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Times-Advocate, 1986-09-10, Page 30a Times -Advocate, Septembef 10, 1986 WEIGHTY COURSES — New Centralia College students Kathy Sheldrake and Debbie Johnston get help from Director of Student Affairs Don Orth in lifting their books after registering Monday morning. I hate the expression but it seems apt: Agminister Jack Ridddell is caught between a rock and a hard place. He is, to use another cliche, damn- ed if he does and damned if he doesn't. Canada has a crop insurance pro- gram for farmers which is voluntary. Farmers who enrol have two-thirds of the premium paid by governments • But the insurance is so inadequate as to be almost useless, if you listen to most farmers in my area. "I'm better off gambling on the weather," said my neighbor, speak- ing of his winter wheat crop. He explained: the pay -out is not enough to make it worthwhile. A farmer must lose at least 20 per cent of his expected yield. But the profit margin because of today's prices is only about seven per cent. "So I have to lose 13 per cent of my break even money before I collect a cent,"my neighbor explained. "This crop insurance plan isn't worth the smoke from a White harvester." Riddell has told farmers who were hit hard by a hail storm some weeks ago that the government will not help them out. To get help, they should have enrolled in the crop insurance program. A great many farmers agree with my neighbor. Estimates as to the number of farmers subscribing to the government-sponsored crop in- surance program are corn, 29 per cent; canola, 46 per cent; peaches, 20 FOOD FOR THOUGHT - Marianne Den Otter and Karen Dietrich haul their books for the Food Services Management course up the stairs at Huron Hall after registering for the first year at Centralia College of Agricultural Technology, Monday morning. per cent; pears, 26 per cent; grapes, 43 per cent. Ron Woodisse, manager of the Drayton District Co-op, bluntly states that the program is the pits and is made for the inefficient farmer. "I made it abundantly clear last year that crop insurance was available to all farmers," Riddell has said. "They made a conscious deci- sion not to take part in it. It's very dif- ficult for a minister of agriculture and food to simply undermine the crop in- surance program by making payments every time there happens to be a crop loss." What he says makes sense, right? Well, it depends on which end of the manure spreader you are standing. The crop insurance scheme is a ' farce, say some fruit farmers in the Niagara Region, also hit hard by the hailstorm. Gary Pilliteri, an alderman in Niagara -on -the -Lake and a fruit farmer, says it cost him $1,500 for $22,000 worth of insurance on a crop worth $60,000. The crop insurance program, as I understand it, gives a farmer 18 cents for every penny paid in premiums, a good investment, says Riddell. But farmers get,more than 30 cents a - pound for ,their 4 eaches-'ott hO market, say Pilliteri, so the crop in- surance scheme giving him 18 cents a pound is useless. Losses in the Niagara Region are expected to hit $10 million but that's just for this year. Damage to peach trees over the next five to ten years could amount to $30 million. "Without a doubt, many young farmers will go under," Pilliteri said last month. Unless the Cabinet reconsiders as this is written, Mr. Riddell is remain- ing firm. Ile is unruffled by being caught between a rock and a hard place. Agents For Huron plowing contest scheduled for Saturday Plan to attend the 1898 Huron Plow- ing Match and Soil Conservation Demonstration. This year's match will be held on the farm of Murray Cardiff on Friday, and Saturday, September 12 and 13. The site is located in Grey Township, two roads north of Brussels. then east about one Pork advisor is appointed The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food (Clinton) has announced the appointment of Andy Sande as pork advisor for Huron County. Andy is a University of Guelph graduate (BSc(Agr),1978) with a ma- jor in Crop Science. Since 1978, Andy has worked with two major Ontario feed companies as a farm sales representive. As