Loading...
Huron Expositor, 2007-12-12, Page 8Page 8 The Huron Expositor • December 12, 2007 News Meeting to discuss crisis facing beef industry Hilary Long Like much of the agriculture industry, the beef industry is suffer- ing great losses and will be holding a meeting tomorrow night, Dec. 13, to discuss the issues and what can be done to reverse the trend. Bill Jeffery, president of the Perth County Cattleman's Association, said the meeting hosted by Huron, Perth and Wellington Cattlemen's Associations will see beef producers discussing the current crisis facing the beef industry. It's being held at the Agriculture Society Buildingin Listowel at 7:30 p.m. Representatives from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and the Canadian and Ontario Cattlemen's Associations will be in attendance. All local MPs and MPPs have also been invited to attend. "Hopefully we can encourage all beef farmers to come out and vent their frustrations and tell the offi- cials that we need help," said Jeffery. The biggest issue facing the industry is low prices, and it has been since the August, he said, not- ing the industry has been suffering ever since 9/11 in 2001, when the price of beef fell 40 cents. "That took nine months to recover, we had a good winter of. 2002/03 and then in the spring t'f 2003 we had BSE (bovine spongiform encephalopathy) and the government came in and helped us," he said. "We have worked our ways though the BSE years and it has been tough going. Now we have had a grading sys- tem added which has us losing $320 up with the margins. on an animal older than 30 "In the beef industry, some pro - months," Jeffery said. ducers have been running a deficit In 2007, the Canadian Food and on a five-year average - if a Inspection Agency has enforced a producer has three negative mar - specific feed ban so you certain gins out of the five years - they do materials once not qualify for one cent of help and found in animal those are the guys that need it the feed can no most, and it's not that they're bad longer be used. producers," said Jeffery. "We have "The packing taken four hits in the last five plants are now years, so we have no margins." "paying dispersal But Jeffery said one of the great - fees and that has est problems lies within the market - translated to ing system. lower prices for "I believe the consumer is paying the producer," he said. And with a changing Canadian dollar the beef industry, like most industries, has continued to lose money. He said the industry is lobbying the government for assistance, but "the government wanted the CAIS program to look after this." "But in the beef industry, with all our lows, our margins are very small," he contin- ued. The Canadian Agricultural Income Stabilization program looks at farmers' allowable income and expenses and one sub- tracts the other to come e have to rectfy this or in 10 years there won't be a beef industry,'-. Bil Je feliy, Perth Ca emen's Assoc#ation president DI41111. RE( t O R Y )'m are invited to attend these arra churches • ST. THOMAS ANGLICAN CHURCH A Congregation of the Parish alibi Holy Spirit Jarvis St. Seaforth 519-527-1522 Sunday, Dec. 16 3rd Sunday in Advent Worship at 9:30 am Lessons & Carols Service followed by refreshments Everyone Welcome BETHEL BIBLE CHURCH An Associated Gospel Church 126 Main St. Seaforth 519-527-0982 Sunday School • All Ages • 9:45am Sunday Worship Ilam Pastor Mark Kennedy EVERYONE WELCOME NORTHSIDE UNITED Welcomes YOU Sunday Ilam Worship Nursery & Sunday School Midweek Programs In54 Goderich St.W. Seaforth 527-2635 www.cavannorthsideunited.ca ST. JAMES ROMANc4THOLIC CHURCH Welcomes you 14 Victoria Street, Seaforth 519-527-0142 Sunday Mass Ilam St. Patrick's, Dublin Sat. Mass 5 pm - Sun. Mass 9am Fr. Chris Gillespie EGMONDVILLE UNITED CHURCH Sunday, Dec 16 Pastor Steve Hildebrand WORSHIP AT Ilam Sunday School IOam Everyone welcome FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Goderich St. W., Seaforth Rea Henry Huberts Sunday, Dec. 16 miles Service • Sunday School and Nursery Provided enough for the meat in the store. The prices are dear," he said, noting it's from the door of the packing plant to the consumer's door where there's something wrong. "I think it's in the wholesale/retail. Too much of the consumer's dollar is going to the retail, and it has nothing to do the the production," he said. "The government wants to know what we want and it's time we as the beef industry step up and think outside the box and look at a mar- keting strategy that is good for all sectors in the beef industry," he con- tinued. "We do need financial help but we also have to move forward as an industry." Jeffery fears that if things do not change in the beef industry, there will be 50 per cent less producers this time next year in Ontario. "We have gone through so many tough times that everyone has tightened their belt and we can't tighten them anymore," he said. "Inflation has raced by us and we need to get a larger share of the consumer dollar and the consumer shouldn't have to pay more for their beef then they already are," he said. "We have to move to rectify this or in 10 years there won't be a beef industry left. I think the worst thing a nation can dosis not to feed itself," Jeffery said. Alliance should balance budget Despite facing a slight deficit — approximately 0.2 per cent — at the end of its third quarter, Huron -Perth Healthcare Alliance (HPHA) CEO Andrew Williams is optimistic the local organiza- tion will meet its balanced budget for 2007-08. "We monitor our financial information every quarter and yes we are facing a slight deficit, but we expect to have that addressed by our fiscal year-end in March," Williams said in an interview on Monday. "We're always focused on the bottom line and I don't anticipate any program impact because of our'finan- cial situation. It won't affect our ability to continue doing the things we do." The 2007-08 HPHA budget was discussed at last week's Clinton Local Advisory Committee (LAC) and Alliance board meetings, held on Dec. 5 and 6, respectively. Looking ahead, Williams told both boards that the Alliance has sent balanced budgets for 2008-09 and 2009-2010 to the Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs) as required by its accountability agreement. "When we look out to Ills/. &Mum Design Corm !lane le* Siisyeto Design Conwkan West Coact k i t c h e n s... And Much More • Kitchens • CustomVanities • Entertainment Units • Home Offices PalmosoNAL i1eAILA Visit Our Showroom! 50 West St. Goderich 519-440-0352 • 1-866-440-0352 Ceoelerkk & Durran Chamber of Commerce R.Naeu or the Year Award 3006 Eaeail: westeasstliktionblete.occa the next two years we know what increase in funding to expect from the government but the fact that our expenses are increasing 1.5 to two per cent higher than that creates ongoing financial frustra- tion," he explained. In order to balance the two future budgets, Williams said the Alliance made some "assumptions" regarding funding for e -health and non- emergent patient transporta- tion. "We'll get into discussions with the LHIN about that funding in the new year," he added. By Jennifer Hubbard CORRECTION NOTICE Re: Mitchell Depot Sizzlin' Hot Savings Sale Dates: Dec. 13 - 15, 2007 Sylvania Super Mini Twister Light Bulbs Stock No. 174-2319 Incorrectly Reads: 6 Pack It Should Read: 3 Pack We apologize for any inconvenience caused to our customers. Body Basics By Jen *Deep Muscle Therapy *Reflexology •Reiki *Ear Candling 79 Nelson St. HensaII 519-262-2952