The Rural Voice, 2005-08, Page 9National Farmers Union -Ontario NEWSLETTER
Ontario Office: R.R. 2, Godfrey, ON KOH 1T0 - Phone: 613-273-5545
Email: nfuo@rideau.net Website: www.nfu.ca/on
Ontario cattle producers meet with competition bureau
The National Farmers Union
(NFU) in Ontario provided an
opportunity for cattle producers. in
Grey and Bruce counties to meet
directly with the federal Competition
Bureau on the proposed takeover of
Better Beef by Cargill.
The meeting. which took place in
Walkerton on Tuesday. July 19,
provided a forum for producers to air
their concerns about the marketplace
to Competition Bureau officials
studying the impact of the proposed
takeover. A similar meeting is set for
the Ottawa Valley area on Thursday.
July 21, when NFU Board member
Barry Robinson will lead a delegation
to discuss the issue with the
r-.
Competition Bureau.
Don Mills, Ontario Regional Co-
ordinator of the NFU and chairman of
the brganization's Livestock
Committee, said the Walkerton
meeting raised some important
issues.
"People hope for new marketing
opportunities for their cattle because
Cargill may offer forward contracting
options and premiums under a new
grading system," commented Mills.
"but in the long run. Cargill's
takeover of Better Beef will mean
less competition in the marketplace."
The proposed takeover would give
Cargill over 50 per cent of the cattle
slaughter and processing capacity in
New market share Matrix website maps global food system
www.marketsharematrix.org
The Market Share Matrix is an ambitious project to map the ownership and control of
the global food system. The website brings together international research that lists the
companies that dominate various sectors of the food system; lists companies' market
shares and other data; and illustrates the growing concentration (lack of competition)
present at nearly every link of the agri-food chain. Users can click on individual sectors
and countries: "UK food retail," "China beer production," "Canada fertilizer production," or
"Brazil soybean crushing," for instance.
The site will help the media, policy makers, researchers, and the publi„ understand
the changing face of the world's food production and distribution systems. Access is free.
The Matrix Project fills a critical information need. If citizens and nations are to pursue
greater sustainability, reduce poverty and inequality, feed a global population headed
toward 10 billion, manage trade flows, or end the farm crisis, they need to understand
how food is produced; how it is processed, marketed, and traded; and by whom.
The Market Share Matrix website and the information it contains are a joint project of
researchers, academics, and organizations around the world, in co-operation with the
Agribusiness Accountability Initiative.
The site is maintained with the support of Canada's National Farmers Union. Contact
Darrin Qualman, Acting Executive Director (306) 227-2273, write: 2717 Wentz Avenue,
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. CANADA, S7K 4B6 or a -mail: qualman@marketsharematnx.org
Chicken Board Concludes Prosecution
of Manitoulin Chicken Processor
The Chicken Farmers of Ontario Marketing Board has concluded their case against
Manitoulin Island chicken processor Max Burt. Of four original charges, three were
dropped by the board. Mr. Burt pled guilty to the charge of not filling out a custom
slaughter form for his own chickens and was fined $200. The Gore Bay court was filled
with supporters of Mr. Burt who took up a collection and paid the fine.
NFU -0 will continue to monitor CFO prosecutions against small-scale hatcheries,
• chicken producers and processors. Efforts will continue to reach an agreement with the
chicken board to allow for direct -to -consumer, small-scale chicken production in
Ontario.0
Canada.
"At the end of the da) we need
more competition in the
marketplace," added Mills. "If Cargill
buys out Better Beef, it won't chang,
the existing dynamic here in Ontario.
In fact, it eliminates a buyer. Cargill
won't be•competing against itself. We
have a long-term problem of
consolidation in the marketplace."
Barry Robinson cited
recommendations contained in a
recently -released report on the fare
income crisis by Hon. Wayne Easte
which called for beefing up th
powers of the Competition Bureau to
ensure farmers' interests are
protected. "One of the solutions to
the farm income crisis is to allow th
Competition Bureau to balance the
powers of the big corporations in th,
marketplace," he said. "If a player
taken out of the market and
competition is reduced. then w
would be going against tho'..
recommendations and could he
worsening the farm income crisis.
Coming Events
August 07, 2005
Local 318. Leeds/Grenville
annual Potluck Picnic at
Hutchings Cottage, Westport
Locals in nearby area are invited
For info call Joyce at 613-273-3038
August 28, 2005
Second Annual NFU Feast of Fields
NFU Local 316
(Frontenac/Lennox-Addington Count es )
Advance tickets required Come and
celebrate local, seasonal food. fresh
from the farm at
Groenewegen Family Farm
just north of Kingston
Contact Andrea (613) 353-2260 or
Sharon (613) 353-6889 or check the
NFU website
www.nfu.ca/on/events.htn
For information on local meetings contact the following:
Bruce Local — Mathilda Andres 519-368-5675 Grey Local — Bev Schenk 519-799-5584
Huron Local — Stephen Miller 519-236-4958 Perth Oxford Local — Ann Slater 519-349-2448
AUGUST 2005