The following editorial is the fifth of a seven-part series of commentaries by QFA Vice-president Chris Judd, entitled “The Seven Bank Accounts of a Farmer.” It’s not only money that makes a successful agricultural operation, says Judd, but also education, seed, soil, family, neighbours and politics, which make up any farm’s healthy “bank accounts.” This month, Chris writes about an often overlooked resource—farm politics.

EDITORIAL: The Seven Bank Accounts of a Farmer — # 5: Politics

Chris Judd

QFA Vice-president

I know what you’re thinking: Politics? Is this guy off his rocker? Well, the fact of the matter is that most of us never think of politics as a bank account we can make withdrawals on. But politics is an essential account we all need if we want to become wealthy in terms of our resources. The only thing is, most people withdraw from it while very few put in a contribution.

For starters, let's get one thing straight: when I say “politics,” I mean politics on every level— from federal, provincial and municipal through to farm organizations like the UPA, QFA, your milk or beef board, mutual fire insurance and your local caisse populaire.

For a variety of reasons, most people are not interested in getting too closely involved in politics. Many cannot devote the time, and many can’t take the heat in the political kitchen. After all, politicians hear an awful lot of complaints in a day. They get the blame for everything and anything. What’s worse, many of the things they get the blame for are nowhere near their realm of control or influence. Still others may not want to put their name up for election in the embarrassing event that they don't win. Politics is like a lot of jobs: to do it properly takes more time than the remuneration pays, and not everyone is able to financially take time from their work.

Most of us are not Members of Parliament, the mayors of our hometowns, presidents of associations, or even board members of organizations. But that does not mean that we are outside of politics. We are all citizens in a political system, and none of us are exempt from being involved. The level of involvement could mean simply offering our opinions, illuminating information or constructive criticism. (Any of you that have held a political position will agree that most of the feedback given by the people you represent is of a highly critical nature, usually motivated because it affects that individual financially. Very seldom do you receive a visit, or even information, of a constructive nature). When a politician is approached by an individual with some relevant information on his hands--or a sincere idea that will benefit not just her, but all of society--the encounter is "officially noted" and the idea gets a much closer look.

It’s truly a shame that so many of us, even if we understand a particular issue or problem, refuse to participate or help because we feel the “wrong” party, mayor or leader of a certain group is in power. Life is too short to intentionally slow down the betterment of society for a whole term, or till the next election, because the stripe was the wrong color. To a certain extent, we all have to sail under whoever has been hired to captain the ship. Our lives can be much more fruitful if we try to work with and bring forth our ideas to whoever is in power.

At the beginning of this editorial, I stated that most of us likely withdraw more from the political account than we deposit. But when you put forth a little effort to inform and advise the leaders of your community, you’ll see the balance of your political bank account begin to grow. You will also go to bed more gratified at night, knowing that you have donated a little bit for those who, for whatever reason, feel that they cannot.

Quebec dairy giant s prove unstoppable

Andrew McClelland

Advocate Staff Reporter

It’s not exactly something you see in the news everyday—a Canadian company buying up businesses south of the border. But that is precisely what has happened in the Quebec dairy industry in recent weeks, which many are saying is a sign of the robust health of milk production in the province.

Agropur, Canada’s largest dairy cooperative, has been making headlines recently after it announced that it would be taking over operations at Trega Foods before the end of February. Trega, a Wisconsin-based cheese manufacturer that was formed from the merger of three U.S. dairies, has won numerous “World Championship Cheese Contest” awards over the years. It brings a 650-million-litre per year processing capacity to Agropur, which itself already processes over two billion litres of milk every year.

“I’m shareholder in Agropur, so the more money that the co-op makes, the more dividends I make,” says Grenville-sur-la-Rouge dairy producer and QFA Board Member John McCart. “Plus, there’s more value-added to the milk put on the market. As far as I’m concerned, kudos to them if they can bring more profits into Quebec.”

Industry spokespersons claim that it’s a good time for large Quebec companies in the dairy sector to take advantage of the relative stability in the marketplace. “They like to say that the environment here is excellent in terms of prices and supply,” said Fédération des producteurs du lait du Québec Communications Officer François Dumontier to the AgriSuccess Journal. “As an industry, our flagship companies are doing a lot better than many others, like pork.”

