The URL can be used to link to this page

Times Advocate, 1992-01-08, Page 9• • • Times-AduOoame, January -S, 1992 Farm income Outlook projectlons released OTTAWA - Realized net farm income for 1992 is expected to reach $4.15 billion nationally, compared with $3.36 billion for 1992. The announcement was made on December 23 by Agricudtutre Cana- da economists in releasing their fourth quarter agriculture outlook for 1991 and projections for 1992. The revised farm income projections were prepared in consultation with provincial ministries of agriculture and Statistics Canada. With substantial -forecast increasesin-program-paymentse xpected to offset lower market receipts and higher operating expenses, the econo- mists say the higher incomes do not indicate a recovery for the sector. However, the short-term cash flow problem faced by' many produces should be t—.,duce.d. Total farm cash receipts are forecast in increase by five percent from the 1991 level to $22.5 billion as higher program payments offset low- er market receipts: Market receipts are forecast to decreases about five percent as a result of lower grain, h g and cable receipts. After two consecutive -years of decreases, total farm operating ex- penses are forecast to increase by three percent from the 1991 level to $16 billion in 1992. Higher expenditures for almost every major input items except rent, fertilizer and feed are the major factors in the in- crease. Net cash income, for, the -grains and. oilseeds sector, which excludes_ depreciation charges and income in kind, is estimated at $2.1 billion in 1992; compared with $1.9 billion in-1991:11iisToreaast does not incur- porate the adjustments to initial grain prices announced recently. The upward adjustments to the initial prices should add about $150 million to grain sector market receipts in 1992. Rebate program for dairy ingredient users bTTAWA - The Canadian Dairy Commission has announced a re- bate program, funded by producers and processor:." to assist manufac- turers who use dairy products as in- gredients in finished food products. The rebate is aimed specifically at manufacturers facing increased competition from imports, as tariffs are gradually reduced under the Canada -U.S. Trade Agreement. This competitive situation facing dairy ingredient users was one of the principal challenges before the Task Force on National Dairy Poli- cy, and the rebate was developed out of one of the final recommenda- tions of this group. "1t is a first step in finding a long- term answer," said Roach Morin, Chairman of the Commission, "and we need to take this fust step with- out dewy." In agreeing to the rebate fund, the industry recogniz tl that, without action, importetkAgished food products would Wfcrea singly have an advantage on the Canadian mar- ket because of lower dairy -ingredi- ent costs. "The rebate is a part of the solu- tion, a temporary measure. The long:term answers are being sought on outer fronts," noted Kenneth McKinnon, the Commission's vice- chairman. The federal and provin- cial Deputy Ministers' Steering Committee on Supply Manage- ment, created to oversee the impar „ mentation of thc recommendations of the poultry and dairy task forces, has formed a working group to re- view the options for the long term. While this working group moves ahead, the rebate program will op- erate on a budget of $6 million, from January 1 until July 31, 1992. It is expected to cover 60 percent of the difference between the dairy prfiduct ingredient costs in Canada and the United States. This amount, funded by producers and proces- sors, is being made } available through producer levies. A review committee, chaired by the Canadian Dairy Commission, ahs been set up to screen applica- tions and establish the working cri- teria for the program. The member- ship of this committee represents dairy farmers, processors, and gro- diewProduel s. Gov- - ernfirent members include represen- tatives from Agriculture Canada and Industry Science and Technolo- gy Canada. Additional information and application forms can be ob- tained from Policy and Communi- cations at the Canadian Dairy Com- mission in Ottawa, (613) 998-9490. Canadlan Intematlonal Farm Equlpment Show TORONTO.- The 1992 Canadian International Farm Equipment Show is attracting a great doal of interest from U.S. buying groups, according to Peter Egyed, Market- ing Officer with the U.S. Trade Di- vision of External Affairs and In-- - iernadoual Trade Canada. "We expect as many as twenty to thirty serious buyers from the U.S. will attend this year's Faint says Egyed. "Groups from as far away as Texas, Nebraska and Min- nesota have already confirmed that they will be there." External _Affairs_ Canada has ac- tively, encouraged American atten- dance at the show through a new incoming buyers incentive pro- gram. Qualified buyers from major agricultural centres are selected by U.S. based Commercial -Officers and offered complimentary round trip transportation fo'ihe show. "We know that many American distributors have carried Canadian product tines for years," says Lisa Swenson, External Affairs Com- mercial Officer based in Minneapo- lis. "Because the 'Toronto Farm Show has become one of North -American's largest and most com- plete equipment and machinery showcases, these distributors