The Rural Voice, 1993-02, Page 49PERTH Ifiqk
County Pork Producers NEWSLETTER
John Crowley, President
R.R. 2, Gadshill, ON NOK 1J0 393-6403
The Rural Voice is provided to Perth
County Pork Producers by the PCPPA.
Regional meetings promote discussion
The OPPMB held its Regional
meeting for Perth and Waterloo
counties in mid-December in
Stratford.
The regionals have been set up as
a discussion -oriented meeting
between councillors and OPPMB
staff. The semi-annual meeting was
cancelled due to financial restraint for
1992, but it is quite possible the
regional meetings could be a
permanent replacement for it in
future years. The meeting has
generally been quite well received by
councillors and staff.
Six prepared reports were handed
out and discussed as follows:
1. The hog marketing system - the
cost of physically moving pigs to
market.
2. Pricing of hogs
3. Farm Support Programs
4. Alternative feeds
5. Ontario Swine Improvement
Inc.
6. Task force report of the Board
structure
The cost of marketing a pig in
Ontario on average is said to be
$6.46. Discussion was held on
charges from yard to plant, cost
savings by closing yards in certain
areas, pros and cons of total booking
on cost and convenience, user fees
for producers who ship through
OPPMB yards, and producers'
feelings on the trade off between
convenience or system efficiency.
Pricing of hogs had several aspects
that were covered. It was hoped and
anticipated that contracts would still
eventually lead us into more targeted
characteristic carcasses for the
financial gain of producers and
packers. Producers believed that
Agriculture Canada should still
operate the grading system. The
possibility of Quebec switching to a
formula pricing system was
discussed. If this happens the quick
implementation of a similar system
was deemed necessary.
Next on the agenda was farm
support programs. The OPPMB has
indicated its support for a seven-year
average on tripartite payouts to
ensure there is no surplus at the end
of the program in three years. The
western provinces are against this
proposal as were some directors
present. In the original agreement
surplus funds at the end of the
program were to be directed to the
Pork Industry. Concerns that the
money would not go to producers and
possible distribution means if it did
go to producers were discussed.
Decisions in the future of tripartite
need to be made by mid-1993.
Producers were asked if they prefer
support for price, income, or margins.
Any new programs should try to be
set up in a "green" manner to ensure
success in trade disputes.
Certain alternative feeds and their
negative effect on carcass quality
were discussed as well as the goals
and objectives of Ontario Swine
Improvement.
The OPPMB task force of
structure also made a presentation at
this meeting. As can be expected,
recommendations have been from
leaving the structure as is, to radically
changing the face of the organization.
A lot of concern has been raised on
the amount of time that must be
committed by the board's directors.
This has probably prevented good
people from running for the position
of director. The
meeting consensus
was to not cut the
number of directors
by more than two or
three. The council-
lors and the zone
structure seems to be
up in the air as far as
changes go. The
Perth County Pork
Producers submitted
a proposal to the task
force of 13 council-
lors per zone and one
director per zone.
Nine per cent of provincial product-
ion would establish a zone. These
zones would be geographically
aligned to help ensure provincial
equality yet give more director repre-
sentation to areas of higher product-
ion than the current system. The task
force will be presenting recommenda-
tions to be voted on at the OPPMB
annual meeting in March.
The January meeting of the PCPP
was held on January 6. Mary
McIntosh, representing Agriculture in
the Classroom gave a presentation
about their programs in place and
anticipated additions. The PCPP have
supported this program in the past
and believe teaching our young is a
good step in ensuring knowledge of
our agriculture industry by our urban
neighbours. Guest director Ross
Small gave a board report. The three
major packers are now only accepting
tractor trailer loads of pigs. They
have stated that straight truck Toads of
50 pigs take too long to unload,
which sometimes results in delays in
their killing lines.
Winter is here in full swing and
there are numerous small courses
being put on by OMAF and our
agriculture colleges. These arc
partially funded by our tax dollars,
so take advantage and keep up with
our ever-changing industry.0
submitted by
John Van Nes
PORK PRODUCTS
AVAILABLE FROM:
Wayne Hartung at 291-4038
Alfred Young at 348-9352
Fred DeMartines at 393-6812
Martin Van Bakel at 345-2666
Dennis Zehr at 595-4771
FEBRUARY 1993 45