Montreal-based Agropur turned even more heads on March 14 when it purchased another dairy, this time right on home turf. Laiterie Lamothe & Frères Ltée is the newest addition to the co-op, one which has Agropur brass excited about the niche-market potential the Drummondville-based dairy brings to the table. Already involved in creating specialized products like flavoured milk, Omega-3 enriched milk and organic milk, Laiterie Lamothe will be key in helping Agropur reach new consumers.

Agropur already heads a variety of smaller dairy companies and brands, from Québon, Oka and Sealtest to Natrel and Yoplait. The nearly century-old Laiterie Lamothe will now operate under the co-op’s Natrel division.

“The Laiterie Lamothe has been part of the Centre-du-Québec landscape for nearly 100 years and the whole region is very proud of it,” said Agropur CEO Pierre Claprood. “The Agropur family is happy to be able to rely on the reputation of Lamothe products and know-how of its employees.”

Agropur officials say that the recent purchases are a part of the company’s “developmental strategy” to expand into the U.S. while keeping a firm foothold at home. It certainly has the muscle to do so. The dairy giant currently boasts 3,600 co-op members, 4,400 employees, 22 processing and distribution facilities and an annual sales revenue of 2.45 billion dollars. In November 2008, Agropur announced that it would begin operating in South America through a partnership with Adecoagro, a Brazil-based “sustainable production systems” company dedicated to becoming the lowest-cost producer of ethanol, sugar, coffee and milk in the continent.

Quebec dairy industry officials were also pleased to hear of the expansion of another made-in-Quebec processor when Saputo Inc. announced their purchase of another Wisconsin cheese manufacturer on April 1. The Alto Dairy Cooperative, which operates two plants in the state in Black River and Waupun, will allow Saputo a heightened presence in the U.S. Alto earned sales of $378 million in 2006-2007 and employs 467 workers.

Canada through other eyes

A QFA-organized tour for East African farm leaders reveals much about the Canadian way of life

Ivan Hale

QFA Executive Director

Last fall, the QFA and UPA hosted eight farm leaders from four Eastern African countries—Zambia, Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya.

Shortly after her arrival, Lucy Wangari Mwang, general manager of Kenya’s National Federation of Agricultural Producers, described her expectations this way: “To learn and share how to empower farmers to improve the marketability of their produce.”

Atwijukire Moses of the Mbarara District Farmers Association in Uganda said he hoped to “link up and visit practicing farmers on their farms and observe what technologies are employed in production, especially cost-effective labour saving technologies.” Each person had his or her own expectations and they all wanted to take lessons from Canada back home. And even though they had never met prior to arriving in Canada, they found they had much in common.

Following an itinerary planned by the QFA, the group met with government officials, toured farms, co-ops and agricultural colleges in eastern Ontario and Western Quebec. Here are some of their observations and comments on what they saw.

In the evenings, the group would meet together to discuss what they had seen during the day and how it might apply in their countries. It didn’t take long to conclude that most of the issues facing farmers are the same around the world. Like most Canadian producers, our African delegates’ concerns include income security, pest control, supply management, farmers’ inability to control the prices received for their products, etc.

What were our visitors’ impressions of Canada?

• There were very impressed by our road network, especially the main highways. So much pavement!

• Food servings in Canadian restaurants are far too large, much more than necessary and resulting in waste. The food is also bland, many said! Fortunately, one of the group had brought his own personal supply of hot spices, which he happily passed around for all to share.

• The visitors were surprised that they saw very few children in Canada. This is in stark contrast with African cities and villages where children can be seen playing in the streets at every turn.

• Agricultural cooperatives play an important role in Canada, and have for over a century. Sadly, some farmer cooperatives in Africa have had their finances seized or have had government interference in their operations.

• Canadian dogs are friendly! Most dogs in Africa run wild and private homeowners may have four or five dogs attached by chains to provide security protection.

• On average, Canadian farmers manage a much larger land area than in Africa. The average farm size in Africa is less than an acre and it provides the livelihood of an entire family!

• Canadian farmers advocate effectively and have some influence on research agendas.

