The Rural Voice, 1983-03, Page 31IN THE NEWS
PERTH CATTLEMEN:
STABILIZATION PREFERRED
OVER SUPPLY MANAGEMENT
The president of the Canadian Cattle-
men's Association wasn't brimming
with false optimism when he spoke to
the Perth Cattlemen's Association at
the Coliseum in Stratford.
"Prices can't skyrocket when the
consumer doesn't have the dollars to
spend," Gary Jones told the annual
meeting. In 1982, about 63 per cent of
the value of cattle sold, went back to
the producer. whereas when he was
younger, the figure was closer to 80 per
cent.
Jones sketched the national associa-
tion's hopes for a stabilization program,
as opposed to supply management. The
program should be voluntary, price -
based, tri -partisan, involving federal and
provincial governments and producers,
and the U.S. border should be kept
open. The association presented two
working models of such programs
which eight provinces have agreed to,
but Quebec and the federal government
have been reluctant. Jones did not
seem optimistic this situation would
change.
Jones, who is from Alberta, said
cattlemen, in different parts of the
country, have different priorities. Stabi-
lization is not the big issue in the west
as here, but while the federal agricul-
ture minister's Canagrex export scheme
seems of only passing interest to most
Ontario producers, it is hot stuff in the
west.
The CCA president isn't jumping up
and down with joy over the notion of
Canagrex, and said, according to the
most recent "blue book", the federal
government missed 30,000 head of
cattle crossing the border last year. If
they can't count, he wondered, can they
export beef?
Graeme Hedley, secretary manager of
the Ontario Cattlemen's Association
said he hopes all avenues and possibili-
ties haven't been exhausted trying to
get the federal government involved in a
tri -partisan stabilization program. The
federal government has the clout and
dollars to make uniformity easier for
such a program. He added the provin-
cial association is concerned at the
growing percentage of producers re-
questing voluntary checkoffs back: four
10 6' per cent is the usual, but the
average for 1982 was closer to 11 per
cent, 15 per cent for the last half of last
year, and a whopping 27 per cent last
December. The association uses some
of the checkoff to help fund its adver-
tising.
The Perth association had a success-
ful year. Its membership rose to 173,
from 102 at the beginning of 1982.
The following were elected to town-
ship directors for 1983: Blanshard-
Gerald Wallace, Bob Galloway; Downie -
Roy Dill, Glenn Coulthard; Fullarton-
Gerald Sykes, Jim Nichols; Hibbert-
Gord Colquhoun, Larry Gardiner; North
Easthope-Doug Satchell, Glen Bickle;
South Easthope-Del Gerber, Vernon
Steinacker; Logan -Henry Deblock, Doug
Francis; Ellice -Ted Huitema, Mike Len-
non; Mornington-Norman Haid, Stewart
Mayberry; Elma-George Johnston, Bill
Frank; Wallace -Pat Daunt, Neil Greer.
MARTHEO
FARM
Purebred Yorkshire and Duroc
Boars
R.O.P. Tested, Gov't Health in-
spected.
Also a few Duroc Bred Gilts.
Contact:
Ted Sehendera
R.R. #4 Denfield, Ont.
15191 225-2734
BIRKA E ARLEY BEATS THE BEST!
Just look at the results:
• HIGHEST YIELDS -by 10% and even more!
• Heaviest test weight
• Maximum lodging resistance
• Stiff, short straw
• Ideal for mixed grain production
• Best -in -test in Ontario and the Atlantic provinces.
Try this 2 -rowed "meaty" barley, Topnotch has a limited supply
available for you.
A full line of forage seed and cereal grains still available at our
Dealers.
Pioneer Corn is still available.
COME IN AND TALK WITH US
ABOUT YOUR FERTILIZER NEEDS.
Flax and Canola are alternative cash crops for Huron,
Perth, Bruce, and Grey. Ask our dealers about further
details.
Paul McNally
Wayne Lamb
Wroxeter
335-3555
Don Johnson
Art Alblas
Brussels
887-6011
Richard Reeder
Don Corbett
Seaforth
527-1910
Arnold Storey
Wayne Ruttan
Milverton
595-4941
OPNOTCH
TOPNOTCH FEEDS LIMITED
THE RURAL VOICE, MARCH 1983 PG 31