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The Rural Voice, 2002-04, Page 62PERTH Burnell Kipfer, R.R. #1, Sebringville NOK 1X0 Ph: 519-271-3399 Fax 519-273-0789 PCFA Office 519-229-6430 Fax 519-229-6269 e-mail: perth@ofa.on.ca County Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER Improved aid needed By Jack Wilkinson, President, Ontario Federation of Agriculture It's the middle of March and within a few weeks farmers in some areas of Ontario will be working their land and planting crops. That sounds great until you stop and realize our governments have done little or nothing to improve the safety net packages available to farmers of this province. Without these improvements, Ontario farmers are facing more of the same financial uncertainty that has plagued them for years, and they are running out of resources and patience. We have been hearing about and negotiating a "made -in -Ontario" safety net package, something aimed at giving all Ontario farmers access to risk management tools to protect them from weather disasters or the continuing global price disaster in the grains sector. The Ontario Federation of Agriculture is getting an increasing number of calls from farmers wanting to know the details of this new package. The sad truth is, there are no details. Our government officials continue to take us around the dance floor, whispering nothings in our ears, yet expecting the province's farmers to sit peacefully by, watching their businesses sink further into debt. A few weeks ago our federal minister of agriculture, Hon. Lyle Vanclief announced the continuation of the Market Revenue Insurance (MRI) program for another year. While this removed the uncertainty about whether there would be a MRI program for the current crop year, it failed to satisfy the industry's needs. We need a MRI program with increased contributions from government, increased matched contribution to NISA, continuation of Crop Insurance, and continuation of Disaster Relief allowing for the possible inclusion of negative margins. We know the money is • 58 THE RURAL VOICE • The Rural Voice is provided to farmers in Perth County by the PCFA. available to do this because other areas within agriculture departments have been underspent and the promises have been made. However, until the federal and provincial officials can sit down in a productive spirit with the necessary commitment from the offices of the prime minister and the premier, the improvements won't happen. Four of the candidates for the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party leadership made impressive commitments to the February meeting of the OFA Board of, Directors when asked about support for needed improvements to farm safety net programs. Getting those verbal commitments may have been the easy part of the job. At the federal level, Finance Minister Paul Martin has verbally indicated his understanding of what agriculture is asking for and needs, but the whole thing falls apart somewhere between Mr. Martin and Mr. Vanclief. Is it going to come down to more tractor and combine demonstrations along provincial highways and around Queen's Park and Parliament Hill before these politicians decide to deliver? Farmers certainly hope not, but unless some dramatic turnarounds are displayed by both levels of government, we may have no choice. The financial pressure is increasing in the farm community. OFA knows this because of the anxious telephone calls farmers are making. As a responsible farm organization wanting to achieve what our farmers PERTH COUNTY FEDERATION OF AGRICULTURE DIRECTORS' MEETING Thursday, April 25, 2002 8:00 p.m. Downie Mutual Insurance Office, Sebringville Everyone Welcome. so desperately need, the farm organizations may have .to throw the wheels in motion once again to apply pressure to the politicians we elect to respond to our industry's needs. There have been more than enough government task forces and standing committees holding hearings around the province and across the country to have reached an understanding of the worsening financial situation on many farms. OFA believes it is time our federal and provincial governments take seriously their responsibilities to Canadian agriculture and turn rhetoric into action immediately.0 IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER APRIL 1 - Last day to cancel spring - seeded or forage Crop Insurance MAY 1 - Last day to apply for contract changes. new applications due for Crop Insurance on spring seeded crops SIMFOY forage premium due JUNE 15 - Last day to report unseeded acreage. JULY 10 - Premium payments due. SEPT. 15 - Winter wheat yields due, applications due for fall seeded premium new forage seeding. OCT. 20 - Last day to cancel winter wheat and winter barley insurance. OCT. 31 - Spring grains, red spring wheat and canola yields due. NOV. 20 - Last day to apply for contract changes, new applications and final acreage reports due for winter wheat and winter barley. NOV. 30 - Winter wheat premium payments due. DEC. 15 - Spring -seeded crop yields due (corn, white beans, soybeans and coloured beans) 'Final planting dates for fall -seeded crops vary by region/heat units - it is advisable for the customer to contact Agricorp directly for specific deadlines in their area.