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Check-off fee reduced 5 cents The check-off fee for the Livestock Financial Protection Fund has been reduced to five cents per head, and buyer con- tributions have been eliminated, Ontario Minister of Agriculture and Food, Jack Riddell announc- ed April 17. "This additional reduction in fees, which went into effect April 4, is the result of a continuing ef- fort by the industry to streamline operations and still provide reasonable, low-cost protection to producers," Riddell said. When the fund was established - in 1982, both buyers and sellers contributed. Fees have been slashed from an original level of 20 cents for each party involved in the transaction, to 10 cents when the fund reached $2 million in 1984, down to five cents per head announced today. The Ontario Beef Cattle Finan- cial Protection Program created the fund, designed to compensate sellers in case of non-payment by a licensed dealer. The fund is established through deductions on sales of slaughter cattle or cattle and calves that require further feeding. At the end of the 1989 fiscal year, there was more than $4 million in the fund. The Financial Protection Fund Board, which administers the fund, investigates and ad- judicates claims and has approv- ed 116 claims, worth over $1.5 million, since the program started. "These payments in- dicate the importance of this self- financing program to Ontario pro- ducers," Riddell said. * The board has also recovered nearly $580,000 from defaulting dealers since the program began. The Financial Protection Fund Board is made up of represen- tatives from the Ontario Cat- tlemen's Association, Canadian Meat Packers Council, Ontario Livestock Auction Market Association, the Toronto Livestock Exchange and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food. By law, all beef cattle buyers are required to have a licence. License holders must demontrate financial responsibility and pay promptly for cattle purchases. Approximately 485 dealers are licensed yearly. Producers should sell only to licensed dealers and cash cheques within five banking days of receiving them. If there is any doubt about whether a dealer is licensed or if payment has not been received, sellers are advised to call the Livestock Commissioner, collect, at (416) 326-3554. Fraud by phone Residents in a number of areas of the province have recently been subjected to misleading or fraudulent telephone solicitations, and the Ontario Provincial Police would like to alert citizens to the common elements of many of these schemes. Typically, these telephone solicitors advise people they have won a prize, or have an "oppor- tunity" to do so. Usually there is some purchase to be made before the prize can be collected. The caller suggests that payment for the product or service being pur- chased be made by credit card, and asks for a credit card number. Once the number is iven, the customer is immediate- By charged the agreed-upon amount. . "The majority of these types of telephone solicitations are design- ed to mislead potential customers - to make them believe they're go- ing to get something at a much better price than anywhere else," said Insp. Ken Christopherson of the OPP's anti-rackets branch. "The value or -nature of the prize, or the requirements for claiming it, may be misrepresented," said Christopherson. 'What you think , you heard and what was actually said may be two different things, but even if what you heard was exactly what was said, it's dif- ficult to prove misrepresentation."' A customer's first indication of a problem may be his or her credit card statement. Persons who believe they've purchased a bargain holiday from a so-called "travel agent," for example, may find their credit card statement indicates the money went to a restaurant, car rental agency or some other business. This is pro- bable because the telephone solicitor has no arrangement with a credit card company, and is us- ing an imprinting machine belonging to some other business to process orders. "By the time you get your credit statement and realize something is wrong, it's too late," Christopherson said. "The money is gone." These telephone scams usually involve no more than a few hun- dred dollars each, but throughout North America, it's estimated they bring in hundreds of millions of dollars a year. ° "There are two key rules to remember when dealing with telephone solicitors,' Christopherson said. "Never ' reveal your credit card number over the phone, and if it sounds I Loon to be true, it probably Custodians agree fo new contract The Negotiating Committees for the Durham Board of Educa- tion and CUPE - Custodial/- Maintenance have ratified a two- year agreement, effective April 1, 1989 to March 31, 1991. Custodians and maintenance workers will receive a 4.5 wage in- crease in each of the two years of the contract, along with a special one-time market adjustment of 3 percent in the first year and 2 per- cent in the second year to bring salaries in line with others in the - Region. On May 1, 1989, a vision care allowance of $150. in any 24 month period and the 1988 O.D.A. schedule of fees will become ef- fective. On April 1, 1990, the 1989 0.D.A. schedule of fees and or- thodontics coverage will become effective. : The contract will represent an increased cost to the Board of $797,056. or 7.18 percent in the first year and $761,268. or 6.40 percent in the second year. - ception Allan Howell, of Hub International Equipment, Brooklin was recently recognized