Loading...
The Rural Voice, 1993-01, Page 14Robert Mercer Bought any good tractors In a market where there has been very little good news after such a poor corn harvest, it is encouraging to sec sales of 40-99 hp tractors in Canada arc on the rise. In October the industry trade association reported sales were 20 per cent better than in 1991. Across Canada 830 new units were sold. That's about 5,000 in total for the 10 - month period. We also heard some units by one manufacturer were out of stock! There are those who will say — yes, but the increase is due to the fact that all the old oncs have been at last wom out and have to be replaced! Regardless of the reason, it is one bright spot in the farm input industry. South of the border the Equipment Manufacturer's Institute said that on- farm tractors had an average of 19 years and conditions are right for the replacement market, although farm incomes will only rise by one to two per ccnt in 1993. This past year has been so bad in the U.S. that brokerage analysts arc expecting fourth quarter financial results for Deere & Co. end- ing October 31 to post a loss of 34¢ per share. J. I. Case will also post a loss. The U.S. industry is not optimistic about 1993, forecasting a very modest growth of 1.1 per cent in total tractor sales, but a 3.5 per cent boost in sales of the higher horse- power tractors. In Ontario farmers will have the chance to kick a few tires at the Canada Farm Show which starts a little ear- lier this year on January 19-22. This will be ano- ther barn -busting display of equipment geared up to suck the dollars out of farmers' pockets with over 600 exhibitors and $200 million worth of equipment on display. So if you're one of those with tract - lately? ors over 19 years old, the Farm Show is the place for you this year. In Cana- da there are about 12,500 new tractors sold each year, and less than 1,500 self-propelled combines. Yet Statistics Canada says there are 280,000 census farms in Canada, of which 118,000 have gross receipts of $50,000 or more. No wonder the tractors are getting old. In fact the census breaks down owner- ship of tractors in Ontario at 184,761 units on 63,017 farms. There are only 22,339 combines of which many must now be well over 20 years old. Farmers and farm merchandise companies should be justly proud of their ability to make and repair equip- ment that stands up to the rigors of time, weather, and often abuse of own- ership. It's time the rest of the econo- my learned some lessons of making do and fixing up when times get tough. The Farm Show will be a time to get away from the farm and head for the city. Rather like the Royal Winter Fair, this is one time during the year when the country comes to the city. This past year though farmers have come more often to the cities. Toronto and Ottawa especially. First it was the massive GATT demonstration in Ottawa and more recently a protest in Toronto over the location of potential dump sites in and around metro Toronto. Don't expect to see any political booths at the Farm Show, although it would be an ideal place to get the message out regarding dump site selection, recycling and waste management. The trouble is that farmers have long practiced recycling and waste management and are supreme artists at reducing their garbage because they never throw anything away. Just look behind the barn! Farm equipment manufacturers only wish farmers were more like city consumers trading in their tractors, balers or spreaders as fast as cars and three-piece suits. If you haven't bought any good tractors lately, at least buy a toy tractor. I hear that market is making up for what the large, full scale models are missing.0 EXPRESS RAIL FULLY OPENED 40' LANE BRISKET MILKING STALL You'll like the way this stall system improves cow flow and operator access to the udder. ADJUSTABLE BRISKET RAIL • Provides up to a 40" cow alley width. Cows don't bump stall posts or have to walk on grates, allowing them to enter and exit faster than in conventional herringbone stalls. • Quickly indexes the entire group for greater cow comfort and operator convenience. ■ Provides infinite adjustment between the open and closed positions; each group of cows can be positioned according to their size. Push button control. • Optional cow position control bar insures proper head positioning for individual stall I.D. systems. SUSPENDED DESIGN ■ Opens up operator's accessibility to the cow for safe and proper milking procedures. • Makes it easier to clean the cow platform. ■ Allows more room for automation. BUILT-IN STRENGTH AND DURABILITY • 3" I.D. posts, 5" cross channels and unitized construction offer commercial parlor construction at conventional herringbone parlor costs. ■ Heavy-duty, air -powered cylinders drive the brisket rail. • Stainless steel splash shields for longer life and easier clean up. Contact HURON DAIRY EQUIPMENT LTD. SURGE/ R.R. 4, Seaforth, Ontario NOK 1 WO 519-522-1935 10 THE RURAL VOICE Robert Mercer is editor of the Broadwater Market Letter, a weekly commodity and policy advisory letter from Goodwood, Ontario LOC 1 A0.