The Rural Voice, 1983-04, Page 34High Production
Biggest Problem
Stabilize the culling of your dairy
herd, was the message received by
Huron County milk producers from Ken
McKinnon, OMMB chairman and guest
speaker at the Huron County Milk
Committee Annual in Brussels.
McKinnon told producers not to over
react to cutbacks, but to make their
reductions correctly and well-planned
over the year.
"The media has reported negatively
on the decline in quota," McKinnon
says. Explaining the 4.7 per cent quota
reduction, he said there was only a
three per cent reduction in consumption
last year; the balance of the reduction
was an attempt to meet world levels.
Actual consumption figures at the end
of the dairy year are not really known
till three months later.
"Various factors are related to the
cutbacks," McKinnon says, "the world
level of skim milk powder dropped 25
per cent, due to stockpiling in the U.S.
In addition, there was a 1.7 per cent
decline in fluid milk sales.
"Often fluid milk is a sale item at
grocery stores and it is usually two per
cent milk that makes a surplus of
cream," McKinnon says. "Our biggest
challenge is selling that fat and still
maintain the industry at current prices."
"Production must come down", says
McKinnon. "Rather than expansion, far-
mers should upgrade what they are
already doing. Get on milk recording.
Get your herd health up and take a look
at your six months average test. Don't
try to cutback by cutting nutritional
levels. Cull the bottom of your herd.
IN THE NEWS
The farmers attending
certainly endorse their own product. There wasn't enough to
break held after the meeting.
President Doug Trewartha, on the left outlined the committee's activities for the
past year. He said Huron county was fourth in milk production in Ontario.
O. M..M. B. chairman on right, Ken McKinnon, the guest speaker told farmers at
the meeting not to over react to quota cutbacks.
the Huron County Milk Committee
Annual
meeting
go around at the
McKinnon says farmers should not
depend on over -quota payment this
year.
Orville Shewfelt, OMMB fieldman
says high production is the milk indus-
try's biggest problem. There was a 3.0
per cent increase in Lambton, 4.6 per
cent increase in Bruce and a .6 per cent
increase in Huron this year. "We'll lose
eight more producers due to high quota
prices," Shewfelt says.
Shewfelt advised farmers to "stay
away from the Quota Exchange when
the price is down". One farmer, he
says, told him if he sold his quota, he
could pay off his loan. But then he's
lost his earning power, Shewfelt says.
Shewfelt explained the Producer Data
Bank questionnaire which was sent in
early March to producers. The Board
needs specific and reliable information
to help them develop and evaluate
programs and get a better understand-
ing on changes in productivity in the
industry. The Board will be in a better
position to help the producer if they
have facts to verify their position to the
media, consumer and government.
Doug Trewartha, Huron Milk Commit-
tee chairman outlined the past year's
activities. He said in 1980, there were
518 milk producers in Huron. In 1981,
that figure was 498.
Committeemen elected for a three
year term are Stuart Steckle, Hugh Litt,
Jim Hunter and Bill Wallace. The other
committeemen include: Cliff McNeil,
Doug Trewartha, Martin Baan, Mel
Knox, Elston Spieran and Jack Arm-
strong.
N ytoWAY FARMS
•YORKSHIRES
• LANDRACE
•DUROC
Wayne Fear and Sans
PERFORMANCE TESTED
Quality Swine, performance tested, health ap-
proved gilts and boars from a herd with very
good mothering ability.
QS No. 1 York x Landrace gilts, open or bred,
available on a regular basis.
We also have excellent boars in the following
breeds: York, Landrace, Duroc, Hampshire and
Duroc x Hamp crossbred.
Contact
Wayne Fear
MONOWAY FARMS
6 miles west of Brussels on Huron Road # 16
Brussels Phone 519-887-6477
PG. 32 THE RURAL VOICE, APRIL 1983