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Home My WebLink AboutThe Brussels Post, 1978-10-11, Page 4WHAT TO KEEP ...WHAT TO SELL Don't Keep What You Do Not Need T WASHER V" Didn't Trntie In Those FANS Your Air Conditioner Replaced The BICYCLE The soy Out Grew Those You Repiated With New Ones STORM WINDOWS an BASSINET You %%let Heed AnYlllorn Look Around! List Any In-'Tilie-Way Items You Have And Torii Them Into Cash 17 Brussels. Post Itittittzt.t ciOttAittii Classified Ads 664 1 CORN DRYING Ken R. Campbell Farms Ltd. Phone 527-0249 Seoforth We cire now receiving. the 1077 crops:. • BUY‘i" SELL Storage. Available THE BRUSSELS POST OCTOBER 11, 1918 Quota problems are topic at F of A by Rhea Hamilton. Farmers in Ontario are running into problems that they would never liave had to face ten years ago. Frank Wall, executive member of theOntario Feder- anon of Agriculture (OFA) told. Huron F of A members that the pressure to. produce more for less is felt by all farmers. The comment came while a panel composed of representatives from the milk, turkey, bmiler and egg industries discussed quota transfers at the Huron F of A meeting in Londesboro Thursday night. The monthly F of A meeting was attended by over 50 people, and the panel members and audience discussed a number of questions concerning the issue of quota transfers, The O.F.A. is looking into formulating a policy on quota systems, and needs input from their members. "We (as a whole) are responsible for the quota system," said Mr. Wall. "We have to see that no one is hurt and not jeopartiw our position 'as an agricultural group. We can't say 'leave the eggs to the egg producers or leave the milk p oducers to their 'problems.' We arc in this together." Pawl members were Bill Scott, Sea forth representing the Egg Producers Marketing Board, Ken Crawford, Middlesex, Chair- man for the national Turkey Producers Marketing Board. Jim Drennan. Dun- gannon. member of the Ontario Milk Marketing Board. and George Underwood, Wingham, member of the Broiler Market- itig Board. Each gave a brief outline on their ' policies concerning quota transfers. Thel'urkey Board has the-quota fixed to th property where the birds are grown. The limit is 2 million pounds: "Wci tbund that without a limit the incubators' were gaining control of the industry" said Ken Crawford. "A general Ore- mild buy a turkey quota and affix it :s of property, with the board's consent. with little problems." "Quota.; :lay he sold seprately or with the farm. The 1k rl e\ and egg boards ,arc the only two to nave national agencieS. There is a problem ,fide setting quota values which have gotten out of hand but none with transfers 'themselves." Mr. Crawford said. Broiler quotas arc another matter. The quota prices have been allowed to float at their own price set by each farmer. Transfer of quotas without buildings has been frozen since April 1976. The maximum, purchase of quota only, has been set at 35,000 birds and for building and quota the maximum is 75,000. Both were raised this year by an additional 5.000 birds. "We have contributed as a' group towards the study of quota transfers plus studying the situation ourselves" said George Underwood, of the broiler market- ing board. "We have agreed not to form a transfer policy yet until we know more," he said. Egg Quotas. The quota system was first introduced in 1973 to the egg producing industry. "It is fairly restrictive" said Ken Scott, of the Egg Marketing Board. Egg quotas may be transferred only on sale of the farm. Quotas may not be moved to another place for three years after the sale of the farm propert Eg,g quotas may not he amalgamated together unless both were Owned before September 1976. The maximum quota is 35,000 hens. ,''There is a leasing program for those wanting to get into the egg producing business" said Ken Scott. "The program is for one year and you can only lease one quota.." The temporary quota is for 30 months. Atter January 1, 1979 the temporary quota. will be for only 15 months and after June, 198l . there will lie no more temporary leasing. Jim Drennan, chairman of the Huron County Milk - producers outlined the. dairy quota transfers which he said offer a benefit to the family farm. Fluid milk transfers arc exchanged between pro- ducers if the farm is a family concerti. The quota is transferred 100 per cent. in nil other eases the producer--sells the quota back