The Citizen, 1987-07-22, Page 11THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 1987. PAGE 11.
OMAF proposes new dub to learn market strategy
BY BRIAN HALL
FARM MANAGEMENT
SPECIALSTFOR
HURONCOUNTY
In these times of mountainous
surpluses, the central problem for
most agricultural products is not to
produce more, but sell it better.
It would be nice if there was a
single formula that could be used to
price a crop. The formula could tell
us when to sell, which would be at
the highest price for the year.
However, it is not that simple, and
instead we must understand the
marketing tools available to us and
use them in marketing our crop. As
individuals we have a limited
access to market information and
limited time in which to access that
information.
In order to meet the challenge of
learning the market, some farmers
have organized a marketing club.
The basic idea is that as a group
farmers can achieve what has
proven to be difficult for the
individual. The clubs are usually
small and informal producer
groups that are formed to improve
member understanding of market
ing tools, information, and meth
ods. anddothisat much lesscostto
the individual than would other
wise be the case.
Marketing clubs are not new.
Several have been operating in
Huron County and other areas for
several years now. A meeting for
producers interested in forming a
marketing club will be held on
Tuesday, July 28, 8 p.m. at the
O.M.A.F. Boardroom, Clinton.
Initially a club for ‘Central Huron’
will be discussed. If enough
producers in attendance from
other areas of the county are
interested, a local club could be
formed. Producers who are inter
ested in joining a club, but are
unable to attend the meeting, may
leave their name at the Ontario
Ministry of Agriculture and Food
office in Clinton. The club mem
bership will be limited to 20
members. For further information,
contact the OMAF office in Clinton
(482-3428 or 1-800-265-5170).
Herd health improvement grant
added to pork industry plan
The latest addition to the Ontario
Pork Industry Improvement Plan is
the Herd Health Improvement
Grant. In general, this grant was
introduced to help hog producers
offset the cost of depopulation of
their hog barns for health related
reasons. Producers must buy
replacement stock from a breeder
book has been developed to help
simplify the record keeping chores
on farms where sow numbers are
betweenabout20and 50. These
handy books will make filling out
O.P.I.I.P. Production Record
forms a simple matter of copying
numbers from one paper to
another.
David W ebster stands in front of all that is left of one of the silo caps at his farm just nor th of Bly th. The cap
was ripped off the silo at the dairy farm as a result of the violent windstorm Sunday evening, which also
uprooted several trees at the Webster farm, sending one of them crashing down on the family’s front
porch.
that is participating in the Ontario
Herd Health Policy and has a rating
of Good or Excellent. The grant on
gilts and boars is for the initial
restocking and would not apply to
replacement stock bought in order
to maintain the health status of the
herd.
There are more specific guide
lines available from your local
OMAF office. For producers who
already have a closed herd and are
ranked Good or Excellent in the
Ontario Herd Health Policy (or
producers who establish a closed
herd of Good or Excellent health
status), grant money is available to
offset the cost of caesarian sections
or donor sows used for embryo
transfer for either the establish
ment or maintenance of their
health status. It is recommended
that interested producers contact
either their local Pork Advisor or
one of the O.P.I.I.P. veterinarians
working out of the Animal Industry
Branch of OMAF at the University
of Guelph (824-4120, Extension
4805) before proceeding with any
depopulation.
With regards to the record
keeping requirements for
O.P.I.I.P., a small pocket record
New grants available for management, repairs
Ontario farmers will be mailed
enrolment forms, brochures and
application forms about mid-Au-
gustforthe Ontario Farm Grantfor
Management, Safety, Machinery
Repairs and Feed Storage.
The $2,500 grant program runs
from June 1,1987 to May 31,1988.
Total funding is limited to $50
million.
Farmers submitting records for
the farm enterprise analysis sec
tion can receive up to $300.
Eligible safety items such as
fencing of existing ponds and
manure pits, ladder cages, roll
bars, safety cabs, shields, protec
tive clothing, warning systems,
child-resistant fenced play areas
and first-aid kits are funded at 80
per cent. Also included are the
elimination of derelict structures
and the filling in of unused wells.
Invoiced labour is eligible in this
section.
Under the repairs category, a
farmer can apply for a grant
covering half the cost of replace-
mentpartsforfieldmachinery, and
for specified farm shop equipment.
Labour cost is not eligible in this
section. Barn equipment parts are
not eligible.
The feed storage section, includ
ing monitoring equipment and
conveyor equipment is based on a
40 per cent grant. Labour is not
eligible in this section.
Enrolments and applications
will be forwarded directly by
farmers for central processing. All
related invoices marked “paid”
with vendor’s signature or initials
must be kept by the applicant until
July 15, 1989.
An applicant can qualify for
$12,000 income from agricultural
production or less than $12,000 if
non-farm income is not more than
farm income. Applicants sharing a
principal residence are considered
as one applicant. Members of
partnerships and corporations can
each qualify if they meet the
income requirement and have a 20
per cent interest in the operation
and are active in the farming
operation. Projects with more than
one applicant are subject to the
percentage limitation in each
section.
IT’S TIME!
Time to deworm your whole
herd at turnout with Banminth
II* Dairy Cattle Dewormer
pellets! Getthe most out of your
herd with Banminth II*:
[1] No Milk Withdrawal!
|2] Economical!
|3i Convenient!
*Trademark/Authorized user
ATTENTION
FARMERS
PROTECT YOUR
ON THE FARM
GRAIN STORAGE
Every year weavel
and other grain
insects cause
thousands of
dollars damage
Are you tired
of throwing
square bales around?
HERE'S THE
ANSWER...
Call Brian or Jeff
ROS
Custom Round Baling — Big and Small
BOOK AHEAD FOR PROMPT SERVICE.
McGAVIN
527-0936
Now offering a NEW ACID APPLICATION
For baling damper hay. Call us for details.
527-0245
(at McGavin’s Farm Equip.)
Don’t be caught next spring
with infested grain bins
Spray your bins with Malathion
before you fill them
Use “Chipman” grain
protectant as you fill your bins
For pennies per bushel you
can insure your grain is stored
safe and free from insect
infestation
COOK’S IN WALTON HAVE THE
PRODUCTS YOU NEED!
COOK’S j Divicinn of Gerbro Inc.
WALTON BRANCH
Division of WALTON
Gerbro/nc. 8g7_9261 527.-|540