well, Andy is a Bruce County pork producer, operating a small swine enterprise near Lucknow, Ontario. As pork advisor, Andy will be responsible for the delivery of the On- tario Pork Industry Improvement Program (OPIIP) to Huron County pork producers. If you have any ques- tions regarding enrolment, eligibility or incentives for this program, feel free to contact Andy at the County of- fice in Clinton. Don Pullen Agricultural Representative mile. Friday will feature a coaching ses- sion and special class for boys and girls of 4-H and Junior Farmer age. Saturday's schedule includes regular classes, conservation tillage, Queen of the Furrow Competition, Log Sawing and Nail Driving Competition. Starting time is 10:00 a.m. each day. Conservation tillage practices have increased steadily across the county. Some farmers adopted conservation tillage to control erosion problems, while others have adopted this prac- tice as a way of cutting costs. In response to this interest a conserva- tion tillage class is again included in the Huron Plowing Match. The conservation tillage class com- petition is scheduled for Saturday, September 13 at the farm of Murray Cardiff. This is an excellent informative event to attend whether you are prac- ticing conservation tillage or are con- sidering conservation tillage. The event will reveal the techniques used to set up your implements to get desired conservation and crop pro- duction benefits. It will also demonstrate some of the different im- plements which are available for con- servation tillage. The conservation tillage class is open to all farmers and dealers, and includes use of any primary tillage implement. The plots are scored in six CCAT REGISTRATION — Melinda Geling and Suzanne Finkbeiner rggiAt@F y>ith Carol Moore fort tilt I98A ^.7 term at Centralia College. CO.OP categories; percent residue, depth of tilled soil, surface roughness, energy efficiency, general appearance and safety. Prospective participants should contact Brian Hall, Ontario Ministry of Agriculturee and Food at 482-3428 or 1-800-265-5170 or Brent Kennedy, Soil Conservation Advisor at the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food of- fice in Stratford at 271-0280 or 1-800-265-8502. Mycotoxins studied Did you have feed refusal and/or breeding problems in your swine herd durilg the past year'? Yes, not sure, well then, this upcoming meeting on "Mycotoxins" is for you. The Huron County Pork Producers' Association and the Clinton OMAF of- fice invite you to hear Dr. H. L. Trenholm from Agriculture Canada speak on "Mycotoxins". This meeting will commence at 8:00 p.m. on Thurs- day, September 18 at the Clinton Legion Hall. Mycotoxins which are toxic chemicals produced by several kinds of molds in plant material either in the field or in storage have created problems over the last year. It is very possible that these sames problems could occur again this fall. Therefore, it is imperative that pork producers are aware of the problems so they can effectively manage them if they occur. Garden Way's TRAIL SLAW Sickle Bar Mower • Slices through head -high weeds! • Mow the "unmowable" areas! • 35" cutting width gets the job done last! Now available from: Exeter 235-1115 Blyth 523-4244 White Bean Pro • ucers Ontario Bean Producers Marketing Board We Are Capable 01 II I \n11M(; 101 R * White Pea Beans * Coloured Beans * Soyas * Corn Fast Efficient Service 3Pits - Modern 41 /: ci 7/1 /1:,x'7' 1'x)1 'R 111 ..SI VE.S'S /.S' 11: 11 I I'!'11/: (1.1 !TED. If /: If '//. /. STRII'1: TO 11 1.111//://:" 101 'R R1:11 'RN 1.S If Ell, ! I'1: LV '1'111: PAST. (519) 232-4449 (519) 232-4447 Plan to deliver your white beans to' Hensall Co-op Your support is necessary to maintain a viable FARMER -OWNED CO-OPERATIVE business in the marketing of your beans. $1100 per Metric Tonne Delivery INoenfive • PATRONAGE DIVIDENDS - on profits earned • EXCELLENT FACILITIES for fast efficient service • TRADE CO-OPERATIVE!! We continue to work for YOU even after you have sold your cropl • WE APPRECIATE AND NEED YOUR BUSINESS!! 24 HOURS SERVICE CO.OP Ontario, Canada NOM 1 AO Hensall - 262-3002 1-800-265-5190