The Rural Voice, 2005-02, Page 36News in Agriculture
Wooddisse updates beef producers
By Jim Brown minimal risk. Minimal risk criteria is aside by the Ontario government for
Though the last 19 months have based on the number of cattle over 24 an Ontario cull animal strategy.
seen very stressful times for beef months of age in Canada (one per Seven million dollars of that is for
producers, Ron Wooddisse, president million). abattoir expansion at a 50-50 cost
of the Ontario Cattlemen's Internationally, according to sharing and $3,000,000 is set aside
Association (OCA) told the annual Wooddisse, Canadian beef has been for the industry.
meeting of the Huron County Beef exported at least once to 50 different Wooddisse said $1.3 million is for
Producers on January 12 it was not markets since January 2004. deadstock collection, $200,000 for
all bad news being faced by the He noted that Japan has indicated it Ontario cattle identification age
producers. would treat Canada the same as the retirement through the Beef
Wooddisse said a major step U.S., in that they will require age Identification Organization, $500,000
forward in allowing the importation certification, which is something for emerging animal wildlife fund in
of live Canadian cattle and all beef Canada has been able to do with its co-operation with the Ontario Society
products into the United States was Canadian Cattle Identification for the Prevention of Cruelty to
made on December 29, 2004, with Agency (CCIA) system. Animals (OSPCA) and $1 million for
the announcement of the final rule Macau, Cuba and Hong Kong have cull cow product and market
regarding the border opening for re -opened their borders to Canadian development.
March 7. beef and Taiwan appears close to He said the CFIA program is
The rule to allow the importation of doing so. China has announced that it working as they focus on 4-D
feeder and slaughter cattle under 30 will be re -opening to semen and animals — dead, down, dying or
months of age and an expanded list embryos, but the process is slow. diseased.
of beef products into the U.S. was Wooddisse said Indonesia was The program has projected it will
written by the U.S. Department of interested in resutning trade for both test 30,000 animals this year and that
Agriculture to take into account that over and under 30 -month beef. But the most recent cases of BSE were a
a few additional cases of BSE would that was before the tsunami of result of surveillance testing.
likely be found in Canada. December 26. "As time advances, the chance of
The legal action filed by R -CALF The goal of the Canadian Beef new cases will likely decline," said
is not an unexpected move from this Export Federation (CBEF) is to Wooddisse.
protectionist group. increase exports outside the U.S. to He indicated the veterinarian will
One of the reasons why the rule to 500,000 tonnes by 2007. come out to a farm and collect
re -open the U.S. border to Canadian "To do this, trade access must be samples for testing and the producer
products took 10 months to move out normalized to key markets," he said. will receive support to off -set
of the USDA was the USDA's over- He stated about 10 per cent of disposal costs.
abundance of caution in ensuring it Ontario's checkoff dollars go to "Hopefully, this continual testing
could withstand a legal challenge. CBEF to help develop export will help to maintain consumer
Canada is allowed up to 11 cases in markets. confidence in Canadian beef," he
a 12 -month period to remain at Ten million dollars has been set said.0
'United we stand' says Huron beef president
The future of the beef industry Ile stressed that today, more than year, the board has endeavoured to
locally, as well as Ontario and ever, the producers, producer keep the producers informed, have
Canada, holds many changes but organizations, industry partners and gatherings for support and
Glen Walker, Wingham-area other sectors of this great industry networking and provide the latest
producer and Huron County Beef have to work together. data available. '
Producers Association president says "I personally believe we can eat He said the Ontario Corn Fed Beef
how beef producers adapt to these our way out of this situation," he Association has also made many
changes, to the new realities of their said. "This has been proven with the presentations during the past year in
business, will create a stronger increase of consumer consumption of an attempt to promote Ontario beef
industry that will be a benefit to all. our products." awareness to its fullest potential.
In his address to the association's According to Walker, Ontario They did this by hosting barbecues
annual meeting January 12 in production is approximately 50 per at a number of events throughout the
Brussels, Walker said the past year cent of the provincial requirement, summer, one of which was at
was anothpr roller -coaster throughout which gives the producer even a Queen's Park in June. This was
the production sector of the livestock stronger motive to create a hosted by the Ontario Cattlemen's
industry, both in Ontario and in substantial beef industry for Ontario. Association at the same time as they
Canada. In Huron County during the past Continued on page 33
32 THE RURAL VOICE