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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1978-08-10, Page 16 (2)Page 16 Times -Advocate, August 10, 1978 Bochanges policy after 77 disaster Won't sell beans until. harvested By Alice Gibb • This year, the Ontario Bean Producers Matketing Board won't be selling any white begins until they have them in hand. Bob Allen, a Huron county director of the board, told 'members of the• Huron County Federation of Agriculture at their monthly fneeting in Crediton that the board won't be able to make any advance sales of the 1978 bean crop. In the past, the Onta�rrio Bean Producers -Marketing Board have made advance commitments to supply dealers with 25 percent of the years expected harvest of No. 1 Ontario white beans. Last year, heavy rains in September created problems for growers trying to harvest their beans, and much of the crop was lost. When the poor weather wiped out much of Ontario's bean crop, the board was able to supply the dealers .with only about one-quarter of the 800,000 bags of'No. 1 white beans they had promised to deliver. The dealers to turn had to fill from canning factories European orders with poorer JIM SIDDALL &SON LICENSED 8 INSURED TRUCKER • LIVESTOCK • GRAIN • FERTILIZER •FARM SUPPLIES KIRKTON 229-6439 Gabian Stone Calcium Chloride in 100 pound bags Sand & Stone Gravel Stone for Weeping Beds EARL LIPPERT TRUCKING LTD. Crediton 234-6382 quality beans, beans pur- chased from American growers or had to buy back the orders from factories with cash. The two largest dealers which the Ontario Bean Producers Marketing Board sell to, the Ontario Bean Growers Co-operative in London and W G. Thomp- son's and Sons. blame the farmers for not meeting their -commitments and so they are holding back the final payment for the beans. - AIIen said. Since the dealer's haven't made the final payment ,to the Ontario Bean -Producers Marketing board, they can't - make the payment to growers. The board is now suing the dealers for the final $5 to $7 million dollar payment and the two dealers are countersuing the board for a payment for: the beans they had promised but weren't able to deliver. Allen told Tederation members he expects the litigation will be tied up in court for some time. which means, it will likely be at . least another *year before' -growers receive their final payment for the 1977 crop. Mr. Allen. a commercial bean seed grower from Brucefield, said he would try and explain "why the bean board is in the mess it is." In tracing the background of the agency. Allen said when his father started growing beans, in the early 1900's the barter system was the rule of thumb. • If- his father wanted a bag of sugar. he took a bag of beans - into town. and made a trade. Gradually- marketing boards sprang up to handle beans for growers. including a 1935 board which -was- empowered to buy and sell all the beans for the growers. This board lasted- only the year. Mr. Allen said the boards for the next 20 -year period were "negotiating boards." For every bag of beans growers delivered to the mill, the board would take 77 cents of the purchase price. Then. every few years when ther-e was a five to 10 percent surplus of white beans. the board would buy this up and dispose of it. so the surplus didn't bring down prices. But improved insect sprays and the use of 'combines allowed bean growers to double their acreage and the board soon_ facedannual surpluses. In the late 1960's. the board decided to- build a mill in Exeter. and suggested 'taking 10 cents from every bag of beans brought in by growers. The growers voted down the suggestion. and the government .took this as a vote of nonconfidence in the board. Allen said some dealers wanted to be rid of the the board anyway. so "tram - Flies A Problem? Complete Line of You'll Find The Knock Out Punch You Need Here FLY SPRAYS Including The Air Guard ,Control System OileYd At 36.95 Exeter District ped up false charges" against the agency which was put out of office by the government. The board member said the only other marketing board which. supported the Bean Producers was the hog producers agency. In 1969. the Ontario Iriederahon of Agriculture _ sent down a troubleshooter from Toronto to investigate the situation and he decided the charges were false and alerted farmers. The directors were. re-elected anti the Ontario Bean Producers Board was back in business. Allen said the board still Laced the same old problem - ' what to do with the surplus - beans." He said the board has