The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

John B. McClelland FARMGATE AND CONSUMER PRICES You are probably aware of the g were paid $0.09 for 450 grams of wheat. A 450 gram box of cracker cost $1.13. Ten years later, the farmer was getting $0.05 for by many Canadian farmers to ensure that marketing boards remain protected under the current round of GATT negotiations. GATT (General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade) is made up of about 108 different countries and at issue is Article 11 which protects marketing boards for such things as dairy and poultry products. Among the nations of GATT, there is overwhelming support to move away from marketing boards and protect producers through tariffs, which themselves over a period of ten years would be removed, leav- ing Canada essentially "barrier free" for agricultural products. This is a complicated issue and I make no claim to understanding it fully. On the one hand, from a strictly personal point of view, I don't like barriers or restrictions on trade of any kind. Also, as a consumer, | can't help but wonder if the elimination of the same of wheat (or a decline of four cents'in a decade) while the box of crackers sold for $3.79, a 235 per cent increase. ; In 1980, a farmer got $0.15 for a kg of com. A 1 kg box of com flakes cost $2.21. A decade later, farmers got $0.14 for that kg of com, and the box of com flakes cost $4.28, almost double. It's not much better for other farm prod- ucts. In 1980, hog farmers got $1.30 per kg (dressed weight) and pork chops were sell- ing for $5.54 per kg. Ten years later, the farmgate price was $1.38 per kg and pork chops were selling for $7.70 per kg. A litre of milk fetched 38 cents at the farmgate in 1980 and 57 cents in 1990. The retail price was 75 cents and $1.48 over the same period. Similar trends can be seen in the price of beef and poultry during the 1980's. Retail holagal and wi prices went up far more market boards and then tariffs would mean cheaper prices when my family does the Wkly grociry Sep iAL. argue this steeply than the farmgate price. Ferguson's pamphlet is concise and easy to read, obvi- ously aimed at the consumer rather than prod who know the price spreads only and poultry p would lead to the loss of countless farms, especially the smaller independent farms on laid that has been worked by the same family for generations. And that in turn would be crippling to the entire rural econo- my as suppliers, implement dealers, inde- pendent packers and processors fell victim. Is this an over-reaction? Or would it force Canadian producers to become better and more efficient'in order to compete and stay in business? Nobody can answer that question of course. But I was told by one local dairy farmer that half a dozen "mega farm" conglomerates (24-hour a day milk- ing, ete) in New York State could supply Ontario's dairy needs if there was fo bor- der protection, Last September, MP Ralph Ferguson (Lambton-Middlesex) put out a pamphlet which shows graphically that farmers have not shared in the food prices increase over the lst decade. Using gues from various government and farm tracks farmgate prices (what farmers receive) prices and retail prices. If his figures are true (there's no reason to think they are not) it is quite clear why farmers are hurting these days, and why some farm groups are bound and deter- mined to hang on to whatever import pro- tection they now have, Let's look at wheat. In 1980, farmers too well, Sure, a lot happens to a hog or steer after it leaves the farmgate (transportation, Men may hold most of the so-called 'important' posts in Scugog Township, but I really believe it's women who are the backbone of this community, To expand upon my point, I've com- piled a short list of some of the women who make Scugog tick. I've been thinking of doing this for some time, but since this whole week is a celebratibh of International Women's Day (March 8), I figured there is no better time than the tL Yes, I know I've left many, many names off the list, and I apologize in advance for omissions. Maybe if you feel strong enough about including a woman you know on the list, you can write me a letter with a brief description of the woman and I'll mention her next week. In the meantime, here are some of the great women Ihave come to know and respect for their contributions to the place we call home: A Ann Barrett, animal control officer for Scugog and Uxbridge, looks after homeless pets with. tend and com- passion. Mary Cannon works tirelessly behind many scenes, including the Women's Institute. Barb Carnegie's name has become synonymous with Operation Scugog, the year-round effort to provide for the needy. Mabel Cawker = is as friendly as everyone's favourite grandmother, and participates in. many activities, including the Eastern Star. Yvonne Christie, former schoolteach- er and Jug , is the tough, frugal Regional C ncillor sitting on Scugog Board of Education, is a faithful member - of the Scugog Choral Society. Kent Farndale is a loyal supporter of the local arts community, and has been bringing art to the Scugog library for 10 years. Peggy Finch, past president, is respon- sible for the complete financial turnaround of the Scugog Chamber of Commerce. Mary Fines, owner of Lizylou (a Queen St. decorating store) contributed much to the B.LA. Elizabeth Fulford has been instru- mental. in the success of Scugog Community Care. Kathleen Harper is the treasurer for the Township of Scugog and she holds the Please see WOMEN, page 8 ion again 10 the food stores, 'butchering and wrap- ping) and all this has to be built into the end price. Everyone else seems 10 be geting a share except the farmer, Farmgate price increases in the 1980's came nowhere near the inflation rate. No wonder most farmers have second or third jobs, And now-wonder the taxpayers of Canada heavily subsidize agriculture through any number of income stabilization programs. It's a "cheap food" policy. If the farmgate price was in line with wholesale and retail prices, the cost of food would be 50 high in Canada it would probably touch off riots. Doing away with GATT Article 11 and ultimately doing away with tariffs would mean free trade in agriculture products with the United States. Would the field be "level?" Would Canadian farmers be able to compete? The answer to both questions is "maybe." But should Canada take the risk? 1 think not. The stakes are too high. Is it worth tearing the economic heart out of rural Canada to save a few pennics on a bag of milk, a dozen eggs or a package of chicken? B= UNsiLvED MyasEry 4 woul Future mayor kisses baby "Give the nice baby a big kiss...oh, Isn't that cute?" Can't you Just hear the folks urging little Jessalyn Taylor on? We're sure Jessalyn (who ri one at the time) 't- have been hy If she wasn't encouraged. Or maybe she's 80 outdoors. She saw genetics, eh? ing. Until then, Linda Is & summer gir who loves being recommends it. Now there's an Interesting study in Here's another great smile, Port Where she works part time at the snack bar. She attends Port Perry High School now study biochemistry. Her future career plans are In the field of genetics or teach- World" last week and highly