HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1986-07-16, Page 16Page 16
Times -Advocate, July.16, 1986
Long before Brent Maverick hit the
television screens, Samuel A.
Maverick, a civil engineer, owned un-
branded cattle in Texas from 1845 to
1856.
Because he was different, his name
today is synonymous with those who
dare to step off the beaten track.
• No other farm group has as many
mavericks as the men and women in
Ontario who raised beef cattle. I sup-
pose it is appropriate that the
mavericks are in the cattle business
because maverick also means
unbranded.
This is prelude to a new organiza-
tion in this province called Ontario
Beef Producers for Change Inc. They
are, of course, an off -shot of the On-
tario Cattlemens Association. The
OCA has been fighting for free enter-
prise for years. Members have been
opposed to the formation of a
marketing board for beef cattle. Time
aid again, the association has battl-
ed to remain under a free market
system.
Now comes Ontario Beef Producers
for Change.
"We are a group of cattlemen who
have joined together to take up some
of the challenges thatwe consider
detrimental to the health and well-
being of the Ontario cattle industry,"
states their promotion pamphlet. "We
have no affiliation politically. We are
not radicals. However, we are deep-
ly concerned about the future."
And they want to create an Ontario
beef commission which would market
all beef in the province. To market
beef in Ontario, you would have to sell
through the commission or its agents.
The pamphlet recommends zero -
valued quota with the commission
owning and controlling it.
I have never met a more fiercely in-
dependent group of people than beef
producers in Ontario. Some years ago
1 was guest speaker down Middlesex
way at an annual meeting of beef pro-
ducers. I spoke in favor of orderly
marketing and marketing boards.
The applause was not even polite.
Beef producers have been going
through rough times the past decade.
As this is written, cattle prices are
down around 79 cents a pound, a price
that will drive many into bankruptcy
if it remains at that level much
AUTHORITY TREE PLANTERS – Ausable-Bayfield Conservation
Authority chairman Gordon Johnson and Tuckersmith reeve Bob Bell
plant a commemorative tree at the Clinton conservation area, Satur-
day. T -A photo
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longer.
But the Ontario Cattlemens
Association is opliosed to a marketing
system that is regulated so the On-
tario Beef Producers for Change is
formed. Edgar Vanrabaey, RR 7,
Thamesville, Ont., is membership
chairman.
"Memeberships have been coming
in almost every day," he said, about
eight or 10 at a time. "It's better than
we expected." At the end of June,
almost 300 producers had joined the
new organization at $50 each.
It could be a costly fight for both
organizations: Tile Ontario.Beef-Pro-
dUcers for Change Inc. is asking all
beef producers to apply for a refund
of check -off, the amount charged
when cattle are sold which is turned
over to the Ontario Cattlemens
Association. The OCA has admitted
that refunds jumped to 20 percent late
last -year which put a definite crimp
in the OCA's budget planning
sessions.
To fight the refund question, the
OCA is asking the province to endorse
a non-refundable checkoff. At the an-
nual meeting in February, member-
ship voted 146 to 41 in favor of a non-
refundable checkoff and the ball is
now in Jack Riddell's court.
I am not sure how many beef pro-
ducers there are in Ontario but I think
it must be around 13,000 to 15,000 so
that a vote from less than 200 pro-
ducers is hardly an endorsement.
If the new group, the Ontario Beef
Producers for Change Inc., is going
to be sucessful, it will need a lot of
money, more than memberships can
give it at $50 a year.
In the meantime, it is an interesting
battle to watch from the sidelines.
Farm safety
Don't try to unplug an operating
baler! You may be tempted to speed
things up by leaving machinery run-
ning while working on it. Don't do it!
In trying to save a few seconds, you
could put youself out of commission
permanently. Shut off the tractor and
wait until ALL baler parts have stop-
ped moving before making ad-
justments. "Do it our way - it won't
hurt". This has been a message from
the Farm Safety Association. .
Forage Harvesting Safety
A forage harvester is a potentially
lethal machine. Forages must be fine-
ly chopped to make good silage; this
requires an extremely aggressive
machine. Stop equipment and wait
until all parts have stopped moving
before unplugging or making ad-
justments. Stand clear of the
discharge chute - there could be a
stone or piece of metal in the forage.
Remember you can master powerful
machinery with your mind, but never
with your muscle. "Do it our way - it
won't hurt". This has been a message
for the Farm Safety Association.
Conestoga slows
Clinton campus
On June 27, Canada Employment
and Immigration Commission an-
nounced an $837,000 reduction in fun-
ding in connection with sponsoring
students in programs at Conestoga
College. This reduction, a result of the
recently developed Canadian Jobs
Strategy, has forced Cgtestoga Cok
lege to reduce activity at the Clinton
campus.
All full-time program activity at
Clinton will be phased out by October
31. The campus will continue to
operate as a part-time learning
centre.
The College intends to ensure that
these actions, necessary in light of
funding reduction from Canada
Employment, result illi a minimum of
disruption or displacement for
students, faculty and staff.
For more information on the Col-
lege's response to this development,
contact Aubrey Hagar at
(519)653-2511, Ext. 230.
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THE WAY TO GARDEN — Remmie Grimminck of RR 3, Lucan
day's Heritage show in Ilderton.
Agricrew on
Agricrew is quickly approaching
the midway point of the program. The
crew members have been working ex-
tremely hard despite the weather
conditions.
The four Agricrews who work out
of Huron County have been kept busy
helping area farmers with haying,
fencing, weeding, and of course - pick-
ing stones. These eager students have
been working well together as a team
and emphasize satisfying results.
At the present time, area farmers
are needed to provide work for the
Agricrews. Bookings are needed for
the time between now and the 15th of
August. If you have any agricultural
related jobs that you just don't have
time to complete yourself, why not
give Agricrew a try. For $90 a day,
Agricrew may be hired up to a m-ix-
imum of five working days.
For more information on booking
an Agricrew, contact Brock
Whitehead or Dave Wright at the Clin-
ton O.M.A.F. office.
displays his 1915 garden tractor at Satur-
T-A photo
CHICKEN QUOTA
The production and marketing of chicken in Ontario is regulated
by The Ontario Chicken Producers' Marketing Board through a
quota system. Under a New Entrants Policy, up to eighteen persons
will be selected at random from eligible applicants and allotted
basic quota of 7,500 units which requires a building of a minimum
of 5,625 square feet.
The board gives no assurance that this amount of quota allows for a
viable operation or that any additional quota will be allotted in the
forseeable future.
To be eligible you must be an Ontario resident, be at least eighteen
years of age, not possess or have any interest, direct or indirect, in
any quota allotted by this local board or any other local board or
marketing board in Ontario.
To receive an application, Policy Statement and background
information, mail a request together with a certified cheque, bank
draft or postal money order for $100.00 as a refundable deposit to
the unsuccessful applicants, payable to The Ontario Chicken
Producers' Marketing Board to:
Chicken Quota, P.O. Box 63
Niagara Falls, Ontario L2E 658
Deadline for receipt of request for an application Sept. 30/1986.
THE ONTARIO CHICKEN PRODUCERS' MARKETING BOARD
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