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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1978-08-10, Page 16I*d90 16 Times-Advocate, Avgust 10, 1978 T Board changes policy after v77 disaster Won't sell beans until harvested By Alice Gibb This year, the Ontario Bean Producers Marketing Board won’t be selling any white beans until they have them in hand. Bob Allen, a Huron county director of the board, told members of the Huron County Federation of Agriculture at their monthly meeting ip Crediton that the board won’t be able to make any advance sales of the 1978 bean crop. In the past, the Ontario Bean Producers Marketing Board have made advance commitments to supply dealers with 25 percent of the year’s expected harvest of No. 1 Ontario white beans. Last year, heavy rains in September created problems for growers trying to harvest their beans, and much of the crop was lost. When the poor weather wiped out much of Ontario’s bean crop, the board was able to supply the dealers with only about one-quarter of the 800,000 bags of No. 1 white beans they had promised to deliver. The dealers in turn had to fill from canning factories European orders with poorer r JIM SIDDALL &SON LICENSED & INSURED TRUCKER • LIVESTOCK • GRAIN • FERTILIZER • FARM SUPPLIES KIRKTON 229-6439 / Gabian Stone Calcium Chloride in 100 pound bags Sand & Stone Gravel Stone for Weeping Beds EARL LIPPERT TRUCKING LTD. Crediton 234-6382 ........ quality beans, beans pur­ chased from American growers or had to buy back the orders from factories with cash. The two largest dealers which the Ontario Bean Producers Marketing Board sell to, the Ontario Bean Growers Co-operative in London and W.G. Thomp­ son’s and Sons, blame the farmers for not meeting their commitments and so they are holding back the final payment for the beans, Allen said. Since the dealer’s haven’t made the final payment to the Ontario Bean Producers Marketing board, they can’t make the payment to growers. The board is now suing the dealers for the final $5 to $7 million dollar payment and the two dealers are countersuing the board for a payment for the beans they had promised but weren’t able to deliver. Allen told federation members he ’ expects the litigation will be tied up in court for some time, which means it will likely be at least another year before growers receive their final payment for the 1977 crop. Mr. Allen, a commercial bean seed grower from Brucefield, said he would try and explain “why the bean board is in the mess it is.” In tracing the background of the .agency, Allen said when his father started growing beans, in the early 1900’s the barter system was the rule of thumb. If his father wanted a bag of sugar, he took a bag of beans into town, and made a trade. Gradually marketing boards sprang up to handle beans for growers, including a 1935 board which was empowered to buy and sell all the beans for the growers. This board lasted only the year. Mr. Allen said the boards for the next 20 year period were “negotiating boards.” For every bag of beans growers delivered to the mill, the board would take 77 cents of the purchase price. Then, every few years when there was a five to 10 percent surplus of white beans, the board would buy this up and dispose of it, so the surplus didn’t bring down prices. But improved insect sprays and the use of combines allowed bean growers to double their acreage and the board soon faced annual surpluses. In the late 1960’s, the board decided to build a mill in Exeter, and suggested taking 10 cents from every bag of beans brought in by growers. The growers voted down the suggestion, and the government took this as a vote of non-confidence in the board. Allen said some dealers wanted to be rid of the the board anyway, so “trum- ped up false charges” against the agency which was put out of office by the government. The board member said the only other marketing board which supported the Bean Producers was the hog producers agency. In 1969, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture sent down a troubleshooter from Toronto to investigate the situation and he decided the charges were false and alerted directors and the Producers in business. Allen said the board still faced the same old problem - “what to do with the surplus beans.” He said the board has to sell beans when the market wants to buy them. Since 80 percent of the Ontario white . bean crop is exported, the agency has to accept the world price that’s being offered. Allen said for the three years before the agency marketed beans, the growers were averaging $1 per bag less than Michigan growers and that they averaged $1 per bag^more since the beans were handled by the board. The Ontario Producers Board all the beans of growers, although can hold their beans back after harvest. Buy elsewhere Allen said the European buyers can beans every day of the year, and “if you hold your beans back, they’ll buy somewhere else.” He said the problem oc­ curs when everyone tries to sell the crop at once, and the price of beans goes down. ,. Although dealers sell the majority of Optario beans to Britain, Allen said last farmers. The were re-elected Ontario Bean Board was back Bean markets Ontario growers year’s crop was sold in 51 other countries as well. He said three European buyers were touring Ontario this week and that “they’ve got to have our beans and we (growers and board) have to have them.” He said the buyers in Britain have assured the board that they would never buy their beans all from one country. One grower in the audience