The Rural Voice, 1991-10, Page 23few young people are entering farm-
ing, and many farmers and their wives
have had to take second jobs off the
farm in order to make ends meet. He
said that farmers are taking less for
their produce now, in real dollar
terms, than 15 years ago.
Lucknow arca farmer Doug Scott,
who runs a 400 acre cash crop and
beef operation, said the disastrous
prices had left him with only•$4,000
after all the expenses were paid from
his $120,000 income. His wife was
able to get an off -farm job and earn
$28,000 "with only an investment of
$500 for a car and a plastic lunch
bucket." He told the hushed crowd
that during the depression, a farmer
could buy a pair of good work boots
with a bushel of wheat (about $2.50).
Now it takes a tonne (worth about
$89).
Farmers in Ontario arc taking low
prices for their grains and oilseeds
because the commodities are traded on
a open world market. However, as
one farmer pointed out, unlike their
American and European counterparts,
Canadian farmers aren't guaranteed a
domestic floor price that is substan-
tially higher than world prices.
U.S. and European farmers are
guaranteed the high price and then the
grain is dumped on the world market
at fire -sale prices. Last winter, com-
modity groups and the OFA worked
with the two levels of government to
draw up two new support programs
called the Gross Revenue Insurance
Plan (GRIP), and the Net Income
Stabilization Plan (VISA). Farmers
and government pay premiums into
these plans, and in bad financial years,
farmers should be able to draw out
money to make up for any shortfalls in
their income.
However, organizers and several
farmers pointed out at the meeting that
those programs don't begin until next
fall, when prices for the crop presently
being harvested are established. Pre-
vious support programs under the
Agricultural Stabilization Act are
based on average prices of the last five
years, and because those prices have
been steadily declining, there is little
or no pay out.
"Line in the dirt" organizers fear
that as many as a third of Ontario
Are You Receiving The Maximum
Benefit From Government Programs?
NISA, FIAP, and GST programs can all generate significant
cash flow to your farming operations. However, the reporting
requirements might seem overbearing to you.
We, at Ward & Uptigrove, in addition to providing our farming
clients with financial and taxation services, also ensure they
have complied with government forms to maximize their
refunds from all government programs.
If you believe you need assistance with maximizing your
returns from government programs, please call us.
Listowel
291-3040
Ward & Uptigrove
Chartered Accountants
Mitchell
348-8412
CULROSS MUTUAL
INSURANCE
COMPANY
EST. 1871 at
Teeswater, Ontario
COMPANY OFFICE Teeswater 519-392-6260
For quotations on FARM and HOME insurance
contact the nearest Broker or Agent:
Harold Fair
James G. Mair
Eric R. Thacker R. R.
McDonagh Insurance Broker Lt
Kincardine
Teeswater
4, Kincardine
d:
Lucknow
Teeswater
396-7082
392-6806
395-5829
1-800-265-3013
528-3423
392-6200
For claims, contact your nearest
Director immediately or the company office:
Lloyd Hehn, R. R. 3, Walkerton
Ronald Hewitt, R. R. 2, Kincardine
Gerald Murray, Holyrood
John A. Ross, R. R. 1, Formosa
Robert Ferris, R. R. 2, Cargill
Garry A. McTaggart R. R. 2, Holyrood
392-6307
395-2774
395-5250
392-6119
353-5365
392-6454
WE ARE THE OLDEST 'MUTUAL'
IN THE DISTRICT
OCTOBER 1991 19