Times-Advocate, 1987-09-02, Page 30a 16A Times -Advocate, Se.tember 2, 1987
,s441111 ,
CWL FOOD BOOTH — In charge of the St. Patrick's CWL food booth at Saturday's Middlesex plowing
match at the Dietrich Forms near Lucan were Bernie Van Bussel, Helen Curzon, Angela Clarke and Cor-
inne Rosch. T -A photo
VIP PLOWERS — Shown ready to plow at Saturday's Middlesex match are Middlesex MPP Doug Reycraft,
Jim Barker and Jim Shipley, Biddulph township; Richard Bolton, Adelaide, Jack MacNamara and Charlie
Corbett of McGillivray. T -A photo
Weather, participation highlight Middlesex match
Sunny weather and an increased
number of contestants and spectators •
featured Saturday's Middlesex coun-
ty plowing match held on the Dietrich
Farms, near Lucan.
•
While plowing competition was
keener and more people watched, the
number of Middlesex girls vying for
the honour for Queen of the Furrow
was pt thebare minimum.
Takithe crown by acclamation
was Kelly Giesen of Denfield. She will
be crowned Friday night October 16
at the annual banquet of the Mid-
dlesex P-lowmen's Association by last
year's winner Anna McCallum of
Glencoe.
In the plowing competition for
politicians and municipal officials the
winner was Richard Bolton of Met-
calfe township. The close runnerup
was Bob Feasey -of Afielaide
township. They were followed in order
by Biddulph township deputy -reeve
Jim Shipley, Middlesex MPP. Doug
Reycraft and McGillivray reeve
Charlie Corbett.
Winners in the garden tractor divi-
One foot in the furrow
sion were Paul Gerard, Thamesville
and Kevin and Gail Gervais, Dresden.
In the open split tractor class win-
ners were Stephen Spellar, Chatham,
Art Mouning, Highgate and Bill
Jones, Watford while Darcy Duffin,
Thorndale was top in tractor class two
or three furrows under -18.
Ron Abbott, Doug Duffin and Floyd
Wills, all of Thorndale won in the
same category over 25 years of age
and best in junior tractor class were
Duane Maier, Lucan; Krista Giesen,
Denfield and Dianne Dietrich Lucan.
Carol and June Mouning of
Ilighgate and 1986 Queen of the Fur-
row Anna McCallum were tops in the
ladies open class. +
•Jim Paton of Lucan was the winner
in the antique section. He was follow-
ed by Harold Walker • and Charles
Stafford, both of Port Stanley.
. In the four furrow section over 25
years of age:for Middlesex residents
the winners were Paula Rosser, Mary
Gorman and Christine Gyremans, all
of Ilderton.
The new conservation tillage event
was won by Gerald Krees and Pat
Mcllhargey, both of Lucan.
Western minister's question valid
b} Hob Trotter
The question posed by JIanitoba's
deputy agriculture minister is valid:
Row long can the non-agricultural
•public allow so much support for
farmers in this day and age of limited
budgets? -
It is' almost impossible to figure out
how much money is spent at all levels
of government in support of
agriculture. (wain subsidies 'alone
were close to $3 -pillion last vear-in-
cluding a special $1-biIlion cash pay.
ment to grain farmers tram The
Mulroney government.
All kinds of estimates have been
suggested. One or two farm writers
have suggest that. il all subsidies
were totalled and divided by the
number of farmers in Canada. each
farmer would be gett ing about $8,500.
Therefore. some new thinking is be-
ing done and a radical farm -aid pro-
gram is necessary.
Although a means test for pensions.
for instance. was abolished long ago,
it may tx necessary to re -instate il for
agriculture.
The test would ensure that the
poorest farmers would be given a
basic. survival -level incotne'of about
$15,000 a vear. Tax returns would be
examined to determine net income. If
under $15,00(1, the government
payments would increase this income
to the minimum level.
