The Rural Voice, 1980-02, Page 42F
1
NEWSLETTER
Huron County Federation
of Agriculture
Area Office: Vanastra, Box 429, Clinton
Quota and Quota values
One hundred -thirty interested farmers attended the Huron
County Federation of Agriculture January meeting to hear about
quotas, quota values, and the supply management system.
Mr. Ken McKinnon, Chairman of the Ontario Milk Producers
Marketing Board and Jim Johnstone, Chairman of the Ontario
Egg Producers Marketing Board defended the quota system.
Mr. McKinnon said that he believes quotas in the milk
industry should be open and as freely transferable as possible
and that their values should be determined by the marketplace.
He can't see how it would be possible to do without quota values.
The milk board's new quota exchange system will allow a new
producer in the dairy industry to have the same chance to share
in available quota. He hopes the new system will prevent third
party involvement in quota transfer. In response to another
question, Mr. McKinnon said he speculates the market share
quota value will actually go down after a few months of the new
system. He said the value of a quota system is that it brings
stability and guarantees each producer a share of the market.
Mr.Johnstone said that in the past people have been able to get
into the egg industry by buying farms. Now the Board has
decided to allow quota to be sold, but on a limited scale.
Producers will be allowed to buy 10 percent of their current quota
so that everyone eventually will get their barn filled. He said that
it would cost a producer $13-14 a bird (without quota costs) to go
into egg production, and he praised the quota system saying its
insurance -you can recover your investment over a period of time.
Mr. Johnstone said in answer to a question that he didn't think
there was a danger that someday we would be down to one
producer in Ontario. He said that if consumer pressure gets to
the point where they say we must have large corporate farms,
then government policy may dictate this. However, the
marketing board chairman added, I don't think the producers
will let this happen.` The average size of flocks in Ontario is 9,000
birds, and the small family farm operations in Canada seems to
be continuing, unlike the U.S. where large corporate farms are
becoming more common.
Mr. Johnstone said that the Egg Board's leasing_ program has
worked very well. It has allowed producers who can't use part or
all of their quota, to rent to a producer who has space in his barn
and can use the quota, for a one-year lease. This allows Ontario
to utilize 93-94 percent of its quota, so that other provinces won't
demand it.
Following the question period, audience members debated a
draft policy on marketing quotas which will be submitted to the
Ontario Federation ofAuriculture board of directors.
$ 23,000 to Fund
West Wawanosh Township
Federation of Agriculture
will be holding a meeting at St . Helen's Hall
on February 28, 1980 at 8 p.m. A ministry of
Natural Resources Representative will be
talking about Legislation governing Farm
Waterways and Drainage.
=NM 111.1M MEM
ATTENTION
DATE CHANGE
To county directors
and committee chairmen
Re Director's Workshop Seminar
New Date
THURSDA Y,
FEB. 14, 1980
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The White Carnation
Huron County
Federation of Agriculture
Candidates Meeting
Feb. Z1980
8:30 p.m.
Hulett Central Public School
Londesboro
Come and hear the political candidates speak on
agricultural issues. A chance to ask them your
questions.
The Huron F of A sent S23,000 to the Tornado Relief Fund to
help the people in Oxford County who were hit by last August's
devastating tornado. These dollars will be matched 3 to 1 by the,
Province. Various Townships raised their contributions to the
Tornado Fund by holding dances, canvasses by individual
members, and many personal donations were made. The
PG. 40 THE RURAL VOICE/FEBURARY 1980
Federation Office at Vanastra was manned by volunteers for a
two-week period after the disaster to co-ordinate the many offers
of help by Huron County people who travelled to the Woodstock
area to assist in the clean-up. Over 200 people made the trip
there to help the tornado victims clean up the debris left after the
storm. Contributions were also made in the form of feed, hay,
and straw, which was badly needed.
—cont. on page 39