Clinton News-Record, 1978-12-14, Page 17w-,
•
•
•
•
HFA hears
Energy concerns farmers
by Alice Gibb
Tony McQuail,
Lucknow area farmer
and the former co-
ordinator of Huron
County's Energy Con-
servation Centres, told
members of the ' Huron
Federation of Agriculture
that as crude oil goes up
in price, farmers' input
costs also increase.
The problem, Mr.
McQuail said, is that "we
in the farming industry
can't pass on these price
increases to the con-
sumers as quickly."
Mr. McQuail spoke to
federation members on
Thursday night at their
monthly meeting held in
the Clinton OMAF office.
In examining some of
the energy conservation
practices and renewable
energy options for the
farm, Mr. McQuail
pointed out farmers, as
well as the general
population, have become
heavily dependent on
non-renewable sources of
energy.
He said farmers could
face a situation where oil
supplies are exhausted,
and "we're in a crunch
situation." He said this
situation could be three
years from now or it
might not be for 25 years.
He pointed out farmers
once depended on the sun,
their own labor, and
organic fertilizer to
produce crops. He said
"More energy was
produced from the crops
than labor was put into
the system by the far-
mer."
Today, however,
farmers depend on non-
renewal resources to
provide fuel for their
farm machinery, and
petro -chemical
derivatives are used , in
both fertilizer and
pesticides.
Mr. McQuail said
farmers should look at
their own ' personal
system of energy use on
the farm and then
examine "what options
are open to us."
h
Two such sources Mr.
McQuail suggested were
using windmills to pump
water and using wood -
heated boilers to provide
heat, using wood from the
farm woodlot.
He said as the danger of
exhausting non-
renewable energy
resources comes nearer,
scientists and others are
becoming more practical
in their experiments with
alternative forms or
energy.
-He said experiments
are being carried out to
fuel tractors with alcohol
from crop residues and
others are experimenting
with methane gases
produced from manure.
Mr. McQuail said it's
time to try to in-
terconnect systems on
the farm again. For
example, an operation
which requires heat can
passively collect solar
heat from the sun on
sunny days. This can be
backed up with a wood -
fired boiler 'system to
supplement the sun's
heat or fuel oil can be
burned in a generator,
rather than a boiler to
produce electricity.
Mr. McQuail said
enough electricity could
be produced, it could be
sold to Ontario Hydro.
The secret of con-
serving energy, Mr.
McQuail said, "is to try
and make use of waste
from any one system as
an input in another
system."
Following Mr.
McQuail's speech,
audience members
discussed whether
methane gas could be
produced in septic tank
systems and how to use
generators in a home
heating system.
In other business,
federation members
e sal
Finally, d,,
"Farmers should
evaluate how you can get
from where you are today
to where you'd like to be
down the line."
Mr. McQuail said
agriculture is presently
in a very vulnerable
position with its depen-
dence on crude oil energy
resources.
He suggested some
ways farmers can con-
serve energy in their
operations is to match
machinery to the work
it's required to do, to
insulate farm buildings
properly, utilize natural
ventilation and consider
using alternative energy
sources in the farm
operation.
approved a resolution
submitted by the Grey
Township Federation
The resolution asked
that Farm and Country,
the OFA monthly
newspaper, be asked to
publish the Chicago live
hog futures in their
paper, since daily papers
have stopped carrying
the reports.
Carl Hemmingway, a
Brussels area farmer,
said he had always found
the Chicago fiftures a
reliable guide in his hog
operation.
Delegates who had
attended the recent OFA
convention in Hamilton
also reported on the
results of the convention.
OFA president Peter
Hannam was acclaimed
to office, with Ralph
Barrie, A Lanark County
farmer elected first vice-
president and Ron White,
a Middlesex County dairy
farmer, elected second
vice-president.
HPA delegate Bill
Pullen reported that the
1978 budget for OFA
activities was $1.18
million.
In response to a
member's question, he
said the federation didn't
lose money this year,
since they are putting
money in a reserve fund
annually. The • reserve
fund now stands at
$440,000 and the goal is to
build the fund to $1/2
million.
Mr. Pullen said the
OFA is budgeting to
break even in the coming
year, and this accounts
for the increase in the
OFA membership fee.
