The Rural Voice, 1982-03, Page 10"My report is addressed to the two groups
interested in change": Dr. Gordon Bowman
Durand could live with a two price system under supply
management. "Exporting at a world price is okay. Now all the
pork we sell is at a world price and we lose on it all."
With support from the northern counties, Durand doesn't think
it'll be impossible to bring beef.. as well as pork under supply
management. Like Bowman, he says with supply management
you're talking long term. "Even with a national plan for all red
meat, farmers who are in trouble now will be gone ...supply
management won't help their immediate problems."
What will? Durand. like most of the producers interviewed likes
some of the Bowman report's suggestions for improving the
present marketing system. Forward contracting could help,
Durand says as well as OPPMB assistance to farmers who want to
get into the futures market. "Ninety per cent of farmers don't
understand it" and the board could help there.
De Bruyn favours a carefully thought out stabilization
program - "enough to keep the good producers in business" but
not so generous that those looking for a quick buck would get into
pork.
While Perth pork producer Bob Stephens of R.R. I. St. Marys
says "we're clearly over -produced." he's not so sure the answer
lies in supply management either. "If the economy turns around.
why ruin something that's good?" It's too bad. he feels. to have
to make a decision on which route to take at a time of economic
stress. A lot of the talk in favour of a national meat agency is
coming from other parts of the province, he says. "This area.
Perth, is integrated, cushioned more. We have more margins to
work with, we're not solely dependent on pork."
Pork producers are having a series of meetings around the
province on the Bowman report now (Walkerton. Mar. 1,
Kitchener, Mar. 2) Out of them may come resolutions to the
OPPMB's annual meeting this month in Toronto. Andre Durand is
guessing more producers will have converted to supply
management. "But other counties will fight like the devil against
it. It depends who has the best arguments the most votes ...1 hope
they direct the board to commission Dr. Bowman and the experts
he thinks he needs to draft a supply management program for
Ontario."
A different point of view comes from Perth farrow to finish
operator Bob De Brabandere who says there's pressure from
producers to improve the industry. but not necessarily to move to
supply management.
Like Bowman he says producer reaction is crucial now.
"Opinions are really important at the county and regional level.
Tell them (county and provincial directors) what you think."
Martin De Bruyn, who praises the Bowman report because it
"brings out all possibilities and eventualities" says "I'm open
enough to realize there are people who want quota. It still has to be
discussed... We've got to listen to each other's arguments. We
can't get personal."
The Bowman report provides information about widening
choices in a depressed industry. As John Lizhti of Perth says.
now all the province's pork producers have the same information.
"The key is what the board decides to do with it."
And that will depend on what Ontario's 20.000 or so pork
producers tell them to do.
SMYTN SNOWBLOWERS
Cutting Req'd
Width H.P. Auger Fan
Approx.
Weight Hoods
Rear Mount
72" (6 ft)
35 & up
Single
24" x 8"
700 Ib
Manual
16-
84.
55
Single
30" x 8"
800 Ib
Manual
20"
96"
70
Single
30' x 10"
950 Ib
Hydraulic
20"
96"
100
14"
36" x 10"
1200 Ib
Hydraulic
20"
108"
120 & up
20"
36" x 12"
2000 Ib
Hydraulic
20"
SMYTH
Welding and Machine Shop
RR 2, Auburn, Ontario (519) 529-7212
PG. 8 THE RURAL VOICE/MARCH 1982