The group had a day off at the mid-point in their visit. We took the opportunity to visit Pioneer Village in Morrisburg just off Highway 401 near Cornwall. A local resident dressed in period costume from the 1860s conducted a walking tour and explained the significance of the more than 40 heritage buildings on the village grounds, including saw and flour mills, trades shops, churches, homes, factories and a one-room schoolhouse.

The guide explained agricultural life in the 19th century and showed the set-up of a typical well established farmer. There was a meat smoker in the yard between the house and the machine shed. As well as other equipment, he had a sickle bar mower that would have cost the equivalent of a year’s income. Then the group walked over to a typical farm operated by a new immigrant who would have been renting land and a house while he got himself established. His equipment was much more modest. Tools were handmade from local materials and were very basic, requiring a lot of labour. Walking back to our vans, Lucy told me that farmers in Kenya are still using the basic hand implements that newly arrived British labourers had used in the 1860s.

Prior to boarding the plane home, David Mwonge—who works as the market development manager for Uganda’s National Union of Coffee Agribusinesses and Farm Enterprises—said, “This experience has given me new knowledge and experience that I can use in my work. It has broadened my perspective of the markets.” In completing an evaluation, Julius Moto of the East Africa Farmers Federation said that the experience “…enhanced my understanding of how to service members of a farmers’ organization.” All the visitors recommend the experience to others.

Note: This was the first time that the Quebec Farmers’ Association has organized a study tour bringing leaders in the agricultural sector in developing countries to Canada. There is a possibility that more will be planned in the future. Several new initiatives are being considered to support the development of agriculture in east Africa.

Giving new Canadians a leg up in agriculture

QFA and FarmStart look towards helping recent immigrants pursue an interest in farming

Wendy Jones

Advocate Staff Reporter

Imagine leaving your native country and moving your entire family across borders and oceans into a completely different country, culture and society. Imagine having to start all over again: establishing a home, finding a job, making ends meet and feeding your family foods that are not familiar.

This is precisely what so many immigrants and people of ethnic minorities experience when coming to Canada. Although often well-educated and experienced in a variety of specialized fields, many immigrants have to resort to cab driving or washing dishes in order to support their families. They often call these “survival” jobs. For those who have an interest in farming, however, there may now be a solution.

FarmStart is an Ontario-based program that is trying to make way for young, immigrant, or second-career farmers who wish to set up their own farming operations. Program Manager Mike Shook has a keen interest in both organic farming and the diverse ways of life of different cultures. He has spent more than twenty years abroad establishing sound agricultural practices in various parts of the world, notably Haiti and Guyana, and he is now doing the same at home in southern Ontario.

The FarmStart project was initiated due to disturbing trends that the Canadian agriculture and agri-food sectors were experiencing: the aging of the country’s farming population, and the increased importation of Canada’s food supply from abroad.

The goals of the program are to give young and immigrant farmers a running start into the world of food production, and to make available affordable, organic foods that are not necessarily common among current Canadian agricultural practices. With the help of their new World Crops Agronomist, Ahmed Bilal, FarmStart hopes to develop sustainable agricultural practices in Canada that would produce a variety of fruits and vegetables, which are now mostly imported from financially-struggling countries mainly located in the Southern Hemisphere.

“The FarmStart facilities give people the opportunity to start up farm businesses within a supportive environment,” says Christie Young, project manager. “People won’t be coming into agriculture totally alone, they are the given the guidance and support they need to start up a meaningful career.”

The Quebec Farmers’ Association (QFA) is studying whether there is interest in starting a similar program in Quebec. By defining the interests of different cultural groups and immigrant populations within Quebec, QFA hopes to boost the amount of international fruits and vegetables being grown in the province. Naturally, some traditional farmers will consider switching to new crops. And through the FarmStart program immigrants interested in agriculture will get a chance to pursue a farming career.

QFA President Gib Drury recognizes the need for better jobs for immigrants. “If we don’t provide immigrants with opportunities to build successful and meaningful careers, they will most likely leave Quebec,” he says.