Membership fees in the
organization will in-
crease from $35 annually
oto $50 annually in 1979,
with a $5 a year reduction
for those who
automatically renew
Seed men
Huron County was well represented at the recent
Ontario Pedigreed Section annual meeting in
London recently. Left to right are Ivan McClymont
of Varna, Russell Bolton of RR 1, Seaforth, Mae
Stewart and Art Bolton of Dublin.
news farm news
L'rop insurance pay out
$1 million to
The amount of crop
insurance paid out to
Ontario white bean
farmers for the 1978 crop
will be close to one
million dollars, but, a far
cry from 1977. 1kt
At the recent annual
meeting of the Huron
County division of the
Ontario Bean Producers
Marketing Board, Crop
Insurance Commissioner
Art Bolton said 452 claims
had been paid up to
November 28 to a total of
$916,811.
Bolton said "A few
First swine program
)
-farm 'worker -training
program begins January
8 at the Centralia College
of Agricultural
Technology.
The 15 -week course is
designed to fill the need
for workers in the
province's fast-growing
pork production industry,
says Doug McRae, of
Centralia College.
"Swine operations are
becoming larger and
more specialized," he
says. "Farmers are
finding they can no longer
rely solely on family
help."
Trainees will study all
aspects of swine work
including breeding,
feeding and care of
animals, ---equip-me-nt
maintenance, and other
related subjects.
The course includes
"five weeks of classroom
instruction conducted by
college staff, local pork
producers, and
agribusiness represen-
tatives. Ten weeks of the
program is on-farm
training conducted by
selected farmer -trainers
throughout southwestern
Ontario.
Successful trainees will
receive a certificate, and
will be assisted in finding
employment by the
Canada Farm Labor
Pool. Interviews with
41st Farmer's Week set
The 41st annual South-
western Ontario _Far-
mers' Week will have
something for everyone.
The conference,
January 8 to 12, will be
held at the Ridgetown
College of Agriculture
Technology to supply
farmers with updated
information on
developments and
research in agriculture.
The program is
sponsored by Ridgetown
College, the Ontario
Ministry of Agriculture
and Food, and several
county commodity
groups.
Six different programs
will be offered. Morning
sessions begin at 10 a.m.,
and afternoon sessions
start at 2 p.m. A featured
speaker is scheduled at
1.15 p.m. daily.
The first day of the
conference focuses on
soybeans and cereals.
This program deals with
production, marketing,
and land management.
The ladies' day
program and farm
management , program
are scheduled for
Januar ' 9. The farm
management program
featth s
Crocker, University of
Windsor, speaking on
stress,, and the farm
fatf%ilyy
luring the " corn and
field 'beans program on
.ianuary 10, speakers will
discuss weed and disease
prablenis, and
martaPitterit.practices;
The livestock program,
scheduled for January 11,
will be divided into
separate' sessions for
dairy, beef, and sheep
producers. The featured
speaker will be Charles
Gracey, manager of the
,Canadian Cattlemen's
Association.
The final program of
the week, geared to
vegetable producers, will
include sessions on peas,
prospective employers
will be held at the'end of
the program.
The program is funded
by the Canada
Employment 'and
Immigration Com-
mission, in cooperation
with the Centralia
College of Agricultural
Technology. Trainees
will receive the usual
Canada Manpower
training allowance
during the course.
For more information
about the course, contact
your nearest Canada
Farm Labor Pool office,
Canada Employment
Centre, or call 'Centralia
College (519) 228-6691.
sweet corn, beans, cole
crops, and tomatoes.
For more, information
about farmers' week,
contact R.W. Johnston,
Ridgetown College of
Agricultural Technology,
bean growers
more claims are waiting
to be processed which
could bring the final
figure to just under one
million."
The insurance
representative said 1,774
farmers contracted for
white bean crop in-
surance this year. This
was an increase of 80
contracts over 1970.
The total acreage in-
sured this year was'98,887
for a total value of
$12,249,000.
Income for the
Insurance Commission
$1,312,000 with one-half
coming through farmer
premiums and the other
from government sub-
sidies.
This shows a small
profit for 1978 and Bolton
added, "This slight
margin helps a little to
make up for the 1977 crop
disaster."