to sell beans when the market wants to buy them. Since 80 percent of the Onta4'io white bean crop is. exported, the agency has to- accept the world price that's being offered. Allen said for the three years before the agency 'marketed beans, the growers were averaging S1 - per bag less than Michigan growers and that -they .averaged SI per bag..more since the beans were -handled by the board. The Ontario Bean Producers Board markets all the beans-- of Ontario growers, although growers can hold their beans back after harvest. Buy elsewhere - Allen said the European buyers can beans every day of the year. and "if you hold your beans back, they'll- buy somewhere else." He said the problem oc- curs when everyone_ tries to sell the crop at'once, and the price of beans goes 'down. Although dealers sell the majority. of Ontariobeans to Britain.- Allen said last year's crop was sold in 51 other countries as well. He said three European buyers were touring Ontario this week and that "they've got to have our beans and we t growers and board ► have to have them." He said the buyers in Britain have assured the board that they would never buy their beans all from one country. One grower in the audience expressed concern .that buyers might purchase .all their beans• from the United States. American growers are expecting a very good crop this year. In response to questions from other bean growers in the audience, Allen said as far as the board knows, the dealers cannot put a lien on future bean crops. He said dealers can't take the debt from one pool and carry it -to the next. Allen also told the growers that under the federal government stablization program for the 1977 white bean crop, pedigreed' seed growers do not qualify for • assistance. - • • Payments The government stablization payments are expected to be made to bean growers by the end of this - month. In response to another question about Ethiopia's entry into the world bean Market, Allen ,said although the country was the third largest exporter of beans f"or one year, this was because the government encouraged farmers to go. into beans to get money to buy arms. Allen said the Ethiopian beans were sold largely •to German canning factories since the Germans can their beans in salt brine, and sell them in glass jars, rather than canning them in tomato sauce. The board member said the German factories preferred the.appearance of •the Ethiopian beans. In response to another question, Allen said growers would have taken more of the 1977 crop off the land if there fi►adn't been crop in- surance. - - He said if this had hap- pened, there would have been more poorer. quality Beans to . be sold to the Japanese market or. to 'be made into dog food; Bean jam . The Japanese buyers use - the beans to make bean jam, so don't require the highest grade •of bean. •Allen asked bean growers who had any questions about the board to call him or the other ,,three_ Huron County directors., He "said the directors rarely receive calls, despite the many rumours about the board. In other business, mem- bers were asked to contact their local papers to ask why they weren't publishing the monthly Farmers' Price Index prepared , by the Ontario Federation of. Agriculture. Peter Hannam, federation president. said in a letter to members that while the Toronto dailies and other large national dailies were publishing the index. the sntalltown• papers didn't seem to use it. The executive committee of the Hurnon County F4deration of Agriculture is going to draft a letter to the local media about carrying the index each month. Bill Crawford. fieldman for the Huron County federation, told members a very successful canvas for new members was com- pleted in the north of the county, with 50 new mem- berships purchased. LOW FLYING — Bridget Zimmer made like one of the Wright brothers during Saturday's. Friedsburg Days parade in Dashwood. , T -A photo Don't buy until you see the Vest. EXETER 235-2081 Grain Bins by Butler: If you think all grain bins are alike, you're in for a pleasant surprise when we show you a Grain Bin by Butler. ' You'll' see how Butler engineering has designed in protec- tion for your grain ... safe from weather and rodents. You can choose from a complete line of sizes and capacities to meet your needs. Dont buy any grair).bin until you see the best. Grain Bins by Butler. • MF Agri-Builde s can design, supply and install a complete grain storage and drying facility at very competiti.ve prices. Call us soon for more information. MF AGRI BUILDERS RR 2, Staffa