The Rural Voice, 1980-10, Page 28RURAL NEWS IN BRIEF
Egg surplus causes concern
Egg marketing officials are still
concerned about Canada's continuing
surplus of eggs rotting in storage. and
about the increased egg imports from
U.S. producers.
Last spring, the Canadian Egg
Marketing Agency (CEMA) was faced
with an over -production problem which
resulted in a surplus of 1.1 million dozen
eggs weekly. After a program which paid
producers to kill their laying hens earlier
and keep barns empty longer, the surplus
production was reduced to 300.000 dozen
eggs weekly.
Glen White, of the Farm Products
Marketing Council, said the egg surplus
in Canada is now running about 50 per
cent higher than is healthy.
Following the sale of one million dozen
medium-sized eggs to Iraq, there are still
2.6 million dozen eggs in storage across
the country.
Despite this surplus. Ontario imported
360,000 dozen eggs more from the U.S.
this year, than it did last year when there
wasn't a surplus of Canadian eggs.
The American eggs are cheaper than
those produced in this country - they sell
for 64 cents per dozen at the border,
compared to 88 cents at the Canadian
farm gate.
Since CEMA doesn't have jurisdiction
over imported eggs, the importer can
make a considerable profit, while still
underselling Canadian eggs.
The eggs are imported under a permit
issued by the ministry of industry, trade
and commerce.
The ministry has refused to identify the
Ontario grading stations which are
importing the American eggs.
Good news for bean growers
Charles Broadwell, Ontario Bean
Producers Marketing Board managerhad
some good news for bean growers of the
annual Ontario Bean Day in August.
Mr. Broadwell told growers the initial
payment for their 1980 crop would be $2
more per one hundred pound bag -bring-
ing the price to $11.34.
Also, the licence fees paid by growers
to the bean board are being reduced from
$4.40 to $4 per metric tonne.
Charles Broadwell told growers,
"Things really look positive for this
year's crop and market. On the world
situation, it doesn't look as if there will be
enough beans to go around."
Michigan producers are experiencing a
number of problems with their crop this
year. Mr. Broadwell told the growers that
water damage to the Michigan beans has
resulted in rust, bronzing and white
mould.
Michigan acreage this year is projected
at a yield of 12 bags per acre.
Mr. Broadwell said the Ontario acreage
is up about 18 per cent to 92,875 acres,
with an estimated average yield of about
15 bags per acre.
The expected yield in Perth and
Middlesex counties is 15 bags per acre,
and in Huron, from 14 to 17 bags per
acre. Water damage has lowered the
expected yield in Kent County.
Mr. Broadwell told growers there is
now only a handful of 1979 crop beans
left, and returns for these beans should
be in the area of $21.
The board's manager said the board is
continuing to increase their publicity on
white beans with new consumer recipe
Environment ministry
convicts local farmer
The London regional office of the
Ontario environment ministry recently
obtained their first conviction in a case of
stream pollution by a farmer.
John Jacobs, R R 1, Zurich, was fined
$300 in Goderich provincial court for
dumping pig manure into a water course
in Hay Township on February 8. Mr.
Jacobs pleaded guilty to a violation of a
section of the Ontario Water Resources
Commission Act.
1 -Tea Durham, manager of industrial
abatement for the region, said manure
pumped from a tank to the ground by the
farmer flowed into a municipal drain.
Two men from the London area have
been jointly charged with discharging
manure into a London Township water
course and will be appearing in London
provincial court on Oct. 16.
Charges have also been laid against a
Lambton County farmer for the same
offence.
books, bean industry brochures and work
books to be used by Ontario's grade eight
students.
Perth producer
record holder
There is a new Canadian record holder
in Perth County. Kenvel Starmaker Tiana
is the holder of four new Canadian
records for milk and butterfat production,
for her age group.
The owner of the four-year-old cow is
David Wideman of R.R. 1, Atwood,
Ontario.
Her production was 13,569 kilograms
of milk in 30S days and the butterfat
count was 564 in 305 days of milking.
These are new Canadian records for four
year olds. She also broke the standing
record for 365 days for milk production
with 15,520 kilograms and 648 kilograms
of butterfat for the four -year-olds. Her
BCA for milk is 279 and for butterfat it is
313, using 100 as the average. Her milk
tests at 4.18 per. cent butterfat.
The Widemans had a party to celebrate
Kenvel's achievements and many friends
and neighbours attended. The Ontario
Holstein -Friesian Association presented
David Wideman with a certificate
marking the cow's superior production.
The Perth County Holstein Club pre-
sented the Widemans with a wooden and
metal scroll and a silver tray and cream
and sugar set.
THE RURAL VOICE/OCTOBER 1980 PG. 27