The Goderich Signal-Star, 1986-04-30, Page 7qb
re
Farm News
Far
ers voice t
Organizations representing the rural
population of Huron County had their an-
nual opportunity to present their concerns
to area parliamentarians recently.
Member organizations of the Huron
County Federatjon',of Agriculture Affilia-
tion and Commodity Groups met in Clinton
on April 12, to present briefs and discuss
issues with Provincial Agriculture
Minister Jack Riddell, Provincial Health
Minister Muiray Elston and MP for
Huron -Bruce Murray Cardiff. Topics rang-
ing from free trade to foodland preserva-
tion were discussed during the afternoon -
long session.
The following is a synopsis of the briefs
presented by the various agriculturally -
oriented groups.
HURON COUNTY PORK PRODUCERS
HCPP President Wayne Fear expressed
optimism for the future of hog production,
both in Huron County and at a nation-wide
level, in his brief to the meeting.
"This optimism is shown clearly M that
Huron hog producers,in line with those of
the province in general, consistently reject
a quota system for ,hogs. We feel the
government should put more funds into
pork promotion instead," said Fear.
He also commended the government for
its strong stand in favor of tri -partite \ other protein foods which do require con -
stabilization, which puts a floor under siderable help from the government," he
whim
"If government is worried about high
quota values, the solution is in their hands.
If prosperity was re-established in other
segments of agriculture, the pressure
would quickly come off quota values," he
concluded.
HURON COUNTY MILK COMMITTEE
Milk producers too, are "very lucky to
be in a supply management situation,"
said Kenneth Ramsey, vice=chairman of
the Huron County Milk Committee. Supply
management helps to offzet the cost of
high wages, interest, hydro and veterinary
services, he said.
Ramsey expressed concern over what he
termed "false advertisement,' of non-dairy
products, such a margarine.
"Another of my personal concern is the
way we have gotten dropped from ROP
(Record of Performance). Another was
losing the drug chloramychicol, which was
eir concerns
Rather than restricting severances,
Fear proposed the government strengthen
"right to farm" legislation, giving farmers
absolute priority in zones declared
agricultural.
Pork producers "have no fear," of freer
trade with the United States, said Fear,
adding it is "imperative for Canadian
agriculture to be part of the trade negotia-
tions." with the USA.
HURON COUNTY EGG PRODUCERS
William Scott, Huron County director for
the Ontario Egg Producers' Marketing
Board, emphasized the advantages of the
supply, management system now in place
in the egg industry and said reports that
supply management is "on the table," in
Canada -USA trade negotiations are mak-
ing egg producers nervous.
"Supply management provides a fair
return to the producers. Egg producers re-
quire no income subsidy from the govern-
ment. Insufficient egg producers are able
to get out of egg production and develop "
another part of ,the farming operation.
Egg producers are able to pay their bills
and replace outdated equipment on in-
come derived completely from the
marketplace, said Scott.
"They do this and still compete with
losses without infringing on anyone's
rights to either participate or abstain, or to
begin a new hog enterprise. However, he
did express concern about the present
financial climate for hog producers.
"Margins are small and only the best
will survive. Those in the most difficult
financial position are generally the new
producers, those who started less than 10
years ago," Fear said.
He also expressed concern about the ef-
fect of foodland guidelines on the
producers.
"These guidlines work as much against
the farmers as for them. The new farmer
may be only able to build to a certain size.
A dwelling may have been built at the pro-
scribed distance while the farm build-up
went on, and when a certain number of
animal units has been reached the farmer
is prevented from building up to a prac-
tical operation," he said.
the best and cheapest product we had for,
dairy cattle, and another is all this talk of
free trade, and what it might do to dairy,
and farming in general, as well as farm-
refated jobs," he said.
WASTE DISPOSAL
The complicated and costly procedure
for the selection of waste disposal sites,
was the major concern of Turnberry
Township Waste Disposal Committee
Chairman Doug Fortune.
He outlined Turnberry's difficulties.
"In Turnberry, we raise about $180,0001
in taxes for Township use. We have been
told we should expect to pay anywhere
from $50,000, one-third of our budget, to
$500,000, two and three-quarter times our
total budget, to establish a site," Fortune
stated. Consultants have told the township
the cost is so high partly because there are
no clear guidelines as to how studies must
be done, "thus creating confusion and
wasted effort," he said.
Fortune called for the government to
establish clear guidelines on the subject of
waste management studies and also for
financial assistance for smaller
municipalities needing to establish sites.
HURON CATTLEMEN
The Huron Cattlemen's Association
plated preservation of prime farmland as
their number one priority, in a brief
presented by association President Ron
-Bennett. therefore, the association is op-
posed to the proposed construction of a 500
KV transmission line in the Lruce to Lon-
don power corridor, Bennett explained.
"Increased emphasis 'on conservation
and alternative generation is the only ra-
tional way to proceed," he said.
On the topic of farm debt, the association
proposed the implementation of a 60 -day
"stay period". This would mean a farmer
could ask for all action by creditors to be
put on hold for 60 days, while a committee
of financial and farming experts help the
farmer negotiate a package the creditors
can accept.
"All farmers in financial difficulty
should have access to this procedure,"
said Bennett.
From the cattlemen's point of view, the
idea of free trade with the USA is an at-
tractive one, according to the brief.
Area farmers oppose transmission route
By Alan Rivett
CLINTON - The Hydro hearings resumed
on April 18 with seven submissions to the
Consolidated Hearing Board against the
proposed hydro route through Huron
County.
