The Rural Voice, 1982-11, Page 8ON THE SUBJECT OF CORN
In a state of Organization
by Herb Shoveller
Under leadership provided by a com-
mittee of the Ontario Federation of
Agriculture (OFA), movement is progres-
sing towards the formation of a producer
organization for corn growers. According
to OFA vice-president Ron White, who is
also chairing the ad hoc committee which
is laying the groundwork for the fledgling
association, late October was a target date
for the launch of the organization.
"I hope that if two or three meetings
are held, it could be ready by the end .of
October," White, who farms at R.R. 2
Denfield, explained in a phone interview.
"But this is the busy season. There's no
great rush, but I think the momentum will
be kept up."
If a producer organization is estab-
lished, it will be joining a number of
organizations already in operation. The
new kid on the block, which will be
known as the Ontario Corn Producers'
Association, in spite of the existence of
several groups already, is long overdue.
There is already the Ontario Grain Corn
Council, the Ontario Corn Committee,
the Ontario Seed Growers' Marketing
Board, not to mention a list of other
organizations which were either short-
lived, or failed to survive formation
attempts.
The Ontario Corn Committee is made
up of researchers, industry representa-
tives, extension people and some farmers,
and generally provides information on
corn research.
The Ontario Grain Corn Council
(OGCC) is a government appointed body
consisting of three executive positions, six
producers and five industry representa-
tives. Ken Patterson has been chairman of
the OGCC since its formation in 1Q71.
Patterson has a list of accomplishments
recorded by the group since its beginnings
more than a decade ago.
"One objective is to disseminate infor-
mation, and for this purpose we do a
monthly newsletter distributed through-
out the province," he said in an interview.
"Other things we have tried to do is
improve the quality of corn, especially for
industrial markets."
Along with sponsoring meetings and
seminars (a technical conference held
every two years attracts an enrolment of
more than 400, Patterson said.), the
group has also moved to develop interna-
tional markets. Representing the federal
government, earlier this year the OGCC
hosted a delegation from Japan which
was looking at seed corn in Kent County.
"We have also travelled to Spain and
Portugal and were very well received in
both countries," he continued. "Spain is
very interested in buying our corn. We
made a good sales pitch, but the situation
is,we have more customers for the corn
than we can supply. Two weeks after we
came back from Spain, they had a boat
ready. And we had a call the other day
from Panama. We find we have more
customers for corn than we have corn."
Perth County soil and crops specialist
Pat Lynch offers his assessment of the
Corn Council.
"The Ontario Grain Corn Council was
set up by the Minister of Agriculture in
1971 as an appointed group," he ex-
plained. "My understanding is that the
main problems at that time were storage
and market information, and another
function was to try to get into non -feed
markets. Really, the OGCC hasn't
changed that much. They were not really
involved in the development of South-
western Ontario Corn. It was people like
George Jones, and corn companies that
had a big part to play. If you go back over
the five year history in Ontario, it (the
corn industry) has been pretty well
self-sufficient." Lynch continues, "Look
at the Ontario Soy Bean Marketing Board
and the Ontario White Bean Marketing
Board. They have helped find markets,
product information, research and are a
lobby group. We need a group that is
going to do all of those things for corn,
like lobbying."
Those who speak highly of the effec-
tiveness of the OGCC are those on it -
PG. 8 THE RURAL VOICE / NOVEMBER 1982
members past and present. One is
73 -year-old George Morris of R.R. 1
Merlin, who was with the council from
the start until he retired from it last year.
"It's damn well respected and it carries
a lot of weight in Canada," the semi -re-
tired farmer said of the council. "I only
blame the Ontario Grain Corn Council
for not getting their message out. They
need to be more vocal that way.
"In market development, the council
has been all over and they don't get credit
from people. There's a lot of jealousy out
there. It is unbelievable the good the
Ontario Grain Corn Council has done for
the industry."
A strong outfit run by farmers and
responsible to farmers forms the bottom
line in the latest push for an organization.
There was some opposition from the
council the last time we tried," White
said. "But Ken Patterson was discussing
it with one of the members of the ad hoc
committee recently, and he said he was
supportive, although he said he may not
support all that's in it. 1 really can see no
roadblocks. The only thing that would
keep it from progressing would be apathy,
and people are not rushing in droves. But
1 don't see anything that could prevent
it."
Patterson suggested, as well, that the
council will stay on the sidelines. "We are
not in a position to campaign for or
against the OFA plan," he said.
"This is an organization that is
needed," says Lynch. "It's got to
represent all growers." It's got to be able
to draw on the new ideas, with a rotation
of members who are nominated with a
definite term of office, not appointed. 1t
has to be separate from government. It
also has to be able to collect money for
research."
Though still suffering early growing
pains, there is a basic structure that can be
expected in the new organization.
"It will be operated very much the same