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Times-Advocate, 1986-08-13, Page 18Wage 6A Times -Advocate, August 13, 1986 CORN PACK ON — Canadian Canners field men Bob Bilinsky and Bob Coates check out the quality of corn at the local plant. Soyb.an p.ym•nts are OA th. way Both the federal and provincial governments have announced that they will be making interim stabiliza- tion payments for soybeans marketed between September 1,1985 and March 31, 1966. Each of the payments 'are in the amount of $9.00/tonne; however in order to receive the proviAcial pay- ment, ment, growers must have enrolled in the provincial Stabili$tion Program prior to October 14,198&.The payments are being processed•by the respective government offices and should be received by producers in the next two to four weeks. The final stabilization payment will be announced in November or December, after year- end calculations. Present market conditions indicate a small investment of $4.80/tonne in the 1986 provincial stabilization pro- gram for soybeans is very likely to produce good returns in 1987. Applica- tions for the program will be mailed I1e1 O'Brien, the Pembroke lawyer - airline -owner and part-time farmer, is chairman of the prestigious Agricultural Council of Ontario. Mr. O'Brien's 13 -member commit- tee has been accused of doing everything from nothing to plowing already -worked ground. Some farm writers have suggested the council did nothing new in the way of research; that they simply made recommendations from material that has been on hand for years. Certainly the farmers of Ontario did not need this task force to tell them they are living in near-proverty. They have known that for five years. What is important, in my humble opi- nion, is that the committee has once again brought the plight of farmers into the public eye. Maybe you read some of the stories. The council's study emphasizes that one in every three of Ontario's 80,000 farm families is living below the poverty line. Even large-scale farmers are in trouble. Some of the recommendations in the report could cause some double takes in the farming community. For instance, the report calls for a review of Ontario's Farm Tax Reduction . Program which rebates 60 percent of land taxes on agricultural property BRANDY POINT-- FARMS OINT FARMS CENTRED AROUND ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION • Our breeding stock provides our buyers with proven genetics from the top 3% animals tested across Canada. • Our program enables us to offer quality and health at a price that is hard to beat • We have an ongoing supply of A.I. sired oHamp/Duroc, York/Landrace boars & Fl York/Landrace gilts • Our closed herd is ranked "Good" by the OMAF standards of Herd Health Classification. Come and take a look at our stock anytime! Delivery available KURT KELLER R.R. 1, Mitchell, Ont. 519-348-8043 That controversial idea could raise the hackles of every farmer in On- tario, especially those who use a farm and losses on that farm as a deliberate tax write off. Farmers fought like tigers to get this rebate more than a decade ago and they won't relinquish it without. a knockdown, teeth -kicking fight. But the recommendation has solid research behind it. More than 25 per- cent of Ontario's farmland is in the hands of absentee owners. Therefore, why should the rest of the taxpayers in this province allow these absentee landlords to benefit from a move that was originally made to help the small farmer? ' The report repeats what most farm writers have been reporting for 10 years: three-quarters of the income reported by farmers filing income tax returns is made outside of farming through off -farm, part-time jobs, Right ' there with navy? Britain, Australia, Alberta, Indiana and Russia. No, these places are not the latest specials at your local travel agency, but they are some of the travel opportunities available to the Ontario Junior Farmers. The travelling exchange programs provide unlimited opportunities for Junior Farmers to travel to other pro- vinces and countries, as well as to host over 30 delegates who visit the province annually. Every year, members are invited to apply and be interviewed for the exchanges. Our travelling am- bassadors are selected based on their participation in the community, Junior Farmers, 4-H and personal skills. The winners are announced at the provincial Annual Banquet held each March. In 1985, two new trips to Holland and West Germany were introduced. The length of an exchange may last from two weeks for an interprovincial trip, to eight months for the Australia/New Zealand exchange. When the delegates return from their exchange, they often relive their experiences by giving slide shows to local church groups, women's in- stitutes and Junior Farmer clubs. • We're Fully Equipped for any Job Farm ponds Gravel Bailing Dragllne • Trucking • Gravel, Sand & Stone • Bulldozing • Excavating • Top Soil • Septic Systems "No job 1s too big or too smar Res. 482.9212 erner CONTRACTING LTD. Tracking - Excavating Clinton Shop 482-9926 4 from interest on investments and from pensions. Twenty years ago, the federation of agriculture prepared a brief for the government which said farmers could snake more money by selling all their assets and investing their money. This report makes the same suggestion. It also confirms that there is a greater percentage of impoverished . people in rural areas than in the cities, something the rural communi- ty has been saying for a long time but no one seems to be listening. It still bothers me - and regular readers will realize I'm on the same critical horse I've been on for years -- that the big national newspaper out of Tranna buried the council's report. It was back in the business section with a Little, two -column, 30 -point headline. But not long ago when a report was issued by Statistics Canada about doc- tors, lawyers and farmers -- a hand- ful of the biggest farmers - being the top income earners in Canada, the same paper carried that story in big, second -coming headlines on the front page. This report, which pooh-poohs the suggestion that farmers are rich,gets buried. All the more reason why this task force and any other group that can truly depict the plight of farmers should be tabled for the public. Even if the Globe does bury the results. Two given OHRP grants Ontario Home Renewal (OHRP) grants of $40,000 for the Town of Goderich and Village of Grand Bend have been announced. Goderich and Grand Bend are among 16 municipalities receiving a total of $626,6000 provincial OHRP funding in today's announcement. Administered by municipalities, the program assists homeowners to upgrade their homes, with the em- phasis on faulty structural and sanitary conditions, and on plumbing, insulation, heating and electrical systems. Loans of up to $7,500 are made available to eligible owner -occupants who wish to bring their homes up to standard. A portion of a loan may be forgiven, depending on the recipient's income. Interest rates range from zero to eight per cent, again depen- ding on income. Physically -disabled homeowners, or homeowners with physically - disabled relatives living permanent- ly with them, may qualify for loans of up to $9,500. This special maximum loan recognizes the extra costs involv- ed in alterations that make homes more accessible inside and outside. For applicants, the maximum an- nual qualifying income, after allowable deductions are made, is $19,000. OHRP benefits are available to owner -occupants in all municipalities which have adopted minimum hous- ing standards bylaws or resolutions establishing standards, and have decided to take part in the program. In communities without municipal boundaries, OHRP is administered by inistry of Housing in conjunction wi h the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines. OHRP is one of the province's rehabilitation initiatives designed to help conserve housing. Witmers mark 53rd anniversary Mr. and Mrs. Leo Witmer, Woodstock, visited their parents, Wes and Madeline Witmer, and took them out fo dinner on Tuesday, August 5 to celebrate their 53rd wedding anniver- sary. In the evening, sotne neighbors and friends surprised the Exeter cou- ple with a visit. Pittfl-la and Keep Canada Beautiful to au those who were,enrolled in 1986, however they will be available for pick-up, at all Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food offices during the month of September, for those who were not enrolled in 1965. The final application date is October 1, 1986. Payments for the 1986 crop year, to prpducers who did not enroll in 1965 but were eligible, will be limited to 80 percent of otherwise eligible pro- duction. There are 5,751 producers presently taking advantage of the Provincial Stabilization Program, representing approximately 30 per- cent of the total number of soybean growers in Ontario. The licence fees deducted from soy- -bean growers when they sell their 1996 soybean crop have been set at $1.20 per tonne (3'/4e per bushel). This rate is unchanged from 1965, with 40* of the fee being forwarded to the Grain Financial Protection Fund and the re- maining 80e per tonne to pay for the operation of the Ontario Soya -Bean Growers' Marketing Board. Other marketing costs such as dry- ing charges and the dealer handling charge also remain unchanged this year. Complete details can be found in the enclosed 1986 Marketing Agreement. Growers with Advance Payments are reminded that the last day to sell soybeans and repay the Advance is August 29, 1986. This deadline is two days earlier than normal because August 31 is a Sunday. The outstanding balance under the program as of July 15 was over $4.4 million, representing 1.3 million bushels of soybeans. Total advances for 1985 were in excess of $28 million. Producers should remember that cash basis levels normally drop dramatically during the month of August when the processors have enough soybeans in storage to last un- til harvest begins. Watch the market closely for weather scares and other rallies which may provide good pric- ing opportunities. Centralia Fanners Sumfluer SAVINGS In 8' - 16' lengths 2x6 Treated Lumber Reg. .59 C 55 lin. ft. 114. IP cpm �� lir. 01 1111111 .11l�_.'11.11 1 x 10 ROUGH PINE from 6 ft. to 16 ft. 31'/s 4 per foot 235 Roofmaster Heavyweight SHINGLES $1245 ---Best-Quality bdie. Limited Time Offer 6 colors to choose from delivery available (small charge) Plain Galvanized. ROOFING $37 7s 2"Coverage per 6 t • 18' in stock 100 sq. ft. Beautitone exterior latex PAINT $20 1 Reg. S28.95 Centralia Farmers Ha 1. 11. Supply BUILDING CENTRE of Home Hardware Centralia 228-6638 • Nours Man. - Fri. 8 - 6 Sat. 8 - 12 • • f ie �1•.. FOR SAVINGS ❑ Big factory discounts ❑ 9.9% APR M -F financing ❑ Waiver of finance charges • Choose the deal that's best for you. Big jobs demand a tractor that's big on performance — a hard-working 3500 -series machine from Massey - Ferguson. Choose 2 or 4 -wheel drive in sizes from 90 to 125 -hp.' Then choose one of our money -saving finance options: low -rate M -F financing or waiver of finance charges to March 1, 1987. Either way you also get big factory discounts. But hurry, these great deals end November 1, 1986. 'Mfr rated PTO hp DEMO 1 ONLY M.F. 3505 90 h.p. 2 w/dr. cab, air, heat Priced to Clear tt- l \ C IIF �� f1. I 11 �. �A 4 l y : !•1r , ,.....:::y All 3515 1 r I tt Sherwood (Exeter) Ltd. Reg. •39,500. 18 Wellington St. West., PHONE: 235-0743 Sale $22,500 (with full warranty) Offer expires Aug. 18/86 11414pr where farmers' Ideas takes 1