The Rural Voice, 1982-04, Page 38PERTH COUNTY PORK PRODUCERS' NEWS
�tanopork Groenestege named president
The directors of the Perth County Pork Producers Association
met on Feb. 4, 1982 in the Mitchell Town Hall. The officers for
1982 were elected as follows:
President: John Groenestege, R.R. #1, Sebringville
1st Vice -President: Robert Stephen, R.R. #1, St. Marys
2nd Vice -President: Ray Stock, R.R. #1, Stratford
Treasurer: Gordon Jack, R.R. #1, Newton
Secrtary: George Lupton, R.R. #2, Stratford
In other business the directors voted to donate $100 - in pork
products are prizes to the Kurzville Ladies Bonspiel. The
following resolution was passed, to be submitted to the annual
meeting of the OPPMB: Whereas young farmers, who have been
successful, are limited in getting additional funds from the Farm
Credit Corporation, Be it resolved, that the full amount of Farm
Credit Corporation loans be made available to all young farmers
who qualify.
The directors met again on March 4, 1982 in Mitchell.
Producers were invited to this meeting to discuss the
implications of the Bowman Report, that was presented at the
annual meeting on January 29. Approximately 50 directors and
producers were present. Poor road conditions possibly limited
attendance that night. In a vote, taken to determine possible
support for supply management, not a single person present
voted in favour of it. The objections to supply management, that
were given as reason for this surprising vote were: loss of export
markets, increased red tape, cost of administration. restriction in
decision making, price of quotas adding to the financial burden
of young farmers trying to start in the business and the
possibility of integrated business establishments eventually
buying up all the quota and taking over the industry. The main
concern of many medium size operators probably was, that the
necessary reduction in production, that would be caused by the
introduction of supply management and a quota system. would
cause their farming operation to loose it's viability.
The majority of the people present at the meeting preferred a
national subsidy program, that would eliminate different
provincial systems and unfair competition between producers
from different provinces.
In addition they favoured a licensing system, that would
protect the family farm and would allow only a gradual entry into
For Sale
Cleaned Birdsfoot Trefoil $1.20 per Ib.
call
M. Hendry
at Dundalk, [519) 923-2812
PG. 36 THE RURAL VOICE/APRIL 1982
the subsidy program to control rapid expansion. A resolution
incorporating these thoughts was submitted to the OPPMB. In
addition the resolution asked to limit subsidy to 2000 pigs per
farm. There was some disagreement on this item. Undoubtedly
further discussion will take place after the annual meeting of the
OPPMB.
In other business the executive set up the committees for 1982
as follows:
COMMUNICATION: H. Feldman, G. Sebben, H. Love. A. Zehr,
W. Keller.
PRODUCER INFORMATION: R. Stephen, R. Stock, T. De
Groot. J. Kelly, D. Dietrich, P. Huitema, R. De Brabandere, M.
Musselman, J. Timmermans.
BARBECUE: G. Matheson, J. Van Nes. P. Voll, L. Bell, K.
Bearss, E. Rose, J. Robinson, A. Van Herk.
4-H CLUBS: P. Huitema, W. Hartung.
FARM SAFETY: R. Davey
FEDERATION OF AGRICULTURE: L. Kroonen
RESOLUTION & RESEARCH: R. Davey, J. Lichti
WEANER PIG: R. Mitchell, K. Aitcheson, J. Litchi, P. Voll, G.
Jack
Board member Willi Keller reported, that a new grading
system using only a single measurement at the loin, will be
introduced as of March 29. Settlement forms with the new table
on the back are being printed now. Willi outlined subsidy
programmes, that are used in other provinces. Most
programmes have a support level in the seventies or eighties ($
per cwt.) However 50% cost sharing is required by the producer
or the programmes only have a limited fund. which reduces the
overall benefit substancially. Only Quebec has an attractive '/a
producer '/a province cost sharing program.
Information Committee Chairman Bob Stephen reported, that
the information programme on pork day of the Perth County
Agricultural Week was attended by an overflow crowd of
interested producers.
Bob also reported. that a bus trip is planned for Thursday,
April 8, 1982. The purpose of the bus trip is to view the new head
office of the OPPMB in Toronto and to see the teletype system in
operation. A tour of the Canada Packers plant is scheduled for
the afternoon. Lunch will be at the Pork Place restaurant. Cost is
S5. - per person plus the cost of lunch. The bus will start at 7:30
a.m. in Listowel and continue to Stratford. Other stops and times
will be announced, when it is known where people like to enter
the bus. Anybody interested in attending should contact the
following directors before April 5th: Wayne Hartung - 291-4038.
John Groenestege - 393-5526, or Bob Stephen - 229-6765. Seats
on the bus will be reserved on a first called first served basis.
In further news the First Annual Inter Township Pork
Producers Bonspiel held in St. Marys on February 6. was a
success. Winners were the Don Knechtel Rink from North
Easthope.
Tickets for the Swime Symposium, to be held on April 2, 1982
at the Stratford Fairgrounds, are available through the township
directors or through the Stratford OMAF office at 413 Hibernia
Street.