The Rural Voice, 1993-11, Page 6BRUSSELS LIVESTOCK
887-6461
887-6811 1
SALES
Tuesdays
Thursdays
Fridays
9 a.m. - Finished Cattle Cows
11 a.m. • Bob Calves, veal, Sheep & Goats
10 a.m. -Stockers
t p.m. • Pigs
1`
1 Bred Cow
Sale
Nov. 6 &
Local Calf Sale
Nov. 13 at
10:00 a.m.
Confidence • Trust • Service
WESTERN STOCKERS AVAILABLE FOR PRIVATE SALE
ELMA
MUTUAL !'
INSURANCE
l�
Established 1884
DID YOU KNOW?
Elma Mutual was formed by the forefathers of our community
in order to provide financial security and "peace of mind" to
its inhabitants.
Elma was then, and still is, a non-profit organization whose
sole purpose is to provide insurance protection at or near cost
to its Policyholders. Since the company is owned by the
Policyholders, we are very conscious of the necessity to
provide up-to-date insurance coverages that meet the
changing needs of the consumer. That's you!
Why not think of Elma Mutual?
Elma provides a broad range of insurance products for Farm,
Home, Commercial and Automobile.
When your insurance comes due for renewal, why not ask
for a quotation from Elma Mutual.
YOU WILL BE GLAD YOU DID!
For more information or for the Agent or Broker in your area,
please contact our Head Office.
HEAD OFFICE — 130 John Street, Atwood, Ontario, NOG 1BO
Phone: (519) 356-2582 1-800-265-2389
2 THE RURAL VOICE
Feedback
Wasting energy
Open Letter to
Hon. Elmer Buchanan
Minister of Agriculture and Food:
It is time to take a long hard look
at the future of The Ontario Sheep
Marketing Agency. What prompted
me to make that statement is the fact
that just recently, after over 40 years
of breeding and raising sheep, I
dispersed my commercial flock only
to find out that OSMA collected one
and a half per cent of the total
proceeds. The OSMA rescinded the
breeding stock allowance because,
according to the Board, some
producers were selling wether lambs
as breeding stock and avoiding the
check -off. This allowed the Agency
to collect a check -off at least twice on
the same animal — once when sold as
breeding stock and again when the
same ewe is salvaged.
The Agency claims some
producers were abusing the system
while at the same time the Agency
was abusing its power by collecting
twice or more off the same animal.
The relations between the Agency
and some independent slaughter
houses has been less than cordial due
to the Agency exerting its power over
the collection of check -off.
I voted for the Agency because,
like many producers, I felt there was
a need for better marketing of sheep
and lamb. However, as time has pro-
ven, the name "Marketing Agency" is
a misnomer because the Agency has
done nothing about marketing. The
Agency uses the crutch that promo-
tion is part of Marketing. What is
there to promote?
The percentage of lambs that
would make a good carcass is very
small and anyone who thinks
otherwise should first find out what
constitutes a good carcass and then
1