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Home My WebLink AboutTimes Advocate, 1995-02-15, Page 11ARM IL ATF. Oneloot in the Furrow By Bob Trotter Farmers should stick together Party unity and solidarity in the Canadian polit- ical scene has been described by some people but it seems to work better than the American system where members can break ranks at any time. I believe farmers should stick together the same way the Grits and Tories and the NDPers do in Parliament. When the general public hears farmers bicker- ing and snarling among themselves, the agricul- tural community diminishes in the eyes of the public. Harriet Behar, a U.S. organic marketer, spoke to a group of organic farmers in Guelph last month and she implored them to work together with traditional farmers. "You," she told the 100 people at the Organic Growers conference, "must work alongside, not against others in the food industry. You cannot afford to get into fights over whose food is safest or purest. "We'll get caught in a very dangerous cycle if we try to prove that we're purer, cleaner or safer than someone else. These are claims you just cannot make." Behar is marketing director of Coulee Region Organic Produce Ppol, a farmer -owned dairy co- operative in Wisconsin that sells dairy products under the Organic Valley label. The group, start- ed in 1988 by seven farmers, now has 59 mem- bers in three states and generated sales of $5.2 million US last year. The co-op sells milk, 16 types of cheese, butter, yogurt, speciality cheese for baby food and milk for further processing un- der its own name and also for some private labels for natural food markets. Rather than advertise and promote products as safer and cleaner, Behar focusses on the concept of land stewardship and enhancing rural commu- nities by providing smaller operations with the income they need to keep fanning. By filling these niche markets without slamming traditional farmers, the company has prospered. "We're another type of product." she said. "We don't want to push the conventional products off the shelf. We're trying to make friends with the larger companies, because if they wanted to squash us, they could, just like that." Excellent concepts, I would say. There is room for both organic and conventional farmers in the diversified North American food market and both types of farmers can work side by side and not make detrimental charges against the other, especially in advertising and promotion. I hope Ted Zettel, a Chepstow -area farmer, is successful in his attempt to market Organic Milk from cows that have not been treated with hor- mones or antibiotics and fed from feed that wasn't grown with the use of synthetic fertilizers or sprayed with pesticides. Zettel hopes the product may be available in To- ronto stores by April. He is a pioneer in the organ- ic movement and has been involved in the Pine River cheese Co -Operative which sells six types of cheese. He is also wary of "negative" market- ing techniques and suggested that Ault Foods made many enemies in dairying circles when it in- troduced Lactantia PurFiltre milk recently. Ault advertised the product as containing 92 times less bacteria than pasteurized lnilk. , The strategy implies that regular milk has too much bacteria but the real difference between the two types of milk is only a fraction of a percent- age. I agree wholeheartedly that the negative or knock -your -neighbour approach won't win friends and, ultimately, won't influence enough people to justify the higher price for the organic product. Inner strife among farmers is a turn-off. Farm Industry Show Patrons enjoyed lunch and a look at the lastest farm equip- ment ment Monday at the Huron Tractor Farm industry Show. Got a news tip? Call the Times -Advocate at 235-1331 ON TA R I O ONTARIO PRODUCERS Registration fes: $5.00 1100 a.m. 10:00 a.m. 10.10 a.m. 1015 a.m. 10:30 a.m. 1045 am. 11:00 a.m. 11:15 a.m 11:30 a.m. 1200 p.m. 1:20 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 1:45 p.m. 200 p.m. 215 pm. 2.30 p.m. 2:45 p.m. WHITE PEA BEAN DAY March 2, 1995 South Huron Recreation Centre 94 Victoria St. E. Exeter, Ontario PROGRAM OWNIllennne p0wMinga� =rmsu Mr. !Melt tomalrr