QFA is dedicated to ensuring that agriculture in the province is sustainable into the future. “Feeding our population is important”, says Ivan Hale, QFA executive director. “All of a sudden, Quebec consumers are concerned about the food they put on their plates. They want to know where their foods are coming from and how they were produced. And there is a growing desire to buy locally.” Now may be the time to work along side FarmStart to promote a similar program and to develop new opportunities for both immigrant populations and the agricultural sector. Imagine eating locally grown peanuts, eggplant—or kiwi. The mouth waters at the thought!

To find out more about the FarmStart program, visit www.farmstart.ca

1

FarmStart

Wendy Jones

Agriculture minister a two-sided coin

Barry Wilson

Special to the Advocate

Will the real Gerry Ritz please stand up?

Or maybe he is standing and what we see is the simple evidence of a forceful minister with a strong personal and government agenda to implement and a complicated farm lobby community to deal with in pursuit of his goals.

Eight months into his tenure as Canada’s 32nd federal agriculture minister, Ritz seems to have a split personality in his dealings with farmers and their lobby representatives.

Supply management leaders love him, going out of their way to praise his support and understanding of their system.

“We have an excellent relationship with Minister Ritz,” Chicken Farmers of Canada (CFC) President and Nova Scotia producer David Fuller said after the CFC annual meeting in mid-March. “He has an open door policy, he wants to work with us and he has shown his support through his actions. I would say we have a better relationship with this minister than with previous ministers.”

Fuller has been CFC president through five agriculture ministers dating back to Ontario Liberal Lyle Vanclief.

Dairy and egg sector leaders have been equally effusive in their praise.

In the politically crucial rural areas east of Manitoba where scores of House of Commons seats are at play and agriculture is an issue that matters, Ritz is generally showing a voter-friendly Conservative face, although he faltered somewhat in a slow response to the livestock income crisis during the winter.

But on Prairie issues closer to the heart of the one-time Saskatchewan grain producer, the friendly and accommodating minister can be replaced by a grim, take-no-prisoners, my-way-or-the-highway kind of guy.

With Prairie farm groups, Ritz is a highly divisive minister. He has a controversial and aggressive agenda, is pushing hard to achieve it and makes it clear that those who disagree with him are outside the circle of influence.

His agenda includes ending the Canadian Wheat Board monopoly on export barley sales and domestic malt barley sales (he would tackle wheat if he thought he could get away with it) and revamping the Canada Grain Act and the Canadian Grain Commission in a way that critics say undermine grain farmer interests.

Those policies have their supporters among conservative farm groups who see the CWB monopoly and grain regulations almost a century old as throwbacks to a more statist time when farmers needed protection from more powerful market forces. Grain Growers of Canada are their collective voice.

But they also have their opponents, mainly among groups aligned with the Canadian Federation of Agriculture. They are opponents who support the wheat board monopoly or at least say farmers should decide the fate of their marketing boards and the Conservatives have not legitimately sought out farmer opinion.

The epitome of Ritz’s abrasive approach to Prairie grain issues was his late February appearance before the CFA annual meeting, usually an opportunity for a federal minister (particularly a rookie as Ritz is) to make nice and to make allies.

Instead, he told the largest farm lobby in the country that on the CWB issue, they did not matter. They were either opposed or on the fence and he had no time for that.

“This government is listening to farmers and now is the time for real leadership,” the minister told silent delegates who offered only tepid applause at the end. “This is no time to sit on the fence. Barley marketing freedom is coming and it’s time to lead, follow or get out of the way.”

During his remarkable performance, Ritz named the western groups he consults on the wheat board issue, several of them with no more than several hundred members and none of them affiliated with the CFA.

Delegates were stunned and CFA President Bob Friesen, a Manitoba turkey and pork producer, at first refused comment but weeks later issued a commentary complaining about politicians who shun farm leaders in favour of talking to “real farmers.”

He did not identify the targets but it seemed like a shot at the Conservatives.

Depending on the issue, Ritz is a smiling ally or a tense, grim man-on-a-mission who will countenance no opposition.

Is it too cynical to wonder if the difference is that the Conservatives covet rural seats in Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada but have had a virtual lock on Prairie rural seats for years?

