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The Huron Expositor, 1984-11-21, Page 18BB — THE HURON EXPOSITOR, NOVEMBER 21, 1984 FARM 1 Stabilization not discussed The recent economic statement made by Finance Minister Michael Wilson received mixed reviews from the Ontario Federation of Agriculture. OFA President Harry Pelissero said he was glad to see the government follow through on some of the commitments made to farmers during the election campaign, and to hear a guarantee that other promises would be reviewed. "But I am discouraged by the govern- ment's serious error in judgement with respect to Canagrex, and by its failure to announce plans to helpthose farmers in immediate financial diffculty," he said. "As far as farmers are concerned, the biggest shortcoming of Mr. Wilson's state - meat is that it didn't mention the highly sensitive topic of stabilization." One of the commitments Mr. Pelissero referred to, deals with federal taxes on fuels H Y used in farming. The OFA and the Canadian Federation of Agriculture have long been lobbying for a reduction or elimination of those taxes. Mr. Wilson announced that farmers would be getting a fuel tax rebate of three cents a litre, as well as a rebate on the petroleum compensation charge. 'That should go a long way in reducing farmers' input costs," Mr. Pelissero said. Another program the OFA lobbied for appeared in former -Finance Minister Marc Lalonde's Feb. budget and will now be enforced by the Conservatives. Allowing a farmer to roll-over up to $120,00 from the sale of his farm into a Registered Retirement Savings Plan, "finally acknowledges that the farmer's land is his pegsion and that he too is entitled to retirement savings." Regarding the government's move to cut Canagrex, the agency designed to promote the export of agricultural products and services, Mr. Pelissero called it short-sight- ed. Canagrex was established last year and has only become operational. "Canagrex hasn't had a chance to prove itself. Cutting Canagrex contradicts Mr. Wilson's statement that he wants to encour- age Canadian enterprise to seek out new world markets, and that his government doesn't want to act prematurely. Canagrex was set up to do just that, and would have, given time." Mr. Pelissero said that the announcement that agri-bonds, Section 31 of the Income Tax Act and capital gains would be discussed by a parliamentary committee, and that any tax. chanties made by the committee could be applied to the 1984 tax year is a good indication of the government's commitment to the consultative approach. ro hits Huron with info centres Ontario Hydro will be hitting Huron County with information centres in the next week to hear from the general public on its transmission line route study from Bruce Nuclear Power Development to London. Ontario Hydro's community relations officer Dave Abbott, said hydro planners will be on hand at the information centres from Nov. 26 to 29. Mr. Abbott said the utility doesn't have a system plan approved after the modified M3 version was thrown out of court. Ontario Hydro has now gone back to the route study stage. The centres in Huron follow a meeting on Nov. 24 between interest groups and hydro. Mr. Abbott said hydro will meet four times with the interest groups. In addition, hydro planners will meet six times with county. conservation area and other provincial ministry planners. The information centres will be held in the following locations on the following dates: Monday, Nov. 26 in Wingham at the Canadian Legion Hall; Tuesday, Nov, 27 at the Huron Community Centre in Ripley; Wednesday, Nov, 28 at the Community Centre in Clinton and Thursday, Nov, 29 at the South Huron Recreation Centre in Exeter. The centres will be open from 2 p.m. to 5 RECEIVES CROWN—Although Valerie Johnston of RR 2, Bluevale won the title of Huron Queen of the Furrow at the county match in Sept., she just recently was presented with her crown .at the annual SOUTHWESTERN ONTARIO Hydro Transmission Studies . Continue Lake Huron I Strathroy N I _-jShe Georgian Bay Lake Stmcoe Peters Comers lddlep6rt Nanticoke GS fv New Study Areas Previous Study Areas * Information Centres ■ Transformer Station (TS) 1 Areas of New Route and Site Studies Information Centre Locations: WINGHAM Canadian Legion Hall Monday November 26 RIPLEY Huron Community Centre Tuesday. November 27 PARIS 3 Main Street South Tuesday, November 27 Open to the public 2:00 p.m. to Further Information For more information please contact Mrs Laura Formusa Community Relations Department H8 -F5 Ontario Hydro 700 University Avenue Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X6 or call collect (416) 592-2016. CLINTON Community Centre and Arena Wednesday. November 28 PETER'S CORNERS Beverley Community Centre Wednesday. November 28 EXETER South Huron Recreation Centre Thursday. November 29 Ontario Hydro is continuing efforts to find acceptable routes for new transmission facilities within the shaded areas shown on the map, and has scheduled a series of information centres to bring local residents up to date on the studies. The need to expand the electrical power system in south- western Ontario remains crucial: • to provide adequate facilities to deliver power from the Bruce Nuclear Power Development (BNPD) to Ontario consumers; • to meet the growing electrical demand in southwestern Ontario to the year 2000; and • to maintain an adequate interchange of power between Ontario Hydro and electrical utilities in Michigan. Background In 1981, Ontario Hydro conducted extensive studies of alternative system plans for the expansion of the electric power system in southwestern Ontario. An environmental assessment was prepared and submitted to the Ontario ggvernment in October, 1981. Public hearings were held under the Consolidated Hearings Act early in 1982 and a plan was approved for more detailed investigation. However, on June 25, 1984, a decision by the Divisional Court of Ontario invalidated the findings of the 1982 public hearing. As a result Hydro staff are carrying out additional