The Rural Voice, 1992-08, Page 574
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PERTH )I'1■
County Pork Producers NEWSLETTER
John Crowley, President
R.R. 2, Gadshill, ON NOK 1J0 393-6403
• The Rural Voice is provided to Perth
County Pork Producers by the PCPPA.
It's summer time — time for barbecuing
It's summer time again and many
people are barbecuing. I hope they are
enjoying the wonderful taste of pork, the
healthy nutrition of pork and the ease of
barbecuing pork. Our product is the best
for this application.
As an association of pork producers,
one of our main goals is to promote the
product we produce even though most of
us are involved only at the primary
production level. As an association, one
way we achieve this is through our BBQ
committee headed by Wayne Hartung.
They have for many years sold a variety
of choice boxed pork products and they
have custom barbecued for many
gatherings using one of our two portable
barbecues.
Some of the pork products we
specialize in are pork patties, fresh pork
chops, smoked sausage, rib of pork and
others including the perennial, longtime
favourite smoked pork chops, which
PCPPA has become famous for. Some
of these products are not readily
available in local grocery stores even
though we have lobbied in that direction.
Therefore, we continue to make these
available. Call one of the directors listed
below for prices and product. This also
means it is up to all of us to introduce
and encourage the use of these products.
Last year, PCPPA sold approximately
eight tonnes of these boxed products.
This is a legitimate business expense
on the farm level. If we don't promote
the product we are a part of producing,
who will? Whenever possible, let's
show our neighbours and friends the
versatility and tastiness of pork,
especially at this barbecuing time of
year. Donating choice pork products for
community events is not only good
public relations but it promotes our
wonderful product!
The BBQ committee has a number of
events to barbecue at still scheduled this
year. Some of these are Aug. 2 —
Listowel Homecoming; Aug. 22 —
Zurich Bean Festival; Sept. 6 —
Mitchell Fair; Sept. 11 — Lakeside
United Church; the week of Sept. 13 —
the Ploughing Match; and Oct. 7 —
Clinton United Church. The BBQ
committee will do most any pork
product. Some of the current favourites
are the smoked pork chop, the rib of
pork and the pork patty. Encourage any
organization to contact Wayne Hartung
(291-4038) for prices if they are in need
of a custom barbecue. Last year,
approximately four tonnes of products
were served by this group. Help is still
needed for this fall's ploughing match at
Lindsay. This is a good opportunity for
pork producers to help promote pork and
learn the art of barbecuing. Let Wayne
know soon if you can help.
OPINION
This is my own. It does not
necessarily reflect the view of PCPPA.
One of the most discussed topics in
pork producer circles currently is that of
processor -producer contracts. Do these
favour the large producers? Do these
drive down the weekly pool? Do these
positively or negatively affect our
industry?
In my opinion, on the longer term,
especially if a reasonable per cent and
number restriction is maintained, I agree
contracts will positively affect our
industry. Packers now have some
ability to receive unique or specific hogs
and to meet specific other needs such as
time of delivery in a way not available to
them before.
I would agree it may be easier for
larger producers to negotiate contracts
over smaller producers. However,
smaller producers can have this same
advantage by grouping together.
Sometimes this may be through a third
party such as a trucker or feed company.
As long as the cap is maintained these
contracts will not drive down the weekly
pool. In fact, my hope would be that in
the long run, this option will increase the
quality and the timeliness of delivery of
all hogs in the province and therefore, it
will add to the pool.
As packers pay more attention to the
hogs received from specific farms and
feed this information back to producers
and other players in the industry such as
breeders and feed companies, more of
the hogs will eventually be what the
packers desire. By allowing a few to try
to add more value to their hogs, it will
move the entire industry in this direction.
I am interested in your opinion on this
matter.
Also, there has been considerable
discussion about the price differential
between what Ontario packers are
paying for our hogs and what U.S.
producers are receiving for their hogs.
Recently, a producer I know from
northern Indiana received 49.5 cents for
a 254 pound hog in the same week our
pool was $1.48. This producer therefore
received $125.73 U.S. for his hog while
I received about $128.64 Canadian for
my 230 pound hog. This to me did not
support the claim many are making in
the industry that our hogs are $20 under
priced. Perhaps, these numbers do not
reflect averages, but the question
remains because if on the long term our
industry is less competitive it will shrink
relative to other North American
markets.
This is also a question across
Canada. For instance depending what
happens to the subsidy for wheat
transportation, it may positively impact
the competitive position of western hog
producers. This would be at the expense
of producers here in Ontario in the long
run.0
Clare Schlegel
UPCOMING EVENTS
PCPPA 9th Annual Golf
Tournament
August 19 at Listowel. Gott Club
$40 includes Lunch, Banquet,
Green Fees
For tee off times (9:30 to 11:50)
call Ted Groenestege, 348-8262
Banquet at 4:30 p.m.
PCPPA Annual Summer
Picnic
August 16, 2:00 p.m. at the farm
of Arnold Van Moorsel
PORK PRODUCTS
AVAILABLE FROM:
Wayne Hartung at 291-4038
Alfred Young at 348-9352
Fred DeMartines at 393-6812
Martin Van Bakel at 345-2666
Dennis Zehr at 595-4771
AUGUST 1992 53