Times Advocate, 1993-02-03, Page 11C.G.
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ne Fact in the Furrow
By Bob Trotter
It was, I think, an admonition to
the church but the quote has been
used -- and abused -- for almost a
hundred years.
It was written by John Emerich
Edward Dalberg-Acton to Bishop
Mandell Creighton on April 5,
i887. Lord Acton wrote: Power
' sends to corrupt and absolute pow-
er corrupts absolutely. I have used
this quotation many times in the
50 years that I have been writing,
more than any other.
It has been particularly applica-
ble in so many instances and it is
applicable now, I believe, to the
Ontario Pork Producers Marketing
Board.
When Richard Ross, a hard-
working, loyal member of the agri-
cultural community, a Wellington
County hog farmer, requested cop-
ieS of the minutes of the directors'
meetings, the --perk board executive
refused to give the minutes to him.
One of the flimsy excuses offered
for refusing was that the minutes
hould be secret because their de-
liberations are for commercial pur-
poses and revealing the delibera-
tions could give competitors an
advantage.
If l may be permitted, I think
that's hogwash.
By the time that information be-
came public, the deals would be
,done and the event would be histo-
ry. Besides, Richard Ross is a hog
farmer and is, by law, a licensed
hog producer. He, therefore should
have access to the minutes because
he is a producer.
I have always supported market-
ing boards, especially the pork
board because it has not, as yet,
become over regulated. I have
known members and directors per-
sonally for many years and have
found them to be sincere and hon-
est.
Immediately, though, when a
group representing a large body of
producers refuses access to min-
utes, my curiosity- is aroused, if
they do not want to reveal what
they are doing, what are they do-
ing? What have they got to hide?
What is so secretive and confiden-
tial that their own people are kept
in tide dark?
Treating people like mushrooms --
keeping them in the dark and cover-
ing them with manure -- will not en-
dear them to their members.
I can remember away back when
the pork board was in its infancy.
Getting hog producers to agree to
the formation of the board originally
took gargantuan efforts and infinite
patience.
Those efforts have paid off and
the pork board has become a model
of efficiency and innovation. Cana-
dian pork and especially Ontario
pork is the best in the world and
much of this quality is due to the
OPPMB.
But this latest attempt to muzzle
openness smacks of disdain and dic-
tatorship.
The board not only refused a
member but elicited the support of
the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture
and Food, the Ontario Farm Prod-
ucts Marketing Commission, the
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
and several other marketing boards
in the province. All these big guns
were pointed at one lone farmer and
all he wanted was the bare bones
minutes of meetings, something eve-
ry member should be given without
question. In fact, the board should
have welcomed his interest instead
of trying to stymie hum.
He finally went to the provincial
information commission and this
commission upheld him all the way.
The pork board was ordered to re-
lease everythnrgrequested within 35
days of its decision which was is-
sued January 15.
Gelling all that support in a losing
cause and fighting the release of the
minutes right up to the information
commission has probably cost the
pork board a snoutful of money,
thousands and thousands, according
to Ross. He spent less than $25 on
phone calls.
Let's hope a few lessons have
been learned here.
Record attsndatce at
Swine Research Update
By Katlic Ercall
HURON PARK - The 12th an-
nual Swine Research Update
drew a
record
numbs
r of
participant
s to the day-
long event at
the Centralia College Recreation
Centre last Wednesday.
Dr. Doug Bach, co-ordinator of
the event, estimated that more
than 130 swine producers, indus-
try personnel and extension peo-
ple from the Ministry of Agricul-
ture and Food (OMAF) gathered
to glean information about cur-
rent porcine studies, research and
related interests.
Keynote speaker, Dr. Neil
Shantz from the Warman Veteri-
nary Clinic in Saskatchewan, ad-
dressed the topic of "Genotype,
Nutrition and Feed Intake in the
Grower -Finisher Pig."
Dr. Shantz is a partner in a
four -person veterinary practice,
as well as the owner of a consul-
tation pivice where 95 percent
of the time is spent in preventive
medicine with dairy and swinc
production units.