route and site selection studies in the areas shown on the map. This information will enable detailed comparison of a number of possible route and site locations and the sub- mission of a new environmental assessment The facilities being studied for these new areas are • a single -circuit. a double -circuit or two single -circuit 500 -kilovolt (kV) transmission lines from Bruce NPD to a new Transformer Station (TS) near London, • a 500/230 kV tran;former or switching station in the London area; • a single -circuit 500 -kV line from the London area TS to the Aberfoyle area (the corridor studied last year and centered on Highway 401 has been widened, generally between Cambridge and Brantford); and • 230 -kV transmission lines to connect the new London area TS with Hydro's existing 230 -kV system Approval of Facilities Hydro plans to Identify possible routes and transformer station sites early in 1985 This information will then be con- sidered in comparison with the routes and sites Identified in other areas of southwestern Ontario over the past two years An environmental assessment submission and public hearings are expected to follow An Important component to these studies is the information provided by the public Local residents and other groups or Individuals Interested in the study are encouraged to participate and make their views known Information Centres Hydro staff will be available at the following Information centres to discuss the studies, answer questions and receive comments Detailed maps and charts will also be available Members of the public are invited to attend one of the centres, open from 2 00 p m to 500 p m in the afternoon. and 7 00 p m to 9 00 p m in the evening OXFORD CENTRE Community Hall Thursday, November 29 ILDERTON Community Centre Monday, December 3 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. STRATHROY West Middlesex Memorial Centre Augttorium Tuesday. Dumber 4 SHEDDEN Odd Fellows Hall Thursday December 6 i County plowmen's banquet in Hensall. Miss Johnston (right) is shown with Ontario Queen of the Furrow and former Huron Queen of the Furrow, Lynne Dodds. Public hearing for farmer s and health The Ontario Task Force on Health and Safety in Agriculture, established by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food and the Ministry of Labour, is beginning a series of public hearings. The Task Force was set up in Oct, 1983 to investigate and report on the need for protection of the health and safety of farmers, farm workers and members of farm families engaged in farm work. Representatives of organizations and indi- viduals are invited to present their concerns about the health and safety of farmers and farm workers at the public hearings from Nov. 1984 to Jan. 1985, Although the task force would prefer receiving written briefs prior to the hearing, it also welcomes oral presentations. Partici- pants are asked to advise the task force of the time and the meeting they plan to attend. "The task force is particularly interested in views about the nature of occupational health and safety hazards in agriculture and where the need for protection exists," said Dr. N. Richard Richards, chairman. "It seeks information on variables in occupational health and safety experiences, including age and involvement to the industry. Suggestions about mechanisms for providing protection against health and safety hazards in farm work will also be welcomed." The hearings and briefs will provide an important input to the preparation of a report on Health and Safety in Agriculture to be published by July 1985. Further information about the hearings may be obtained by contacting the Task Force Office, (416) 963.3060. Weeds call the plays Weeds are becoming harder to control. And that situation is expected to get worse said Huron County weed inspector Joe Gibson. "The face of farming has changed from mixed farming, whereby crops and pastures etc. were rotated, to one of continuous cash cropping. We now have weeds that are far more difficult to control than we have had in the past and they are going to get worse.'' he said. He said custom operators and farmers renting land are the biggest spreaders of these weeds. A request to add weeds to the noxious list was turned down by the provincial ministry of agriculture and food. said Mr, Gibson. But the Huron County council agriculture and property committee will be introducing a model weed control bylaw which individual municipalities will have the option to adopt. Some of the weeds that are causing problems are Velvet Leaf. Proso Millet. Jerusalem Artichoke, Collsfoot, Jimson Weed. Nightshades, Nutsedge, Bedstraw. Giant Ragweed. Resistant Lamb's Quarter and Pigweed. "Weeds we never heard of five years ago are common today. A farmer will have to plan his crop rotations around what weeds he has, to be able to control them. The weeds are calling the play," said Mr. Gibson. Are your corn sales covered? The grain elevator protection program announced by Ontario Ministry of Agricul, ture and Food Minister Dennis Timbrell came into effect on October 15th and licenses have now been issued. The program is funded by a IOc per tonne levy on corn sales to dealers but not on farm to farm sales. Licensed dealers will automatic ally make the 10c' tonne deduction required. If you sell corn to a licensed dealer, and the dealer does not make payment to you within 10 days of delivery. you may make a claim to the program. Although most dealers have now been licensed under the program. new licenses are being issued every day. You will know if your dealer has been licensed, because he will have on display a license certificate issued to him. There are sales of corn and soybeans being made to non -licensed dealers. Such sales of course are not protected should the dealer default on payment. It is not a case of trusting your dealer. There are individuals and businesses in all phases of agriculture that are facing difficult economic times. Each grower must decide if he is willing the risk of non payment by sales to a non -licensed dealer.