The Rural Voice, 1993-05, Page 57PERTH "O'Rk
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.
Highlights of the annual meeting
Opinions expressed herein may not
necessarily reflect the views of the
Perth County Pork Producers.
Many important issues came up at
March Annual Meeting of the Ontario
Pork Producers Marketing Board held
in Toronto. The Task Force on
Restructuring made a presentation of
its preliminary report, having
gathered information over the last
year. Some of the recommendations
were as follows:
- reducing the number of
councillors from 251 to 200
- terms for councillors be reduced
from three years to two
- each pork producing enterprise
be given two votes in OPPMB
elections. This would allow more
spouses, sons and daughters to be
involved.
- realigning the province's current
zone system into 12 districts, with
one director for each zone. Every
area of the province would be
represented, but there would be larger
districts where there are fewer
numbers of producers. There would
also be two directors at large.
- one half of the directors would
come up for re-election each year.
This would make them more
accountable to their electorate and
give less of an advantage to
incumbents over newcomers.
Several producers at the Annual
Meeting called on the board to stop
giving preferred status to Ontario
packers. The board has always
argued that these Ontario packers are
our customers and deserve our
attention; but some producers know
from first-hand experience of selling
loads of hogs to certain U.S. packers,
that the Ontario packing industry has
been getting a bargain. It was noted
that Hillsdown Holdings owns Maple
Leaf Foods and Schneiders, both of
which posted record profits this past
year.
The address of the chairman, Mr.
Goodhand, predicted increased farm
sizes in the next few years with the
"average" farm marketing between
2000 to 3000 hogs. He also felt that
current prices would be the norm;
therefore increased profits would have
to come largely from lowering the
cost of production. With many hog
barns nearing the end of their useful
life, and relatively low interest rates,
now might be a good time to look at
rebuilding the Ontario industry.
Board manager Helmut Loewen
commented that trucking fees to the
plants will be reduced eight per cent
effective April 1 and a further
reduction is scheduled for October.
In the meantime he hopes for
negotiations to be carried on with
truckers.
PERTH COUNTY NEWS
At the regular April meeting Kent
Ward of Thorn Apple Valley
Frederick Division, Michigan was our
guest speaker. He feels that their
plant in Detroit is one of the most
efficient in the U.S. and possibly in
the world. He stressed that they buy
only quality hogs, citing a U.S. study
that there is up to $40 U.S. difference
in value between two carcasses of the
same weight. Five years ago
Canadian hogs were his preferred
choice, but now there are
approximately 10 to 15 per cent of
U.S. hogs that are better quality
running through his line. One
producer remarked that this is ample
reason for the Canadian industry to
inject more, rather than less, money
into research. Mr. Ward pointed out,
however, that he wishes he could get
many more Canadian hogs, but the
countervailing duty is a major
obstacle.
On the countervail subject, on
April 8 the Extraordinary Challenge
Committee (ECC) upheld a
Binational Panel decision on duty
rates on live hogs for period four
(April 1988 to March 1989). The rate
was dropped from 4.49 cents per
pound to .51 cents. Approximately
$100,000 will be returned to the
OPPMB.
The ECC decision does not affect
the present deposit rate of 9.32 cents
per pound. Tripartite Stabilization
payments made during period five
(April 1989 to March 1990) make up
a large portion of the current deposit
rate. (Some readers might recall that
these payments were significant.) A
Binational Panel established for this
period is to make a decision by
April's end. Only a final ruling, with
no attempt to set up an Extraordinary
Challenge, would change the current
countervailing deposit rate.
The duty is costing us a lot of
money. As producers we must
ensure that this issue is kept in the
forefront of political objectives. A
Progressive Conservative leadership
campaign is underway to be followed
by a federal election. This issue
should be kept as a political "hot
potato". Tradc Minister Michael
Wilson would be a good person to
lobby.
The topic of Animal Welfare was
raised again at our meeting.
Telephone calls have been received
by producers questioning types,
amounts, and other information on
the use of drugs in their operations.
The caller was offering $50 for this
information plus he/she wanted a
barn tour. The solicitors were vague
in supplying names and owners of
their company. Producers arc warned
to be very careful of such calls or
visits.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Ontario Pork Congress, Thursday
June 24 and Friday Junc 25, Funfest
Saturday June 26.0
submitted by
John Van Nes
Larry Skinner
Pork Products available from:
Wayne Hartung at 291-4038
Alfred Young at 348-9352
Fred DeMartines at 393-6812
Martin VanBakel at 345-2666
Dennis Zehr at 595-4771
MAY 1993 53