The Rural Voice, 1991-11, Page 44PERTH
Matt Crowley, President, R. R. 1, Gadshill NOK 1J0 393-5716
PCFA Office 229-6430
* The Rural Voice is provided to farmers
in Perth County by the PCFA
County Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER
The economic plight of farmers
remains the same. GRIP and NISA have
not put a cent into the farm economy yet.
Nor will the $800 million cash infusion
do much to alleviate financial stress.
According to Jack Wilkinson of the
OFA, 20 to 30 per cent of farmers will
have difficulty getting operating credit
next spring.
A wise farmer in our area recently
told me "They can't take hope from us."
Indeed, there are a few things to be opti-
mistic about. Never in my lifetime do I
recall farmers being so united in their
lobby efforts. It was easy for past gov-
ernments to "divide and conquer" the
various farm groups, each with a special
interest, and a narrow perspective on the
big issues. Finally, a lot of groups are
parking their egos, and working for the
good of the whole.
There is some evidence the message
is getting across. Farm issues can now
be found on the front page of our na-
tional newspapers, and heard on na-
tional newscasts, both radio and TV.
People on the street, and the shops, and
in the bars, are talking about farmers.
Often their information is incomplete,
sometimes totally incorrect; but they are
talking about farmers, and at least ac-
knowledge the existence of this "endan-
gered species." They have a human gut -
reaction, instinct that they should in
some way support farmers.
At farm rallies, the frustration, the
hurt, the anger, is always close to the
surface, and it is difficult for people to
walk up to a microphone without carry-
ing emotional baggage.
While dealing with issues at an
emotional level may be enough to stop a
seal hunt or end the use of "Alar," it is
not enough to solve the complex prob-
lems facing agriculture today. The
voice of reason must now be heard, and
understood. Across this entire country,
it must be a loud voice, a clear voice, a
united voice. It must answer some fun-
damental questions. Why is agriculture
important to Canada? What happens if
Canada does not support agriculture?
40 THE RURAL VOICE
THE VOICE OF REASON
How can the agricultural industry be
strengthened?
What happens if Canada doesn't
stand behind its farmers? We lose our
food security. We become a net import-
er of food. We will have less control
over food safety at consumer level. One
in five jobs will be at risk. Unemploy-
ment and welfare rolls will be sent soar-
ing. Our balance of trade will cease to be
balanced, making it absolutely impos-
sible to lower the federal deficit. Such a
drastic reduction in economic strength
would leave Canada, or its parts, ex-
tremely vulnerable to foreign takeover.
How can the industry be strength-
ened? Certainly each dollar invested by
government in agriculture yields many.
It is the metaphorical goose that lays
golden eggs. Subsidies by any name are
not long term answers. Unfortunately,
the industry will need significant short
term cash inflows until sanity returns to
markets. However, government should
still be prepared to invest heavily in agri-
cultural research and development, edu-
cation, and export market development.
Higher taxation is not a logical op-
tion. Government contemplation of a
food tax is merely a cynical plot to stir
public sentiment against farmers. It
would hurt the poor most (fully consis-
tent with the Tory agenda) yet hardly be
noticed by the wealthy. The federal
government found money to go to war in
the Persian Gulf (stupidly), without the
need for additional taxes. Case closed.
Federal deficit. The economic
strength of the country is being drained
daily by the interest on the federal defi-
cit. Governments have to have the guts
to reduce the deficit substantially. It is
still rising by 30 billion dollars per year,
and the total hovers around $340 billion.
The country has been living beyond its
means for years. It must change. Imag-
ine the potential of this country, if all the
monies now frittered away in interest
payments were available for education,
research and development, manufactur-
ing infrastructure, etc. Conversely, ima-
gine the daily interest bill 20 years from
now if our debt is compounded steadily.
World Peace. Only when those gov-
emments value their people more than
guns, will they direct money towards
food puchases fro n military hardware.
Many countries still encourage the pro-
duction of coffee, cocoa, and cotton, to
gamer U.S. dollars for the purchase of
weapons, rather than promoting the sane
utilization of land for fruits, vegetables,
grains, and meat.
This world will need ever-increasing
amounts of food. Canada has the ability
to produce much of it, but we must strive
for world peace so that there are buyers
with cash for our product. If we do not
help (or allow) the third world to im-
prove living standards and education,
there will be little dis-incentive for these
countries to rise up militarily against the
"have" countries.
The state of agriculture is not just
about depressed prices for corn, beans,
and hogs.°
John Drummond
Members' opinions are welcomed
and valued. If you do not want to write
or type ideas, send a cassette tape and
we'll still get it to print. VOICE AN
OPINION TODAY.
NOVEMBER MEETING
Thursday, November21, 1991
Downie Mutual Fire Insurance Office
Sebringville 8:30 p.m.
Resolutions to be handled at OFA
convention will be discussed
EVERYONE WELCOME
A delegation of Perth County farmers trav-
elled to the drought stricken area for the Dres-
den rally on October 15 to back OFA in their
demands for Ontario's share of the $800 mil-
lion to cash short farmers. Perth Federation of
Agriculture would like to thank the Sponsors
of the bus expenses.
Mitchell Co-operative Association
Logan Ford
Logan Farm Equipment
Hoegy's Farm Supply