Loading...
Huron Expositor, 2007-03-28, Page 9The Huron Expositor • March 28, 2007 Page 9 News Local farmers `disappointed' by provincial and • • federal budgets' lack of support for agriculture Susan H u n d e r t m a r k "Disappointed" and "snubbed" are the words local farmers are using to describe their reaction to the provincial and federal budgets announced last week. Huron County of Agriculture Steve Thompson says- grain and oilseed / farmers are the only ones not receiving incentives to participate in the push for ethahol in Ontario. He says that while ethanol pro- ducers in Canada and the U.S. are being helped to produce the environ- mentally - friendly fuel, \ only U.S. farm- ers are being given the same incentive. "It's a game of musical chairs and everyone else has a place to sit down but Canadian corn producers. I feel my sector is being snubbed," he says. "When I hear the ethanol producers are getting incen- tives, I feel like yelling at the radio, 'Hey, what about us?'" he says, adding that the situation will end up seeing U.S. farmers provid- ing corn for Canadian ethanol plants. Thompson says the only benefit he sees for farmers in the federal budget is the increase in capital gains totals from $500,000 to $700,000 but warns that retiring farmers selling their farms might find that the alternative minimum tax might take away any benefits from the capital gains exemption. "Too many farmers are under the impression they'll be taxfree when selling their farms and that's not the case," he says. Federation president Thompson also notes the irony that the only benefit he sees to farmers in the federal budget is aimed at those who are retiring. "When the programs appeal more to farmers who want to retire than to farmers who are try- ing to get into the busi- ness and expand, there's a problem," he says. "Both budgets have made a mock- ery of the dis- cussions gov- ernment had with. farmers over the win- ter. They sent the message that farm groups don't matter," he says. Bev Hill, a member or the Huron's grassroots farm group, says he's "very much disappointed" by both the federal and provincial budgets. "I'd thought that lead- ing into an election, both governments would have put some effort into putting forward a risk management program," he says, adding that farmers have been ask- ing for one for two and a half years. Hill says that with corn prices back to a break-even point recent- ly from record lows over the past few years, the timing is good to intro- duce a risk management program. "The prices are good so the program won't be costly and there's an opportunity to build reserves into the support program. A lot of people thought the conditions were ripe given the sur- pluses at both levels of government," he says. Hill says that while the province deserves credit for supporting the ethanol industry, he 'Both budgets have made a mockery of discussions government had with farmers over the winter,' -- Huron County Federation of Agriculture president Steve Thompson agrees it is "thumbing its nose" at corn producers by not giving the same level of support given to U.S. corn producers. He points out that the current provincial govern- ment provides "slightly less money" coming in for agri- culture than before. "More was said by what wasn't said and there was very little about agriculture in both budgets. The inequity with U.S. farmers remains largely unad- dressed and that's disap- pointing," says Thompson. Change where you live, not how you live. ✓ Competitiv(: Interest Rates ✓ Choose a payment plan to suit your budget ✓ Little or no down payment options available Get a mortgage that's affordable for you, from TD Canada Trust. Whether you already own a home and are moving up to something bigger or better, or you're buying your first home, TD Canada Trust has a mortgage that's right for you. One that gives you the flexibility you want, at competitive rates, that lets you enjoy your new home without having to change how you live. It all comes down to affordability. At TD Canada Trust, we offer low down payment options and no down payment options on a variety of mortgages at amortization periods of up to 35 years.' Spreading your mortgage over a longer period of time lowers your payments to help you manage your budget. Choosing a shorter amortization period will help you pay off your mortgage sooner. Our different payment period options (weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly or monthly) can help you manage your cash flow as well. You can choose from a variety of different mortgages like our no down payment mortgages, our cash back mortgages or our fixed and variable rate mortgages. All our mortgages are flexible and are designed with affordability in mind. Need help deciding which one is best for you? Just visit your local branch or to book an in-home appointment with a Mobile Mortgage Specialist visit www.tdcanadatrust.com/msf To apply, visit a branch, call 1-866-827-8512 or go to www.tdcanadatrust.com/affordable ID Canada Trust Banking can be this comfortable 'Reoop iced fa Excellence in Nerd 0uoi y of Customer Service among The Big 5 Backs atoning to the Customer Service Index conducted by Symms, September 2005 and 2006. Survey was conducted nolo* among astorners in general, not ore/ mortgage askew. 'Some conditions apply.