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PAGE 10. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 11, 1993.
Ministers plan increase in agri-food exports
Federal and provincial Agricul-
ture Ministers, along with the
Minister for the Yukon, agreed in
principle July 7 on a market
development strategy to increase
annual agri-food exports by
roughly 50 per cent to at least $20
billion by the year 2000.
Ministers set the goal during their
annual meeting in Charlottetown
on July 6-7 that focused on long-
term planning and greater
cooperation between governments
and industry to take advantage of
new market and trade opportun-
ities.
Building on the recommend-
ations of the industry-led Trade
Opportunities Strategy (TOS)
Committee, Ministers agreed in
principle on a Memorandum of
Understanding on trade and market
development that would increase
the current proportion of agri-food
exports that are value-added.
This agreement also involves
evaluation of existing trade
By Dennis Martin
Farm Management Specialist
for Huron County
A recent Ontario DHIC report
indicated the average age of first
calf dairy heifers was 29 months.
Raising healthy, productive, early
calving heifers should be a primary
goal of every producer. Research
has shown heifers calving at 24
development programs, more
effective collaboration between
governments on agri-food trade
development and international
promotions and more coordinated
access to government services and
market information.
Specific initiatives will be
reviewed by Ministers over the
summer.
As part of the overall market
development strategy, Ministers
stressed the importance of
continuing to work together on
international trade reform and to
aggressively promote the interests
of Canadian producers. Ministers
also noted the federal government's
continued commitment to its
balanced trade negotiating position.
To this end, Federal Minister of
Agriculture and Agri-Food Charles
Mayer will be meeting his U.S.
counterpart to discuss recent trade
actions affecting such commodities
as sugar and wheat.
Ministers acknowledged human
months of age are more profitable.
In fact, heifers not fresh by two
years of age can cost as much as
$4/day until calving. The extra
profit comes from lower labour,
feed and overhead costs, while
increasing lifetime production and
genetic improvement.
Let's examine the financial
impact of calving heifers at 29
resource development as a key
priority in maintaining the sector's
long-term competitiveness. They
asked for recommendations to be
developed to better coordinate
private and public sector human
resource training, in full respect of
the jurisdictions and responsi-
bilities of both levels of
government.
Members reaffirmed their
commitment to move towards a
national whole farm income
protection policy and agreed on a
number of safety net modifications.
Ministers agreed that federal,
provincial and territorial
governments take into account
flexibility respecting regional needs
as they move towards a whole farm
income protection policy.
Ministers accepted in principle
the recommendation of the
Canadian Cattlemen's Association
to terminate the National Tripartite
Stabilization Program no later than
Dec. 31. This would be conditional
months versus 24 months:
29 months - 24 months = 150 days
150 days x $4.00/day = $600/heifer
In an operation with 20 heifers
entering the herd annually this
represents $12,000 - a sizeable
reason for focusing on "heifer
management".
A 1993 Holstein Heifer Study
done in our county indicated total
costs to raise a heifer from birth to
upon Ministers agreeing on an
approach for 1994. Details will be
presented to Ministers for approval
this fall.
Ministers received updates and
endorsed the general direction of
the Canadian Horticulture Action
Plan developed by the National
Horticulture Committee to enhance
the long-term competitiveness of
the horticulture sector.
Ministers also supported their
recommendation to make
horticulture eligible for the
equivalent of a doubled NISA for
edible commodities for the 1993
tax year, for those provinces who
wish to provide coverage.
Subsequent years would be subject
to the development of a whole farm
approach.
The Special Measures Committee
for Hogs and Pork presented
Ministers with its final report.
Ministers endorsed the strategic
direction of the report, requesting
the committee report back to
24 months is nearly $1,400.
Although feed is the big expense
(approximately 50 per cent), there
are other costs such as labour,
housing, breeding, vet and
medicine, interest and death loss.
All these items have a dollar
value and should be considered
when analyzing your heifer rearing
program.
Ministers after six and 12 months.
Ministers agreed to eliminate a
number of technical interprovincial
trade barriers and instructed federal
and provincial officials to work to
resolve further interprovincial
technical barriers and report back
to Ministers at their next meeting.
Ministers endorsed the
development of a national food
inspection policy and designated
the Federal-Provincial Agri-food
Inspection Committee to take the
lead and report back to Ministers
by July, 1994.
Ministers agreed to improve
coordination between industry and
government agencies with
jurisdiction over farm safety issues,
and directed their officials to work
with the Canadian Coalition for
Agricultural Safety and Rural
Health to address farm safety issues
and develop an action plan to be
presented to Ministers.
Ministers also received the
second annual report of the Agri-
food competitiveness Council.
Provincial Ministers raised the
importance of retaining federal
commitment to regional
development in the agri-food sector
in Canada.
Ministers will meet again this fall
to review progress on these and
other issues.
Records of Decisions on the
above issues are available from
federal and provincial Deputy
Ministers' Offices.
Early calving dairy heifers primary goal
Weather info
available
By Brian Hall
Farm Management Specialist
for Huron County
Up to the minute local weather
information is available from
Environment Canada's weather
radio service.
Locally, there is a weather radio
station located in Goderich at
162.475 MH. The weather
information is transmitted over
VHF-FM radio which requires a
crystal-controlled receiver.
Ordinary AM or FM table top
radios are not able to receive this
frequency.
There are several small pocket
size radio receivers on the market.
Some farmers with VHF radios
in their tractor or truck have added
a crystal to their radio in order to
receive the weather radio
information.
Forecasts are updated at 6:00
a.m. and throughout the day as
conditions change. Other informa-
tion given in the report includes
drying index, growing degree days
and dew point. Dew point is a good
indicator of the ability to squeeze
moisture out of the air.
For more information or to
comment about the the service
contact, Weather Office Service,
Environment Canada at (519) 649-
2050.
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