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The Rural Voice, 1991-02, Page 56PERTH tfigk County Pork Producers NEWSLETTER Vince Hulshof, President R. R. 1, Sebringville, NOK 1X0 393-5586 The Rural Voice is provided to Perth County Pork Producers by the PCPPA BUILDING MARKETS FOR THE LONG TERM It is essential for pork producers to look at their market opportunities, now! To look at it on a longer term basis, we must not be dependent on the whims and profitability of our packers or other primary product links. It is time to look at our options. Our board needs a mandate to inves- tigate market opportunities, and to come to a consensus with the Canadian gov- emment to initiate pork trade with gov- ernments that now enjoy our financial support by way of financial foreign aid. Trading comes about because of development of a need for certain prod- ucts. Our involvement with countries that enjoy our economic support by way of dollar power, that the Canadian tax- payer contributes to, has to be changed. We need to help other countries to upgrade their dependency on foreign markets, and trade with them in return. It is to our benefit to have the pork board streamline pork trade with countries that we have never been involved with be- fore. Countervail is offensive and puni- tive to the Canadian hog industry; it's as if we were producing a product that wasn't wanted. As a country, Canada contributes approximately S2.5 -billion dollars yearly in foreign aid. Half of this amount is spent in Canada on goods and services, and the other half goes to for- eign countries in direct financial aid. As an exporter of raw materials and live- stock products, it becomes imperative that Canada's contribution should have a greater spin-off to the Canadian pri- mary producer. It's important that our board lobby the Canadian government to become involved with our industry. Maybe we should take a look at the American program called "PL 480." This program allows the government to buy commodities from farmers to alle- viate overproduction in times of low prices, to create more stability. As a trading country, our government, to- gether with the various Canadian pork marketing boards, needs to seek out those countries that need our pork prod - 52 THE RURAL VOICE ucts, to alleviate our dependency on the U.S. The Free Trade Agreement is not serving us in the pork industry and probably never will! We need assistance and action from the Canadian government to get into marketing of pork products to foreign countries that may make demands on our industry in the way we cut or pack products. It if takes special lines or equipment, or a change in the way our packing plants operate, we should adapt, and ask the govemment to be- come involved. As pork producers, we intend to be in the industry for the long term, but some- times it takes short term difficulties to succeed in the future. We should not be so dependent on the U.S., for sooner or later, the Ontario hog industry will move to an export position again. If we are to continue on an historic basis with the help of tripartite payments that may become countervailable, our future is very limited. If under the future GATT guidelines, supply management is still allowed, we will be forced to go that route for reasons of profitability in the pork industry. But if we as pork produc- ers, through the pork board together with govemment, find ways to improve our trade picture by selling product to yet non -trading partners, then our future is very optimistic indeed.0 Harry Bardoel, director Perth County Farm Show Pork Day Wednesday, February 20, 1991 Upper Kinsmen Hall Stratford Fairgrounds — 1:30 P.M. Guest Speaker: Dr. R. Hacker Topic: "Future of the industry: Where are we going?" ANNOUNCING: MARKETING PORK - OUR FUTURE CHALLENGE This two day seminar will critically evaluate the pork marketing systems influencing the Ontario Pork Industry. This project is proposed and sponsored by the Pork Producers' Associations of Oxford, Perth, Waterloo, Wellington, and Huron Counties. All involved in the pork industry are invited - producers, packers, industry personnel, and government. The seminars promise to be very proactive, not reactive. WHEN - Wednesday, February 13, and Wednesday, February 27, 1991 TIME - 9:45 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. each day WHERE - Upper Kinsmen Hall - Stratford Fairgrounds COST - $20/day or both days for $35 - includes: coffee and noon meals Pre -registration is compulsory - make cheque payable to: Perth County Pork Producers' Association and mail form to the Stratford OMAF office at 413 Hibernia Street, Stratford, Ontario, N5A 5W2. DAY I - FEBRUARY 13, 1991 This fact finding day will provide a good basis and understanding of current systems and markets. Scheduled speakers include: Erna Van Duren - University of Guelph Kevin Grier - OMAF, Farm Products Marketing Branch Jim Long - Wood Lynn Farms - Delaware, Ontario Jacques Renaud - General Manager, Quebec Pork Producers' Marketing Board Larry Germann - Director of Ag. Services, John Morrell Inc., Sioux Falls, SD, U.S. DAY II - FEBRUARY 27, 1991 A look into the future - Any producer, packer or person affiliated with the pork industry will have the opportunity to express their opinions and objectives as some common industry goals are developed. It's your chance to develop the future rather than address the past. Anyone wishing to formally address the group must pre -register with Mark Yungblut at the Stratford OMAF office. This idea is unique and obviously popular - there are a few time slots open for the day. (As always, group discussion on all topic ideas presented will be encour- aged.) Jim Goodhand and/or John Lichti from the Ontario Pork Producers' Marketing Board and representatives from the major Ontario pork packers will be present both days to respond to various issues and discuss some of their concerns. Hopefully, local members of government will also be in attendance to hear the industry's concerns.