The hearings commenced in Clinton on
April 15 with the first three days devoted to
testimony from the members of the Hydro
system planning team who outlined the
route selection, environmental and
agricultural considerations, and route com-
parisons.
Later in day three of the hearings (April
17) the Foodland Hydro Committee, con-
sisting of landowners in Huron, Bruce and
Middlesex Counties opposed to the 500 kv
transmission lines through prime farmland,
began giving submissions to the hearing
board.
Evert Ridder, the owner df hog and cash
erop operation in Goderich Township,
represented the township's 120 members of
the Foodland Hydro Committee at the hear-
ing. He suggested to Hydro to place more
emphasis on power conservation rather
than expansion. As an example, he has cut
the power requirement in his barns by 30 per
cent by using a lower wattage florescent
lightbulb.
Farmers could be placed in a bad situa-
tion during harvesting season if an accident
occurred with the hydro towers, he said. A
delay in getting parts could cause a farmer
to lose all or part of his crop. To avoid ac-
cidents with towers, he asked hydro if
florescent reflectors on the towers visible to
farmers working at night.
As for compensation for establishing
towers on farmland, he recommended
Hydro lease the land on a yearly basis using
a formula tied to inflation which also takes
into account time loss and other inconve-
niences with working around the towers: He
provided Hydro with a detailed cost
breakdown for farmers using land with
hydro towers.
He. also recommended if the Hydro line
was established, an independent arbitration
body should be set up to deal with any unfor-
seen problems in the fields when erecting
the towers.
peter Schuettel, a Colborne Township
farmer formerly of Switzerland, gave the
hearing board some insight into the Euro-
pean style of hydro line planning.
With the use of slides, he showed a Hydro
route in Switzerland which runs along the
main highway from Zurich to Bern. He
pointed out that 250 to 300 foot hydro towers
were used to go overtop of forest land.
There, forests are not allowed to be cut
down to erect a hydro line.
R. Ward Rodman, of the hearings board,
See ea at tile Vleadel4 7fade9eat
MAY 2-3-4
SALES -SERVICE -INSTALLATION
Dashwood Window and Door., Centres offer:
• wide selection of vinyl clad & wood windows
• easy shopping convenience
• FREE Estimates
• expert installation by Dashwood trained
technicians
j
• warranty
• after-sales service
ALL AT ONE CONVENIENT LOCATION
dBDASHWOOD
WINDOW AND DOOR CENTRE
1196 Wallace Ave. N.,
SPECIALTRADEFEST PRICES FOR
Listowel
WINDOWS AND DOORS John VIP. McDonald, Manager
Home Telephone 8879542
en PRI IMP
dam.
MN in in
‘"t141111111110
291-1 61 2.
WATCH FOR OUR GRAND.OPENING IN M
GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, WEDNESDAY, APRIL , 30, 1986 - PAGE 7
Mother's Day
TIMEX WATCHES
1.IIAodel No.10111 $24.99
2. Model No. 44517 $39.99
3. Model No. 50657 $54.99
Many More Styles To Choose From
asked the hydro representatives to arrange
for someone from Ontario Hydro to give
evidence regarding these types of towers
which could span the top of woodlots. Hydro
lawyer Bruce Campbell said a•hydro official
will be aranged to testify before the end of
the Clinton hearings..
Mr. Schuettel also suggested Hydro place
their transmission route along Highway`401
where it would affect the least amount of
farmland. A line here would also bring
power to the larger centres and could con-
nect with the Darlington nuclear plant.
Hullett Township Reeve Tom
Cunningham was one of five who gave sub-
missions ,to the hearings board on day seven
of the hydro hearings do April 23.
Although Hullett Township is opposed to
the •propdsed hydro route • through Huron
County; Mr. Cunningham said if the route is
approved by the board, farmers should be
fairly compensated for their land and for the
inconveniences connected with the hydro
towers.
Mr. Cunningham recommended Hydro
consider property easements as opposed to
outright purchase as this would create
severances and their inherent problems for
the municipality and landowners. As for
compensation to the farmer, he suggested
an initial payment to the farmer should
Turn to page 8 •
LlmIt•d
TlmS
OII•rl
New Stylist
ESUPR.
PERM
C 1 AL
sPE
48 East St., Goderich
524.4781
GODERICH
524-6901
(Any Style)
inja
•ACORN KITCHENS
•PORT ELGIN KITCHENS
•WINDOW SALES & CONSTRUCTION
•BRAND NAME FLOORING & CERAMIC TILES
9L'00��ncSa.xo�n�9
CONTRACT SALES & INSTALLATIONS
Serving you the retail customer as well as the con-
tractor, with all your flooring, kitchen cabinets and
ceramic tile needs.
Your Hosts, Terry & Heather
McClinchey areotooking forward
to serving you.
axon oow.�n
u � O. 9
f
CONTRACT SALES & INSTALLATIONS
Broadloom • Linoleums • Ceramics • Cabinets • Windows
Dungannon, Ontario
529-3147
Would You Like Your Car
To Look Like This....
Pictured Above A 1985 Buick Riviera
Cadill,ac•Buick Century• Buick Regal
Buick Riviera•Chev Celebrity•Chev Monte Carlo
Olds Ciera •Olds Cutlass •Olds Toronado
Pontiac Grand Prix•Pontiac 6000
$ 1,000. Painted & Installed
} !g
PONTIC BUICK CADILLAC
GMC TRUCKS
37 HAMILTON ST. GODERICH
TOLL FREE 1.800465-5507 5244391