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The Lucknow Sentinel, 1979-04-04, Page 33•Y; BY RHEA HAMILTON .am-•w...r+yn.mf..rc.,,r-xa+e�rrc.+,m. Lucknow Sentinel, Wednesdsyt April '14 1971—Page S don't take stabilization prograrn seriously Local producer reaction to the proposed changes in the federal governments stabili- zation program indicates that few have seriously consider- ed the changes. Huron Federation of Agri- culture member's heard OFA director AlbinKormos speak on the changes at their Monthly meeting at Grey Central School, Ethel, Thurs- day night. Mr.. Kormos is a member of the OFA commit- tee studying new proposals for the stabilization act. "Farmers tend to treat the stabilization act the same as marketing- • boards," Mr. Kormos said. Mr. Kormos said income instability and increased costs of production which take away from efficiency, are reason enough to accept the new farm stabilization proposals. The present program has come under firefrom various producer groups claiming support levels were too low, no advance notice of support prices was offered and the annual program did not provide adequate protection. "The Ontario plan is more complicated compared to the present plans in both British Columbia and Quebec and farmers still have strong dis- agreements about .the whole plan being welfare,". Mr. Kormos said. He challenged members . to support the development: of programs for general approval of stabiliza- tion plan. The federal policyis simi- lar to the 'B.C. plan > and involves farmer participa- tion. • "I' feel it is the ideal we should beshooting for," said Mr.. Kormos. The main func- tion of the plan is to take out. the lows in the market or put the brakes on a down period,. Mr. Kormostold members. The federal government has proposed four mayor changes. .. The first, change the basis,. for the calculation of support prices to a guaranteed marg- in approach with support at the 100 per cent level. The, difference between the price a farmer receives for a commodity and his cash production represents his margin over cash costs and is the return for his labour, \ management, and capital. Under the guaranteed marg- in approach the support price I would equal cash costs in the support year plus. some per.- ,centageon the average mar- gin . over cash costs in the immediately' preceding five years. The advantages include a clearer connection between current cash costs and the support price and a guaran- tee at the beginning of the support period that the farm- er would receive a return for labour, management and capital that would be no less than their average return in the proceding five years. Joiningould be voluntary and farmers could enter plans for the commodities they produce. Costs would be shared, 1/3 by producers and 2/3 by the federal govern- ment. To alleviate inade- quate protection for slaught- er cattle and hog producers a quarterly program Inas been proposed rather than a yearly one. Mr. Kormos compared the program to insurance against . poor prices. Tony McQuail, director for Huron North West was con- cerned that such a .plan would protect larger instead of smaller or especially younger farmers. "Younger farmers have a greater monetary investment and are most hurt by market fluctuation. ," Mr. McQuail said. Mr. (ormos assured members t at both minimum and maximum standards would be set to avoid nuis- ance claims. INVOLVED "It is important that farm representatives are involved to establish where the maj- ority of farm sizes are and what levels fanners want set," said Mr. Kormos. There was some discussion concerning the merits of a federal as opposed to provin- cial programs. John Van Beers, director from Huron east central cited the example of the •Western provinces keeping calves and Ontario wanting to establish their own source. "A federal level • would have solved the problem," said Mr. Van Beers. "But it was provincially run and had problems." Mr. Kormos pointed out that provincial programs would only compete with the federal level "I don't think the federal plan would work and that is why we must have a co-oper- ative between the two," said Mr. Kormos. Mr. Kormos said the OFA does not support the federal proposal because it does not allow, active ;farmer input, just advice. Although the farmers are paying one third of the program they are allowed no "input". 4,. \ PIONEER. BRAND ALFALFA SEED BANNER 520 •Consistent top performer in manyuniversity tests *Very high bacterial wilt tolerance •Fine stemmed, leafy foliage •High. seeding vigour Volume and early payment discounts _. available Forage Seed Mixtures Also Available Bruce Raynard R. R. 1 Lucknow Phone 528-6144 , Vernon Hodgins R. R. 4 Kincardine Phone 395-2271 Mr. Kormos did not, feel the program would interfere with market indicators. "It is a tool designed to stop declining markets • and yet leave room -for a free market place," said Mr. Kormos. With the new proposals the beef cow calf producers would be included. "If the federal proposal is enacted Quebec and. B.C. will not receive any com- pensation for their own cow calf operations," Mr. Korm- os said. "That does not mean there will not be any support for other provinces." Members agreed the fed- eral method of determining support levels by historical market prices was outdated and believed costs of produc- tion would be a fairer meth- od. CIJIAOMN CaftbaR SOCIIITY GAN CANCER !3E BEAI EN YOU BET��LIFE UFE rr CAN SUMMIT CO -OP's private barley variety. Count on it in '79. CO -OP's private variety available in 1979 at local Co-operatives and UCO Branches: Tests showed higher yields than any cornpetitor. Large, plump kernels result in outstanding weight per bushel. Resistant to lodging because of straw strength. Resists mildew, stem rust and loose smut. has 'it Ask Us About These Hybrids 1711.-2442 90 - 92 days Cribbing, :Combining Or Silage in Early Zone'. HL 2217. 78 -'80 days combining or cribbing Soyabean Seed Available Early Varieties Gary Dauphin n R. R. 3 Lucknow Phone 395-5617 GLEN GREEN Forage Mixtures and Seeds Pasture, haylpasture, haylage,. green chop, straight seeds and lawn grass mixtures Available for Immediate Delivery HARVEY CULBERT 529-449.2 R. R. 6 Goderich, ' ELDON BRADLEY 528-2214 Lucknow uCo Bruce ... a six -rowed, rough -awned feed barley with excellent. yield and short, strong straw. Resistant to mildew. Barley Peguis :, . a six - rowed, smooth - awned feed barley. - Very high yielding with good straw strength of medium height. Resistant to stem rust and .smut. Herta :.. a two -rowed, rough -awned feed barley. Agood yielder with medium -strong and medium -to -short straw. Resistant to mildew, Oats Garry ... the old reliable. Gives a good yield with strong, medium - length straw. Matures in mid- season. Resistant to crgwn and stem rust. . Elgin recently introduced. Gives higher yields than Garry and matures slightly earlier with a large, white seed. First choice for 1979. real Mixtures CO- ereal Mixtures are ava e in the following combinations of Oats and Barley: Elgin 50% - Elgin 65% - Elgin 50% - Elgin 65% - Garry 50% Garry 65% .Bruce 50% Bruce 35% • Peguis 50% Peguis 35%' - Herta 50% - Herta 35% Lucknow District Co-op 1/2 Mile South of Lucknow On Huron County Road # 1 PHONE 529-7953