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The Rural Voice, 1990-03, Page 66RAINY RIVER Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER Box 416, Emo, Ontario POW 1 E0 807-482-2051 • The Rural Voice is provided to Rainy River Federation members by the RRFA. The Rainy River Cattlemen's Associa- tion annual meeting was held at the Stratton Hall on January 24. President Doug Carlson chaired the meeting, which was attended by about 40 District producers. The financial statement showed that the RRCA finished the 1989 season with a bal- ance of $3,300 plus. Grants of $9,250 are still receivable towards the cost of satellite and professional grader training. The RRCA also received another $12,200 in grants toward maintenance and repairs. The satellite cost for the 1989 sale to Kitchener, Toronto, and Saskatchewan to- talled $8,660. Obviously, if cattle numbers keep dropping the Stratton Sale's financial difficulties will continue. The same com- plaints about sorting, lot sizes, auctioneer, bid catchers, and delivery time were heard again at this year's annual meeting. There was considerable criticism of some of the changes to the sale, but few constructive ideas presented. Agricultural representative Bruce Ward explained that times are changing, costs keep rising, and the sale is attempting to remain viable. RRCA directors have been under extreme pressure and could use more support. Some construc- tive ideas would probably be welcomed by the new board, but perhaps less criticism. Last year all indications were that the cattle business is moving west. The changes adopted at the 1989 sale were those used at most western stocker sales. Big lots, sold quickly. Some of these western methods may not fit our herd sizes. Also, many small lots are being purchased locally. The new board will probably consider all the problems when planning the 1990 sale. But no matter where producers sell, they will probably never again receive the personal- ized service once provided by the Stratton Sales Yard. The good old days when Bill Irvine donated a full-time effort as sales manager are gone. To date, no one has come forward as a replacement, and volunteer directors have only so much time and ability. The election for the 1990 board of direc- tors was conducted by Bruce Ward: ZONE A: Ken McKinnon has one year remaining of a two-year term. George Hyatt was elected to a two-year term. One seat vacant as no one would stand. ZONE B: Barry Hartry has one year remaining of a two-year term. Doug Carlson was elected to a two-year term. One seat vacant as no one would stand. ZONE C: Andy Carpenter and Mike Neilson have one year remaining of their two-year terms. Russel Richards was chosen for a two-year term. 62 THE RURAL VOICE ZONE D: Bob Locking has one year remaining of a two-year term. Stan Arm- strong was chosen for a two-year term. A motion was passed to have the execu- tive fill the two vacant seats. Kim Cornell is the OCA director replac- ing Peter Spuzak, who stepped down after three years. Shirley Morrish is the alternate director to the OCA. Linda Armstrong and Gerald Gouliquer will serve as directors at large for the Red Meat Program Committee. Guest Speaker John Kruzenga of Win- nipeg, with more than 30 years of experience buying and selling livestock, presented a revealing picture of the beef industry. He affirmed that the cattle business is moving west. Marketing is going to get tougher in Manitoba and Ontario. Once Winnipeg was the capital of beef marketing in Canada, second only to Chicago in North America. Once there were 400,000 head processed by Manitoba packers. Last year there were 150,000, and this figure will continue to drop. Ontario has dropped from 350,000 to under 200,000. Last year packers processed more than 1 million head in Al- berta, and plan for 1.5 million. Government interference and a lack of producer organization has led to the decline of the industry in Manitoba and Ontario, Kruzenga said. Marketing boards have kept the pork and poultry industries viable be- cause producers retain control over the fin- ished product. Beef is still the most popular meat, but producers must ensure that a qual- ity product reaches the consumer. Consum- ers turn to pork, poultry, and fish because packers and supermarkets are not concerned with quality. The taste even of top quality beef can be ruined by improper aging at the plant. Our marketing system is based on cutting cost, rather than selling quality. Packers can increase profits by moving more beef through the system quickly. Supermarkets increase profits with vol- ume deals, Kruzenga added. Consumers are turned off by tough steaks, expensive roasts, and fat hamburger. Top-quality beef starts with breeding. An Al carcass yields more prime cuts, so the most profit. Proper feed- ing to a proper finish leads to top grading. Even the transportation of your animals is critical. The packing plant, however, is where most quality problems occur. Kruzenga said all beef should be aged at least three weeks before going to the con- sumer. There must be more personal con- cern about quality if beef is to hold its market share. But the expanding western packing industry is only concerned with volume and cost cutting. It will be up to the producer to save the industry. In Europe, all beef is carefully managed from the cow -calf to the consumer. Every- one involved is part of one complete system. All segments are careful to ensure maximum quality, as this increases their income share. Kruzenga said there are ways to market beef profitably in the District. However, in order to receive their fair share of the market, farmers must give up some of their inde- pendence. Kruzenga recommends that Rainy River producers organize their own marketing system. Not until farmers control the beef from the field to the freezer will they realize their fair share of the market. The market is here, he said: the popula- tion of northwestern Ontario requires more than 10 million pounds of beef annually — the production from 20,000 cows. Kruzenga's advice for the Stratton Sale improvement was limited because he was not familiar with the operation. But he confirmed that most feedlot operators want truck -load lots of top quality cattle. This means large lots of about 50,000 lbs. Small one -owner lots will be mixed with other cattle at the feedlot and so not be identifiable. This was the same advice the directors received in 1989.0 Dean Hodgson The directors of the Rainy River Fed- eration of Agriculture met in the OMAF boardroom on February 1. Directors present were: Dennis Brunn, Kristine Carpenter, Archie Weirsema, Shirley Morrish, Wayne Flats, George Hyatt, Paul Heyens, Kim Hunsperger, Gertie Bujold, Jacquelyn Hun- sperger, and Dean Hodgson as guest. The plans for the annual spring dinner and dance are being finalized. Guest speaker Gisele Ireland, music by John Gavel, in the Pinewood Hall, Saturday, April 7: tickets available from local directors at $15. Come out and meet Gisele. We are hoping she will be bringing Super Wrench with her. Let's show her a warm Rainy River welcome. The Fort France Kiwanis asked to have someone from our organization speak at their luncheon meeting February 22. Kim Hunsperger was chosen. The Membership Committee reported that the drive was successful in gaining six new members. Our thanks to Gerry Carey. His participation in the directors meeting was appreciated. Our new directors gained some insight about what we are all about and why we believe the organization is needed. The next meeting of the board of direc- tors is Thursday, March 1 in the Stratton Separate School at 7:30 p.m.0 Jacqui