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ORONO WEEKLY TËIMES, THURSDAY, APRIL 4th, 1968 R eport From Queen's Park Alex -Carruthers, M.P.P., Durham, AGRICULTURE The significant changes taking place in Agriculture today are, difficuit for the urban dweller, wholias been conditioned to a cheap food policy, to comprehend The -problems facing Ontario Agriculture however, are serious and numerous, and resuit in a large part from the followiiag factors: (1) The constant moving of people, particularly young people and from the farmn to the large industrial communities, has tend- ed to reduce the bargaining pow- APRIL S'iPECIA L TABLE Regular 30e Save almosît 1/3 Fresh Cream, 18%c butter fat, homogenized to give that extra creaniineýss and smooth flaveur Ideal for, coffee, cereal and desslerts. GLEN RAE DAIR1 @Y er of the farmer in the political field. (2) The purchase of farms by city people for investj-nents, re- creationai purp)oses, lias infiated the price ýof, many farms to the point that farmers find it diffi- cuit to purchase 'addîtionai land so necessary to make their oper- ation viable. (3) Whie labour and industry have considerable coitrol over in- come, the farmer lias very littie, beîng at the mercy of a highly competitive market. Outstandipg efficie'ncy in Gov- ernment grants and subsidies have helped, but in the face of rapidly rising costs, they have hot been sufficient. (4) The invasion of the Agri- culture field by feed companies, processors and co-ops, is forcing the farmer who upý to recebt times lias' been a rugged, mdlvi- dual, to become a mere wage earner for outside, interests. (5) One major factor restrict- ing improvement in the farm economy lias been the lack of a national farm policy. Tlirough increased effîciency and the est- ablishment of marketing boards the Ontario farmer lias made a major effort to improve lis lot, but faced with uncontroihable pro- duction, and lower labour costs in adjoining jurisdictions, his ef- forts have to a great extent been thwarted. An exampie is found in the present hog marketing plan. Whereas Ontario farmers held hog production increase to 13.1% in 1967, Maitoba and Quebe c producers increased theirs by 27.8% and 25.8% respectively. The fact that the price of hogs today is less than it was in 1966 tends to aggravate the situation considerably. (6) The Inability of Agricul- ture to present a united front and a common policy lias been an important factor i impeding im- provements in the f arm picture. Whie the comrittee established by the Robarts Government to study f arin income lias made some progress in bringing the Federatiot of Agriculture and the Ontario Farm Union together their pollicies stihi vary consider- I -- Loud Up For .Easter With Bunnies, Candies, Gîfts, Cards - You name it and we've prohably got it. For Young,, Oid and In-Betweents Flowering Buýlbs- Doubl,ýe Begonias, pack of foUr... llanging Basket Begonias, 3 for .. Fancy Leaf Caladium 67cý; Gloxinias Hybrid Amaryllis only ............. 69e 69e 67e 88e I aster Goodies front............ 19e to 99e MVen's Mexican Sombreros at only ....,$1.19 Men's Pure Pigskin Work Gloves, M, L $1.37 Children's Junior Golf Set ýonly ........9,9c Elephant Water Pistol just.......... 29e Eight-piece Corning Ware Saucepan Set Regular $18i95. Special!........ .. $16.88 Men's long sleeve Permanent Press Sport Shirts, ail sizes, only ..... **....... *$3' *17 iMen's Jockey Sleeveless T-shirt oniy .. $1.50 Men's Work Pants, size 30-38, only ... $2.99 Men's Work Shirts, sîze 15'171/ eadc . $L99 MVen's MeGregor plush corduroy stretch SOcks, size 10-13, pair........... $1.25 Full Supply of Steels-Briggs Seeds ORONIO 5c TO $1 .00 STORE THE, STORE WITH MORE IL Phone 983-5401 ably. Whereas, the' pqlcy of the Farm Union tends to be militatt, that of the Federïttion appears to be one of reprosenting Agri- culture to Governfinent, to the rest of society and in discussion within Agriculture, A combina- tion of responsibulity