In his presentation, Shantz ac-
quired much of his information
through the examination of uni-
formity of genetics, accurate feed
preparation equipment, in -unit
weighing of pigs between diets,
and dedicated unit managers. He
also said that the availability of
carcass data on a large scale has
further allowed the monitoring
and comparison of various geno-
types on an on-going basis.
According to Shantz, the poten-
tial of individual genotypes to
maximize lean gain is best evalu-
ated when specific growth meas-
urements of the grower pigs is
placed in a calculation along with
specific carcass measurements to
estimate potential lean gain on a
daily basis.
Shantz's explored such areas as
lean and lean yield; genotypic vari-
ation; and diet density in the grow-
er -finisher pig.
"In many units, producers are
not yet maximizing lean gain.
This may be a basic nutritional
problem; however, in many cases
the design of the facility is a much
more basic restriction.
rio, presented'* report on "The Use
of Vasectomized Boars to Improve
Gilt Reproductive Performance."
In his report, Dr. Doig examined
the impact onlitter size
and farrowinging at the
puberal estrus with a elatectomized
boar.
"It was concluded that the use of
a vasectomized boar can lead to in-
creased gilt litter sizes of up to two
pigs, with this maximum benefit re-
alized on farms with gilt litter sizes
in the ranges of 8.5 to 9," explained
Dr. Doig.
"In many units, producers
are not yet maximizing lean gain"
Generally I believe we are still
underestimating the lean growth
potential of most genetic combina-
tions. The benefits of feed effi-
ciencies and added carcass value
are difficult to measure. However,
this area of production is a frontier
that the producer and you as their
production management advisor
need to continue to pursue vigor-
ously," he said in his report.
Among other presentations at the
Swine Research Update, Daphne
Peer of the Fergus OMAF, spoke
on the topic of "Split -Sex and
Phase Feeding of Swine."
She explained that pigs are
grouped by sex and fed different
diets, using the same, or different
feeding methods. For example,
gilts may be full fed, while bar-
rows may be restricted. According
to Peer, sex differences in perfor-
mance become noticeable after 48
kg liveweight.
Dr. Gord Doig of the Depart-
ment of Epidemiology & Biostatis-
tics, University of Western Onta-
Dr. Ernest Sanford of VLS, Hu-
ron Park reported an update to the
Porcine Reproductive and Respira-
tory Syndrome (PRRS) or "Mys-
tery Swine Disease."
According to Dr. Sanford, the
disease is no longer a mystery. He
explained that the virus isolated by
Dutch researchers at Lelystad,
Netherlands, 1991, has now been
firmly established as the agent re-
sponsible for the PRRS.
At this time, clinical outbreaks
in Ontario are few and far between.
Work on production of a vaccine is
ongoing at many centres around the
world. So far none is available,"
Dr. Sanford reported.
The Swine Research Update in-
volved 14 different guest speakers
representing such areas as the Qual-
ity Swine Co-operative, Ontario
Hydro, Veterinary Laboratory Ser-
vices (VLS) and Centralia College.
They addressed a variety of topics
including arthritis in grower pigs;
the cost to produce a kilogram
pork; and alternative feeding.
No -till workshop to
be held in February
HAMILTON - Atw . work-
shop deva ied to withO-eatill
and ridge till information will be
held February 16-17 tial lionilton,
Ontario. Topics to be:oivared in-
clude Weed and Pest Control, Ma-
nure Management, Planter Set -Up
and Modifications, Soil Life. Reha-
bilitating Disturbed Soils, eci nom-
ics, water quality and much, much
more. There are over 40 speakers
on the program, mostly experi-
enced farmers, from Ontario and
the United States. The program was
developed by a group of farmers
who have themselves made the
switch to no -till and ridge till.
