The Rural Voice, 1980-10, Page 44PERTH COUNTY PORK PRODUCERS' NEWS
BY HANS FELDMANN
On September 10, 1980 the directors attended the semi-annual
meeting of the OPPMB.
The subject of quotas and rumors of impending quotas were
items that raised considerable discussions. The directors of the
Ontario board are opposed to any form of quotas. However in
fairness to all Chairman Howard Malcolm in his address
discussed the subject and outlined 8 points each for and against
quotas
A vote on a motion by a Perth County delegate requesting the
board to reject any system of quotas got overwhelming support
and was carried with over 90 percent of the ballots cast. The
outcome of the vote though it merely confirmed the board's
position, could be considered important, as it represents an
opinion poll of a fairly representative group of pork producers.
Secondly the result of the vote counteracted some of the rumors
that quotas are inevitable, acid may make producers think twice
before increasing production when feeding S4 corn.
The report of the sales manager, Jim Rollings was brightened
up by the fact that prices are on the upswing. In fact the average
price of 67.28 for August was the highest for that month fn* the
last 5 years (76-80). In the third week of August the S10,000,000.
mark for weekly sales by the OPPMB was reached for the first
time. Packers have proven that they can handle increased
slaughterings; 90,000 for Ontario, 100,000 in Quebec and
2,000,000 in the U.S. Per capita- consumption for pork may rise
to 72-74 lbs. compared to 65 lbs. in 1979. It is not known though
how per capita consumption will hold up with rising prices.
Comparing imports and exports for the first 34 weeks to Aug.
23, 80 with the same period in '79, imports were down by 4b
percent and exports up by 54 percent.
The percentage of hogs killed on the day of sale is improving
with the board's efford to level out the weekly runs. More
co-operation is needed yet to get further improvements. The
runs are ctill too heavy in the beginning of the week
Jim got a vote of confiaence by the delegates for a job well
done. Township directors have copies of the complete report and
the chairman's address and can make more detailed figures
available.
Many questions were asked on the provincial stablization
program. Not that this matter was the most important one, but it
certainly was the most confusing. It may be mentioned here that
Helmut Leowen, who was introduced as the successor for
retiring general manager Dayre Peere, presently works for the
provincial agricutlural stahili7ation board, and information was
available right from the horse's mouth. According to his
statistics on the number of sows enrolled, most producers have
joined the program, especially the Targe herds. There will most
likely be a pay -out for the first 6 month period. Pay -in of
producers' contributions will start after prices are back to
profitable levels. The contributions will probably be S10-$15 per
sow for a six month period until there is sufficient money in the
fund. Then no further pay -in is required if no pay -out depletes
the fund. Interest on unused fund money returned to producers
at the end of the program will be at current bankrates. New
producers or those not yet enrolled can enter the program at the
beginning of each six month period.
A show of hands of producers present revealed that only a
small number, possibly 10 per cent% had received the federal
stabilization money at that time. The board was amazed how
many producers, even larger ones, had not kept their settlement
slips and the chairman urged everyone to keep thetn,in the future
as it is difficult and expensive to make out copies.
Fish farming a new Formosa industry
Formosa Springs has been associated with the making of beer
or such a long time that people find it strange to associate it
with the raising of fish. But raise fish it does, the best of rainbow
trout.
The same natural artesian well that supplied the brewery now
supplies water to the huge fish vats which have been built inside
the plant. They resemble very large bathtubs and are divided in
the centre, with an aerater supplying necessary oxygen. These
tanks need hydro at all times and even a short power failure
spells disaster for the fish. A Targe generator to operate this
plant, in case of hydro fail ure, is a must.
The Formosa Fish Company has been selling their trout locally
and commercially for a couple of months. Their delicate smoked
trout is a treat and they supply a few local stores and restaurants
in the area.
The trout are about 12 oz. when harvested. It takes 1-1'/: years
to grow a trout to this size under controlled conditions. Under
normal weather conditions, this takes two to three years because
in the fall, when the water temperatures drop and until spring
when it rises again, the fish in Canadian water do not grow at all.
The temperature of the water at the beginning of the springis
48 degrees Fahrenheit and the ideal temperature for fish farming
is 58 degrees Fahrenheit. To heat the water the extra ten degrees
is very costly, and the Formosa Fish Company is looking
seriously at Bruce Agri Park, with their waste energy, as a future
fish farm.
EXPERT FEEDING
Feeding fish doesn't take a lot of time, but it requires an
expert to distinguish a healthy fish from a sick one. The main
disease that hits fish is Concerned with faM.liver. The filets
they are fed are then medicated. As the pellets tloat when fed,
you can determine if the fish are eating. The pellets consist of
natur al protein, such,as milk protein, liquid corn oil, corn starch
and a delicate balance of vitamins and minerals. Some feed
companies have fish food available in bags. One thousand
pounds of fish will. consume 10 lbs. of food per day.
Currently the Formosa Spring Fish Company is hiring local
labour to process these fish which takes four half days.. They
clean and freeze them. Fish from the plant are available whole,
with the head on, in fillets, or in steaks, They also smoke the fiat_
at the plant. It takes about b hours to do a batch..iaban oven with
hickory and maple sawdust.
There -is only 15% waste on a fish, much less than meat. Fish.
is a ver f low calorie form of protein and is easy to digest. Fish
can be Looked in many ways, including barbecuing. Fish is high
in calcium and is recommended as an alternative to red meat.
The,Formosa Fish Company urges its customers to "try a trout
tonight."
THE RURAL VOICE/OCTOBER 1Q8O PG. 43