The Rural Voice, 1989-10, Page 57NEWS
RESEARCHERS LOOK
AT APPLE INDUSTRY
Canadian apple producers who want
an apple marketing agency first need to
determine whether such an agency
could reverse negative domestic trends,
says Larry Martin, acting director of the
University of Guelph's George Morris
Centre for the Future of Agriculture.
Martin, along with agricultural eco-
nomics professor Ellen Goddard and
research associate Christopher Gaston,
is studying whether a national agency
could ease the hardships experienced by
Canadian growers because of an in-
crease of 500 per cent in apple imports
over the past decade.
Since 1980, Canadian apple produc-
tion has stood at about 25 million bush-
els. But the cost of producing apples has
exceeded their output value by 4.35
cents a kilogram. As a result, stabiliza-
tion payments for the industry havebeen
as high as $21.5 million.
Central to the Guelph study is deter-
mining why the Canadian industry has
failed to grow despite increased demand
for apples and apple juice.
If the problem is related to domestic
overproduction, a marketing agency
could be viable, the researchers say.
"But there's also the possibility that
the industry is entrenched in the produc-
tion of varieties that Canadians no
longer want," Martin says. "In that case,
nothing would be gained by restricting
the supply in the hope that consumers
would pay a high price ..."
The researchers are also examining
the potential effects of improved apple
quality, greater efficiency in production
and storage, and better marketing and
testing of improved varietics.0
MACHINERY SALES
Average price increases of 4.2 per
cent in the farm machinery and equip-
ment price index in the past year were
the steepest in the national machinery
sector, says Statistics Canada.
But the wholesale trade in farm
machinery, equipment, and supplies fell
28.5 per cent during the first half of the
year compared to 1988 sales levels.
That drop was the largest in any arca of
the economy, says Statistics Canada.0
"ELECTRIC"
MOTORS -MOTORS -MOTORS
TROUBLE LOCATING
Kr THAT SPECIAL
MOTOR?
For quick service and a complete inventory of
Farm motors for
Augers, 1 & 2 Speed Barn Fans, Milkers, Jet
Pumps, Stable Cleaners, Silo Unloaders, Milk
Coolers, Condenser Fan Motors, Crop Dryers,
Crop Ventilators, Etc.
CALL
(519) 655-2396
—9:11A ERS
„, MOTOR GENERATOR SALES LTD.
/ Tavistock, Ont. NOB 2R0
Sales and Service since 1936
HURON BRUCEFIELD.
AgVi
se.
ONTARIO
NOM 1JO
Mervyn J. Erb
Agronomist
Independent Cmp Consultant
TELEPHONE: (519) 233-7100
MOBILE: (519) 661-9451 it14
.sPi•••
�r
CROPF-
PROFIT f' •
•
STRATEGIES f !
RIPLEY
ELEVATORS
a division of
Thompson Feed & Supply
Buyers of
CORN
SOYBEANS
Elevator 519-395-5959
Mill 519-395-5955
Res. 519-395-5550
Manager
Bob Thompson
Ripley
THE MORE YOU KNOW ABOUT COMPUTERS
• THE BETTER WE LOOK
COMPUTER SYSTEM
SURGE
Feed chute
Long Parlour Antenna
Short Feed Antenna
Milk Meter
Call us tor details soon
• "Hands-off" system
• Auto identification
• Milk recorded
automatically
• Feed amount changed
daily
• Feed to actual production
• No chance for mix up
• Super easy maintenance
Priced Right!
— complete system
approximately
$300 - $400 scow
— feed only approximately
$150 - $200 scow
HURON DAIRY EQUIPMENT LTD.
R R 4, Seaforth, Ont. NOK 1 WO
519-522-1935
OCTOBER 1989 55