There will be ample opportunity
Junior Farmers h old ban uet for audience participation through-
HOLMES V ILLE - The Huron
County Junior Farmers held their
annual banquet on Saturday Janu-
ary 23 at the White Carnation in
Holmesvillc. During the evening
the Junior Farmers inducted their
1993 County Executive, presented
their Junior Farmer Awards and
gave their Rural Leadership
Awards.
Marjory Humphries, Walton,
Bill Wallace, RR 4 Seaforth; and
Keith Williamson, RR 3 Walton
were presented with Rural Leader-
ship Awards for their outstanding
contributions,. leadership and dedi-
cation to agriculture and the rural
community in Huron County.
1992 Huron County Junior
Farmer president, L)eb Craig, pre-
sented the 'Bill Armstrong Out-
standing Junior Farmer Award' to
Melissa Logtenberf; RR 1 Dun-
gannon and the 'President's Award'
for outstanding first year member
to Randy Mensinga, RR 1 Gorrie.
Stephen Dow, Zone 7 Junior
Farmer Provincial Director, con
ducted the Candle Light Induction
Ceremony of the 1993 Huron
County Junior Farmers Executive.
The 1993 Huron County Junior
Farmer Executive is: President,
Ross McIntosh, RR 4 Seaforth:
'vice-president. Frau Peel, RR 1
ne itiree
m°144.3 rteAw?
Auburn, Secretary, Fred Makkers,
RR 5 Goderich; Treasurer, Randy
Mensinga, RR 1 Gorrie; Provincial
Relations Officer, Robert Hunk-
ing, RR 1 Auburn, and Zone Rep-
resentative, Hank Nyman, Melissa
Logtenberg and Karen Bakker, RR
3 Aubum.
Guest speaker for the evening
was Paul Klopp, MPP Huron.
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out the two-day event.
' In addition to speaker presenta-
tions and panel discussions, there
will be a trade show featuring 30
displays of the latest in reduced till-
age equipment and products.
Also assisting with the organiza-
tion of this meeting are the Ontario
Soil and Crop Improvement Asso-
ciation, the Ontario Chapter of the
Soil and Water Conservation Socie-
ty, OMAF, and the Soil and Water
Conservation Information Bureau.
For more information, contact
your local OMAF office or the In-
novative Farmers of Ontario, c/o
1 Lammers -Helps, SWCIB,
R. ards Building, University of
Guelph, Guelph, Ontario NIG 2W1
tel. (519)767-5020 or fax (519)824-
5730.
W.H. MACGREGOR
Farm Accounting Service
114 King 3L, 11.ato11 Oat. 019) 263-3039
Income 1.1, Preparation tu•
Indtvidua{'. ,anti Form, •
E1.:clruntc
Refunds in so Mose 24stook.
Faielrarfc Trac aWionMnAoe
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JEDIT UNJOT+
The Ausabie-Bayfield
Corxervation Authority is
pleased to anticlines the
1993 Boleti Of Directors
Charman: Joe Gibson
Vice -Chairman:
Dave McClure
Bob Benner
Biddulph Twp., Lucan
Don Brodie
Provincial Representative
Pat Down
Provincial Represent*"
Bert Dykstra
Clarion, Goderich Twp.
Tony Engel
East Williams Twp.
West Williams Twp.
Bob Fisher
Hay Twp., Zurich
Joe Gibson
HOW Twp., Md*p Twp.
Sallhalh
Lloyd Huffman
Bayfield, Stanley Twp.
Dave Jefferson
Atkona, 8oeanquet Twp.
1'hedtord
Rasa Karcher
Hensen, TucketamAh Twp.
Fred Lewis
Lobo Twp, London Twp.
Dave McClure
Grand Bend, Stephen Twp.
tali:OskosaOaawosal
Mhos Tw., Loos Tsp.
Medd SAW
elanaard Ttrp.,'Ea&
USbQIo Twp.
ANaa Cr�klt.
ParldtB
Bob Vaughan
Adelaide Twp.
Warwick Twp.
If you have any qualms s lit
concerns about the ABGA's
programs, Bene contact
YOUNNicilwilles dirasa or
iis,CA M 2'2110.
1 �t