The Rural Voice, 2001-07, Page 57PERTH ifilk
County Pork Producers NEWSLETTER
Jim Van Herk, President
519-595-4863
• The Rural Voice Is provided to Perth
County Pork Producers by the PCPPA.
Questions plaguing humanity (and the hog industry)
Any opinions expressed herein may
not necessarily reflect rhe views of
the Perth County Pork Producers'
Association.
I) Have we settled into a mature
industry? It used to be that a young
producer was under 30, now they're
under 40. (Guess how old I am?) As
we as producers age we tend to
become more conservative, we are
less willing to accept change and take
risks. Formula contracts, cost-plus
and contract farming become more
acceptable.
Consider this: are this spring's
good prices a result of the crash of
'98? Or a harbinger of even lower
prices in 2002?
For Ontario to maintain its
production base, we need 20,000 sow
places built or renovated every year.
Also. 130 new barns every year.
300,000 sow base divided by 15
years = 20,000 places/year.
20,000 x 20 pigs divided by three
turns = 130,000 places.
Will this maintenance or possible
increase of production be done by
independent producers (whatever that
means), or by packers who own pigs
(something farmers don't like), or
farmers who 'own packing plants
(now we're not sure)?
2) Is dead stock rem .1I an essential
service? With local dead stock
companies now asking for written
guarantees that dead stock is sulpha
free, (this includes ASP. Trivetrin.
Uniprim, etc.) should all dead stock
be rendered as fertilizer instead of pet
food? Will the Ontario government
help subsidize pick-up and rendering
and consider it an essential service'?
Or should disposal of dead stock be
the responsibility and cost of
producers as it is with factories and
restaurants?
3) Advertising: Ontario Pork Starlink
and Paylean (hormone) free. A catchy
new sales ad in Europe and Asia? Or
do we, as producers, sell pigs and let
packers worry about pork?
4) Political voice? Is redistribution of
directors and councillors overdue'?
The producer base continues to
decrease in numbers. We may have to
empower staff to do more, with less
meddling by directors and
councillors. With only half the
directors and councillors they could
have Jean Chretien's pay raise and
still cost less in service charges than
the present cost.
5) Perception: What image do we
want to portray to the public? That of
rubber boots and coveralls or the,
PERTH COUNTY PORK
PRODUCERS'
PORK PRODUCTS
• Smoked Pork Chops • Fresh Pork Chops
• Stuffed Loin Chops • Smoked Sausage
• Smoked Cheddar Sausage
• Bacon Burgers • Teriyaki Pork Steaks
• Vittorio's BBQ Sauce
AVAILABLE FROM:
Steve Hulshof (Kinkora) 348-8167
Martin van Bakel (Dublin) 345-2666
Walter Bosch (Monkton) 356-9000
Ted Keller (Mitchell) 348-9836
largeNt collection of new pickups and
tractors on the 401 ever? Whole farm
relief or escalating land prices? Old
facilities and farm families working
hard to get by (possibly peasants) or
new concrete and employees (factory
farms)?
Does Ontario want livestock
production or to get rid of it? Or
should we grow hedges and become
landscapers for urban enjoyment (i.e.
England)?
Questions?? Questions?? So
many answers!
The real question: Who will
organize an industry reception (or
beer tent) now that the Congress was
cancel led?0
Submitted by Jim Van Nes
Perth County
Pork Producers'
Association
18th
ANNUAL
G LF,
TOURNAMENT
at the
Mitchell Golf & Country Club
Shot Gun Start
10:00 a.m.
Cost $40/person
price includes green fees, lunch,
supper and prizes
Please confirm your plans to
attend by faxing
Rob Nyenhuis at 519-393-6857
Include your name and
telephone number.
JULY 2001 53