Times Advocate, 1994-7-6, Page 10Page 10 Times -Advocate, July 6,1994
FARM LLPDATF
Cash advances on crops
Strawberry fields forever
Though Strawberry season Is almost over, Shane Dougall, left and his Toronto cousin
Matthew Miller are enjoying the last few berries at Dougall Farms. The two boys are
spending a weeks vacation together on Dougall's farm.
One Foot in the Furr�
By Bob Trotter
Weather always i topic of conversation
"I have counted 136 different
kinds of weather inside of 24
hours."
Sam Clemens said it and he
was talking about New England
weather. He might as well have
been talking about most of Can-
ada.
To most of us who have to
walk from the parking lot to
work, weather can be a nui-
sance, a momentary thing that
causes our freshly -laundered
shirts to dampen or point out the
need for a jacket or even a win-
ter coat. Or that we forgot the
brolly.
Because weather across this
country is so fickle, it is always
a topic of conversation. It
breaks the ice at a restaurant bar
or when strangers are intro-
duced. Weather also gets
blamed for some of the ills that
beset mankind. Warm weather -
- hot and humid -- brings
strokes. Heavy snow shovelling
causes heart attacks. Pollen in
spring and surpmnr-a fall
causes runny noses, hea hes,
heartaches. You name it. ath-
er gets blamed.
Canadians, because we have
so much of it, are great weather
watchers and talkers.
For most of us -- there are
some exceptions, of course --
the weather, whether good or
had, is not much more tha a�
topic of conversation.
Not so for farmers.
Many of ussuffered during
last month's week-long heat
wave. We sweat buckets, turned
up the air -conditioners, fanned
ourselves and said to our neigh-
bours: "Hot enough for you?"
But my chicken farmer friend
could have been ruined finan-
cially during that hot spell. Of
40,000 chicks in his barns, he
lost almost 10,000 because they
succumbed to the heat. In fact,
this year so far has been one of
the worst for chicken farmers
and the summer has only begun.
Last month's heat wave was
not predicted to last along as it
did. It came on suddenly and set
records. It was estimated that
farmers in southwestern Ontario
lost 400,000 birds which trans-
lates into more than $800,000
during the middle of the heat
My friend friend had insurance so his
financial loss was not devastat-
ing but he spent several very
stressful days as did a great
many producers.
Even when barns are properly
ventilated, prolonged and severe
hot weather can kill birds. A
power outage can be just as dev-
astating. One thunderstorm dur-
ing a heat wave can cut off hy-
dro. Without hydro, fans stop
turning. Air gets hotter. Birds
succumb to the heat.
And those "thunder" storms,
because they are so unpredicta-
ble, can also cause great prob-
lems on the farm. Just touch of
hail can decimate a corn crop,
especially in June and early
July. High winds can cause
lodging so bad in ripening grain
that it is almost impossible to
harvest. Heavy downpours of
rain can do the same thing.
So, although it may just be
conversation to most of the rest
of the world, weather can make
or break a farmer.
A tyrkey farmer told me a few
weeks ago that a power outage
of more than 15 or 20 minutes
could cause the death of an en-
tire barn full of turkeys. Fifteen
minutes? I know power black-
outs these days are usually fixed
quickly, I would be in terrible
shape if I had birds in the barn
and the lights flickered. My
nails would be bitten to the
quick.
People in the city get annoyed
when the power fails because
they have to reset the clocks,
perhaps their computers, and
maybe the television remote
control and the microwave
oven.
But next time the weather
causes you to be late for work
because the alarm clock did not
erupt on time, think of the poor
farmers who could face tremen-
dous financial setbacks because
of the weather and have a little
sigh of relief for yourself while
saying a little prayer for Old
MacDonald.
Harris promises
to repeal Bill 91
The new farm labour legislation
will be gone if the Conservatives
win the next Ontario election
. insists the party leader
TORONTO - If the provincial Conservatives form the next gov-
ernment of Ontario, they vow they will repeal a new farm labour
bill.
Bill 91 was opposed by the PC caucus, which also trial to have
the legislation amended. However, the bill was approved by the
NDP majority at Queen's Park.
The bill will allow union membership and bargaining on even the
smallest Ontario farms.
Perhaps the most vocal opponents to the bill was the lobby group,
-Ontarians for Responsible Government. The ORG also accused
farm groups such as the Ontario Federation of Agriculture and
Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario of failing to continue their
opposition to the bill, particularly after stable funding legislation
made farm membership in the groups mandatory.
PC leader Mike Harris said his party continued its fight ainst the
bill right to the end of the debate. 'a
"I think it's absolutely shameful that the government has chosen to
deny our farmers their democratic right to have direct input on this
legislation," said Harris in a release from his office.
