Hog marketing exemption recipe for packer pressure? Thursday, February 18, 2010 by BETTER FARMING STAFFThe blanket exemption from Ontario Pork’s marketing powers created by the Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Appeal Tribunal decision this week leaves producers “open to manipulation” by packers says Elbert van Donkersgoed, agent for the farmer who began the appeal process more than a year ago.Van Donkersgoed, who represented Glencoe producer Rein Minnema during the appeal process, predicts that pork producers will find themselves pressured by processors to “go the exempt route” or face a non-renewal of their production contracts.He says following the Farm Products Marketing Commission’s 2008 ruling that took away Ontario Pork’s marketing powers “a number of producers . . . were being told you need to quit making a fuss about the Commission decision or your contract might not get a renewal.” “One can imagine a similar pressure happening under this type of circumstance that the Tribunal has created.”Tuesday’s decision by the Tribunal re-instated Ontario Pork’s key powers. The Tribunal also granted producers a blanket exemption from those powers.Van Donkersgoed says: “we think there was a better way, and we did our best to articulate it during the hearing process.” He and Minnema wanted the Tribunal to make room for pilot projects and “experiments” with “various groups” becoming agents of Ontario Pork and being delegated powers of settlement and logistics by the board.“This process (Tribunal members) have created leaves pork producers open to . . . some manipulation by the processing sector. In our view that is not gong to be healthy for the sector over the next stretch.” Van Donkersgoed says three producers expressed concerns about manipulation in telephone conversations with him yesterday.Van Donkersgoed says he and Minnema are pleased with the decision otherwise. “The future of Ontario Pork’s powers are back in the hands of producers,” he says. The decision preserves Ontario Pork’s marketing powers and “takes the Commission’s decision off the table. It doesn’t mean the ideas behind the Commission’s decision are gone.” The decision also mentioned a plebiscite if producers want marketing powers changed. BF Hog barn becomes fish farm Ontario Pork gets marketing powers back
Ag mentioned in Manitoba throne speech Friday, November 22, 2024 Manitoba’s ag sector received multiple mentions during the Nov. 19 throne speech. During Lieutenant Governor Anita Neville’s remarks, she highlighted the government’s plans for Winnipeg. “Our new vision for downtown Winnipeg includes Manitoba’s agricultural sector,” she said. “The new... Read this article online
AEM adds two ag equipment innovators to its Hall of Fame Friday, November 22, 2024 At the recently held Annual Conference of the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), Roy Applequist and Al McQuinn—two innovators in the agricultural equipment industry—were formally inducted into the association’s . The AEM is North America’s premier trade organization... Read this article online
AGI’s pink conveyor campaign raises more than $60,000 for breast cancer research Thursday, November 21, 2024 Among the greens and reds associated with some of the equipment at Bolt Seed Farms near Wynyard, Sask., one piece of machinery with a unique paint job recently arrived. With a bid of $65,100, Scott Bolt and the Bolt family had the highest bid for Ag Growth International’s (AGI) pink UCX³... Read this article online
IGTC appoints a new Canadian VP Thursday, November 21, 2024 The International Grain Trade Coalition (IGTC) recently held its annual General Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, gathering international members both in person and virtually to chart a strategic course for the years ahead. The event’s agenda covered critical issues in the global grain... Read this article online
Native plants could be the solution for poultry feed in Alberta Thursday, November 21, 2024 At Lethbridge Polytechnic, Dr. Sophie Kernéis-Golsteyn, a microbiologist, is leading research into antibiotic properties of native Alberta plants to find a natural feed additive for poultry. The project, funded with $80,000 from the Egg Farmers of Canada, will run for 2.5 years in the... Read this article online