The Rural Voice, 2002-03, Page 4941=Ir
Ag News
Perth Pork Producers want disposal
A resolution passed by the annual
meeting of the Perth County Pork
Producers' Association, January 24
in Stratford, calls for consideration of
alternative methods of disposal of
deadstock.
In proposing the resolution,
Richard Yantzi says other
jurisdictions are allowed to use
incineration as a disposal method but
not in Ontario. As well other
possibilities such as community
composting may be possible, he said.
Perhaps in future biodiesel fuel might
even be the answer to create a wider
market for rendered products, he
said.
Bill Charlton, Ontario Pork
executive director, told producers in
attendance that some research is
coming on the issue. The pork, dairy
and beef industries have joined
together to get funding from Healthy
Futures for a research project and
research proposals are now being
requested, he said.
"You're right, there has to be more
work done," he told Yantzi.
Another resolution passed dealt
with "intangible costs", costs for the
benefit of society that do not benefit
farmers. Farmers, it was noted, have
no ability to recover these costs.
It was pointed out that pork
producers in the U.S. have access to
a feed additive that helps turn fat into
muscle but this is banned in Canada,
creating an unfair advantage for
American producers.
Ontario Pork President Clare
Schlegel, speaking at the meeting
said Ontario pork producers need a
level playing field with Quebec in
the same way Ontario's grains and
oilseeds producers need a level
playing field with the U.S.
Where there is a stable industry
and confidence, money flows,
Schlegel said and because of better
safety nets in that province,
investment has been flowing into the
Quebec pork production and
processing industry.
Safety nets are important, Schlegel
said, citing the 1999 disaster
program. "The program did good
things in retrospect to help us get
through," Schlelgel said of the
provincial program put in place after
the pork price crash of late 1998.
On food safety issues, Schlegel
noted that the strategic plan for the
Quebec industry for the next five
years puts food safety at the top of
the priority list. Environment was the
top priority in the last five years.
Schlegel said farmers' letters had
alternatives
helped get some changes in proposed
regulations regulating on-farm
manufacture of medicated feeds.
Still, he said, the Canadian Pork
Council has sent a letter to the
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
suggesting the $7 million it will
spend to monitor on-farm feed mills
could be better used to increase
Continued on page 46
FI.fexitrxv
BUILDERS
LTD.
We build all types and all sizes of Agricultural,
Commercial & Residential Buildings to suit your needs.
cft.xtt�xg.e
BUILDERS LTD.
If you are thinking about building - CALL US
CSA
Harriston, Ontario 519-338-2111
MARCH 2002 45