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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1995-01-25, Page 12Recognition Heidi Meier, right, presents Donna Lynn Armstrong with the award for Senior Yearling Calf on behalf of Swiss Valley Farms. The presentation was done at the annual Hallrice 4-H Dairy Club awards night in Westfield. Presentation The Auburn Co-op trophy for Hallrice 4-H Dairy Club's top junior heifer was presented to Curtis McNeil by Auburn Co- op manager Steve Caldwell at the awards night in Westfield. CLINTON PUBLIC HOSPITAL Girth - Kr-t/r NOTICE APPLICATIONS TO BE MEMBERS OF THE HOSPITAL'S BOARD The Nominating Committee of the Board of Directors invites written submissions from persons interested in applying to be members of the Hospital's Board. Letters of application stating personal background and interest in hospital and health issues should be submit- ted by February 17, 1995 to: Clinton Public Hospital Nominating Committee c/o Allan Halls, Executive Director, 98 Shipley St. Clinton, Ontario NOM 1L0 NOTE: To be eligible for Board membership, persons must be between 18 and 70 years of age, not be employees or mem- bers of Medical/Dental staff (except as provided under the by-laws) or the immediate family members of an employee or Medical/Dental staff member. PAGE 12. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 1995. Pork Prod. will push to protect interests When the Huron County Pork Producers met on Jan. 19 for their annual meeting, there seemed to be a consenus, "to get behind the board and push hard to represent the producers interests." About 160 members attended the meeting, showing support for the board in its efforts to forge ahead with co-operative marketing, says Dave Linton, president of HCPP. In his address to the gathering, Mr. Linton says, in his personal experience, pork producers are faced with three options to cope with the changing industry. "The board seems to be crum- bling before (our) eyes and how are we going to get a fair price for our pigs on our own. We have been told alliances must be formed." The first option would be to expand, to buy more land and build more buildings. The result would be "a much larger debt load, more dependence on interest rates and lenders demands, increased work- load, greater risk to the environ- ment and decreased popularity with the neighbours," he says. Though Mr. Linton saw his fami- ly benefitting by the expansion, they would come in on the list below many other companies asso- ciated with the growth. The second option would be to align themselves with the Franchise Farm opportunities. Production would be geared to 14 day old pigs, but would rely totally on the com- pany. To concentrate on finishing, an investment of $1 million would be needed and Mr. Linton says "there are much better opportuni- ties out there." The third option is the one Mr. Linton supports and suggests other producers get behind. We must "join with other producers and try to make our entire board listen to us. We do not want to follow the American pattern. We must speak with a united voice to be treated fairly." "I have no fear of competition with large integrated units as long as I receive the same price per hog," he says. "I have seen producers from Huron, Wellington and Bruce Counties speaking up. This must continue so the board gets its direc- tion from us rather than some elite group that does not represent our views." Mr. Linton encouraged the mem- bership to give the board their ideas so the direction would be taken from the producers whoare raising pigs and making the industry work. Several resolutions were passed at the meeting as well as two motions defeated. The motions which were defeat- ed were to support supply manage- ment and to abolish contracts. Concerns were raised with regards to packers taking advantage of producers without contracts so the council passed a resolution giv- ing the Ontario Pork Producers Marketing Board (OPPMB) control of marketing, including contracts. It was resolved that the OPPMB make producers aware of any plugged hogs in their group sold. The council requested OPPMB inform Agriculture Canada of their opposition to the importation of live hogs from the U.S. Producers saying the potential threat from pseudorabies would financially devastate the industry. A resolution was passed request- ing that a system be implemented by OPPMB, to provide producers with health and quality information on their hogs, from the packers, to upgrade the status of all Ontario hogs. The council resolved that, in the event of reduced funding from the government for the inspection and grading of hogs, independent inspectors should perform the duties, not the packing plants. Council requested OPPMB pre- sent all reports to them for discus- sion and approval before being released or action taken. The OPPMB was authorized to become marketers for all hogs and to use that strength to compete for and pursue new markets in Ontario, Canada, North America and the world. Because of costs, the OPPMB was requested to privatize or sell all yards. Inequities in the Quebec and Ontario systems led the council to pass the resolution that Canada Pork work to correct the differ- ences. In another piece of business, Ron Douglas retired as zone director after nine years, though he will remain as a Huron County director. 'Be my Vatentine and let's go to The Brussels Optimist's Dance & Draw on Feb. 11 Showing them up Tanya Franken accepts the award for Junior Showperson from Patrick Hallahan, representing Lazy Meadows Farm at the recent Hallrice 4-H awards night in Westfield. Winner Ryan Hallahan, left, received .the award for Intermediate Heifer at the annual Hallrice 4-H Dairy Club awards night held recently in Westfield. Presenting the award is Fred Armstrong. Milk Marketing Board reports market increase The Ontario Milk Marketing Board reported marketings of 2.315 billion litres of milk for the fiscal year ending Oct. 31, 1994. The figure released with the presenta- tion of the board's annual report at its 29th annual meeting in Toronto on Jan. 11 and 12, represents an increase of 126 million litres, or 5.8 per cent from previous year. For this milk, the board billed processors $1.270 billion. The board retained $47.9 million for milk transportation, $8.5 million for administration of the marketing system, $23.5 million for market expansion and about $116,000 to support the Dairy Science Research Chair. In addition, the board collected from producers on behalf of the federal government $36.3 million levies to cover the costs of exporting surplus skim milk powder and $5.3 million to cover the export of surplus product. The board also collected $1.2 million for the Ontario Dairy Herd Improvement Corporation in support of milk recording programs. The $1.15 billion balance was paid to about 8,200 licenced dairy farms in Ontario which support more than 13,000 families. The Ontario Milk Marketing Board is a non-profit dairy farmer organization that represents all milk producers in Ontario and is totally financed by them.