feel that they have to attend in order to access the latest products and tech- nologies coming from Canadian companies." The Canadian International Farm Equipment Show runs from Febru- ary 4-7, at the International Centre in Toronto, Ontario. The show will feature over 680 exhibitors repre- senting 5,000 companies, and cov- ers over 380,000 square feet of ex- hibit space. For more information please contact Dawn Morris Pro- -. duction; (705) 741-2536. - Air -borne microbes a safety concern for farmers REGINA - Air -borne microbes from mouldy grain or old manure can cause severe respiratory prob- lems in farmers - and other people - who inhale them, says the co- ordinator of the Saskatchewan Farm Safety Program, "Microbes occur naturally in the outdoor environment," says Barry Armstrong. "Microbes in the form of mould or fungus multiply in damp, stored hay or grain and in old manure. When the hay, grain or manure is moved, the fungal spores are released into the air." Smokers run a greater risk of respiratory disorders than non- smokers, he says. - In winter, the problem worsens when people work indoors under dusty, poorly ventilated conditions. Inhaling mouldy grain dust when cleaning granaries or feeding livestock is a prime cause of res- piratory problems. The rain during the late stages of harvest this year has made conditions perfect for the development of mould spores in grain, says Armstrong. "Many farmers harvest their grain a little tough with intentions of drying it later," he says. "Some grain.may not dry completely, and there may be mould in the grain by spring when the time comes to move it. Unprotected farmers who inhale dust containing fungal spores from the mould may contract Farmers Lung." Armstrong says there are several preventative measures that farm- ers can take to reduce the risk of breathing air -borne microbes. "The first safeguard is to make sure there is good ventilation in the barn or work area," he says. "Sometimes canola oil can be added to feed grain to reduce the amount of dust. A good, close -fitting parti- cle mask that seals around the nose and mouth will filter out most harmful dust but will not remove moulds or fungi." Grain farmers are not the only ones risking respiratory problems, he says. Dangerous fungal spores are present in high levels in dry manure, especially poultry manure. - "If the manure is dry, just walking across the henhouse floor can -_ -send up a cloud of dust. -Breathing protection may be required there, too." FSAM 11 Horticulture agreemOf reached on assistance measures OTTAWA - Agriculture Minister Bill McKnight, Grains and Oil- seeds Minister.Charles Mayer and Minister of State for Agriculture Pierre Blais have confirmed the fi- nal recommendations of the Na- tional Horticulture Safety Net Committee on the allocation of the S79.8 million in emergency assis- tance to address chronic and cur- rent problems in the horticulture sector. The assistance is part of the Farm Support and Adjustment Measures (FSAM II) announced by the fedcr- goverment _ _on ,October 10. (SAM II provides transitional sup- , port to eligible producers across the country until long-term safety net programs fully kick in. Since the end of October, Agri-. culture Canada has held consulta- tions with growers and provincial governments in each province to decide on the allocation between longer-term developmental pro- grams and immediate income assis- tance, as well as on the basis for the allocation among crops. Recommendations for assistance measures in each province were re- viewed and approved by the Na- tional Horticulture Safety Net Com- mittee at its D6cernber 11-12 meeting. The committee agreed on developmental assistance and in - cane support programs as devel- oped by growers in each province, based on previously atwouneed r, provincial allocations: • Program details will be finalized by grower repre.onsatives andprov- inces ' td distributicfh procedures will din* according to each prov- ince. In ao.qe provinces, the NSA data bank will be the preferred in- strument to administer direct pay- ments to sowers. Other .provinces are in the. process of finalising oth- er_- verifiable delivery aee"r ams: - "The details of program delivery -taus been-dave1oped that f •ean- earned parties and have been ji,dited iiifisticiciry by sil," said . Skis. Income assistance will be provid- ed in two instalments. Most farmers will receive the fust instalment ear- ly in 1992, based on applications received, and the final instalment will be paid as soon as:possible af- ter April 1. Growers will be informed of key features of the programs and appli- cation deadlines by Agriculture Canada regional.offices, in cooper- alon with provincial governments and grower associations. Growers and provinces unan mously approved$300,000 out of their -FS -AM II horticulture alloca- tion for a Horticulture Pesticide In- formation Coordination and Com- munication Program to be administered by the Canadian Hor- ticultural Council. "The program will fill an impor- tant information gap on the regis- tration status of pesticides both in Canada and in the U.S. so that the competitive situation can be proper- ly assessed," said McKnight. • • CENTRALLA COLLEGE ON CAMPUS CONTINUING EDUCATION gOMPUTERS Introduction to dBase Jan. 9,16,23,30/92 7-1'0 p.m. $65. WordPerfect 5.1 Feb. 1,8,15/92 9 a.m.