expressed concern that buyers might purchase all their beans from the United States. American growers are expecting a very good crop this year. In response to questions from other bean growers in the audience, /Mien said as far as the board knows, the dealers cannot put a lien on future bean crops. He said dealers can’t take the debt from one pool and carry it to the next. Allen also told the growers that under the federal government stablization program for, the 1977 white bean crop, pedigreed’ seed growers do not qualify for assistance. Payments The government stablization payments are expected to be made to bean growers by the end of this month. In response to another question about Ethiopia’s entry into the world bean market, Allen ,said although the country was the third largest exporter of beans for one year, this was because the government encouraged farmers to go into beans to get money to buy arms. Allen said the Ethiopian beans were sold largely to German canning factories since the Germans can their beans in salt brine, and sell them in glass jars, rather than canning them in tomato sauce. The board member said the German factories preferred the appearance of the Ethiopian beans. In response to another question, Allen said growers would have taken more of the 1977 crop off the land if there hadn’t been crop in­ surance. He said if this had hap­ pened, there would have been more poorer, quality beans to be sold to the Japanese market or to made into dog food. be ■ Bean jam The Japanese buyers use the beans to make bean jam, so don’t require the highest grade of bean. 'Allen asked bean growers who had any questions about the board to call him or the other three Huron County directors. He said the directors rarely receive calls, despite the many rumours about the board. In other business, mem­ bers were asked to contact their local papers to ask why they weren’t publishing the monthly Farmers’ Price Index prepared by the Ontario Federation of Agriculture. Peter Hannam, federation president, said in a letter to members that while the Toronto dailies and other large national dailies were publishing the index, the smalltown papers didn’t seem to use it. The executive committee of the Hurnon County Federation of Agriculture is going to draft a letter to the local media about carrying the index each month. Bill Crawford, fieldman for the Huron County federation, told members a very successful canvas for new members was com­ pleted in the north of the county, with 50 new mem­ berships purchased. He said since federation couldn’t get someone to donate a building for use at International Plowing Match, the federation booth will be in a tent this year. Adrian Vos reported that there are rumours Canada Packers and its union are talking about a strike set­ tlement. He said the only problem the Canada Packers and Swift strike is creating is that many hog producers are taking their light hogs to market early in the week. He said producers are lining up to ship their hogs early in the week, and the hogs are losing weight in the barns while waiting to be slaughtered. Vos advised producers to “ship hogs late in the week.” OUT FOR A FAMILY RIDE — The Percy Bedard family of Zurich enjoyed a horse and buggy ride in Saturday's Friedsburg Days parade in Dashwood. *‘A Pnp 0 t ___ ' * MF' '.<"7.-:■K A,- J j ■ Wl ■ Decorate Brinsley graves VET GRADUATE — Peter William Kleinstiver, son of Mr. and Mrs. Lo rne Kleinstiver, Dashwood, recently received his Master of Science degree in Phar­ macology with distinction from the Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario. He has accepted a position with Ortho Diagnostics as their representative in Ottawa. Peter received his Honours BSc from the University of Guelph in 1977 and is a graduate of South Huron District High School. By GORDON MORLEY BRINSLEY Mr. & Mrs. Kelly Morgan, Sarnia, Mr. & Mrs. Bill Fenton, Belgrave, and Mrs. Lois Whittard, Niagara on the Lake, attended Ebenezer Decoration service, Sunday. Mr. & Mrs. Jim Morley attended the funeral of Mrs. Robert Flynn Wednesday held from tl)e M. Box & Son Funeral Home, Parkhill. Dale Fenton is spending a few days with Mr. & Mrs. George Prest. Mr. & Mrs. Ron Lougheed and Daryl of Condor, Alberta, and Mr. & Mrs. Garnet Trevithick, St. Thomas visitors with Mr. Jack Trevithick. A good crowd Decoration Day afternoon at ] Cemetery for decoration of the graves at 1 p.m. followed by a memorial service in Brinsley United Church. Mr. Peter Snell was the speaker. He and his wife sang several musical numbers. Mr. & Mrs. Wilbert Lewis attended the Bullock reunion held at the Ailsa Craig Park on Sunday. Mr. & Mrs. Jim Hodgins and Andrea of Strathroy were weekend visitors with Mr. & Mrs. Fred Lewis. Trevithick, were Teusday & Mrs. attended ' Sunday Ebenezer LOW FLYING — Bridget Zimmer made like one of the Wright brothers during Saturday's Friedsburg Days parade in Dashwood. T-A photo ■, si ■ OsSSaiMb ■ EVERY DAY FARM SAFETY LEI Kenneth and Eleanor visitors with Mr. & Mrs. Jordon, Paris were Sunday John Dyck and Victor. TRUST COMPANY GUARANTEED CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE Representing many trust com- parties, highest rates usually available. For more information contact John R. Consitt at 236-4381 or 236-4560 Best Interest .We represent many Trust Companies. We are often able to arrange for the highest interest being offered on Guaranteed Investment Certificates. * Subjest to change GCUSSr-KnSCllG Insurance Agency Inc. 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