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The Rural Voice, 1986-04, Page 96NEWSLETTER - Perth County Pork Producers Dan Kerr, R.R. 3, Listowel, Ontario N4W 3G8 Highlights from pork producers Highlights of February 5 meeting • Election of 1986 executive. • Resolutions were reviewed and discussed for the OPPMB annual meeting. • History booklet covering the last 40 years of the Perth County Pork Producers Association was discussed and a committee formed to prepare it. Highlights of March 5 meeting • Producer for the 1986 year is Bob L. DeBrabandere of R.R. 6, St. Marys, twice winner of the Pork Congress Innovations Competi- tion. • Perth Pork Producers Associa- tion set their budget for 1986 at more than $20,000. • An exchange program with Delaware County, Iowa and a bus trip is planned. OPPMB Annual Meeting March 12 to 13 At the annual meeting everyone seemed full of enthusiasm and prepared to take on the challenges of our changing industry. More promotion and develop- ment of our product is sought, and an additional four cents per hog was proposed to be added to the current 30 cents. We need to up- grade the image of pork and need more fast -preparation foods. Farm Follies The OMAF study about setting up a central killing plant is com- plete and will be made public soon. A resolution proposed by Perth County to ask Peter Pocklington to build a killing plant in Ontario instead of Saskatchewan drew a bit of laughter at first but the issue later received more support. Pork is Canada's largest agricultural export to the U.S. and our interest should not be traded off to help some other industry in the free trade discussions. Tripartite stabilization will be in place by July 1 and application forms should be out by April 17. Concerns were expressed about the right to farm. Ontario has a "Code of Practice." The OPPMB was requested to create an ap- propriate support system for that code. Equal stabilization for all corn producers A resolution to help keep all livestock producers on the same level whether they purchase feed or grow their own, was presented at the annual meeting. In times of low corn prices the cost of produc- tion is lowered for all producers and less stabilization is received on all hogs. Those growing their own "rowni ARE YOU YOU SURE YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO ROTATE THE WHEELS?" 100 THE RURAL VOICE 519-291-1178 feed are losing on the corn they are growing as well. This system penalizes the environmentally sound practice of land-based livestock production units and en- courages vertical integration by feed companies into livestock pro- duction. With the U.S. floor price at $1.92, the possibility exists for "corn dumping" into Canada at about $2.50 per bushel. A cash - crop corn grower in 1986 is guaranteed about $3.10 per bushel with stabilization payments. This is a penalty of about 60 cents per bushel to those growing corn for feed or about $6 per hog. This amounts to $6,000 for someone shipping $1,000 hogs. Corn or other feed purchases under 22 per cent protein are deducted from corn sales. Soybean meal is not deducted from soybean stabilization payments. The same holds true for a corn grower receiving advance payments, interest free until September 1 or whenever the corn is sold. This too is not available to the corn grower -feeder. American farmers will be receiv- ing deficiency payments on all corn whether fed or sold. by Gary Van Loon RESTAURANT COMMENTS 1 would like to give a pat on the back to a restaurant in Stratford for doing an excellent job in preparing pork dishes. The restaurant is called THE SUN ROOM and is located at 55 George Street (across the street from the LCBO). The staff are very friendly and the decor is bright and cheer- ful. The entrees are priced under $10. The two pork meals we had were cooked to perfection. This is an excellent place for getting good pork. Gordon Jack If any of our readers have come across a restaurant that serves pork to perfection let us know so we can give them a pat on the back in this newsletter. Send comments to Garry Van Loon, Chairman Com- munications Committee, R.R. #2, Dublin. NOK 1E0.