Barry Wilson grew up on a West Quebec farm and has spent more than a quarter century covering agricultural, rural and trade issues on Parliament Hill as National Correspondent for The Western Producer newspaper.

Ayer’s Cliff QFA donates money to local causes

Margaret Cheal

Secretary

QFA Ayer’s Cliff

The regular meeting of the Ayer’s Cliff regional branch of the Quebec Farmers’ Association (QFA) was held on Thursday, February 7 at the Ayer’s Cliff Legion Hall.

President Wallace Mosher conducted the meeting. Minutes were read and the treasurer’s report was given. A thank you note from Betty and Byron Humphrey for a donation in memory of Ivy Hatch was also read. She was the branch’s secretary for many years and made a great contribution to our organization.

It was decided to purchase a combined TV and DVD player for use at future Ayer’s Cliff QFA meetings.

A request was made for a donation to the MRC of Memphremagog for their Seniors’ Day on May 7. It was decided the give $30 to the MRC, which will be placed in two envelopes for door prizes.

Get-well cards are being sent to Mabel Davidson, Richie Harrison and Irene Johnston.

February is the time of year when the Ayer’s Cliff QFA makes its annual donations. These include donations to local hospitals, La Maison Aube-Lumière, local schools (to help with their Hot Lunch programs), the Boy Scouts, Youth Club, 4-H, the local Legion and the Ayer’s Cliff Fair. All donated money comes from funds raised at the QFA’s booth at the Ayer’s Cliff Fair.

Our speaker for the evening was Armin Ruf who spoke of the difficult times farmers are having with government regulations and subsidies. He was thanked by Wallace Mosher.

There was no meeting on March 6, but our April 10 meeting was held as scheduled.

As always, our refreshments and social hour was enjoyed by all.

Farming a lifelong dream for Townships Master Breeder

Claudia Villemaire

Advocate Eastern Townships Correspondent

You can tell from a distance. This is a farm where expansion and keeping up with modern technology has been a constant. Buildings sprout from original stables and cleared fields stretch away from the farm in a full circle. Anyone can see that this must be a progressive dairy farm where milk is the primary production. And, judging by the quality dairy herd grazing in lush pastures between the highway and the farmstead, careful genetic management must be a daily challenge.

Cyrmo Farm in Richmond, Quebec is definitely more than it was fifty years ago. "I was still a infant when my dad, Lionel, bought this farm and we've steadily purchased more farms and land ever since," James St Cyr explains as we talk of his recent recognition as a Master Breeder by the Canadian Holstein Association. The award is based on tough criteria: a Holstein breeder must develop a line of Holsteins bred on the home farm, meeting type and production records that are a challenge to the most determined producer.

"We have six generations of red-factor Holsteins and five generations have consistently met those conditions which require type classifications and outstanding milk production," says St Cyr. What’s more, this Master Breeder has the charts and records covering a ten-year period that prove sires, dams and offspring possessed the qualities the Master Breeder's Award demands.

The first award went out to one breeder in 1942 when breed classification and production records keeping were made official. Since then, probably hundreds of awards have been handed out across Canada, with 22 scheduled for presentation this month in Rouyn, Quebec.

"The red-factor, which is officially recognized by the Holstein, Association, both Canadian and American, is quite unpredictable as many females and sires too are carriers of the red gene but perhaps will never drop a red and white calf," St Cyr explained, adding his first red and white calf was somewhat of a surprise. "But she proved to be a quality animal showing excellent breed type and producing record amounts of milk. She seemed like a wise female to begin a small herd of these red-factor animals with. Now, we have about thirty, all her descendants," he says.

The red factor was officially recognized in the Herd Registry in the 1970s. Holstein breeders were reluctant to admit a prize cow had dropped a red and white calf during the early 1900s and often, this offspring was quietly disposed of. Actually, the original breed, coming out of Holland, in the 18th and 19th century were often showed all three colours—black, red and white. During those first years of selective breeding, reports showed a few dun-colour cattle. But as import numbers began to grow to America

and Canada, the emphasis was put on selective breeding for black and white only. What those breeders didn’t realize until scientific research proved them wrong is that the red factor seems to have always been a sub-dominant gene from the very first. Often black and white sires and dams would unexpectedly drop a red and white calf—much to the consternation of those long-ago breeders looking for excellent colour and type combined with outstanding milk production.

