HomeMy WebLinkAboutFarming '88, 1988-03-30, Page 58PAGE 32. FARMING ’88, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30, 1988.
Tough decisions in '88 for poultry industry
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“The year ahead will be one of
tough decisions for the egg
industry,’’ according to Ontario
Egg Producers’ Marketing Board
Chairman, Bill Scott of Seaforth.
In addressing the 23rd Annual
Meeting of the Board earlier this
month, Mr. Scott told an audience
of 300 that the issues of trade,
matching supply with demand,
animal rights, and quota could
have important consequences for
producers, industry and consum
ers alike.
While the supply management
system has been retained under
theCanada-U.S. trade agreement,
the Canadian egg sector has a
number of concerns over the
details of this agreement.
Mr. Scott listed these concerns
as, “who will get the increased
global import quota and how will it
be controlled; the effect of tariff
removal on the viability of further
processing in Canada; and the
continued operation of our surplus
removal program.’’
The Ontario Egg Board supports
the Canadian Egg Marketing
'GROW' protests
breeder's rights bill
“Another example of our
government’s desire to appease
the profit-making multination
als,’’ is how Ellard Powers,
spokesman for the Genetic Re
sources of Our World (GROW)
describes the Plant Breeder’s
Rights Bill. And, once again, this is
being done on the backs of
consumers and farmers, he adds.
GROW is a coalition of more than
33 labour, church, consumer and
third world groups formed to
oppose patent protection for new
plant varieties, namely, Bill C-
107 -- the Plant Breeder’s Rights
Bill. The Bill given first reading in
January, grants multinational
seed companies monopoly rights
on new plant varieties that they
develop. GROW strongly urges the
government to study this issue
with farmers, and withdraw sup
port for the legislation.
“To see the crippling social and
economic costs of this legislation,
you need only to look south of
border, says Powers. In the U.S.
where plant patent protection
legislation was implemented a
decade ago, seed costs have risen
higher than any other input cost.
“Andthesehigherseed costs
translate into higher food prices for
Agency (C.E.M.A.)in their re
quest for ‘sole importer’ status and
for the addition of further process
ed egg products on the Import
Control List - something that has
been granted to the Dairy industry,
he added.
Of more immediate concern is
the increase in Canadian surplus
and the need to better match
supply with provincial demand.
An increase of nearly 15 percent
in 1987surplusatthe national level
coupled with declining Canadian
consumption will prompt the
C.E.M.A. to consider a quota cut
for the coming year. This raises
serious implications in Ontario
where 1987consumption is up over
1986 and where surplus is below
the national average.
Frequent specialling of large
sized eggs by Ontario retailers has
created strong demand, requiring
the importation of additional eggs
in Ontario. In the past this demand
was met with U.S. imports which
have been increasing steadily
since 1983. In 1987, C.E.M.A.
began subsidizing the movement
consumers.’’
Powers notesthat, aswiththe
drug patent legislation, plant
patent protection will ensure the
decline of small companies and
individual seed growers, while
increasing profits for the already
profitable corporate sector.
He adds that “if Bill C - 107
becomes law, farmers will not be
permitted to reproduce seeds but
will be forced to buy new seed year
after year from multinationals.’’
“Effectively, we will be entrust
ing ourfoodsupply to the corporate
sector.
“Is this what Canadians want,”
he asks? “The GROW coalition
says ‘no’ and we believe that if
Canadian farmers and the Cana
dian public are confronted with the
reality of this legislation, they will
say ‘no’ to Plant Breeders’ Rights
too.
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of ungraded Manitoba eggs in
Ontario. In addition, the Ontario
Board is working on incentives to
increase the usage of mediums by
retailers. These efforts have, in
part, resulted in a decline of U.S.
imports by 25 per cent over the past
12 months. However, a more
permanent solution of this problem
mu st be found, and according to
Mr. Scott “in the long term, a
method of moving quota between
provinces will have to be develop
ed.”
A comprehensive study of quota
values, commissioned by the
Board in 1986, has been completed
by the University of Guelph. This
analysis which is now being
finalized, togetherwithvarious
other government studies should
form a solid basis for discussion
and consideration in the coming
months.
The issue of animal rights is
recognized by the Board to be one
of serious consequences. To this
end, the Board is actively involved
in a number of levels in addressing
these concerns. Review of the
Poultry Code of Practise, imple
mentation of a Barn Standards
Inspection Program, producer in
formation, and public education
are all examples of the initiatives
takenby the Board overthe past
year. In addition, the Board
continues to fund research into egg
production and offers producers
the expertise of their poultry
specialist.
In presenting his review of the
pastyear, General Manager Brian
Ellsworth described 1987 as a
stable year for producers. Prices to
producers fluctuated within a
narrow range of 93-96 cents over
the year. Ontario gradings showed
very little increase over 1986.
According to Mr. Ellsworth,
Ontario would have shown a
decrease had it not been necessary
to move 250,000 boxes of Manitoba
eggs intoOntario. A significant
decline in U.S. imports for the year
and increased Ontario consump
tion, was the good news for
producers.
The Board is concerned with the
growing pressures on the Ontario
egg industry. Government support
is necessary in finding solutions to
these concerns and in showing the
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fairness of supply management.
Mr. Ellsworth added, “commit
teemen and directors must be
prepared to accept some changes
in our system that are acceptable
not only to producers, but all
segments of the industry and
government”. Mr. Scott conclud
ed that “the coming year will
present some tough decisions for
the Board, and in the industry as a
whole. These decisions will be
made with the future in mind.”
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