The Rural Voice, 2001-04, Page 664
WEST WAWANOSH
MUTUAL
INSURANCE
COMPANY
1879 (69 2001
'Vighdour helping 9 eighdout"
529-7921
Are you ready for spring?
Getting everything ready m advance of
the busy spring season contributes to
efficiency and safety.
1. Equipment operators should read
machine manuals.
2. Make all necessary repairs and replace
worn or broken parts.
3. Clean, lubricate and adjust machinery.
Fill fuel tanks in the evening.
4. Sharpen all cutting edges.
5. All guards and shields should be in place.
6. Don't open doors or shields until all
rotating parts have stopped.
7. Place solid blocks under hydraulically -
raised equipment before making repairs
or adjustments.
YOUR LOCAL AGENTS
Frank Foran. Lucknow
Chapman Graham 8 Associates,
Owen Sound
Chatsworth Insurance, Chatsworth
Donald Simpson, Ripley
John Nixon, Brussels
Davis 8 McLay Insurance, Lions Head
Delmar Sproul Insurance Inc., Aubum
Clinton
Goderich
Lyons 8 Mulhem Insurance Brokers,
• Goderich
McMaster Siemon Insurance Brokers,
Mitchell
Georgian Bay Insurance Brokers,
Owen Sound
Mealord
Miller Insurance Brokers, Kincardine
Southampton
Owen Sound
Moller Insurance • Owen Sound
Sheila Ward - Wiarton
P.A. Roy Insurance Brokers, Clinton
Wingham
Banter, MacEwan, Feagan, Goderich
Orr Insurance, Stratford
Westlake - McHugh Insurance,
Zurich
John Moore Insurance Brokers, Dublin
Hemsworth Insurance Ltd., Listowel
Kleinknecht Insurance Brokers, Linwood
Gray Insurance, Seaforth
Zettel Insurance, Stratford
Craig, McDonald, Reddon Ins. Brokers,
Walkerton
Mildmay
Hanover
Durham •
Elliott Insurance Brokers, Blyth
Seaforth Insurance Brokers, Seaforth
Sholdice Insurance Limited,
Brussels 887-6100
INSURANCE FOR FARM, RESIDENTIAL, COM-
MERCIAL AND AUTO" •
A Member Of The Al
Ontario Mutual Insurance Association
528-3824
376-1774
794-2870
395-5362
887-9417
793-3322
529-7273
482-3434
524-9899
524-2664
348-9150
376-2666
538-2102
396-3465
797-3355
376-0590
371-8050
534-4962
482-9357
357-2851
524-8376
271-4340
236-4391
345-3512
291-3920
698-2215
522-0399
273-3251
881-2701
367-2297
364-3540
369-2935
523-4481
527-1610
62 THE RURAL VOICE
AgriTech
Comparing hog information on-line
By Janice Becker
With more producers getting con-
nected, the demand for improved
online services escalates and the need
to provide a full range of user-friend-
ly options is required by industry
organizations.
Ontario Pork recently introduced
OINK, an online information network
knowledgebase which offers produc-
ers quick and easy access to
grid comparisons, current
and historical settlement
data, grading information
and pre -settlement numbers.
Use of the site requires a
log -in code and can be
obtained by supplying a
name, phone number and producer
number to Ontario Pork.
"The site is super," said Dave
Linton, outgoing Huron County dir-
ector on the Ontario Pork Board, as it
gives producers easy access to both
personal data and industry prices.
While much of the material is new,
some has been moved from the public
website for security reasons.
Linton, along with two other Huron
county producers were instrumental
in having contract comparisons
included on the site. This allows pro-
ducers to look at Quality Meat
Packers, Maple Leaf Foods, Ontario
and Quebec pool prices as well as
American numbers on one simple
chart. Packers were not pleased when
this information was available to any-
one checking out the site, said Linton.
By moving it to a secure location,
only producers can access the num-
bers.
One of the most useful aspects of
OINK is the producer data section, he
said.
Animal -by -animal numbers from
any shipping day can be read and
printed within 48 hours rather than
waiting for a mailed statement. He
adds this is helpful if mailed state-
ments are later misplaced.
Linton said that if he shipped his
hogs Monday morning, the figures
would be posted by Tuesday evening.
If he had planned another shipment
on Thursday, he could determine if
there were weight differentials or
health problems.
Tracking of health concerns is one
area which Linton expects to see
expanded in the near future. Current,
data is available regarding such
things as lung, liver and skin health.
If, for example, a Targe number of
hogs were earmarked with lung prob-
lems such as pneumonia, the produc-
er could respond before shipping
another load.
The producer data also lets the
farmer see how many hogs hit the
premium weight range. By looking
at the grid distribution, one can easi-
ly determine the percentage of ani-
mals that hit the optimum weight
and yield targets.
Comparisons with provincial lev-
els or numbers from other grids
show how a producer ranks. One can
look at such items as the number of
hogs shipped, average weight, yield,
index, fat and muscle. These can be
read on charts or graphs.
"You can answer, 'Are my hogs
better than the provincial average?"
said Linton.
A useful component of OINK is the
ability for a producer to look at how
his quantity and quality of animals
have changed over time. Looking
back over a number of months can
highlight peaks and valleys in pro-
duction.
With a little time, a pre -settlement
hog shipment report can be provided.
Ontario Pork warns this does take
time to load as information on all
unsettled hogs must be located and
compiled.
When asked how useful OINK was
to producers, Linton said he always
prints off contract information before
attending county meetings for those
who are not yet on-line. "They're
interested."
Other components of the Ontario
Pork website are similar to many
organizations on-line. Visitors can
leave comments or questions about
issues of interest and respond to oth-
ers' letters. Frequently asked ques-
tions are answered and recent news
items can be read. They can be found
at www.ontariopork.on.ca.
Contact me at jlbecker@wightman.
ca or through the Rural Voice office.
Janice Becker is a computer enthusi-
ast and journalist living near Walton,
ON.