Wednesday, January 31, 2007 · Page 7 Tobacco exit strategy urgent by Geri Kamenz, President Ontario Federation of Agriculture Ontario tobacco farmers and their families, forced to their knees by declining markets, illegal competition, and buyers moving to offshore operations are growing increasingly desperate for assistance to transition to a new sustainable area of production. Both federal and provincial governments have hinted at exit strategies, even included them in election promises, but the farmers are still waiting. For more than two years the Ontario Federation of Agriculture has been working with tobacco growers to encourage the politicians to understand the urgency for an adequate exit strategy. The growers have developed plans for such a strategy, but bringing the governments to serious consideration of the issue continues to be difficult. In a recent letter to Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Chuck Strahl, OFA said `Ontario's tobacco farmers are no longer able to cope... The industry is facing a sharp and nonreversible decline that is seriously impacting growers, their families and the communities they support.' Both tobacco growers and the OFA recognize the urgent need to help growers transition out of producing a product that has benefitted governments through billions of dollars in taxes. Increased taxes have been a tool the governments have employed to discourage people from buying tobacco products. OFA's letter to the minister points out the `need for a drastic adjustment to accomplish an orderly transition to sustainable economic development' for tobacco growers. `We strongly encourage you to aggressively support the plan proposed by Ontario's tobacco growers and to enlist the support of your colleagues .' The letter refers to such areas as taxation, regulation and equity as well as necessary assistance programs for growers to be considered by governments when developing the muchneeded plan. An MPP from the tobacco-growing region of Ontario sees difficulty in gaining the necessary government support because so few MPPs and MPs will be sympathetic to the situation. That's another reason the OFA has taken on the job of helping the tobacco growers realize an acceptable solution to the problem. OFA's efforts are in conjunction with the Ontario Tobacco Flue-Cured Marketing Board. These people have worked hard to secure a fair and equitable settlement for their members and OFA wants to be there to achieve the best possible results for these farmers, their families, and the communities that rely on a successful farming sector. With declining demand for tobacco, growers have seen their incomes decimated. This has destroyed their ability to get financing to continue their farming operations, and businesses that rely on sales to tobacco farmers are hurting. Tobacco production at one time was a lucrative sector for growers, and their communities thrived. Now they need the proposed buy-out program to compensate them for the ongoing decline in value of their land, their specialized equipment and their production quota. These farmers want to continue farming, produc- ing alternative crops, supporting their families and contributing to their communities, but governments must move to implement the proposed buy-out program for this to happen. OFA's letter to Minister Strahl urges him and his government officials `to immediately finalize and implement the proposals needed to assist this industry with its transition.' EXCEPTIONAL AUCTION A PUBLIC AUCTION WILL BE HELD AT 357 QUEEN ST. (Walker Rd.) HARROW SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 3 at 9:30 A.M. ANT. & COLL: Hoosier type kit. cupboard, Victorian sofa, cherry love seat, D. Phyffe dropleaf table, 4 chairs & china/hutch, tiger maple bed, wash stand, dresser w/bonnet cupboard & 2 dressers w/mirrors, wicker love seat, rockers, planter, corner nic nac, bassinette & shopping cart, waterfall desk, chest drawers & nite stand, leather top writing desk, washstand w/mustache handles, round oak table, side & rush seat chairs, cedar chest, console radio, pr. Stiffel table lamps, bridge lamp, Mary Kendrick oils, numbered prints & more pictures, Singer sew machines, mirrors, enamel top table, wood office chairs, 100's of Beanie Babies, linens, R. Doultons: Simone HN 2378, Ninette HN 2379, Fleur HN2368, Margaret HN2397, Nicola HN 2804, Affection HN2336, Rose HN1368 & Lydia HN1908, Austin figurines, Mary Gregory pitcher & 2 tumblers, carnival bowl, plate & stemmed candy, Bavarian platter & 6 lunch plates, Nippon, German, Czech & more china, pink, green & yellow dep. glass, cranberry vases, pinwheel bowl, covered candy & more crystal, Fenton slipper, child's tea set, 5 pc. silver tea set, clown glass punch bowl set, gold sterling & costume jewelery & so much more. MODERN ETC: 4 seat sofa, sofa & chair, futon, misc. side chairs, washstand, 6 maple dining chairs, lamp table, queen and single beds, quilt rack, oak & more bar stools, cradle, wrought table & 2 chairs, table & floor lamps, wall curio cab., 2 section wall unit, mini stereo, vacuum, TV, VCR, DVD, computer access., uphol. fabric, housewares, sm. kit. appliances, linens, golf clubs, lawn furniture, workmate, misc. hand tools, elect. snowblower & lawnmower. MANY MORE INTERESTING THINGS IN THIS SALE - DON'T MISS IT. PREVIEW: Fri. 57 p.m. or Sat. 8:30 a.m. TERMS: Cash - Approved cheque - Visa & M/C MARWOOD ANDREWS - AUCTIONEER 519-738-3220 - email bidfive@jet2.net Jack Morris Farmers to recognize Food Freedom Day By Feb. 6, 2007 Food Freedom Day the average Canadian has earned enough income to pay his or her grocery bill for the ntire year. This day signiies that Canadians are forunate to have access to an ffordable food supply and hat Canada's proud farmrs are dedicated to providing this abundance of safe, high quality food. It also serves to illustrate the relatively low share of consumer dollars received by farmers. The Essex County Federation of Agriculture, in partnership with the Essex Pork Producers, Essex County Associated Growers, Essex County Grain and Oilseed Producers, Ontario Apple Growers, Essex-Kent Milk Producers, Essex County Cattlemen Association and the Essex County 4-H Association, will be providing a hot noon meal at the Windsor Downtown Mission on Tuesday, Feb. 6. This locations was chosen not only to highlight the ongoing hardship in our area but also to emphasize how fortunate most Canadians are to have access to an affordable food supply. For more information, contact ECFA at 519-7765159. NOTICE OF PROPOSED PROCUREMENT Financial Consulting Services for Canadian Producers As an interim measure to an upcoming Request for Standing Offers, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada has issued a Notice of Proposed Procurement (NPP) to recruit financial consultants to support the delivery of the Canadian Farm Business Advisory Services and the Canadian Farm Families Options Program. For more information on these programs, visit www.agr.gc.ca/renewal The NPP provides details on these programs and services which are available in all provinces and territories. The NPP also outlines the qualifications and the selection process for potential consultants. Interested financial consultants, with a sound knowledge of the agriculture sector should register with the Government of Canada's electronic tendering service, MERXtm and respond to the NPP. For more information and to register on MERXtm, visit www.merx.com of large, exceptionally well maintained farm equipment Saturday, February 10 at 10:00 a.m. For Wismer Brothers Ltd. at 4098 Conc. 4N, Town of Amherstburg. From Hwy. 401 at Windsor, take Howard Ave. (Essex Cty. Rd. 9) south to Cty. Rd. 10. Turn west to Conc. 4N, then south to farm. Or from Walker Rd. (Cty. Rd. 11) take Alma St. west to Conc. 4N. Watch for auction signs. Combines & Headers: 1999 JD 9610 Maximizer and 1994 JD 9600 combines; 1999 and 1994 JD model 930 30' flex headers; 1996 JD 893 - 8 row corn head; 3 header wagons. Tractors: 1979 JD 8640 - 4WD articulated, 1982 and 1980 JD 4440 tractors. Backhoe: 1984 JD 510B Turbo dsl. Plows: Kverneland PX115-9 fur. rollover plow; JD model 2800 - 5 fur. spring reset plow. Planting: two JD model 1590 No-till drills w/JD two drill hitch selling as one 30' planting unit; 12 row JD 1770 Conservation No-till Max Emerge Plus planter set at 30" rows. Grain Buggy: J&M model 750. Truck & Grain Trains: 1996 Doepker 40' tandem belly dump grain trailer; 1982 Int. model F2674 dsl. tri-axle grain truck w/20' dump box sells w/safety certificate; Trailmobile 24' grain pup; 1988 Lode King B Train hopper trailers selling as a unit. Tillage: Kongskilde model 3500 - 34' five bar Triple K cult.; Kongskilde model 3500 - 34' four bar cult.; JD model 630 wing fold wheel disc; Brillion hyd. X-fold 34' lg. sprocket packer; Brillion hyd. X-fold 32' lg. sprocker packer. Land Planes & Leveler: Verhoff landplane w/24' bowl; JD 940 landplane w/12' bowl; 25' leveler. Plus: AgChem 3 ph 60' spray boom; plastic tanks some w/chassis; 600 gal. s.s. tank on chassis; Market 30' pull type Wick Weeder; JD 220 saddle tank kit w/pump; Dickey John spray monitor; older John Blue side dresser. Ditchers: Hurricane 3 ph - PTO fur. maker; 3 ph. hyd. V-ditcher.Duals: Pr. of 20.8x38 and two sets of 18.4x38 snap on t-rail duals. Chopper & Rotary Hoe: JD model 2018 pull type 20' chopper; JD 30' model 400 hyd. fold rotary hoe. Grain Pit: Feterl portable grain pit w/10" auger sells w/7 1/2 HP 3-phase motor. Augers: Farm King model 856 PTO auger; Lambton Conveyor 10"x40' PTO auger; Farmatic 5"x16' auger on wheels w/electric motor. Pickup Truck & Front End Loader: 1987 - 3/4 ton Chev pickup, 258,000 km, runs well, selling as is; Robin front end loader w/hyd. bucket. Lawnmower: JD GX345 lawn tractor, 20 HP, power steering, hyd. lift 54" deck, approx. 3 yrs. old w/300 hrs. Plus other misc. items. No Reserve. Farms are rented. Large machine sheds for inclement weather. Selling order: starting misc. items, then implements, etc. At 12:00 noon selling tractors, combines followed by remaining items. Terms cash or personalized cheque day of sale. Owners or auctioneer not responsible for accidents day of sale. Lunch available. Propriertors: Wismer Brothers Ltd., shop 519-736-9745 Darwin, cell 519-796-0147, home 519-736-3006 Gerald, cell 519-796-0148, home 519-736-4772 Auctioneer: Jack Morris, 519-687-2530, or 1-800-462-3561 More details and photos at www.jackmorrisauctions.com Farm Machinery Auction Sale Auctions Inc.