Mr. Bolton said in 1977
1,346 claims were paid for
a total in excess of nine
million dollars, out of
1,694 crops ensured.
Mr, Bolton said he
expected premium rates
for 1979 would be $5.56,
$6.45 and $7.35, respec-
tively per acre according
to the option taken.
ORDERYOUR'
CHRISTMAS FOWL
` .... NOW!
CLINTON NEWS -RECORD, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1978—PAGE 17
Hill uam:ed: to board
Former Ontario
Federation of Agriculture
president Gordon Hill is
back on the board of
directors of the Ontario
Bean Producers
Marketing Board.
Hill who was a member
of the board of directors
for two years in the 1960s
was elected at the annual
meeting for Huron
(District 5) held at the
Hensall arena.
Three current mem-
ber of the board were re-
elected. They are Bob
Allan, Joe Miller and
Murray Cardiff. Defeated
in an election bid was
Stephen township farmer
Glenn Miller. Hill
replaces Glenn Ha/ter on
the board.
Nine members are on
the overall board of
directors. Four come
from Huron and one each
from Middlesex, Lam-
bton, Perth, Elgin and
Kent. Frank Vanneste
represents Middlesex
At the same meeting,
the 12 Huron com-
mitteemen were named.
They are Larry
Wheatley, Jack Coleman,
Victor Hartman, Cecil
Desjardine, Bill Dowson,
Murray Dennis, Glenn
Miller, Don Moyland, Bev
Hill, Ken McCowan,
Robert Anderson and 8111
McGregor.
Nick Whyte, a member
of the 1977 committee did
not stand for re-election
as he was recently named
to the board of directors
of the Ontario Bean
Producers Co-operative.
THE SEPARATE SHOPPE.
W MAIN CORNER CLINTON PHONE 482-7778
(NEXT TO CAMPBELL'S MEN'S WEAR)
SALE
,.,
DRESSES -SUITS -BLOUSES
OPEN 1-6
SWEATERS -SKIRTS
OPEN 1-6
XfsizozawsyssamyttAmymmrsAyaamorsslamtsztmrszetwesiciA
All Our
WINTER WEAR
Including
HATS - MITTS - BOOTS
SNOWSUIT - AND
SNOWMOBILE SUITS
All Grade "A"
g
W. GEESE
DUCKS
w Capon
CHICKENS
1
g
Season's
Greetings
To All!
CLINTON
MEAT MARKET
GRANT IRWIN
16 King Street Phone 482-3834 M
h x565 ?63WA3tAz 3 x 4x'Z5Zix x fez '.. 65MAz Y x�E
of high efficiency Carmor stoves including the Car-
mor/Fireplace with Vycor glass doors all at low Hensall
Co-op prices.
INSULATED
WORK BOOTS
SPECIALLY PRICED AT
$39," & $4995
3 .110
• SNOWMOBILE
BOOTS AND
SUITS
• WORK
CLOTHING
• TOBOGGANS
OpERATivE Hensall Brucefi�ld
236.4393 262-3002 462.9823
4
•
6
•
o •
.r•
•
Special
Purchase!
Over 250 garments, by
MR. TONT or
WHITE STAG
Sweaters - Blouses - Skirts
Pants - Vests - or Jackets
In many assorted sizes - All First Quality
%` c ACYO
•
TO
OFF
Manufacturer's Suggested
Retell Prices
•
s
(5
•
i
0*
.
•
•
•
v
0
0
master charge
i
CHARGEX
VISA
6
CHRISTMAS
HOURS
open
Monday - Saturday
10 a.m.'. 9 p.m.
Open Sunday
12 noon - 6 p.m.
0
• •
A
Snack
Specials!
• FROM HOSTESS
choose from
Assorted Chips
Pretzels
• Crunchies
Tortillas
0
•
UP TO
0
OFF
VANASTRA
FACTORY
OUTLET
Highway 4 Sr,vlt, .,t
"The Store that Saves You More'
611
MIN { - BOY'S' - IADI!!' - 61M1! a
DAISY MAI - ♦ARD GOOD! -
'OWINO MACHIN!! - POUND 00001 -
'riloclirl!!
NEW STORE HOURS:;
Monday • Sofurdey,111o.m. • t p.m.
Sunday 12 noon • 6 p.m.
of v onostro