The Rural Voice, 2002-05, Page 33responsive to problems in the barn
because they take ownership of the
problem, he said.
Independents also usually have a
larger land base so they will have Tess
problem dealing with restrictive
nutrient management regulations, he
said.
The weakness of independent
producers is they are more vulnerable
to the hog cycle than contract
producers. There are tools to change
that, however.
"Good managers use good years
to prepare for the bad years," Rops
said. NISA is a helpful program. "I
hope it is something that stays around
for a while," he said, advising
farmers to contribute their maximum
every year. But use NISA properly,
he advised. Too many farmers, when
the bad times of 1998 hit, didn't want
to withdraw from their NISA account
because they saw it as a retirement
plan. It was intended to help people
through the bad times, he said.
The Whole Farm Relief plan of
1998 and 1999 also helped
save many producers, he said.
In answer to a question about the
loaning practices of banks, Rops said
he felt the banks hung in with their
hog producer clients really well
during the 1998 crisis. Often though,
big banks get cautious in tough
times.
"Our philosophy is more on an
even keel," Rops said of the credit
union. "We tend to pick up more
business in bad times."
"We're accused of being too
cautious in good times and easier to
get along with in bad times."
John Nyenhuis, IOHPA chairman,
outlined some of concerns presented
by the association to a recent meeting
of federal Standing Committee on
Agriculture and Agri -Food in Grand
Bend including an RSP -style safety -
net program in which farmers could
put away money, and get a tax break,
in good times so the money could be
drawn out in bad times.
"We would point out that such a
plan features a self-help component
for pork producers," the brief said.
"We would be more able to
withstand periods of low prices
because funds would be available in
a timely manner without the need tor
crisis programming by
government."0
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MAY 2002 29