Peterborough cattle beefs aired

Thursday, May 14, 2009

© AgMedia Inc.

by BETTER FARMING STAFF

Cattle producers in Peterborough County are steamed that their provincial organization cancelled plans to hold public consultations about risk management.

More than 78 per cent of delegates at the provincial association’s annual meeting in February supported Peterborough’s proposal for the public sessions, says Allan Kidd, a member of Ontario Cattlemen’s Association’s advisory council.

Two weeks ago, the six Peterborough producers who spearheaded the proposal were told the sessions wouldn’t happen.

Board members “seem to have their own agenda that they’re trying to follow and it doesn’t seem to matter suggestions that come from county advisory councillors or county presidents,” a frustrated Kidd says.

Gord Hardy, Lucan, president of the provincial organization, confirms the board quashed the meetings, explaining the program proposed by the Peterborough group had components “that just do not work.” He says it’s similar to proposals the provincial organization has already made to governments and so far, been turned down.

“We do realize there’s a need out there,” says Hardy. It’s hard to stimulate interest “when your government’s running a deficit.”

The provincial association proposes: A one-time payment to compensate for poor prices in 2007 by offering 13 cents per pound for cattle sold weighing more than 300 pounds; a livestock insurance program similar to the voluntary Alberta cattle price insurance program launched this year; and an Ontario Cattle Feeders’ Association proposal to establish a $20 million ledger account pilot program for Ontario corn-fed beef that would allow producers to lock in a future price for an animal that is being finished.

If the cattle feeders’ pilot works, it could be extended across the industry, says Hardy.

But to gain government support, the industry needs to help itself, Hardy says, pointing towards age verification and working with veterinarians on animal health issues. He notes government support to the province’s beleaguered auto sector came with the condition that the industry restructures.

Kidd says that his group’s proposal was a draft, intended to facilitate discussion at public meetings. Other county associations also put forward motions calling for a risk management program at the provincial organization’s annual meeting, he adds.

While Kidd doubts many Ontario producers are aware of the Alberta government’s April decision to allow check-off fees to be refunded, he says there have been rumblings about withholding the check-off dollars that fund the Ontario Cattlemen’s Association.

Hardy says there are always “people out there that are not happy with the way their check-off dollars are put to work.” He adds: “They don’t understand how their check-off dollars are handled and the value they get back.”

John Gillespie, Ayr, a provincial Cattlemen's director and chair of the Beef Information Centre, says Alberta’s decision could spell trouble for national organizations because of reductions to their share of the check-off fees. Alberta represents about 70 per cent of the country’s beef cattle production. “They (the organizations) will have a reduction of income, no doubt,” he says. BF