The Rural Voice, 2000-02, Page 49PERTH 11I*
County Pork Producers NEWSLETTER
Richard Yantzi, President
519-655-2766
• The Rural Voice is provided to Perth
County Pork Producers by the PCPPA
Shaping the future by revisiting our roots
Any opinions expressed herein may
not necessarily reflect the views of
the Perth County Pork Producers'
Association.
I have been looking around for my
copy of the book Men and Pork
Chops for some inspiration to write
this newsletter. The author Wilfred
Bishop describes the events leading
up to the formation and the early
years of the Ontario Hog Producers
Association. I have not found my
copy, but I recall very clearly that
there were practices of unequal
payment from packers, bonuses by
truckers and a general lack of trust in
the industry that prompted hog
farmers to organize. The concept of
pooling prices and transportation
costs was a big step forward in
putting all producers on an equal
footing.
Now some 40 to 50 years later, the
system has opened up to allow
differentiation according to packer
quality specifications, and longer
term pricing and supply
arrangements. These specific
contracts have become the norm,
especially over the past three years
and there have been some obvious
benefits. It seems only right that the
primary producer delivers a product
that meets the needs of the processor
and, ultimately, the consumer.
Whether we like it or not the
consumer will, through food choices,
continue to drive production
decisions at the farm level. Long-
term arrangements to supply a certain
number of hogs on a formula price
have also streamlined the buy -sell
process. It is no longer a daily or
weekly occurrence to sell most hogs.
But in this evolution has fair
access to the market been preserved?
With the auction, fair access was
almost a given. There was certainly
disagreement about whether the bid
price was high enough, but the hogs
were all sold the same for better or
for worse. Producers have made it
clear over the past year that they
acknowledge the need for different
selling arrangements. Packers have
made it clear that they will never
return to buying most of their supply
from a pool of hogs. What is not so
clear is whether there is fair access to
the current market options. It is one
thing to doubt whether your buyer is
paying you enough; it is downright
divisive and somewhat frightening to
suspect that a fellow producer has
some "special deal". Mistrust has
been breeding more rapidly than the
winter mice in our kitchen walls (and
that is saying a lot! Just as my wife!).
It is time once again to make it
clearly visible that production
economics, not preferential access to
market arrangements, are dictating
the viability and survivability of
Ontario hog producers. While fears
have been certainly overblown,
having even the hint of partiality or
secrecy fosters mistrust. Ontario Pork
has recently proposed new protocols
and procedures for supply
agreements. The intent of these
changes is to bring alt selling
arrangements through Ontario Pork in
a similar and consistent way. This
will ensure compliance with industry
goals and publication to the producer
body in an open and orderly fashion.
Supply agreements while having no
specific length, will be offered only
at three-month intervals. Producers
will then have more opportunity to
examine the current offerings and
make a choice.
The protocol revision is not
intended to restrict growth or stifle
the entrepreneurial spirit of producer
or processor. The last thing this
industry needs is a regulatory
straitjacket. Innovative ideas will be
encouraged on an experimental basis.
It is my hope that individuals will
take the lead in developing new ways
of valuing hogs. Value should be
PERTH COUNTY
PORK PRODUCERS' MEETING
Wednesday, February 2, 2000
Stratford OMAFRA Conference Centre
based on specific, measurable carcass
characteristics. It should not bL
defined by a feed label or genetic
type. Individuals may have specific
genetics or a feeding regime that
captures value for them, but th.
carcass targets should be generally
universal in nature.
The new protocols go further. If
we are to maintain a form of
regulated hog marketing in Ontario
we need to be able to co-ordinate the
hog supply in a fashion similar to
other integrated systems in North
America. As an initial step we are
suggesting that production estimates
be submitted quarterly to better
predict numbers coming to market.
Furnishing expected hog numbers
goes against the grain of some
producers, but the failure to do this
collectively will mean that processors
will do it through their own supply
chains. Ontario Pork needs to take on
this important function!
It is my opinion that we have an
opportunity as a producer
organization to revitalize and re-
establish our role not just as a
marketer but also as a facilitator for
other marketing initiatives. Laying
the ground rules that ensure equitable
treatment of supply chain partners is
so important. I believe that in the
future we will need the strength that
comes from working together even
more than we do now. By supporting
the updated protocols, producers will
be taking a positive step toward
securing their future.0
— Submitted by Larry Skinner
PERTH COUNTY PORK
PRODUCERS' PORK PRODUCTS
• Smoked Pork Chops • Fresh Pork Chops
• Stuffed Loin Chops • Smoked Sausage
• Smoked Cheddar Sausage
• Bacon Burgers • Teriyaki Pork Steaks
• Vittorio's BBO Sauce
AVAILABLE FROM:
Fred de Martines (Sebr.) 393-6812
Martin van Bakal (Dublin) 345-2666
Walter Bosch (Monkton) 356-9000
Ted Keller (Mitchell) 348-9836
FEBRUARY 2000 45