Reasons for the basic income idea
came about because of the $1 -billion
in special subsidies last year for grain
fanners. It was paid to all grain
New farm grants
• An eligible new farmer will receive
$:38,000 in grants over seven years
under a. new $97.5 million initiative
announced by Agriculture and Wood
Minister Jack Riddell.
Ontario Farm -Start will provide
new farriers with the cash flow they
need. particularly during the difficult
first years of farming. because of high
capital requirements. fluctuating
commodity prices and incomes. and
the cost and availability of credit.
Treasurer Robert Nixon announc-
ed a commitment to a new five-year
progr'a►n for first -litre farmers in his
last budget.
New farmers will receive a total of
$38.1)00 in grants over seven years
with an initial grant of $11.000. The
amount will be reduced each year by
$2,000 until years six and seven when
the grant will taper off by $1.000. with
the final grant in the last year woGh
$1.000.
fanners yet many- or then did not
need it. 11 11as like "throwing it out of
airplane windows." to quote Gerald
Gartner. Manitoba's deputy ag
minister. Studies in Saskatchewan
have revealed that the grain subsidies
support the rich: the wealthiest 20
percent of the grain farmers are
receiving twice as much money [rent
federal payments as the poorest 20
percent.
By contrast. a guaranteed income
of $15.000 would give most benefits to
the poorer fanners. The largest :10
percent of Canadian farmers are en-
joying 70 percent of the agricultural
subsidies, in other words. To take it
one step further, many of the farmers
receiving subsidies may actually he
richer than most of the tax payers
who pay the subsidies.
The idea of a guaranteed annual in-
come is far from ne* in Canada.
Academics and •bureaucrats have
talked about it for all sectors of the
economy for years.
Farmers could become the
pioneers of the idea, an experimental
group for the rest of the country.
It won't be easy.
To modify and change.the present
system of farm subsidies will cause
all kinds of weeping and wailing and
gnashing of teeth. Large farmers will
obviously oppose any attempt to
reduce their share of the govern-
ment's seemingly bottomless pot of
Why is this man so happy?
He just bought a fishing boat with the money he
saved on his new M -F 300 Serles Tractor.
Could be. You see, these 45 to 85 PTO horsepower'
tractors aren't loaded down with unnecessary acces-
sories that 'drive the price up without adding to pro-
ductivity.
Plus there are Massey -Ferguson financing plans,
Service Shield extended warranty and MF Club dis-
counts that drive costs even lower. You can't find a
better value anywhere:
He finally found a tractor his wife will drivi.
We're not surprised. After all, hydrostatic power
steering is standard. Most models feature easy -
shifting synchromesh transmissions with 12 speeds.
And the optional tight -turning 4 -wheel drive makes
almost any field seem level and dry.
He was able to do more of the 'Servicing himself.
All M -F 300 Series tractors were designed to require
less maintenance. Plus all filters, pumps and service
points are easy to get to.
'Manufacturer's rating
111116 MASSEY–FERGUSON
Of course, if he ever does need parts or dealer servic-
ing, there are none better trained and supported than
M -F dealers.
His old strew hat tickles.
That's why ho should be wearing an M -F cap
RECEIVE A FREE
M.F. HAT
When we quote you a price on
a new tractor
Sherwood (Exeter) Ltd.
18 Wellington St. West,
PHONE: 235-0743
gold. And the older, established
farmers, have a lot of clout with the
- politicians.
But there is simply no way you can
compare a young farmer with 80 per-
cent debt with an older farmer who
has no debt. All the more reason why
this helter-skelter system, this pat-
chwork quilt, this Band-Aid method of
throwing farm subsidies out of
airplane windows must be revised.
The government economists and
the agriculture economists should
take a long, hard look at the
guaranteed income idea.
To repeat the question: How long
can the general public be expected to
put up with so much money going to
such a small section of the economic
system?
The backlash is bound to conte
- soon.
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