to tlie-baord which. takes 25 per cent, of the quota. If' a farmer becomes eligible to buy back a quota he buys only the 25 per cent which the board has collected From transfers. Fluid milk quota costs $16 per pound and industrial milk costs $.04 per pound, As with fluid milk quotas, industrial transfers are 100 per cent retained by a family operation, The board will buy back 50. per cent of a quota at $,04 per pound and the rest at an agreed upon price. The limit set fOr milk producers is. 9,999 pound of milk, The value of quotas depends on the type. of commodity. Turkey quotas are deter- mined by supply and demand; and broilers and egg quotas are built into the cost attic farm. "Egg quotas generally run $1.0 to $12 per hen and leasing quotas on a person. to person basis is usually 52,50 per bird per year.'' said Mr. ScOtt. "Industrial milk has gone as high as $30 to $32 per pound and as low as $3." said Mr. Drennan. "The hoard has set the price at $16 per pound..,, Adrian Vos criticized the panel for allowing bigger farms to get bigger and "keeping the little farmer out." There are broiler operations for sale to anyone, The board will even help in the- transl'er." replied George Underwood, Former OFA president Gordon Hill told: the group that .new producers are-beingleft Out in the cold. "When quotas are available it was said that a large percentage would be made available for new producers" he said. "But it didn't work out that way. Most of it went to the established farmers.'' "'There are farms available for those who want to get into egg producing business. At present we arc working on 61 per cent of otir quota. We are nowhere near filling our barns,'' said Bill Scott.' "Existing pro- ducers can afford to pay more than a new producer." "When you buy a dairy farm. you buy into the system gradually" said Jim Drennan. "The 'board now offers an opport unit y for new producers to buy into the quota system." "You can get funds from any chartered bank in Canada to buy a quota with,"- said. Ken Crawford. The one. problem in common which some board members saw was with consumer gmups. ,:There is a certain amount of misunderstanding which marketing boards tt.c trying to clear up; "Our biggest problem is not the consumer'" said Ken Crawford, "We have more problems in. out' own ranks, There are eight provinces under the National Canad- ian Turkey Marketing Board, and on every one of our sittings there is a consumer rep. there. We have a good. relationship with the consumers," he said. Bill Scott pointed out that "The minute you limit the producer to make money the consumer yells and callS it inefficient." "The fact today in chicken producing is that we can produce a 41 /4 pound bird on ,75 square foot. It used to be on one square foot" said George Underwood. "We are now able to put out more per square foot." "I think the consumer problem stems. from fluctuating prices" said Mr. Scott. "Quotas have produced stable prices. In the U.S. producers have free enterprise and are now more sympathetic to us," "When we went over our economic formula the consumer representative noted our low increase which was below the AlB." said Jim Drennan. "We are efficient. We have 15,800 farmers produc- ing 5.2 billion pounds of milk." "Take a.look at turkey prices... said Ken Crawford, "In the early 60's the price was between $.89 to $1.12. It's the same today." "I am a supporter of management, quotas, and marketing hoards and think they are essential," said Mr. Hill. "I suspect that management will be used in future years. But I am concerned at the value of quotas. It could confirm suspicions that a large -profit is made. I mean, who would pay $2 per year just to keep a hen?", "Marketing boards have been negli- gent," Gordon Hill said. "Don't you guys go and bugger up the system so when the hog producers want to try quotas the public won't let them.'' It was agreed by the. panel that by combining their efforts they will get more reasonable system. "Despite the fact .that we are trying to get more stability on the farm the quota system takes out the highs and lows in the market" summarized OFA executive member, Frank Wall. PRINTING FOR EVERY PURPOSE We continue to serve the Brussels Area by providing requirements for Posters, Tickets, Letterheads, Envelopes, Booklets, Wedding Stationery and other printing. Call us when you require printing. 1,72 Brussels ost ONTARIO 887-6641. •4