Loading...
The Citizen, 2004-12-09, Page 13Helping others Brussels AgriServices and The Cowboy Loft presented a $500 cheque to the Huron County Christmas Bureau raised through donations from attendees at their Nov. 14 fashion show. From left: The Cowboy Loft owner Donna Prior, co-manager of the Wingham branch of the Huron County Christmas Bureau Marg Mann and The Cowboy Loft manger Shari Stewart. (Elyse DeBruyn photo) • Licensed Septic Installations • Screened & Field Topsoil • Bark Mulch • Sand • Gravel • Fill • Backhoeing • Bulldozing • Excavating • Loading & Hauling John McKercher Give us a call 887-9061 Fax 887-8734 Construction Ltd I Cell Phone 357-6547 R. 2 Bluevaid O Tokens available just in time for Christmas \ti 389 Queen St, Blyth 523-9725 fl) -,0 Air -sr' entral Huron REMINDER for the Municipality of Central Huron SNOW BY-LAWS NO OVERNIGHT PARKING PERMITTED ON ANY MUNICIPAL STREETS OR ROADS. Every person who is the owner or occupant of a commercial or business building located in the area designated as Commercial shall clear away and remove any snow and ice from the roof of such buildings and shall also clear away and remove the snow and ice from the sidewalks in front of, alongside, or at the rear of such building. DEPOSITING OF SNOW ON STREET ALLOWANCES No person shall deposit any snow or ice upon any portion of any highway, street or bridge located within the limits df the Municipality of Central Huron. No person shall move snow within the street allowance from one side of the cleared portion of the street allowance intended for vehicular and pedestrian traffic to the other side of the street allowance. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2004. PAGE 13. Contingency plan in place to address issues Continued from page 1 not as accurate as it should haVe been. "Producer optimism had hit bottom. People weren't even calling anymore to ask when the border might open. Also the banks were getting tougher regarding financing as well." Another issue was that there was no bottom to the market. "It just kept dropping. The market was completely dysfunctional." Stewart also noted that at the same time "consumers, God bless them, didn't back off." The objective for OCA was to come up with a national program that would restore confidence, reassure lenders of viability, and focus less on the border while ensuring that when it opened the industry would be prepared. One of the areas to consider was increasing the slaughter capacity in Canada. Also, said Stewart, "We need to get our dependence on the United States down, so we were working at getting export markets." The alternative tax and financing strategy which OCA requested didn't happen. "You don't always get what you ask for." Stewart also stated that it was important to "allow markets to operate at optimal capacity through normal market channels. We've actually hit weeks of 82 per cent which is good performance from the plants." The money from the federal and provincial government •has been helping to keep the industry alive, and Stewart said OCA is continuing to lobby for money for producers. Finally, he said, they hope to eliminate supplementary import permits. "We want the capacity put in plaCe to have a market here in Canada. When that border opens it's unlikely that any cattle over 30 months will cross, so we need to have a market here for them." Stewart also defended government saying that it is easy to "slam" them, but "we have worked tirelessly with government and they have worked tirelessly with us. The government has supported us. These are complex programs we've had to work through." SET ASIDE Joanne Handley of OMAF explained the set aside programs, funded through the province. It is basically a reverse auction system. A bid is submitted at a price per Hospital may leave Alliance Continued from page 1 course is needed to achieve it. Councillor Larry McGrath said, "they want viable sites but are slowly killing it. They are setting the tone and the job seems to be to stop the tone-Setting". The overall consensus seemed to be that membership in the Alliance was giving the hospital no advantage. "Since it is the smallest," Rodney stated, "it can be squeezed most easily and with the least squawk." It was recognized that council should request a meeting with the Alliance through the LAC and, failing any -positive outcome from that, Seaforth hospital may have to consider leaving the Alliance and going it alone, as Exeter's hospital is doing. At this point though, until there is further clarification, all is conjecture and preparation for what might lie ahead in the hospital's future. head that they would accept to set aside a number of market-ready cattle. Those chosen are based on the lowest bid until the target number of set aside cattle or the ceiling bid has been met. The set aside is for 90 to 120 days. To participate producers must register with OMAF at 1-888-292- 5856. There is no application and the minimum number of cattle that can be bid on in one lot is 20. Auctions are 2 p.m, Monday to 2 p.m. Wednesday. Thursday will be when contact is made regarding acceptance. The bids are anonymous said Handley with only the provincial administrator having the information. Eligible fed cattle must be an average, weight of 1,300 lbs for steers or 1,200 pounds for heifers. Successful bidders are notified by OMAF. They must submit the CCIA tag numbers and on-farm verification agents will visit to verify the cattle meet the requirements. For feeder cattle the calves must be born in 2004 and owned by the applicant. They cannot be sold until Sept. 1, 2005 or slaughtered until Jan. 1, 2006. The number of calves eligible for set aside has to be equal to the greater of 40 per cent to the applicant's beef cow inventory that calved in 2004 or 40 per cent of 2004 beef calves owned by the applicant. "Whichever is the greater of the two," said Handley. The producer, she said, will receive payment of $200 per head. "One hundred and ninety dollars are the costs associating with holding the calves until Jan. 1, 2006. The remaining $10 is for the costs associated with the set aside tags." A producer will be required to pay that back if the cattle are slaughtered prior to Jan. I. 2006. "In this case you did not fulfill the agreement." If the border opens, all set aside cattle will be released from the program, said Handley. If a tag is lost the producer will need to replace it. A death must be reported with documentation. • Handley said that there will be 115,000 cattle in the program. To date they have reached 49 per cent of that total. The program is "first come, first served. The cut-off will be Jan. 15 or when 115,000 cattle are in the program. It is hoped that the first cheques will be issued by Christmas. In response to a question Handley said "any cattle owned by federally- inspected packers are not eligible for these programs." TRADE Bobby Seever, a senior policy advisor with OMAF was present to discuss BSE and trade. "Where are we 18 months later?" "I'm here I guess to answer the burning question. When will the border open? cur to the chase. I don't know. If Bush couldn't give a definite answer, it's not up to me either." Seeber explained that the process is underway, but there's a lot of work to be done. "That's most of my good news tonight." USDA considered over 1,500 comments and have submitted a proposed rule to the U.S. Office of Managment and Budget. The next step, said Seeber, can take up to 90 days. Should they deem it a major rule, it could be subject to a congressional review, said Seeber. What this would mean in terms of time is unknown. However, he said, "If they deem it to be economically significant, and the U.S. president has given every indication that they should expedite it, it would go back to USDA which could publish a final rule and set an implementation date." "We are likely looking at a five to six month process ahead of us." The positive side, he re-iterated was that Bush had said "he was supportive of this rule moving forward." Seeber said as well it is important to remember that all parties are up against agricultural protocols that have been in place for many years. "What we don't know are the details of the rule. What kind of requirements might. rest with this rule." The other unknown is what lobby groups can do to slow the process. "The resumption of the R-CALF court challenge hangs over this." While there is still a U.S. perception of this being a contentious issue, Seeber said there are also strong American proponents of favour of normalizing trade. "But keep in mind that many below the border believe there is no BSE there. At the official level at least there is an understanding that what we have here is equal to what's in the U.S." That key markets are being re- opened is good news, said Seeber, suggesting that jurisdictions outside Canada see that the efforts here to ensure the safety of the jbeef have been sufficient. "I'm sure I haven't made you happy, but Canada has fared well. I know it's no solace to you, but.while the re-opening of the borders seems frustratingly gradual, it is moving at a lightning pace compared to the experience of other nations." "I know from your situation this has gone at an iceberg's pace, but there are other that think we can move mountains."