The Citizen, 2009-01-22, Page 18PAGE 18. THE CITIZEN,THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 2009.Finances were on everyone’sminds on Jan. 14 at the HuronCounty Beef Producers Annual
Meeting at the Brussels Legion.
While many corners of the farm
industry have seen improvements,
there are still widespread concerns
and continued lobbying for financial
support and a long-awaited risk
management program.
Newly-elected Huron-Bruce MP
Ben Lobb was seated at the head
table and addressed the beef produc-
ers about their current financial situ-
ation.
Lobb said he had heard of
instances where banks were giving
farmers hard times with their lines of
credit, despite their clean payment
record and good-standing with the
bank.
“If this is happening to you, call
our offices and we’ll take your con-
cerns right to [Finance Minister] Jim
Flaherty,” he said. “I’ve already done
this on behalf of several local busi-
nesses. Through these tough eco-nomic times we’ve supported thebanks, so they should be stepping upand helping you out through thiscritical time.”Secretary Kittie MacGregor
updated everyone on the standing of
the producers’ various accounts in
the treasurer’s report.
Through interest in the past year,
over $700 had been made on two
GICs. Three GICs, however, are set
to come due this year; one for
$5,233.14 in February, one for
$5,959.42 in March and one for
$10,476.30 in August.
There is also just over $2,000 in
the Huron County Beef Herd
Improvement fund, which president
Harvey Hoggart began to improve
beef education in the county.
Currently, Hoggart said, he had no
ideas on what the producers should
spend the money on, so he asked for
suggestions, reminding people that
“whoever suggests something might
have to help with it. If you come up
with it, you have to help it along.”
Hoggart then suggested a possible
feeding trial as a possible way tospend the money, however there wasno action taken on his suggestion.There is also just over $8,400 inthe vaccinated sales account. Therewere five sales this year, two in thespring and three in the fall, and all,Hoggart said, were successful. Thebottom line, however, came up 60cattle shorter than last year’s num-bers.
The annual Huron County Beef
Producers meeting was held on Jan.
14 at the Brussels Legion, producing
several resolutions to protect farmers
and to continue lobbying for support.
The first was to protect farmers
who happen to have their land caught
in a sourcewater protected jurisdic-
tion.
However, after comment from
North Huron reeve Neil Vincent and
Perth County Beef Producers presi-
dent Bill Jeffries, the motion was
reduced to say the Ontario Cattlemen
Association should lobby for 100 per
cent compensation in the event that a
farmer’s land gets mapped into a
water protection area.
There was some concern over
Vincent’s suggestion to add a num-
ber to the resolution, but several pro-
ducers spoke out against this, saying
that once numbers are attached to a
motion, some farmers could eventu-
ally get left out.
Another motion was the group’s
perennial motion to see a Risk
Management Program implemented.
There was a third and final motion
as raised by Hoggart that funding be
requested for testing and research in
connection with Johne’s disease.
While Johne’s disease is mainly a
concern in the dairy industry,
Hoggart likened it to Crohn’s disease
in humans and warned that if a con-
crete link is ever made, herds would
have to be eradicated and it could be
as big of a problem in the beef indus-
try as mad cow disease.
Hoggart cited a presentation he
saw by Dr. Mike Collins from the
University of Wisconsin on Johne’s
disease. He offered up a disc he had
containing the presentation to the
beef producers.
“Watch this video,” he said. “You
might never want to eat a hamburger
again.”
The beef producers then named the
group of 12 directors and four alter-
nates who will be representing
Huron County at the Ontario
Cattlemen Association’s annual
meeting in Toronto. Harvey Hoggart
was elected to be the advisory coun-
cillor with former Huron County
Beef Producers president Glen
Walker voted on to be his alternate.
Service honoured
Lucknow-area beef producer Ken Alton was honoured last week by the Huron County Beef
Producers for his over 30 years as a director. Alton was not well enough to attend the meet-
ing, but members of his family were there to represent him, accept the gift on his behalf and
say some words of thanks and update the rest of the Beef Producers on his condition. From
left: first vice-president Matt McCall, family members David Nivins and George Alton, second
vice-president Bob Bennett and president Harvey Hoggart. (Shawn Loughlin photo)
Looking for local heroes
There are so many people out there who do
so much to improve their community.
Now you have a chance to say thanks.
Nominate that special person for the 24th
Annual Citizen Citizenship Awards.
Each year a committee chooses an outstanding citizen from each of the Blyth and area
and Brussels and area communities to receive an award for contribution to the communi-
ty. If you know someone you think should be honoured, please fill in the ballot and send
it in. You may attach a longer explanation of why you think your nominee should win, if
you like. If you have nominated someone before and he or she didn't win, please feel free
to try again.
I nominate
as Citizen of the year for
I feel she/he deserves this award because
Nomination Deadline April 30, 2009.
Name and phone number of nominator
❑❑Blyth
& area ❑❑Brussels
& area
By Shawn LoughlinThe CitizenFinances on the minds of Beef Producers
By Shawn Loughlin
The Citizen
Beef Producers
hear resolutions
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