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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1978-12-07, Page 14Page 14 December 7,1978 ------------------------------- JIM SIDDALL Producers hold charged-up event Shop at Home &SON LICENSED & INSURED TRUCKER • LIVESTOCK • GRAIN • FERTILIZER • FARM SUPPLIES KIRKTON 229-6439 Charges, counter-charges and denials were flying through the air at Thursday’s annual Huron County meeting of the On­ tario* Bean Producers Marketing Board held at the Hensall arena. Most of the discussion cen­ tred on the disaster crop of 1977 when only a small por­ tion of an estimated crop of 2.6 million bags were produced and sold. Former director Phil Durand accused the board of mismanagement saying, “The board doesn’t know what happened. Bad management practices are costing the producers multi­ millions of dollars.” Durand continued, “The WHY DEAL AT HULLY GULLY? BUY NOW, PAY AFTER CHRISTMAS board never demands in­ voices or information from the dealers. They just don’t know what is going on. No matter who wins the litiga­ tion, we, the producers will be paying the shot.” Jack Ford of Stephen told the meeting, “the board seems to have no control over the beans. They are not doing justice to the producers. We could handle the marketing just as well ourselves.” Hay farmer Lloyd Willert wanted to know why producers can’t find out what dealers sell the beans for? Jim Love of the Zurich area suggested a vote of con­ fidence should be taken. He added, “Maybe we don’t want or need the board.” Defence of the board ac­ tions last year in forward sales came from Middlesex director Frank Vanneste who said, “In my opinion we made no mistakes, we presold on your behalf­ Forward sales were a recommendation of the fedefal government.” Jack Ford suggested rules were changed during the crop disaster in 1977. He said, “The grading stan­ dards were changed. Beans normally picked at 30-35 pounds were going through at the rate of 5-6 pound pickers.” In an explanation, the board’s chief executive of­ ficer Lewis Sherman said, “We went through a very confusing situation. We had to get as many beans in as possible. Sure, we met some commitments with less than No. 1 beans.” In support of Ford’s theory, Ross Reynolds com­ mented, “If the rules were not changed why did they accept my 1977 beans. In reply to Vanneste’s statement as to no mistakes, Carl Turnbull of Stephen said, "That comes close to a reflection on the intelligence of this audience. I would suggest the board is playing with something too big and too complicated for them to handle.” Throughout the meeting the idea was brought up that dealers could upgrade beans and several wanted to know where the money went from for beans which were bought at a low grade and sold in a higher category. This was refuted by Wes Thompson of W.G. Thomp­ son and Sons, one of the authorized dealers. Thompson said, “It can’t be done. If we buy No. 4 beans, we have to prove they went to Food Aid.” Phil Durand suggested a’ forward sales program should have been initiated during 1977. He said, “Some years we have been in the forward market in May. Michigan was getting as high as $25 at that time. This delay cost Ontario producers about $4 million. Growers expressed con­ cern payment for their 1977 bean crop, and about litigation which has the board suing two dealers for payment for 1977 beans and the dealers counter suing the board. Dealer, W. G. Thompson’s suit claims over $4 million from the board; the Ontario Bean Growers’ Co-operative claim over $1 million, Board members told the meeting they don’t know yet what amount they are suing the dealers for because they don’t know grade per­ centages or the total value of the 1977 bean crop. “That’s because the board didn’t demand from dealers invoices stating total quantity and quality, You don’t know the grades. That’s a very bad management practise that’s costing us as producers multi-millions of dollars,” charged former bean board chairman Philip Durand of Zurich, to loud claps from the audience. “The producers are paying30 DAYS INTEREST FREE NOW YOU CAN USE YOUR HULLY CULLY CREDIT CARD * (Revolving Charge Plan) No service charge at all if paid in full in 30 days. 1.75% per month (21% per annum) if extended. For example. If your original balance is up to $100.00 then your required monthly payment is only $16.00 and your service charge on an outstanding balance of $100.00 is only $1.75 which will reduce as the balance reduces. E WHILE YOU WAIT PROFESSIONAL SERVICE Backed by large parts inventory and 4 licensed, factory- trained mechanics. [2] SELECTION *■” -1 Thu Inrripst 5election of ne\The largest selection of new & used snowmobiles and clothing in Ontario, Used parts too! [3] COMPETITIVE PRICING L—J When you compare our prices and our "we care'' service you'll know you're getting the best value. ■ Factory warranty (no waiting) on new machines and 30 day exclusive used snowmobile warranty, (on most