The Rural Voice, 2003-08, Page 9National Farmers Union - Ontario NEWSLETTER
Ontario Office: R.R. 2, Godfrey, ON K01 -I 1TO - Phone: 613-273-5545
Email: nfuo@rideau.net Website: www.nfu.ca/on
NFU -0 plans follow-up to small abattoir meeting
One month after hosting a
successful meeting on the small
abattoir crisis in Stratford, the Perth -
Oxford local of the NFU -O continues
to receive media coverage and letters
of support from across Ontario.
Despite the recommendations offered
at the meeting by NFU -O, members
continue to wait for
acknowledgement from the Ministry
of Agriculture and Food about the
serious nature of the local abattoir
situation. At a meeting of the Perth
Oxford NFU -O on July 17, it was
proposed that farmers across Ontario
step up efforts to have the ministry
make meaningful changes to the way
small abattoirs and inspectors are
treated in order to ensure food safety
and prevent the loss of more small
plants.
An informative discussion of the
BSE crisis at the Perth Oxford
meeting focused on the need for
strong local marketing systems and
direct relationships with consumers.
Concern was expressed by several
members about the profiteering by
large processors and the grocery
industry on the backs of farmers
during the current BSE situation.
While farmers are now receiving
about half price or Tess for their
cattle, beef prices in supermarkets
appear to be about the same as before
the crisis. It was concluded that the
dismal compensation being offered to
beef farmers is in effect a subsidy to
the increasingly profitable Canadian
grocery industry. Members discussed
the need for consumers to try to form
direct relationships with beef farmers
in order to support farm survival
during the crisis, but again the
abattoir situation was identified as
being a limiting factor.
NFU -O members are interested in
pursuing a number of other issues
facing small family farms in the near
future. Efforts to revitalize a number
of NFU -O locals are now underway
as a result of the large increase in
membership this year. NFU -O
members have great interest in
tackling a number of other issues
including the inability of young
farmers and alternative farmers to
diversify into supply managed
commodities because of the high cost
of quota, and draconian regulations
being imposed by some marketing
boards.
Alternative sources of energy
including windpower are also of
interest to many NFU -O members
and the organization hopes to sponsor
some future meetings in that regard.0
COMING EVENT
Perth -Oxford NFU -O
Annual Meeting and
Fall Picnic
September 18th
at McCully's Hill Farm
St. Marys
Farm Families Welcome
Phone 284-2564 for details
ATTENTION - NFU YOUTH
NFU Youth are invited to a summer gathering near Brussels, Ontario from August
22 to 24 at Dave Lewington's farm. There is Tots of space for camping, so bring your
sleeping bags and tents, and plan on arriving on Friday evening, spending the day and
night on Saturday, and heading for home again on Sunday.
We are planning on having some FUN activities and a campfire, and talking about
farming and the challenges that young people face as they try to get started in farming,
and what we can do to make it easier. If there is enough interest we can also tour Dave's
pasture operations, which includes pastured pigs, chickens and lamb.
Please plan on attending this event!
For more information and registration call or email Dave
Phone 519-887-2681
Email: dlewie@wightman.ca
AUGUST 2003 5