The Rural Voice, 2001-03, Page 46News
"When you know you have a
minimum price strategy you can
relax," Huckle said. Options allow a
farmer to take advantage of a higher
price if it comes along by cancelling
the option and paying the fee.
If prices are very uncertain,
forward contract 50 per cent of your
estimated production and purchase
"call" options to give you the
opportunity to capture price
increases, Huckle advised. Purchase
"put" options on 50 per cent of your
estimated production.
"The day of (just) producing is
long gone," Huckle said. "Thinking
ahead and minimum -pricing will be
absolutely necessary now and in the
future."0
Quality Assurance
gains acceptance
The two largest processors of pork
in Ontario now require producers
signing contracts with them to use
the Canadian Quality Assurance
(CQA) program, Doug Richards,
Ontario Pork field rep says.
Speaking to the annual meeting of
the Huron County Pork Producers,
Richards said Quality Meat Packers
required CQA validation as of
December 31 while Maple Leaf will
implement it by March 31.
"We know there are smaller
packers waiting to see what
happens," Richards said.
Ontario producers are applying for
the program in large numbers with
1,099 producers who annually ship
1.8 million hogs already validated.
Producers with Pool Plus contracts
from Ontario Pork may be required
to have CQA validation, Richards
said but they would likely get at least
four months notice since it takes
three months to go through the
validation process.
"We're the first province to have
plants require CQA," Richards said,
probably because those plants are so
export oriented. But with food safety
the number two concern of
consumers (after the environment),
he said, other provinces are bound to
follow. He noted attention the
national media has been giving to
mad cow disease. "They're really
beating up beef farmers," he said.0
42 THE RURAL VOICE
Advice
Can I do `that'
on grass?
Hear How It Can Be Done! at
The 2001 Pasture Series meeting on
Thursday evening, March 8 at the
Keady Arena, 7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Topics include: Grazing Alfalfa
for Gain Not Gas by Paul
McCaughey; Small Acreage -Big
Gains With Beef & Sheep by Tim
Prior (Pasture Award Winner);
Grazing and the Proposed Legislation
Can Be Compatible by Jack Kyle;
Pasture Finishing and Grazing
Research at Brandon Research
Centre by Paul McCaughley;
Stockpile Grass Can = December
Grazing by Christoph Wand.
Pre -registration is $15.00; 2nd
person - same farm $10.00; pre-
registration before February 26; at
the door $25.00.
For more information and to pre -
register, please call the Grey
Agricultural Centre (519) 986-3756.0
Agriphone offers
help for maple syrup
producers
By Todd Leuty
Agroforesty Specialist, Fergus
Maple producers, or anyone
interested in maple production can
dial the toll free telephone number 1-
888-290-4441.
Callers will hear updated
information on maple production,
tips and reminders, a synopsis of sap -
flow events across the province, as
well as, predictions of upcoming sap -
flow events based on five-day
weather forecasts. The three-minute
recording is updated each week to
keep you informed about Ontario
Maple Syrup.0
Conference helps
families deal with
farm issues
Do farm income supports create or
solve problems? Do efforts to gain
efficiencies contribute to the cycle of
"feast or famine?" Do growth and
expansion strategies sometimes lead
to oversupply or environmental
abuse? What makes family farms
unique from other businesses? These
questions and many more will be
discussed at a conference designed
for family farmers.
"Farm Families; Understanding
Change and Transition", will be held
in Guelph on March 8 to help
families better understand the family
farm and its implications on their
lives and business. The conference
will focus on how and why people
make decisions about their farming
business. Conference speakers will
address the issues of decision-
making. Speakers include: John
Fast of the Centre of Family Business
in Waterloo; John Morris, Publisher
and Editor of the Manitoba Co-
operator; Elbert van Donkersgoed of
CFFO; and farmers who have faced
and make difficult decisions for their
family farms.
The conference will take place at
Victoria West Golf Club in Guelph
on March 8. The pre -registration fee
is $55 after February 16.
Registrations are limited to a
maximum of 250 people.
Brochures and other details are
available from Lynn Punnett at (519)
822-3929 ext. 204 or email
lynn@georgemorris.org. 0
Dealing with low
energy levels in 2000
grain crops
Lower energy levels in the 2000 -
grain corn may be contributing to
lackluster performance of your
livestock. While Agricorp samples
tested an average 10 per cent below
normal energy levels, the measured
levels varied widely. This may
similarly result in a wide range of
livestock performances depending on
the energy level of the corn being
fed.
OMAFRA's Feed Ingredients &
By-product Feeding Specialist, Ron
Lackey, has prepared a paper for
livestock feeders on the "Energy
Level of 2000 Grain Corn". The
paper describes the crop situation,
corn grades & energy levels, and
offers recommendations for feeding