
tion that has the highest standard
of living.
He encouraged corn producers
to establish an international policy
committee because decisions made
off the farm (often by politicians)
have more impact than decisions
an agriculturalist makes on his
own farm. EPC
Present Builder of the Year Awards
Verne Leonard Company
Limited of Oro Station walked
away with top honours at the An-
nual Convention of the Canadian
Farm Builders Association. The
Master Builder Award was
presented for the daily research
complex designed and built by
Leonard's company for Canada
Packers Shur -Gain Division in
Maple, Ontario. His entry won out
over 22 others in five different
categories. The awards were
presented by sponsor Glen White
Industries, Aylmer, who initiated
the competition three years ago.
Other winners include Jack
Beggs of Agri -Urban Buildings
Inc., Dresden for an innovative tie
stall dairy barn constructed on the