The Rural Voice, 1981-09, Page 46PERTH COUNTY PORK PRODUCERS' NEWS
Stabilization Programs
BY HANS FELDMAN
At the recent meeting of the Federal and Provincial Ministers of
Agriculture no agreement was reached on future stabilization
programs. Eugene Whelan proposed a plan to his provincial
colleagues, in which producers would have to contribute one third
of the cost and government the other two thirds. Not many details
of the plan were made public. Several provincial ministers were
not in favour of the proposal. Further meetings and negotiations
will be held.
In the meantime, the Ontario weaner plan is in limbo as far as
farrow -to -finish operators are concerned, since it was specifically
designed to supplement the federal plan. Mr. Whelan announced
that there will be no more top loading. Further announcement by
the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture with regard to the provincial
plan can be expected.
As a number of government officials and board -appointed
commissions submit various proposals to stabilize the industry,
few appear to bother to ask the producers for their opinion. It is
hoped that eventually farmers will be given an opportunity to
express their thoughts on this issue.
The following paper was released by the Ontario Pork
Producers Marketing Board. It gives a general outline of the
present policy of the OPPMB and the Canadian Pork Council.
Although there were some new developments proposed at the
Federal -Provincial conference of ministers at Lethbridge in July,
the following points cover the OPPMB (and the CPC) official
policy.
1. A single standard combined Federal/Provincial farmer
program should be available requiring a producer contribution.
Payments made under the program should be split equitably
according to costs between sows and finished hogs so that all
producers can participate.
2. Based on current costs and experience, a support level of 95%
on the current federal formula would appear adequate.
3. To be of maximum benefit, the program must be current, eg.,
calculated on a six month basis.
4. The system should be organized so that payments are made
one to two months after the calculated period. To make this
possible and to facilitate the whole operation, government should
accept the computer records of the marketing boards as the
documentary evidence for settlement. In the case of sows, the
Federal Government should accept the spot checking system
carried out by the provinces. Temporary staff should be allocated
to the Department responsible on the few occasions when a rush of
payments are to be made.
5. Eligibility should be 5,000 hogs or equivalent in sows with no
limitation as to ownership.
6. Farmer contributions should remain the property of the farmer
and be returned to him if there is no payout.
7. The current position of the stabilization program (e.g. the
calculation for each period) should be public knowledge and well
publicized to producers. Both farmers and all lending institutions
should be fully aware of its benefits and limitations.
8. Application forms, etc. should be readily available through
normal Provincial outlets.
9. Once a combined federal/provincial program is established,
there should be an absolute agreement that there will be no
additional top -loading by the Provinces.
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THE RURAL VOICE/SEPTEMBER 1981 PG. 45