The Rural Voice, 1980-05, Page 29Huron milk producers
MiIk a "stable" industry
Ontario milk producers have learned a
lot from earlier days and turned a declining
business into a stable industry, said the
Chairman of the Ontario Milk Producers'
Marketing Board (OMPMB) Ken McKin-
non.
The fist reason he cited was the
strength of the milk producer organiza-
tions. Keeping strong communication lines
open in the milk industry is important to
growth, he said.
Secondly Mt. McKinnon told 100 Huron
County Milk Producers, it was public
relations and the promotion of dairy
products that de(cloped the industry's
growth.
In the past, milk promotion has received
partial funding from the federal govern-
ment, but things, said Mr. McKinnon .are
going to change and c. ,sts mPv soon have to
be cushioned by the producers.
Thirdly, he said MK ..,uuicI\ should
strive to make the industry as efficient as
possible, in all areas of production and
shipping.
Mr. McKinnon told he crowd that
although things were changing, effective
April 1 there would be an approximate 30
to 31 cent increase per kwt, for industrial
milk.
"We see no benefits in holding back on
price increases," he said.
One of the few products which has
shown some changes in consumption
trends is butter. He said the dairy
committee has projected a four per cent
increase for butter sales this year.
Cheese products, also growing in
consumption, have increased an approxi-
mate five to six percent over last year.
However, said Mr. McKinnon. overall
milk production meets only 95 per cent of
the market demand in Ontario.
"You should all be striving to get
production up," he said, "We want to see
everyone striving for 100 per cent of their
quota."
Even though 100 per cent production had
not been reached, production was up three
per cent ever last March, 1 • said.
Jack Riddell, MPP for H. ••Middlesex.
who spoke earlie! in the afternoon. )ld the
group there were a,t .,AunaI_iy 100
farmers going out of business in Ontario
each year.
"We are going to have to have some
relief to cushion the blow," he said.
He said it was time the provincial
government developed. assistance
Nrugr.,,iis.
"We are competing aga,nst the'.' 'ether
provinces and it's provinces lik Quebec,
that are surpassing us in production."
Jim Hunter, from East Wawanosh
Township, was elected for tyre first time for
a three year term. Jim Drennan of Ashfield
Township, Hugh Litt of Howick Township
and Stuart Steckle of Stanley Township
were re-elected to the board for three year
terms and Martin Baan of Grey Township
was re-elected for a one.year term.
Charges laid
Consumer and Corporate Affairs Canada
has laid 27 charges against 12 grain
handling firms in south-western Ontario
for possible violations of the Weights and
Measures Act.
Area firms charged under the act
include: Centralia Farmers Supply Limited,
Cook's Division of Gerbro Corp., Centralia;
Cook's Division of Gerbro Corp., Kirkton;
Fleming Feed Mill Limited, Clinton; Snell
Feed and Supplies Ltd., R.R.3, Blyth and
W.G. Thompson and Sons Limited,
Hensall.
Bill Fleming of Fleming Feed Mill said
inspectors are unhappy with one type of
scale these elevators use and in the past
have wired some of the scales and given
the mills ten days to have them made more
accurate. Mr. Fleming said tolerance in the
J and J Automatic Scale is a problem and
that grain handlers are working with their
association to have the regulations
changed.
A summer court date has been set to
hear the charges. Consumer and Corporate
Affairs Canada is continuing its inspection
of grain hopper scales.
St. Marys farmers
lose privileges
Farmers within the town boundaries of
St. Marys have lost a traditional privilege -
that of paying reduced property taxes.
Under an 1896 bylaw, farmers within the
town's boundaries only had to pay 45 per
cent of the taxes assessed for street
lighting and garbage pickup. Of that
amount, they were eligible to receive a 50
per cent rebate from the provincial
government.
Council decided the traditional right
wasn't fair to other taxpayers who are
assessed the full 100 per cent so it's
repealed by bylaw.
The bylaw removing the special privilege
for farmers won't come into effect until it
receives provincial approval.
Council had tried to introduce similar
legislation in 1954, but the move was
defeated. St. Marys clerk Ken Storey said
the town was one of the few communities in
Ontario which still had such legislation.
Ntw animals for spring at the farm of
Doug and Dixie Cameron, R.R.7, Luck -
now. According to the Ontario agriculture
ministry, there was a 21 percent increase
in a single year in sheep and lamb
production In Ontario, the first time in
history that Ontario produced more
sheep than Alberta.
((Photo by Gunby)
THE RURAL VOICE/MAY 1980 PG. 27