HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen-Agriculture 2000, 2000-03-15, Page 43THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2000. PAGE A-19.
New computer program aids dairy farmers
With the assistance of a computer
disc or an internet connection and a
program from the Ontario Ministry
of Agriculture, Food and Rural
Affairs office, dairy farmers can
easily calculate the feasibility of
expansion.
Dairy Expansion Program 2000 is
a simple worksheet on which specif
ic information about an operation
can be entered to allow the farmer to
determine if expansion will work.
The first page of the worksheet
explains the process. The simple
entry of data into specified cells will
determine the final numbers.
Next is a look at the economics of
expansion. The operator must indi
cate current revenues and expenses
for the existing herd then determine
the percentage increase of each item
for the expansion.
If the percentage column is left
blank the increase will be calculated
proportionate to the increase in herd
size.
Farmers look at quality
Continued from A-15
HACCP, Hazard Analysis and
Critical Control Points, which was
developed in the 1960s by NASA
and Pillsbury to ensure safe food for
astronauts.
The World Health Organization
adopted it in 1991.
Used primarily for food processing
plants, it is a record-keeping systems
to control every step through the
food production system.
Quality assurance methods have
been used in dairy operations for a
number of years and are now moving
more strongly into poultry and hogs.
As a benefit to the producer, food
safety standards create importer and
consumer comfort levels as it says
the food is safe. Purchasers can then
pass on that assurance to their cus
tomers.
As seen in many of the smaller
meat packing plants in recent years,
one of the disadvantage of quality
assurance programs such as HACCP
is the sometimes inhibitive cost of
compliance.
The Canadian Quality Assurance
(CQA) program, an extension of
HACCP is now being demanded by
some processors, said Linton.
Ahrens added that CQA has helped
him find things to produce better ani
mals
Others said HACCP has forced
them to produce more so decisions
have to be made about the operation
and whether the standards can be
met.
While Ontario farmers have
accepted the call for CQA, spending
the $300 to $500 per bam to comply,
Linton said Quebec producers have
held out until they get a premium for
the hogs.
Ahrens stated that if the producers
are required to follow a quality
assurance program so should retail
ers. “It should go through to both
ends.”
He also questioned the standards
used for imported goods as that
would also benefit the world market.
The total net gain or loss is then
ascertained.
An expansion proposal is worked
through to look at current assets and
liabilities as well as expected
changes.
With incurred debt comes debt
servicing. A worksheet goes through
how the debt of expansion would be
carried.Home-grown feed require
ments are also reviewed.
Once all the information is
entered, the resulting numbers will
assurance
There was concern about food
safety standards in some industries.
One man said the cost of safety stan
dards in the Jamb industry would be
hard on many farmers because most
are small operations.
It was also stated that food safety
deals only with bacterial safety and
has nothing to do with nutrient qual
ity.
There is also potential for abuse of
the system as packers become fully
integrated and do their own testing, a
participate stated.
Conclusion
Participants-then broke in to sever
al groups to discuss the various man
agement concepts and trends.
The questionnaire resuits and
issues examined will be compiled by
the CFFO into a report following all
the workshops.
give the farmer a better idea if
expansion if the right answer.
Dairy Expansion Program 2000 is
available in various formats. Check
out OMAFRA’s website at
www.gov.on.ca/OMAFRA/engiish/b
usdev/agbusdev.html. Look for the
link to the dairy expansion work
book under the computer manage
ment tools.
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