The Lucknow Sentinel, 1986-02-12, Page 4Page 4—Lucknow Sentinel, Wednesday, February 12, 1986
Over 65 farmers attend free trade discussion in Clinton
BY STEPHANIE LEVESQUE
The- topic of free trade no longer ignites
emotional discussions if the monthly
meeting of the Huron County Federation of
Agriculture is an example.
Over 65 farmers turned out to the Clinton
High School, Thursday, Feb. 6 to hear four
well-known people from within their ranks -
Ken McKinnon of the Ontario Milk
Marketing Board, Adrian Vos of the Huron
Pork Producers, Ross Proctor of the Huron
Cattlemen's Association and Jim Johnstone
of the Egg- Producers' Marketing Board -
speak on the topic of free trade.
There were questions on the effect of free
trade on milk quotas and the impact of the
European Economic Community (EEC) on
Canadian commodities, but reaction in
general to free trade was calm.
"Personally, I believe the issue has been
far too emotional," said McKinnon.
The milk board chairman said the federal
government has not made any official plans,
it has only said it is willing to discuss free
trade with the United States.
He suggested that the agriculture com-
munity work along with any group working
on negotiations with the ultimate aim being
a good deal for Canadian farmers.
"The hot topic is free trade. A lot of people
think the sky is falling, that it's the end of
the world," said Johnstone.
It is his opinion that the process of free
trade negotiations between the two coun-
tries "will be a long slow process". The egg
producer said farmers should deal ra
tionally with the subject.
"When we do go to the table our position
should be clear and not traded away," he
said.
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As for pork producers, Vos noted that until
last year, pork was traded freely across the
border. However, the difference last year
was that some states went against
American federal law and closed the
borders to Canadian pork.
Vos said pork producers would never
agree to trade off another commodity to
save theirs. All they want is "fair trade" he
said.
"Cattlemen would be happy to trade with
anyone," said Proctor tongue-in-cheek.
However, he added in a serious tone that
he doesn't want to trade against a govern-
ment treasury which happens when the
American government subsidizes beef pro-
ducers in that country.
Proctor said tripartite stabilization would
find a free trade of sorts across Canada,
making it possible for Ontario beef pro-
ducers to compete with, say, Alberta beef
producers.
When questioned on the impact on quotas,
McKinnon said he didn't think there would
be any impact. He acknowledged that there
has been some selling of quotas in anticipa-
tion of free trade talks, but he thinks that
selling peak is over.
The milk producer repeated a comment
which has been heard before in the
agriculture community.
"We have more to be concerned about
GATT (General Agreement on Tariff and
Trades with Europe) negotiations than free
trade," said McKinnon.
Ontario federation of agriculture director
Brenda Ward, questioned whether
agriculture representatives should be in
touch with representatives from the Cana-
dian steel, forestry, and auto industries. She
suggested these talks be used to point out
that agriculture is not to be traded off in free
trade negotiations.
McKinnon didn't agree. He suggested that
farmers continue to prove they are credible
and they shouldn't jump in and say they're
not going to discuss certain items.
Pulling is expensive
•from page 3
about $25,000.
"That's conservative compared to
some of the Americans. Some American
guys are running five motors at $25,000
a piece."
The pull is by invitation only and this
is the sixth year Art has received a note
to try out his machines against others
from across the continent.
"We like to think we're competi-
tive," said the owner of Helm Welding
just south of Lucknow. He hopes to
better his highest placing at third
against' the other competitors in his
class at the February pull.
"They definitely don't invite the
worst tractors, but they try to get a
pretty good cross section."
"We enjoy going down there. For
fifty, per cent of the people we see at the
meeting, it's the only time we see them
all year."
The invitation from what is said to be
the first indoor tractor pull is largely
based on how a competitor does during
the tractor pulling season.
During that season, Art and his
family travel to some 40 pulls primarily
in Michigan and Ontario.
"We go to all the local pulls. Last
year we were at Delaware, Barrie,
Orillia, Inwood, Paris...." And of
course, they couldn't miss the Lucknow
pull.
As might be expected, the prize
money at the Louisville pull is greater
than what can be won at the local pulls.
Helm estimates his third place finish at
the indoor pull netted about three times
as much money as what's available at
the Lucknow meet.
Art isn't the only member of the
family competing at the pulls. The
family kept the tractor used before the
latest was built last June and Barb, his
wife drives it at meets.
"The boy (Helm's son Robert) can
hardly wait to get on a tractor. He's got
his eye on his mother's tractor," said
Art, grinning.
i
NOTICE OF THE
107th ANNUAL MEETING
of the
West Wawanosh
Mutual Insurance
Company
Notice is hereby given, that the Annual Meeting of the Company will be held at the:
AGRICULTURAL HALL,
DUNGANNON, ONTARIO.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28th, 1986
1. To receive and dispose of the Financial Statement and Auditors Report.
2. To appoint Auditors
3. To elect two 0) Directors.
4. To transact any other business that may properly come before the meeting.
S. The retiring directors ami o Eldon Bradley of Lucknow area. and Gerald Kerr of the
Blyth area. Eldon Bradley and Gerald Kerr are eligible for re-election for a three
year term.
-A Policyholder wishing to seek election or re-election as a Director must file his or
hoe nomination in writing with the Secretary of the Corporation by February 20.
1$$44 Th 'Company Ry -Lows are available for inspection at the Head office of the
torporxtfl cn. :
By order of the Board of Directors..
Norris G.W. Peever
Secretary -Manager