-4 p.m. $95. Lotus Macros Feb. 18,26/92 9 a.m.-4 p.m. $65. . Gkiwer\Pede Safety Course Jan.�18 92 9 a.m.-4 p.m. 640. BUSINESS AND PERSONAL DEVE 9PME1jT . Starting Your Own Busbies. Jan. Mbar. 4/02 (6 Weds.) 7-10 p.m. $85. A course intended for individuals interested in starting a small busi- ness or those who have just recently started one. You will be intro- duced to the theoretical, legal and practical concepts required to start a new business. Job Huntktg Skills for the Nineties Feb. 3,10,17,24/92 (4 evenings) 7-10 p.m. 1160. If you are hoeing for a job for the first time or If you are thinking of a career change, this course is for you. Topics include: resume writing, cover letters, how to conduct yourself in an interview: dress codes, body language and more. Working With People fFeb.$ 92 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. 630 Persons attending this participative,. one -day course will learn how to gain cooperation from c. workers, improve communication skills, deal with different and sometimes difficult people and make a more power- ful first impression. • EltlithrsIALMANAMMa • Farm (none Tick Upd$, Jan. 111/02 090 a.m.-4.p m: 120 A one day farm ino"ome taxese on income regulations and tax ac- counting procedures. Bring along your questions heat'. Bolo Broad Jan 22,12irt 7 p,m010:p.n. 166. At this workshop pprticipants prepare a variety of breads both sweet and a ey Fwryon. iak.s home samples. All-pfioes Mcwds AST. To register or for mon hdamWpn phone: Cantrollo College Continuing $duoatinn, 10) . , ';r • •Alle AlinWittyof AgrIcuUuri Ontario and Food onounaW HurooPark Onlada.�� 4 This corner has been saying it for lo, these many years: Few city peo- ple-haveany-idea ofwhat it's -like to farm. The cry has been heard Off and on by some urban -dwellers but rare- ly has anything concrete been dont about it. Farm meetings oftcn men- tion the abysmal ignorance encoun- tered when agriculture is talked about. Few school children are aware of where their food originates. However, a small item'in a news story caught my eye the othcr day which seems to be a splendid way for city and farm folks to get to- gethcr. The information was in a story about the annual meeting of the Christian Farmers' Federation of Ontario. This. small but very dedi- cated group of fanners was, at one time, mostly made up of people who came here from the Nether- lands. In fact, the Ontario group's exec*tive slate was once all made up of Dutch farmers. That is not the case now although the membership has a great many Dutch names in it. The CFFO has been brilliant when approaching government sometimes even more articulate and effective than the much larger On- Cario Federation of Agriculture. The news item that daught my eye quoted a Rev. Peter McKellar, a United Church minister from Mitchell, Ont. He invited members Of thc CFFO to use their own church organizations as informa- non networks to spread the story of agriculture. He mentioned a rural parish paired with one in Hamilton. About 40 families were involved in visit- ing each other's homes. The steel- workers learned about farming and the farmers learned about living in Hamilton. Sounds like a splendid idea. You can learn a great deal about another if you can even walk a few steps in his or her shoes. I have been con- vinced for years that all it takes is a little understanding and most peo- ple will sympathize with the plight of another. Some will even empa- thize. Farm organizations have been no- toriously poor over the years. Any efforkto educate -the -26 million Ca- nadians who have no idea about what goes on at a farm have been doomed to failure. Some excellent ideas have been tried, for instance, --the - agricukure in-the=clas'oom material. This is available from the federation of agriculture and can give teachers in grade school some topnotch material to use with chil- dren. I know half a dozen farmers in our area who have been asked to speak to school children in the. city. And if you think the story about pumping the tail of a brown cow to get chocolate milk is an exaggera- tion, talk to some of these school kids sometime. Most farmers feel that consumers. make unreasonable demands on ag- riculture in terms of low'pricesand chemical -free products. For farmers to revert to old-time methods of farming would be impossible. Apples would cost $2 each if old- fashioned apple growing methods were applied. Eggs would be $10 a.. dozen and beef would be $35 a pound. But if farmers are going to get a fair deal for agricultural products, the consumer in Canada is going to have to know more about farming. Educating the urban consumer on the real facts about farming and food is not an easy task but some --efforts mitt be made soon or the consumer will forget about the farmers. And that would be a sad day. Channel Master THE TV RECEPTION PROFESSIONALS Alien &abb.& ... Fuut Jn Letniuuurusst 126 Main St. THEDrORD 296-5565 • Antennas ■ Rotators ■ Accessories * Free estimates* PREHUNG STEEL DOORS - easy 10 install prehu;ni units • predrilled for lockser - 3 times the energy elnuency of wood doors great far renovation or new construction l . Better R -Value Better Insulation Watch for our 16 pg. Homme Renovator in your mail COfltralia 2284638