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The Citizen, 1991-04-24, Page 28PAGE 28. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24, 1991. Cream Producers want more for their labours BY BONNIE GROPP Members of the Huron and Perth County Cream Producers put re­ presentatives from the Ontario Cream Producers Marketing Board (OCPMB) on the hot seat at the spring meeting held in East Wawa- nosh Public School on Saturday, April 20. The county’s producers are fed up with what they see as an unfair burden on them and were demanding more return for their product. In a marketing proposal distri­ buted at the meeting, the disadvan­ tages facing cream producers were listed. Producers of cream are currently prohibited from selling their surplus milk product, while creameries are allowed to sell it to other processing plants. Dairy pro­ ducers get paid for the whole milk, cream included, which is skimmed off and dumped into the industry in direct competition to the cream producers, though a skim-off levy is charged. The sale of surplus skim milk powder is subsidized by the Canadian Dairy Commission for animal teed, which is also in direct competition with cream producers, who receive no subsidy. Now, proposed legislation sug­ gested by the Dairy Inspection Branch (DIB) would place a mini­ mum butterfat percentage on first grade cream (any cream meeting quality standards with a butterfat content under 30 per cent). This would, the producers say, deny them the right to market their surplus product. Cream producers say there is a loophole in the legislation which is why they are trying to stop the DIB proposal. By fighting it success­ fully they believe they would be able to establish a minimum price for the solid non-fat, (SNF), give the processors the option to buy SNF, be compensated by the Ontario Milk Marketing Board (OMMB) for keeping their surplus product.on the farm, or a combina­ tion of the last two. production, first grade cream has no minimum butterfat content set on it at this time. Therefore producers see that raw milk altered from a three to a four percent butterfat content can be classified as first grade cream over which the OCPMB has jurisdiction. OCPMB director George Stock told the crowd that trying to stop change in legislation is not done as simply as snapping your fingers. ‘‘We only have the opportunity as one party in the dairy industry of speaking out on this. The final decision is made by the Farm Products Marketing Commission (FPMC),” he said. Mr. Stock felt there was a fundamental miscon­ ception on the part of the producers regarding the OCPMB, who, he said, were not trying to impose the legislation. OCPMB Chairman Elgin Cole, said the concept of having a minimum butterfat percentage im­ posed came about a meeting on March 15. At the time it was said that a figure of 20 per cent was being presented to the FPMC on May 9. “We have requested input prior to any decision and we can do According to a section of the Ontario Regulation governing milk 1 ■ J more for our credibility by not acting out of place.” When questioned by one of the producers as to whether or not Mr. Cole felt it was a good deal for the industry he replied the ‘‘board is prepared to go to the Commission and fight for as low a percentage as we can get.” Mr. Cole, who is the board’s representative on the OMMB, ex­ plained that while he understands and sympathizes with the plight of the cream producers, he is also seeing the other side. “The other people in the industry come up to me and say, ‘Do you know what your people want? They want to ship milk at cream quota prices.’ It’s a difficult political front.” A conversion farmer attending the meeting said he knew how unrealistic it seems to see a 26 cent cream quota compared to a $27 milk quota, but he warned the members of the industry to walk with care. ‘‘Be careful what you want to achieve,” he said. ‘‘You are walking into a minefield and 1 hope you understand what you are getting into,” then added, that he wished them only the best of luck .A tJC S*?? K. / \ //WnowE^ in our — New < -T Location^ WT and hoped that they succeeded in getting more for their labours. OCPMB Director Howard Wilson told the group that until cream producers started to produce 100 per cent of their quota they had little to say, which brought an angry response from one farmer, who said the board was not doing their job in representing the inter­ ests of the cream producers. ‘‘You pay us a decent amount for the cream, we’ll fill the damn quota,” he said. Mr. Cole responded saying that he encourages the farmers to make every effort to fill the quota they hold. “If you have any suggestions how the board can bring utilization up from 86 to 100 per cent let me know. In the meantime we are striving to get a hold of more money for your product.” Mr. Stock reminded the farmers again of the intricacies of the political arena, saying these things take time. “You can’t just go in like a group of pitch-fork waving yahoos and make demands.” A woman in the audience asked where the producers could find the time. ‘‘Look around you. There are A Admiral 16.5 CU. FT. REFRIGERATORS Efficient design for maximum storage. Admiral’s technology gives you trouble-free service, year after year. •full width glide-out shelves FROM 799 •dairy and butter compartments have prop-open doors •meat pan •adjustable freezer shelf •black panel kit option MODEL ACT74000 $ many of these people here today, who will not last in this industry another year. Everyone wants cheap food at the farmer’s ex­ pense,” she said. “Farmers would be better off on welfare and if they did who is going to supply this cheap food? The other countries will let us starve.” “We all agree the first priority is to secure a safe food supply,” said Mr. Stock. “We know the problem, what’s the solution?” Trying to come up with one, the produces passed a series of resolu­ tions for the OCPMB's considera­ tion. They asked the board to take action on getting payment for producers for their solid non-fat product and to have some answer regarding this by August. They suggested that the direc­ tors be limited to a two term on the board and they asked for more information and communication be­ tween other producers in the District and the Directors. Finally, they stated that they expect the directors to keep them up to date on the negotiations regarding the first recommenda­ tion. Mi WITH SUPER VALUES ON a • Crime Stoppers Port Albert: Between November 29 and December 1, 1990 a trailer at the Riverside Trailer Park, Port Albert was entered when a front door window was broken and the thieves entered the trailer and removed 1 - Pioneer stereo and speaker set as well as a quantity of tools and beer. Howick Township: Between February 9 and March 2, 1991 a residence at Lot 27, Cone. 10, Howick Twp., was broken into when a thief or thieves removed a basement window and then went into the house and stole: 1 - 16” Sony portable T.V. 1 - Panasonic 8 track tape player with AM/FM stereo/tuner/7record player. 1 - Toshiba VHS video recorder 1 - Voighlander 35mm camera Various tools and video tapes w’ere also stole and possibly remov­ ed in two pillow cases. If you have information about these or any other crimes call Crime Stoppers of Huron County. 1 -800-265-l777 or 524-6851 and you could receive a reward of up to 51,000. 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