Today, numbers of red and white Holsteins are increasing rapidly; many exhibitions and breed competitions include classes for red and whites in their judging programs.

"But I didn't do this alone," St Cyr emphasizes. "With two sons, James and Mike, and two daughters, Emily and Kayla, and of course, my chief keeper of all the paperwork and registrations, my wife Marilyn, we have been able to take the time to study herd sire catalogues, try to understand genetic choices to make, take special care of our animals and keep detailed records of what every cow is doing."

Today, Cyrmo Farm today nearly 700 acres. "We grow all our own feed and put away haylage, high-moisture corn and regular hay,” St Cyr explains. “We only buy vitamin and mineral supplement. We take three crops of hay in every summer and grind and mix our own feed."

There are two or three silos attached to the stable where the milking line includes up to

80 head of black and white or red and white Holsteins. James Jr. juggles his time between work on the farm and an off-the-farm job; Mike has purchased his own farm a few miles away; Emily is in her first year at Bishop's University in Lennoxville and Kayla will finish her Level V this year at Richmond Regional High School.

"Emily and Kayla know every cow's name, when she was bred and her calving date and help out tremendously in both the stable and with the paper work."

"The government doesn't want us to become couch potatoes," St Cyr jokes. “They keep giving us more forms to fill and records to keep," he adds, chuckling wryly.

The St Cyrs have been regular exhibitors at the local Richmond County Fair. Many Townshippers can remember their first forays into the show ring: the family started with high hopes only to find themselves near the end of the prize lines. Now, some twenty years later, with many coveted first-prize ribbons on display and several Grand Championships under their belt, the Master Breeder's Award seems a well-earned prize for a family farm that began with a few lacklustre purebred, black and white Holsteins.

"My dad called me at Macdonald College where I was taking the diploma course in agriculture and asked if I would be interested in taking over the farm with about twenty purebred animals in the milking line,” St Cyr remembers. “To be a farmer was always my dream. I never considered any other career. I loved the farm. I guess you could say it was—and still is—a passion for me. Of course, I told him 'You bet!' and that was the beginning. Earning this award means the world to us all," this Master Breeder says, with a quiver of pride and emotion in his voice.

Born in Sherbrooke, Claudia Villemaire has been a dedicated Townshipper all her life. After running a dairy farm and pork operation with her family, her career as a journalist began in 1978 when The Sherbrooke Record hired her as an agriculture reporter. A proud mother of four children—and a grandmother to nine—Claudia lives in Richmond, Quebec.

A new way to deal with over-quota syrup

Serge Beaulieu

President

FPAQ

The syrup reserves are empty. Now is the time to review some of the ways we do things, in particular, inventory and over-quota syrup management.

On February 26, 2008, the Régie des marchés agricoles et alimentaires du Québec approved, with its decision 8936, an amendment to the regulations regarding the marketing agency, which had been adopted and submitted by the Fédération des producteurs acéricoles du Québec (FPAQ) last January.

Therefore, in the future, any producer who has delivered over-quota syrup to the marketing agency for which he has not received payment, and who is unable to fill his quota in a given year, could request that the FPAQ attribute the unpaid surplus production towards that portion of the quota that was not produced, to a maximum of 20 per cent of the total quota.

This option gives producers more flexibility in managing their inventories, as well as several other advantages. Firstly, a producer would not have to wait several years until the reserves are depleted in order to receive payment for his over-quota syrup. Until now, this syrup was always the last to be paid. Secondly, following a decision by the FPAQ’s board of directors, individual producers will no longer have to defray marketing expenses, including costs of delivery, pasteurization, insurance coverage and storage. Thirdly, producers can build up reserves that they may use either during years of poor yields, when temporarily out of production or when they are unable to produce their full quota.

Fourthly, irrespective of market conditions, producers could maximize their income, either immediately or in the future, by delivering over-quota syrup. For example, in 2008, if all the over-quota syrup is sold, they would then be paid for 100 per cent of their syrup. They could even receive a premium from their authorized buyers over and above the minimum price paid by the FPAQ. On the other hand, if in a given year, some of the over-quota syrup remains unsold, they would not be paid at 100 per cent in that same year. However, they could receive payment for it as soon as they have a poor production year.