Ontario, NOK 1 YO Phone 345-2611 �TLE_R>e 1 AGRI-BUILDER 1 He said since the federation couldn't get someone to donate a building for use at International Plowing Match, the federation booth will be in a tent this year. Adrian Vos reported that there- are rumours Canada Packers and its union are talking about a strike set- tlement. He said the only problem the Canada Packers and Swift strike -is creating is that many hog producers are taking their light hogs to market early in the week. - He said producers are lining up to ship their hogs early in the week, and the hogs are losing weight in the barns while waiting to be slaughtered. Vos advised producers to "ship hogs late in the week." VET GRADUATE — Peter William Kleinstiver, son of Mr. and Mrs. Louie Kleinstiver, Dashwood, recently received his Master of Science degree in Phar- macology with distinction from the Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario. He has accepted a position with Ortho Diagnostics as their representative in Ottawa. Peter received his Honours BSc from the University of Guelph in 1977 and 'is _a graduate of South Huron District High School. ' Otil' FOR A FAMILY RIDE — The Percy Bedard family of Zurich enjoyed a horse and buggy ride in Saturday's Friedsburg Days parade in Dashwood. T -A photo Decorate Brinsleyravesg fkenneth and Eleanor visitors with Mr. & Mrs. Jordon, Paris were Sunday John Dyck and Victor. . By GORDON MORLEY BRINSIEY Mr. & Mrs. Kelly Morgan, Sarnia, Mr. & Mrs: "'Bill Fenton, Belgrave, and MSs. Lois Whittard, Niagara on the Lake. attended Ebenezer Decoration service. Sunday. Mr. & Mrs. Jim Morley attended the funeral of Mrs: Robert Flynn Wednesday held from the M. Box & Son Funeral Home, Parkhill. Dale Fenton is spending a few days with Mr. & Mrs. George Prest. Mr. & Mrs. Ron Lougheed and Daryl of Condor, Alberta., and Mr. & Mrs. Garnet Trevithiek, St. Thomas were Teusday visitors with Mr. & Mrs. Jack Trevithick. A good crowd attended Decoration Day Sunday afternoon at Ebenezer Cemetery for decoration of the graves at 1 p.m. followed by a memorial service in Brinsley nited Church. Mr.• Peter Snell was the,speaker. He and his wife sang several musical numbers. - Mr. & Mrs. Wilbert Lewis attended the Bullock reunion held at the Ailsa Craig Park on Sunday. • Mr. & Mrs. Jim Hodgins and Andrea of Strathroy were weekend visitors with Mr. & Mrs. Fred Lewis. EVERY DAY FARM SAFETY TRUST COMPANY/GUARANTEED CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE Representing many trust com- panies, highest rates usually available. For more information contact John R. Consitt at 236-4381 or 236-4560 Best Interest 1/2 % We represent many.. Trust Companies. We are often able to arrange for the highest interest being offered on Guaranteed Investment Certificates. * Subjest to change Gaiser-Kneale Insurance Agency Inc. Exeter Office 235-2420 • Grand Bend Office 238-8484 Wheat, oats barley or quackgrass. What are you harvesting next year? ROUNDUP® WILL CONTROL QUACKGRASS THIS FALL, FOR A CLEAN START COME SPRING. Next spring, nothing will be more important than getting in and planting as early as possible. Un- fortunately, that doesn't - leave much time for dealing with quackgrass. unless you apply Roundup® herbicide by Monsanto this fall after harvest. Simply allow the quackgrass to re- . grow undisturbed in -' <,, the crop stubble until ':k;^ the majority of plants are actively growing ----s and at least 8 inches high (3-4 leaf stage): But treat before the - first killing frost. t` tillage operations. Since Roundup has no re- - sidual soil activity, you can plant wheat, oats or barley next spring — without risk of crop in- jury. What's more, many farmers using Roundup as the key element, in a / quackgrass con-• trol program, have been able to achieve manage- able quackgrass control for as long as three years. Don't think of treating quack - grass as one more chore in the fall. • Think of it as one less' chore in the spring. See your dealer about Roundup. The herbicide that gets to the root of the problem. Properly ' applied; Roundup will be absorbed and "translocated" down into the network of rhizomes — de- stroying the entire plant, above and below ground. Five days after treatment, you can resume fall There's never been a ,herbicide like this before. ALWAYS READ AND CAREFULLY FOLLOW THE LABEL DIRECTIONS FOR ROUNDUP HERBICIDE. Ro ndup' is a registered trademark of Monsanto Comppaannyy. 'Monsanto Company,J978 R0818 Monsanto MONSANTO C ANADA LTD. TORONTO, MONTREAL VANCOUVER, WINNPEG