Harris repeated his party's vow to repeal Bill 91, should the Con\
servatives form the next provincial government.
"This is a law that no one in the agricultural sector asked for. It
will see the unionization of our family farms. It will put entire crops
at risk from labour sjowdowns and other disruptions. It will lead to
higher production colts and ultimately higher prices for consumers,"
said Harris.
"But one thing it will not do is remain on the books after the elec-
tion of a Harris government," he promised.
once again interest-free
Liberals make good on election promise to drop interest
OTTAWA - Both Huron-Bruc9
and London -Middlesex MPs ark
Praising the extension of the federal
Cash Flow Enhancement Program
(CFEP) for farmers for the next two
years.
"Local farmers will be extremely
happy, especially regarding the res-
toration of the interest-free pro-
vision of the program," said Huron -
Bruce MP Paul Steckle in a release
from his office. "This initiative en-
joys wide support from farming
groups both inside and outside of
the riding."
Steckle said he has long been a
supporter of the prograrn, and said
he will work towards the inclusion
of interest-free advance payments
in any future whole farm safety net
program.
London -Middlesex MP Pat
O'Brien also applauded the exten-
sion of the program, which was an-
nounced Wednesday by Ag-
riculture and Agri -food Minister
Ralph Goodale in Ottawa.
The Prairie Grain Advance Pay-
ments Act and the Advance Pay-
ments for Crops Act have his-
torically provided the legislative
authority for the federal govern-
ment to mak cash advances to
farmers on crow they have pro-
duced, but n¢t yet/ sold. Once the
crops are sold, thd' advances are re-
paid. The advances allow farmers
to better manage their.cash flow sit-
uations while waiting for good de-
livery opportunities and avoiding
having to dump their crops onto the
market at inopportune times.
Between 1989 and 1993, full or
partial interest was charged on the
advances, but election promises
made by the Liberals said they
would make the advances interest-
free once again. This applies to
amounts up to $50,000 and for a
period of not more than 12 months.
On advances over $50,000, pro-
ducers will pay interest charges at a
rate established by the delivery or-
ganization. There are about 50
such organizations providing ad-
vances across Canada.
The government says it will also
strengthen the overall administra-
`JCue �lV�
/yfo✓O- , ee moire
afM
Pamnnvarnon;.
mot'!
tion of the system to reduce default
rates and save costs. Spot bin in-
spections will be used to ensure
farmers are repaying advances as
grain is sold.
"Cash advances are important to
the marketing of crops grown in
Middlesex County," said O'Brien
through his London office. "1 am
pleased that the extension of this
program Witt assist farming com-
munities in London -Middlesex and
across the country."
In 1993-94 crop year 51,000
fanners made use of advances
worth about S1 Killion.
•
Jitx &t uEVCII CZAR rV
PORK nroouc er A114O0AEION
VALVE 1040 ,NTdTCN I011l•
12th Annual Pork Bar -B -Q
Poplar Hill Park (Cty. Rd. 16 & Hwy. 22)
tars., July 14, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Featurin Black Door Theatre, Door Prizes, laffGuard Clowns
Adult - $8 advance ;(f Tuly 11), $10 at the door. Children 6 to 12 years - $3. Tickets
available: ONIAF office, 434.6811; Scott's Elevators Don O'Neil 2274508 40
CAPACITY
,_,.....-.....,-
1,,,,.., ........
I,V !Eh r,oL-:ra
_ /11)......, \ \ ....z.
ii
I._ l
�■lit�n;
`-,{ •114 IP EIW,u�a.,11,,111.10:43;711.11ttl"il' • t �-- .; `/NIS
°ibliaikis.Viti11
iht /e rr ' \'� _"�� �•
jam` ,_.
hlltild7 . �J :
.n..i..... 1TSN nri.K i. a,H.�•: 'g40. -
GET A
DEMONSTRATION!
See a New Holland Twin Rotor- combine gob-
ble up the crop faster than any other combine.
See the undamaged, trash -free grain in the tank.
See for yourself why TR'" combines are the
leaders in Total Harvesting Capacity. See us for
a demonstration!
Reminder... Daily parts drop off in Exeter and area.
After hours call Al, 235-3206
LOGAN FORD
Tractor Sales Ltd.
Hwy?&Hwy19
st. Marys 284-1778
FORD
NEW HOLLAND
ATV MOUNTED
WICK WEEDER
Let W.G. Thompson and Sons help keep your fields
clean by eliminating your milkweed problems
Call us today
Sestorth Mensal! 1Mltohell Allsa Craig Granton Pt. Albert
345-2545 262.2627 348-8433 203-3223 225-2360 520-7901
4