by J. I. Case Co for achieving outstanding parts sales results In 1988. This recognition came to only the top 20 dealer parts managers in North America out of a group of over 2,000. In ad- dition to achieving these sales results and customer service, Allan had to pass a series of written exams relating to the parts products sold at the dealership. Hub International in Brooklin Is very proud to have received this kind of recognition. Allen Howell stated he looks forward to improving the dealership's ability to better serve customer needs. Mr. Howell is in photo at right. Others from left are Rich Christman, senior VP, Case; Cole, regional sales maanger; Chris Kel ry parts manager. Doug ly, regional sales manager and Denis Dion, territo- Agri Federation ends Cattlemens membership The Ontario Cattlemen's Association (OCA) has been notified that it no longer holds membership in the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA). The termination of membership stems from an OFA request in mid 1988 that OCA pay a member- ship fee of $26,000. The OCA Board referred the re- quest to the 1989 Annual meeting and asked that all county/district Cattlemen's Associations seek Klara Barbara Balling entered into rest peacefully, after a 7 year struggle with Parkinson Disease, at the Community Memorial Hospital on March 12, 1989. Klara Balling was born Nov. 22 1922, one of 3 children, of Therese and Max Hupmann of Heidingsfeld, West Germany. Klara was always a keen "A" stu- dent, aspired of becoming a teacher, but priority however was to work on the family farm. In June of 1949, Klara married Ferdinand (Fred) Balling and continued to farm in Germany. Together they immigrated to Canada (Ringwood, Ont.) June, 1958, with 4 children under 8 years of age, to begin a new life. In 1965, the family moved to Seagrave, where Klara, along with Fred, realized a dream of owning their own farm. Klara was a devoted loving mother and wife. She was an ac- tive member of Immaculate Con- Church, Catholic Women's League and was ga producer input at their respective annual meetings in January and early February. 'Delegates to the OCA Annual Meeting in February set aside the resolution proposing that a membership fee of $26,000 be paid and in its place debated and ap- proved a resolution that member- ship in OFA be continued and a membership fee to be negotiated at a level "satisfactory to both organizations." Klara Barbara Balling strong supporter of R.C. Educa- tion for Port Perry. She was a volunteer at the Scugog Shores Museum. In her earlier years, Klara was a gifted and cheerful member of Louise Patterson Handicraft Guild, where she was happiest making beautiful needlecrafts, hooked rugs and quilts. She was also a member of Honeydale Women's Institute. As Klara's disease progressed it become more difficult for her to do the handicrafts she loved so much. She was a well liked resi- dent at the Community Nursing Home (21% years), where she had a special place in the hearts of the staff. After a second reoccurance of pneumonia, Klara passed away Sunday March 12, 1989. She will be sadly missed by many, for her - gentle smile and loving ways. Klara Balling is survived by her husband Fred of 39 years mar- ried, 7 children, Max, Monika, Bernie, Hilda, Barbara, Frank and Stephan. And by 5 grand- children, one sister Julie Bardorff and one' brother Robert Hupp- mann both of West Germany. Rested at the Wagg Funeral Home in Port Perry. A funeral mass was celebrated at the Im- maculate Conception Church on March 15, 1989. Interment Pine Grove Cemetery. The many floral arrangements and memorial donations were gratefully appreciated. "She is now at peace." The OCA Board of Directors confirmed an offer of $10,000. which had been made by the Ex- ecutive Committee. The OFA Board refused to accept less than $20,000 and gave the OCA two weeks to commit that amount. Jim Magee, OCA President stated, "In my discussions with the OFA President, I tried to con- vey the view that the emphasis is on negotiating a fee satisfactory to both parties and that we were willing to continue negotiations. I pointed out to the OFA President that five of the eleven county associations submitting resolu- tions to the OCA Annual Meeting proposed a fee much lower than our offer of $10,000, while only three county associations propos- ed a fee of $20,000 or more with ther remainder proposing a negotiated settlement. With the views that our Board members had received from the grassroots level, they felt that the offer of $10,000 for 1989 and a pro- posal to the 1990 OCA Annual Meeting of $15,000 was a fair of- fer. Even after the OFA Board had demanded a fee of at least $20,000, I offered to go back to my Board to see if they would accept a fee in the middle ground if the OFA President would do the same. My offer was declined." Contrary to statements by OFA, the OCA Board had not budgeted $26,000 for membership in OFA. However, the 1989 prelithinary budget showed $26,000 as being the maximum ex- posure because the decision on OF A membership had been refer- red to the 1989 Annual Meeting. Other items in the preliminary budget were also shown at max- imum exposure pending the deci- sion by delegates on resolutions at the Annual Meeting. Magee concluded "Our office will continue to co-operate with the OFA office just as it has in the past where we have issues of mutual concern. I think it is unfor- tunate that our organizations were unable to reach a negotiated fee settlement, but then an ultimatum seldom achieves taat end."