Finally, by producing over-quota syrup and delivering it to the marketing agency, producers can also maximize their benefits from the AgriInvest Program administered by La Financière Agricole du Québec, by maximizing their reference margin.

In view of all these advantages, it will now be much more beneficial and profitable to produce over-quota syrup and deliver it to an authorized buyer or to the FPAQ, rather than storing it without insurance coverage in a sugar cabin.

Maple in Japan: a real craze

It is not only Quebeckers who celebrate the maple sugar season—the Japanese do, too! Thanks to activities organized by the Fédération des producteurs acéricoles du Québec over the past three years, millions of Japanese consumers have come to enjoy the taste of maple in various forms, as well as learning more and more about this natural sugar. Demand is such that Japan has become the second largest importer of maple syrup in the world! A “Maple Fair” has been organized for the first time this year at three locations, in order to reach a maximum number of consumers. The first location is in the Yebisu Garden Place, an enormous commercial building complex in Tokyo, containing restaurants, boutiques, department stores and many luxurious dwellings. The festivities took place from March 8 to April 6. Included in the program was an information booth, press coverage, publicity on the festival, a maple rally, a maple taffy tasting and organized activities in two popular Japanese stores: Mitsukoshi and Party. Yvan Lebrun, the chef from the restaurant l’Initiale de Québec, was the invited chef at the Tokyo Westin, where he presented a complete menu based on maple products throughout the festival period.

The Okura Hotel, a luxurious five-star establishment in Tokyo renowned for the quality of its cuisine, invited Jérôme Ferrer, chef at the Montreal restaurant Européa, as well as Roland Del Monte, France’s well-known top pastry chef, to present maple-themed meals from March 14 to 23. In Tokyo, approximately 60 restaurants also demonstrated their culinary savoir-faire by serving maple dishes. Tokyo has a world-wide gastronomic reputation: the city has the highest star rating in the world—even more than Paris—according to the Michelin Guide, which awards stars based on the excellence of the city’s establishments.

The Sapporo festival, in the Sapporo Factory, included maple-themed menus in 17 restaurants, an information booth, a rally and taffy tasting. It was held from March 20 to March 30.

Maple — sugar much appreciated by the Japanese

Because of its nutritional properties, its natural origin, its unique taste and its versatility in the kitchen, maple is held in high esteem by the Japanese. Being very particular about their food, they are able to count on advice from nutritionist Madam Aramaki and from a very popular gourmet celebrity, Madam Arimoto, who have lavished them with all kinds of advice from recipe books. One mini three-page book has just been published and will be distributed in grocery stores along with a DVD presentation showing the uses and properties of maple products, in order to promote their consumption and accessibility.

Two new hand books to encourage exports

An importer’s handbook for Japan and another for the United States will be published in April, in order to inform the various importers about the properties of maple products. Anyone interested in obtaining a copy can contact the FPAQ at 450-679-7021. [Author ID1: at Wed Apr 02 17:10:00 2008 ]

In Quebec, the promotional campaign “ Sucrez mieux” (sweeten better) will continue, focussing on the versatility of maple products, on their use throughout the year and on the quality of sugar they offer in terms of health.

Pride in the profession and pleasure in our products

A government vision for the future of Québec agriculture and agri-food

The agriculture and agri-food sector has always been important for Québec society. It is part and parcel of our collective heritage. Led by dedicated men and women, and occupying a relatively limited area in a vast land with patently northern features, agriculture and agri-food is the number one employer in both the primary and the manufacturing sector. It brings together enthusiastic people who, day after day, strive to create and produce quality food. This sector, which propels wealth, is a driving force behind the economic and social vitality of many regions of Québec. Among other things, it shapes our landscapes and is closely connected to the environment and our health.

This strategic sector needs a mobilizing vision empowering it to secure and build the future. Calling for the involvement of the agricultural community, the agri-food industry, and all of Québec society, this vision is a template for defining and adapting government action to help the sector manage the issues and take up the challenges of the coming years.

