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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1988-02-17, Page 14PAGE 14. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1988. Producers got what they want in trade deal: OPPMB Although admitting the new Canada-U.S. Trade Agreement will not prevent U.S. farmers from going after more countervail mea- sures against Canadian pork im­ ports Dave McDonald, chairman of the OntaHo Pork Producers Mar­ keting Board told Huron County Pork Producers at their annual meeting in Clinton Wednesday that pork producers got most ot what they wanted from the deal. Although the dispute settlement mechanism in the deal is “Notup to the level the industry would like to Lloyd Stewart [right] is presented with a plaque in honour of his 20 years of service as secretary-treasurer of the Huron County Pork Producers by another long-time member Elmer Hardy during the group’s annual meeting in Clinton Wednesday. Mr. Stewart is retiring this year. see it, ’ ’ Mr. McDonald told the 200 farmers present, an American looking at the agreement would probably feel his sovereignty had been affronted. The bi-lateral panel set up to solve disputes under the new deal must make a decision within 10 months which the country is asked to implement, he said. Today the U.S. courts have been delaying the Canadian appeal against U.S. countervail measures against Can­ adian pork imports since 1985 and a decision isn’t expected until later this year, he said. The pork producers had asked that health standards in meat inspection and, although the agreement calls for each country to respect tie other’s standards and move toward harmonizing them, the pork producers are satisfied that Canada has taken a strong enough position on protecting its high standards, he said. The governments are looking at a scientific basis that could allow regional movement of animals from disease-free sections of the U.S. into Canada. The pork producers had asked that the marketing options of commodity groups be kept open so that if later a group wanted to move to supply management, it could. Generally, he said, pork producers are satisfied that the new agree­ ment meets the concerns they have. Although countervail measures are still possible under the agree­ ment the pork producers feel this is a problem feeling the ability to countervail is important at certain times. Asked if the rise in the Canadian dollar might undermine possible gains from free trade Mr. Mac­ Donald said one of the biggest expansion periods in Canadian agriculture was in the 1970’s when the Canadian dollar was at $1.07 U. S. In the short run it might cause damage, he said, but Canadian agriculture has shown it can make this sort of adjustment. The Huron County Pork Produ­ cers passed a number of resolu­ tions at the meeting. The first called on the OPPMB to produce a video to show consumers how humanely pigs are raised in Canada. Speaking to the resolution director Chris Hill said he was worred about the effect of animal right activists in Canada. In the United Kingdom, he said, pork producers had been the only commodity to reverse the attitude of urban people by getting the message out to consumers. The OPPMB had produced a video to show farmers how to properly treat their animals but this was working in the wrong direction, Mr. Hill said. It was consumers who needed to be better informed. A second resolution called for disinfectant footbaths to be made available at hog assembly yards. Chris Palmer, supporting the motion said one had been installed at the Blyth yards and seemed to work well even in the cold weather. The resolution carried. The third resolution passed asked that the wording of the settlement statement received by Continued on page 22 Farm New programs popular Response has been strong in Huron to new Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food programs, Jack Riddell, Minister of Agricul­ ture, told more than 100 people at the annual meeting of the Belgrave and Auburn UCO branches in Blyth Friday night. Saying what worked yesterday doesn’t necessarily work today Mr. Riddell said his ministry officials have been examining old programs to see how they could be made better. One change was the revision of the old “Beginning Farmers Assistance Program’’ to the new “Farm-start” program. “Reaction to this program across the province has been generally very positive and somewhat over­ whelming,” Mr. Riddell said. An information meeting in Huron brought out 320 young people seeking to learn more and an equal number showed up in Grey county. The program provides outright grants of up to $38,000 over seven years with $11,000 the first year to help get farmers started instead of simply a subsidy to help offset interest costs under the old program. The old program may have caused young farmers trouble Continued on page 15 COOK’S PRODUCER MEETING & CROP PLANNING SEMINAR Monday, February 22,1988,11a.m. South Huron Recreation Centre, Exeter Wednesday, March 2,1988,11 a.m. Brussels Community Centre, Brussels Lunch will be provided so please contact your nearest Cook’s Branch by February 18 if you plan to attend our Exeter Meeting; and by February 26 for our Brussels meeting. "Where you can trade Division of with confidence" Ger bro Inc. 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Hensail 262-2410 Branches Centralia Kirkton 228-6661 229-8986 Walton 527-1540 887-9261 Head Office Hensall, Ontario N0M 1X0 (519) 262-2410 Telex 064-7251 FAX (519) 262-3126