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THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 24, 1996 PAGE 15.
Huron Beef Producers annual meeting
Speaker calls for public appreciation of farmers
By Bonnie Gropp
Media relations is an important
aspect of many businesses and agri-
culture is no exception.
This was the message of Kevin
Stewart, producer of The Family
Farmer, when he spoke at the
By Bonnie Gropp
The question of a national check-
off was at issue during the Huron
County Beef Producers annual
meeting in Clinton, Jan. 17.
Ontario Cattleman's Association
(OCA) director, Linda Barker, of
Hagersville, provided some back-
ground for three draft proposals
presented. When the checkoff, a
regulation made under the Beef
Cattle Marketing Act, that governs
the application of OCA license fee
deductions, came into effect in
1968, it was applied on a per head
basis. Then in 1981, OCA
approved applying the checkoff on
a per cent of value basis.
A draft resolution was presented
at Wednesday's meeting to change
the OCA checkoff to $2.25 per
head. •
Explaining a second draft resolu-
tion, Barker said, discussion has
been taking place for a few years
on an implementation of a national
beef checkoff at $1 per head.
Ontario cattlemen have supported
the concept because, Barker said, it
represents the only mechanism to
collect a checkoff on imports of the
cattle and beef.
If the national checkoff is
endorsed by cattlemen across Cana-
da, Barker explained, the OCA
checkoff would be reduced by an
amount approximately equal to the
national checkoff.
She stressed that this proposal is
not a money grab by OCA, adding
her personal feeling that it is an
issue that needs to be resolved once
and for all. "I think we all need to
work together."
If both the OCA checkoff and
OMAFRA sets
courses dates
Continued from page 14
course.
In Huron County, course dates
are Wednesday, Feb. 7, 14, 21, 28
from 7:30 - 10 p.m. to be held in
the OMAFRA seminar room in
Clinton.
Registration fee for the course is
$25 for one person, or $35 for two
people from the same operation.
Registration is limited to 24 per
course.
Seminars will be held by
OMAFRA staff along with presen-
tations by a lawyer, accountant and
a farmer. Topics include planning
for retirement, wills, power of
attorney, business arrangements,
and other legal issues; strategies for
the sale or transfer of farm assets,
financing a transfer, developing
family business succession goals,
family communication and decision
making.
This course will help you with
personal and business issues in
light of the latest legal and tax
rules. Following the course, you
will be better prepared to seek out
and instruct your professional
advisors.
For further information, or to
register, contact the OMAFRA
office in Clinton at 4.82-3428 or 1-
800-265-5170.
Huron Beef Producers annual meet-
ing, Jan. 17 in Clinton.
Stewart, a graduate of Toronto's
York University, whose roots are in
farming, says that it's time for the
general public to appreciate the
national checkoff are on a per head
basis, market operators, livestock
dealers and packers would simply
make one deduction per head, for-
ward the total deduction to OCA,
which would then forward $1 per
head of that amount to the national
agency.
Barker said that with a checkoff
fee set at $1 per head for all cattle
the projected revenue is $7.5 mil-
lion annually. The breakdown is
$6.75 million from domestic sales
and $.75 million from cattle and
beef imports.
By comparison, the current Beef
Information Centre budget is $5.3
million based on an assessment of
95 cents per head, although, Barker
said, not all provinces in Canada
provide full funding to BIC.
The national checkoff funds
would be distributed to the BIC (90
per cent), Canada Beef Export Fed-
eration (five per cent) and Beef
Industry Research Council (five per
cent).
The Huron Producers voted in
favour of both drafts as well as a
third regarding an extension of the
OCA checkoff to beef breeding cat-
tle sales.
Presently the checkoff exempts
public auctions' sales of breeding
cattle. If a national checkoff is
approved by all provinces, unifor-
mity is desirable, Barker said.
The national checkoff will not
come into effect this year, she said,
but added that "by getting it on the
table we are showing we're in
favour."
In other business, Barker told the
beef producers that consumption of
beef had increased in 1994 by 1.8
pounds on a per capita basis, for a
total of 50 million more pounds
than in the previous year.
