Loading...
The Rural Voice, 1982-07, Page 42PERTH COUNTY PORK PRODUCERS' NEWS Marianne and Robert Brabandere: recipients of Producer Award by Hans Feldmann Marianne and Robert De Brabandere of R.R. # l , St. Marys are this year's recipients of the Outstanding Pork Producer Award for Perth County. The award is made annually at the Pork Congress and recognizes producers for their contributions to the pork industry and to the agricultural community. Marianne and Robert operate a 160 sow farrow to finish enterprise in Blanchard Township and also sell breeding stock through Quality Swine. Robert is a director of the Perth County Pork Producers Association and in previous years was a member of the executive. He also has worked as a 4-H leader. Marianne has also worked as a 4•H leader and is now a director of the Perth County Federation of Agriculture and of the Women for the Survival of Agriculture organization. Congratulations to Marianne and Bob. News from the OPPMB; 1. On April 30th the Board received another export contract. this time for 300 hogs a week. The contract is for 18 months and the price is based on a three month rolling average. The Board signed a 600 hog contract in March. 2. O.M.A.F. reports that the European Economic Community has lifted the ban on the import of meat from the two Danish Islands that were hit by the foot and mouth outbreak earlier this year. Abattoirs on the two islands will begin normal production Electronic Funds next week and Danish prices are rising due to a strong demand in Britain and Western Europe. A Danish source is reported as saying that the Danes hope to begin exporting to Japan in four to eight months and to the U.S. in about a year. Earlier, sources in Japan and the U.S. said that imports from Denmark were several years away. We will have to wait to see who's estimate is correct. 3. There was more good news from Ottawa. Federal agriculture Minister told an industry delegation that hog producers would not have to pay 20c a carcass for grading. This was a reversal of his policy announced in March which would have cost Ontario producers $800.000. a year. Soon after the announcement. the packers and the whole livestock industry began lobbying against the proposal. They pointed out that grading also benefited the consumer and it was absolutely necessary if we were to maintain our reputation as an exporter of quality products. Mr. Whelan evidently found their argument convincing. He is setting up a committee to study the implications and the options. The Canadian Pork Council was in the forefront of this lobbying to stop the proposal. Transfer (Direct Deposit Banking) The service of transferring hog payments directly into the producer's own bank or trust company account is now available. The program is optional. It is intended for those who would like to have their payments made directly into their account rather than receiving the actual cheque in the mail. With the E.F.T. (Electronic Funds Transfer) program a computer tape is delivered from the Board to the Royal Bank data centre. The data centre there processes the information and the funds are transferred from the Board's bank account to the producer's bank account. The entire operation takes 3 working days from the date on the cheque. For example, if a cheque were dated for a Monday, funds would he in the recipient's bank account on Thursday of the week, (i.e. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday). A cheque with a Wednesday date would mean funds would be in the recipient's bank account 3 working days later on the following Monday, (i.e.: Thursday, Friday, Monday). Weekend days and bank holidays are not counted as working days. The E.F.T. service does not provide the information on your settlement statement. The settlement statement for each transaction will still be mailed to you in the usual manner. WHO WOULD BENEFIT FROM THE SERVICE? The service is an option to receiving cheques by mail. If it takes longer than 3 working days from the date on the cheque for you to receive your cheque by mail, then you would receive payment more quickly with E.F.T. Naturally, payment directly into your bank account would eliminate the trip to the bank to make the deposit and if you live some distance from the bank this couldbe a benefit. PG. 42 THE RURAL VOICE/JULY 1982 WHAT THE SERVICE CANNOT DO: E.F.T. does not save in mailing costs as the settlement statement will still be mailed. It does not speed up the time needed from when the hogs are slaughtered until the cheque is written. The only time affected is that period after the cheque is produced. As well, E.F.T. will not provide payment faster than the mail if you now receive your mail within 3 working days of the cheque date. The mail does move within 3 working days for many producers, especially if a weekend is involved. HOW TO PROCEED: 1) Speak with your bank or trust company manager to help you decide if the service would benefit you. In some instances it may be desirable for you to set up a separate bank account to receive the funds. 2) Note the date on your cheques, the date you receive them in the mail, and the date you can make a deposit. Be sure to count working days only (not Saturday, Sunday, or bank holidays). 3) If you decide you want the service, fill out the required application form and mail it to the Board. There is no charge for this service at this time. Once you are on the program you can withdraw at any time. To do so you would simply notify the Board to that effect in writing. Naturally, we would not want producers to go on and off the program lightly as there is some work involved in both going on the program and coming off it. NOTE Applications for the service will be accepted on a first come -first served basis. In order to process applications in an orderly manner there may be some delay from the time you apply until you actually receive the service.