The Rural Voice, 1981-04, Page 52PERTH COUNTY PORK PRODUCERS' NEWS
Committees formed for 1981
The directors of the county association
met March 4, and set up committees and
the budget for 1981.
The committees are:
Resolutions and Research: Robert
Stephen. Robert Davey.
Producer Information: Robert Stephen,
Ray Stock, John DeGroot, John Kelly,
Robert DeBrabendere, Don Dietrich.
Murray Musselman, Jeff Timmerman.
Barbecue: Gerald Matheson, Jack Van
Ness, Paul Voll, Lorne Bell, Ken Bears.
Edgar Rose, Jack Robinson. Albert van
Herk.
Communication: Hans Feldman, George
Sebben, Hugh Love, Allen Zehr, Willy
Keller.
4-11: Peter Huitema, Wayne Hartung
Farm Safety: Robert Davey
OFA Leo Kroonen
Weaner Pig Committee: Robert
Mitchell, Robert Aitcheson, John Lichty,
Paul Voll, Gordon Jack.
The Weaner Pig Committee should
include producers other than directors,
however no volunteers have come
forward as yet.
Exports up II per cent
The Provincial Director, Willy Keller.
reported exports for the first two months
of the year are up by 11 per cent over the
same period last year. Efforts by some
outspoken beef producers to have the
border closed are viewed with concern.
The board will keep an eye on the
situation.
A meeting with packers revealed heavy
hog numbers are over the desired 16 per
cent end at times as high as 30 per cent.
with average weight at 177 pounds. That
extra pork increases the pressure on the
market.
Packers think, they can continue to
move pork if prices remain at 564, but
most producers agree better prices are
needed to stay in business.
At present consumption of pork is still
rising. In the past housewives filling their
shopping carts bought 1 pound of pork
per 2 pounds of beef. Now it is 1 pound of
pork per 1.2 pounds of beef. It is a
question, however, if consumption and
exports will remain high if prices to
producers rise to more profitable levels.
Pundits feel production in Eastern
Canada will remain at higher levels than
anticipated in previous forcasts. Too
many producers with expensive new
facilities are locked into production and
need the volume to keep down their
overhead.
Willy attended the "Ontario Con-
ference on Agriculture'. Though it was a
well -staged show, he was disappointed
with the limited opportunity to provide
input and to express opinions. He also
felt chain stores .should have been
present since they are an important force
in the food industry.
The OPPMB has decided not to renew
the lease on the building it has occupied
tor the last 21 years. The Board has
purchased a 1.9 acre' lot off Highway 427
and plans the construction of a new
18.000 sq. ft. building at a total cost of
51.4 million.
Income set at $8790
The Income for 1981 was set at
58790. amounting to 13/4 cents per pig. In
addition the board will pay diem rate for
delegates to the provincial meetings and
a communication grant. There will be
some misc. income e.g. ticket sales.
Expenditures are budgeted as follows:
Per diem, 51600, Honorariums, 5950,
4-H. $720 (12 clubs at 560.), Producer
Awards. $400.OFA 5250 , Farm Safety
5100, Communications: 5800., Promotion
and Meetings; 52.700. Secretarial and
Office 5400 and Miscellaneous 5400.
In other business the operation of
sub -assembly yards was discussed. There
will be further talks on this matter at the
April meeting with board members from
the yard committee of the OPPMB.
The directors approved a resolution to
be forwarded to the annual meeting of the
OPPMB asking the board to connect US
buyers to the teletype system.
BREEDERS RIGHTS
Cont. from Page 30
and more from plant breeding, and not
replacing the people who retire."
In their fear of the possibility of
monopoTies forming. opponents can draw
support from recent developments in
another industry. Miller contends the
government will not have any power to
control large companies after the
legislation, is passed, and current al-
legations about price gouging by oil
companies seem to support the claim.
Supporters of the proposed change
believe that danger can be controlled.
"That will be covered in the legislation,"
explained Prof. Gamble. "If one company
is withholding a variety because they are
demanding an unrealistic royalty level, or
even if one company ends up with a
variety that is completely covering every
acre in Western Canada, then the
government could step in and make it
public property. It's an old saying - rules
are made to be broken - but I think there
are enough safeguards. perhaps not in
the proposed legislation, but In
conjunction with the Canada Seeds Act.
"Sure the cost of seed will go up, but
how much of it will be inflation, and how
much will be because there might be a
royalty? The actual amount of the royalty
might be less than the year-to-year seed
price fluctuations."
Prof. Hunt agrees the price of seed
may go up. but, he added, it might be
better seed. He is also not worried about
government funding cutbacks and a
relaxation of public study. "Always, in
the public sector. there will be the need
for what 1 call the custodians of germ
plasm."
It should be some time before the
breeders' rights bill gets.attention in the
House of Comons. Preoccupation with
other issues minimizes the importance of
breeders' rights legislation right now. If
it passes. a great deal of consideration
will have been given the facts, which
provide support for the change. But for a
long time after the institution of the
legislation doubt inspired by moral
concern will linger for opponents like Joe
Miller.
THE RURAL VOICE/APRIL 1981 PG. 51