M n grt mmtr I Knelt. Presided, Marls MM Dealers' MM tiara., Bowl, and &war Males MIMaMr. AMesMM MINIM Dep&YesM N Ma. MMMMM McMMs, W. Meme lam« oddest Lodi (Inctudid In Repkaadon Fee) Aimee t lMraa Mr. JaM Sad. Chalnuar►, OMMM MIYM Sue Mame W F. Pity t Om Collop MM Dr. Isis J. Par, hid id IMmM�Aon� M i hitMM, l� N aAMs, l Camp M ApleNtwt) IM talilMp M Apeman Mr. Paw Mt. Merlin Mone e. AMMM Mrw1DK Times-Advocat2, February 15,1995 Page 11 OFA kies Axworthy over UI benefits TORONTO - The Ontario Feder- ation of Agriculture (OFA) is con- cerned that an inequity in Canada's social safety net programs is affect- ing Ontario's farm families. The OFA has received many complaints from farmers who have been treated unfairly by their local Canada Employment Centres. The major concern is linked to spousal eligibility for Unemployment Insu- rance (UI) benefits. "Farmers are confused and frus- trated over Canada Employment Centres' method of distinguishing part-time farmers from full-time farmers," said OFA president Rog- er George. "This directly impacts on farmers eligibility for UI during the farming season and must be corrected." The OFA has been in contact with Minister Axworthy's office expressing its outrage that Canada Employment Centres (CEC) have demanded repayment of UI benefits received by farm spouses who have met UI eligibility criteria. "This came right out of the blue,' said George, "and left farm families bewildered, with no understanding of why they were retroactively dis- qualified. It is yet another example of governments' total lack of un- derstanding of the farming industry and the needs of our farm fami- lies." Axworthy have been told by the OFA that "precluding farmers and their spouses who have insurable off -farm earnings from unemploy- ment insurance benefits is a serious matter." OFA is calling for a full review of the platter with CEC.. Farmers and their families have every right to demand fair treat- ment under the UI system and the OFA has made that very plain to the Minister," said George. "It Is our hope that this situation is just one of misunderstanding that can be clarified and not just a pathetic attempt at government expenditure control on the backs of Ontario's farmers." Export of trees OTTAWA - Each year, Canada produces some 4.5 million Christ- mas trees valued at close to $50 million. More than half of these trees head south of the border, pri- marily to the United States and some to Mexico. The success of Canadian Christ- mas tree exports lies in part in the rigorous controls to which they are subjected. Before exportation, Agriculture and Agri -Food Canada inspectors ensure the trees are free from dis- eases and insect infestation. Tree shipments are then accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate which guarantees the trees pose no risk to the import country's forests. FARM ESTATE PLANNING K R. (Puss) Millard & Christine Schalk -Bridgman The Financial Centre (Stfd) - Sun Life of Canada invites you to attend A Free- No Obligation FARM ESTATE PLANNING SEMINAR Mon., February 20 at 2:00 p.m. The Old Town Hall, 322 Main St. South Exeter SPEAKER: Stewart J. MacDonald, B.A., LL.B. Call 1-800-463-4220 To reserve your seat. Limited Seating GENERATION TO GENERATION SAVE 5% During Pioneer Days, February 20-25, more than 340 professional Pioneer sales reps and dealers across Canada will offer farmers like you an opportunity to save 5% on Pioneer® bra r ' products. You can rely on these profession • e •ply you with high quality seed and inocu ants that deliver consistently superior performance to help you maximize profits on your farm. Valuable agronomic service as well as early pay and quantity savings round out an unbeatable package. See or call: Sereda Farms Sales Representatives RR 1 Centralia, Ont. Peter: (519) 229-6383 Perry: (519) 229-8102 Icto\ PIAONEER.. All sales are subject to the terms of labelling and sale documents. ®Registered trademark licensed to Pioneer Hi -Bred limited, Chatham, Ontario N7M 511. SAVE 5% FEBRUARY 20-25 There are enough things in life to worry about... Your daughter's new boyfriend. Stuping on the scale. A call,from your mechanic. 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