The Rural Voice, 2001-12, Page 64GREY
County Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER
446 10th St., Hanover, Ontario N4N 1P9
Email: grey@ofa.on.ca Website: www.ofa.on.ca/grey 519-364-3050 or 1-800-275-9551
* The Rural Voice is provided to all Grey
County Farmers by the GCFA.
Do we change our high standards?
For example, do we have to lower our
standard of living. our level of pay,
environment protection, or do we just
let the jobs go where greed is the only
bottom line to consider?
There are over 750,000 illegal
migrant Mexican workers reported to
be working in the U.S.A., in
agriculture alone, and to think of their
working conditions and cost to the
farmer not being considered in free
trade talks, makes you wonder what
else is missing.
How about being able to drive a
brand new V.W. Bug that they sell in
Mexico, but we can't get one here
because it won't pass our emission
control. It only costs $8,000
American or some where around
$12,000 Canadian to buy.
How about sewage treatment or
nutrient management. Some of these
countries that we deal with don't
even consider this. Greed is the
underlying issue, and as long as that
is the bottom line, all I can see is that
we will be forced into lowering our
standards just to survive.
You say that we live too well?
Consider the fact that some .of these
countries don't get cold weather,
aren't spread out as far as we are, and
that some of the amenities that we
need are a must. There are things that
we can do to help this situation from
getting worse. You can consider what
you are purchasing, but that would be
just a'band ai8 on an amputation.
Government and business have to
P.99ea4cm4 Xreetimy4
The Grey County
Federation of Agriculture
extends Season's Greetings
to all our members and
their families
60 THE RURAL VOICE
Free Trade or down grade
start looking atter and helping
developing countries to get in line
with our high standards, and not
worry about instant financial gain.
Think what the possibilities for trade
would be, if the wealth of the world
was spread around .
There just might not be a surplus
of crops if the poorer people weren't
so poor and could afford to eat. Their
sanitation would improve and save on
health aid. It would make for a better
world environment.
There would be more people to
volunteer and hopefully less need for
them.
I am not saying that we have the
best of everything in this fine country
of ours but we sure are envied by a
lot of other nationalities.
In 2002 we could must start asking
a few questions when we make
purchases and talk to our Members of
Parliament about assistance to other
countries. A lot of these countries
have paid back more in interest
payments than their loan was for, but
can't even begin to pay down their
loan's principal.
I know it's not GOOD business
practice, but think what the advantage
might be if they weren't spending all
their money on interest and actually
had some to spend on capital
GREY COUNTY FEDERATION OF
AGRICULTURE
DIRECTORS' MEETING
Thursday, December 13, 2001 - 8:00 p.m.
Grey County Agricultural Services Centre
meeting room (Grey Gables)
206 Toronto Street South, Markdale
Members are weknme to attend
Grey County Federation of
Agriculture
Executive 2001/2002
Past President Bob Rodger
President: Karl Chittka
1st Vice: Bob Brassington
2nd Vice: David Snider
OFA Regional Directors:
Grey North - Paul Sachs
Grey East - Bob Brassington
Grey South - Karl Chittka
Executive: D'Arcy Healy, Peggy Hutchison,
Roger Lamont, Paul Wettlaufer •
improvements and for,heir people.
People with most of the money
will not be satisfied (notice I didn't
say happy), until they have all the
money. They can't understand that in
order to get more money, they will
need to have someone who can
produce a product and afford to
purchase it. If everyone is just barely
surviving they will not be spending
money on luxury items.
That leads to the question of
where the dollars are to be made and
who has control over it. That is right!
It is what you are producing, FOOD.
Be sure that you do keep control of it
or at least that you can get it back, or
you- might just find that you can't
even afford your own product. (I
can't even remember the last time
that we had steak in the freezer.
Thanks for venison!) I hope that you
all have a great Christmas and a very
rewarding New Year!O
- Bob Rodger, Past President
Grey County Federation of
Agriculture
Collingwod Township Federation of
Agriculture
ANNUAL MEETING
December 3, 2001 - 8:00 p.m.
Ravenna Hall
This is the place to be, to:
• Enjoy meeting fellow farmers and OFA members
• Leam about what your organization is doing
• Let your voice be heard!
This meeting will decide the future of the
Collingwood Township Federation of Agriculture
For more information contact:
Brent Lanktree, 705-445-6396 or
Bob Tyson, 705-445-3876
Grey County Federation of Agriculture
1-800-275-9551
(available only within 519 area code)
36TH ANNUAL GREY BRUCE
FARMERS' WEEK & TRADE SHOW
JANUARY 3.12, 2002
Elmwood Community Centre
January 3 - Dairy Day and Swine Evening
January 4 - Crops Day and Horse Evening
January 5 - Sheep Day
January 7 - Beef Day
January 12 - Goat Day - Grey County
Agricultural Services Centre, Markdale
For more information contact:
Grey County Agricultural Services Centre
at 519-986-3756