machines). about the lack of &*<e*f** BEAN BOARD DIRECTORS — The four directors from Huron County were named Thursday to the Ontario bean producers Marketing Board. Above, newly elected member Gordon Hill is congratulated by re-elected incumbents Murray Cardiff, Bob Allan and Joe Miller. T-A photo [5] FREE DEMONSTRATION l I Try it — before you buy it. sure they're Pt] our reputation I > I Ask anybody that has bought from us, We're glad they did. VARNA, ONT. (HWY NORTH QF HENSUL LOCK FOR THE SlGNS’l CHAKGLX VISA PHONE 1-262-5809 OR 3318 SALES — SERVICE & RENTALS Bean losses near $1 million the shot whether the board wins of loses (the suit)” he added. Although the total 1977 crop of about 923,000 bags should have met the 850,000 bags the board had advance sold, the beans weren’t all available in time, producers were told and many were No, 4 splits. ' "We don’t know how many beans the dealer had com­ mitted out of 850,000 bags. Maybe he was speculating,” suggested producer Jim Love. The two pool system the board tried was unsuccessful said Bev Hill of Varna, who asked if the board knew of any instances when dealers called beans class two "which you knew were class one.” Director Frank Vanneste repeated that he’d harvested all No. 1 beans in 1977 too and added "the day we planted we knew beans were a regulated product. We knew they were forward sold. What would you have done differently if you’d been on the board?” Early in the meeting former director Phil Durand challenged the board’s decision not to forward sell any of the 1978 crop, saying prices were much higher in May or June than in October, when the crop was sold. Mr. Durand also asked manager Charles Broadwell for a sheet of paper listing changes in the board’s agreement with dealers in the last year, and the manager said it would be provided. The manager also faced tough questioning from producer Ralph Geiger of Zurich who asked how much of the board’s staff was laid off last year. "Beans were sold as soon as they were harvested. You had no cheques to mail out. Things must have been pretty quiet.” Although some staff was lost through attrition, there were no layoffs, Mr. Broadwell replied. A show of hands by producers at the meeting indicated that about half plan to decrease their bean acreage next year and half will plant about the same amount of beans. No one at the meeting indicated plans to grow more beans in 1979. 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At Thursday’s annual meeting of the Huron Coun­ ty division of the Ontario Bean Producers Marketing Board, Crop Insurance Com­ missioner Art Bolton said 452 claims had been paid up to November 28 to a total of $916,811. Bolton said “a few more claims are waiting to be processed which could bring the final figure to just under one million.” The insurance represen­ tative said 1,774 contracted for white bean crop insurance this year. This was an increase of 80 contracts over 1970. The total acreage insured this year was 98,887 for a total value of $12,249,000. Income for the Insurance Commission $1,312,000 with one-half coming through Name directors farmers MT. CARMEL BUY NOW AT SPECIAL EARLY SEASON PRICES Don't risk a heart attack by shovelling snow when a Bolens Riding Tractor with a snow blower attachment can do the job in a fraction of the time. UIXITRY hNEr STORES Former Ontario Federa­ tion of Agriculture president Gordon Hill is back on the board of directors of the On­ tario Bean Producers Marketing Board. Hill who was a member of the board of directors for two years in the 1960’s was elected at Thursday’s an­ nual meeting for Huron (District 5) held at the Hen- sall arena. Three current members of the board were re-elected. They are Bob Allan, Joe Miller and Murray Cardiff. Defeated in an election bid was Stephen township farmer Glenn Miller. Hill replaces Glenn Hayter on the board. Nine members are on the overall board of directors. Four come from Huron and one each from Middlesex, Lambton, Perth, Elgin and Kent. Frank Vanneste represents Middlesex coun­ ty. At the same meeting, the 12 Huron committeemen were named. They are Larry Wheatley, Jack Coleman, Victor Hartman, Cecil Desjardine, Bill Dow- son, Murray Dennis, Glenn Miller, Don Moyland, Bev Hill, Ken McCowan, Robert Anderson and Bill McGregor. Nick Whyte, a member of the 1977 committee did not stand for re-election as he was recently named to the board of directors of the On­ tario Bean Producers Co- Operative. EXETER BLYTH IL farmer premiums and the other from government sub­ sidies. This shows a small profit for 1978 and Bolton added, “This slight margin helps a little to make up for the 1977 crop disaster.” Bolton said in 1977 1,346 claims were paid for a total in excess of nine million dollars, out of 1,694 crops en­ sured. Bolton said he expected premium rates for 1979 would be $5.50, $6.45 and $7.35, respectively per acre according to the option taken. 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