She spoke briefly on the Cattle
Options pilot project, which deals
with risk management. Barker said
there is a book available on the
hard work that goes into growing
food, which is why he continues to
push the message of communica-
tion.
Stewart then told an amusing
anecdote about a young child set-
ting the dinner table in preparation
subject and OCA is willing to work
with any individuals interested.
She added that there are presently
14 feeder cattle co-ops in existence,
with two awaiting funding. A total
of 50,000 cattle were purchased.
New executives
The Huron Beef Producers Asso-
ciation directors for 1996 were
named at the annual meeting in
Clinton on Jan. 17.
Local township directors are:
Grey, Calvin Semple, RR1, Ethel,
George Pearson, Ethel, Keith
McLean, RR3, Brussels; Hullett,
Rick Archambault, RR1, Auburn,
Gordon Gross, RR1, Auburn, Kittie
MacGregor, RR1, Londesboro;
McKillop, Jack Flanagan, RR1,
Dublin, Earl McSpadden, RR1,
Seaforth, Carl Bolton, RR1,
Dublin; Morris, Kevin McArter,
Brussels, Glenn Coultes RR5,
Brussels, Cam Procter, RR5, Brus-
sels; East Wawanosh, Barry Elliott
RR1, Lucknow, Ralph Scott, RR3,
Blyth, Doug Howatt, RR1, Bel-
grave; West Wawanosh, Neil Rin-
toul,'RR2, Lucknow, Lloyd
Morrison, RR1, Lucknow, Bill
Sproul, RR3, Auburn.
Flanagan was elected OCA direc-
tor, while first and second alter-
nates were Ken Alton, Ashfield and
Alan Powe, Stephen, respectively.
In other business, the annual bar-
becue will be held in Brussels on
March 23.
A donation of $200 was made to
Slice of Huron.
MP Paul Steckle spoke briefly to
the producers asking them to work
together and individually to keep
Canada strong.
Neil Rintoul thanked Steckle for
his presence at the meeting, adding
that the MP's concern and interest
in the agricultural industry are evi-
dent in the face that he does -his
best to attend when asked.
for a pastor's visit. When his moth-
er pointed out that the son had for-
gotten to set any utensils at the
pastor's place the son replied, that it
wasn't necessary. "You told me
Rev. Smith eats like a horse."
Stewart emphasized, "Communi-
cation is a very interesting thing,
especially when it's not done right."
Farmers, he said, are some of the
country's best executives and man-
agers. "But they are going to have
to become media literate. You will
have to know what the media can
do to you and for you. As much as
I can say we need you, you need us
too."
Stewart gave several examples of
misconceptions about farming. He
also told of a substitute teacher in
another county who is showing a
film to students, "Food without
Fear."
"This teacher also tells students
to stand barefoot on chicken wire,
then asks, 'How do you like it?',"
Stewart said.
"The tragedy is that truth is
becoming irrelevant, it's what peo-
ple perceive to be true that they
believe. If the agriculture commu-
nity does not speak up, perceptions
may be based less on truths, than
theories."
The decreasing number of farm-
ers is another reason for them to
make sure their message is heard,
Stewart added.
Saying that those in the agricul-
tural industry must work hard and
get the attention of politicians,
Stewart touched briefly on the
power of television. "In my biased
opinion, TV is the single most
powerful form of media. If you
don't believe me, look at your liv-
ing room. We organize our furni-
ture around that thing."
Stewart provided some tips for
becoming media literate.
Every industry has jargon, he
said, and agriculture is no excep-
tion. "When you speak to the media
lose the jargon. The majority of
people don't know what you know
about your business. Keep it sim-
ple."
Secondly, Stewart said to see the
media as an opportunity. "If they
come to you for comment at least
you have a chance to tell your
story. If you decline chances are
only one side will be heard."
Stewart said when contacted by
the media it's advisable to find out
what kinds of questions they are
going to ask, then take control of
the interview. "When asked a
pointed question don't deflect it.
Take control and direct which way
the interview is going to go."
He closed with another story of a
man who did something foolish,
then, when asked why, replied,
"You can't just sit there."
Stewart said, "There's a message
here. The media's job is not to pro-
tect you, it's to raise your issues.
People are not going to hear your
side if you don't tell it."
Prod. discuss nat. checkoff