and aggres- siveness would appear to be a reasonable compromise. The difference in the policies of the two ýorganizations was em- Pliasized last week in the. Ontario Legisiature, when Bill 35, "An Act Representing the Marketing of Cattie for the Production of Beef" reeeived second reading. The Bill was strongly -support- cd by farmer representatives oh the Government side, but was op- posed, particuiarly by the Social- ist N.D.P. which lias no farm rep- resentation. The Bill was 'drafted at the re- quest of and in co-operation with t1ào Ontario Beef Improvement Association. Designed to make the Association self supportiýng and to improve marketing condi- tions, 'the Legisiation lias some interesting features. (a) It provides for a compuls- ory deduction, of license fees at the market place, in ahi calves and cattie, sold through normal sales chanliels. The licens e fee is not to exceed 15e on each animal weighing 500 lbs. or over. (b) Producers flot wishiïng to particîpate are' entitled to a re- fund or the full license fee on written request. (c) The legisiation provides for the establishment, of a standard basis for rail grade settlement, a uùiformed definîtion of a dressed carcass and the establishment of a system of market price report.* ing. (d) Ltis not intended to regu- late or control the sale of beef animais in Ontario, but its objec- tive is to retain on the one hand the elements of free market choice whule securing oh the other hand the benefits of order- ly marketing. A meeting I had with repre- sentatives of the Durham Farm Unioni made me aware of concern felt by that organization with re- spect to the Legisiation. Farm Union opposition to the Bill could be summarized as follows: (1) The Legisiation will tend to defeat the efforts of the On- tario Farm Union to establîsh a Beef Marketing Plan. (2) t wiil encourage what is termed back dooar marketing of cattie. This 'is direct selling of cattie by the producer to the packer. The Union strongly fav- oursý the open market system of seliing. (3) It will provide a further in- centive for the feed companies and the processors to invade the production field in competition ORONO, ONTARIO with the smalh producer. (4) It could resuit in the with- drawing of packing house bu3 ers from the open market, placing the big producer in a preferred position. If thîs should happen, the small producer would flot be in a position to buy cattie on the -peh market for finishing. A practice lie las long enjpyed. .The fact that Ontario farmers provide approximately only 2% of the total North American beef production, but receive the higli- est price for their product in the world,' presents certain difficult- ies in the formulation of a beef marketing plan, unless it can be on a national scahe. These facts, together with problems involved in the estab- lishment ýof a Miik Marketing Pool, the introduction of clairy substitutes, the formuhating of an egg marketing plan, and the loss of the sugar beet industry in Western Ontario presebt in part the difficulties' Ontario Agricul- ture is experiencing today. Lt beý_ hooves ail of us to gain a better understanding of the situatioh. FOR A S pe c 1a' Trea FRESH HOME-MADE APPLEEIDER Aiso a good variety of APPLES FRUIT MARKET on llighway 35 South of Orono PHONE 983-5102 QUALITY FEEDS -SEEDS - FARM SUPPLIES Now is the time to order your Spring Supplies We have a good suppiy of the foliowing on hand.. SPECIAL Fertilizer, Seed Grain, Grass Seeds,, Seed Carn, à na Flarm Fenc-ing, Fence Posts, Hardware, Pittsburg 'Paints, General, Farm llaughs Work Clothes, Work Boots,, Home Freezers. Come in and see our Farm Supply Store. CANADA MNOE CENTRE, MO VING TO NEW As ýof 8 April, 1968 your Canada Manpower Centre will be Iocated at the East Mail Shopping 'Centre. 600 King Street East Oshawa Telephone 728-4631 DURHAM FARMERS' OUTYCO-OP For QualityU Service use your Co-op -------------- --- ----- - - ------------------ ... .... ... ..... U r.