In light of the report of the Commission sur l’avenir de l’agriculture et de l’agroalimentaire québécois, the government subscribes to a vision of an agriculture and agri-food sector:

- whose primary mission is to contribute to providing food for Quebecers while developing its full potential on domestic and foreign markets

- that offers safe and healthy food

- that respects the principles of sustainable development

- that has a number of purposes other than providing food, e.g. economic, social and dynamic land use

- that is diversified in terms of company structure and size, organization of work, and types of production

- that is based on a culture of entrepreneurship

- that is highly professional because of its innovativeness and mastery of knowledge.

The government, with the leadership of the Ministère de l’Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l’Alimentation, is responsible for fostering a business environment conducive to making this a thriving sector that is innovative, competitive and sustainable. This environment must enable the expression of an array of initiatives, encourage creative entrepreneurship and the next generation of entrepreneurs, provide access to quality farmland and make it possible to better respond to market signals. The government also supports the development of an agriculture and agri-food sector that can meet citizens’ and consumers’ needs, whether from the standpoint of the quality of food, the contribution to healthy eating habits, protection of the environment or the creation of harmony between the various economic and social stakeholders. Consequently, government support is a given for the sector and the pursuit of its effectiveness is crucial.

By relying on our strengths and working together we will be successful in this endeavour. There are so many assets that deserve to be developed and enhanced:

- affirmation of our specificity

- stimulation of creativity

- openness to the world

- fostering of excellence

- partnership, consultation and joint action.

The outcome of implementing this vision of the future will be a strong and dynamic agriculture and agri-food sector driven by:

- farmers who gross most of their revenues from market sales, who are on the cutting edge of knowledge and know-how, who have excellent managerial skills, who are attentive to consumer needs, who produce more products that are differentiated, and who are heedful of the principles of sustainable development

- farm operations that are modern, profitable, and diversified and that contribute to the dynamic occupation of Québec and that meet the needs of local, national and international markets

- processors (individual firms and cooperatives) comprising:

a great number of well-managed small to medium-sized businesses present in every region of Québec, that display creativity, specialize in niche markets and differentiated products of quality, and revitalize rural communities

major companies present on Québec and other markets and that are leaders in their field and are actively engaged in research and development, technologically advanced, highly innovative, and have a specialized workforce

as well as avant-garde companies that delve into the new possibilities afforded by life sciences

- diversified distribution networks that contribute to identifying and developing and enhancing Québec products and offering consumers the information they need to make smart choices

- citizens interested in sector issues, who take part in social discussion and who show their solidarity with Québec farmers and processors.

Implementation of this vision is both demanding and stimulating. It summons all of us to be part of this endeavour. It is up to each of the players to make pride in the profession and pleasure in our productssomething that will continue well into the future.

A government vision for the future of Q uéb ec agriculture and agri-food

Through its report released on February 12, 2008, the Commission sur l’avenir de l’agriculture et de l’agroalimentaire québécois summons the agriculture and agri-food community to be part of a process of change. This was the impetus for the Government of Québec’s recently created vision for the future of Québec agriculture and agri-food, a blueprint for defining and adapting its action in this sector.

Its theme, Pride in the Profession and Pleasure in Our Products, brings the government’s keen interest in this sector into sharp focus, a sector that is a staple of Québec’s economic activity, one that helps to secure the well-being of many Quebecers. The theme also speaks volumes about the government’s intentions and aspirations for agriculture and agri-food. It speaks to the people behind these activities and acknowledges their serious dedication to agriculture and agri-food and their rightful pride in what they do. It also speaks to consumers and invites them to display pride in and solidarity with the people who put food on their table by featuring the flavours and exceptional quality of Québec products on their menus.

This vision is the Government of Québec’s pledge, with the support of the Ministère de l’Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l’Alimentation, to ensure a business environment conducive to the growth of an innovative, competitive and sustainable agriculture and agri-food sector in every part of Québec. The vision you are about to discover sets the tone for what the government intends to do to help agriculture and agri-food players meet the challenges that lie ahead.

And now, dig in!

u mérite agricole

2

Heat detection is still relevant

One calf per cow per year--that’s the key objective of reproductive management in a dairy operation.

Jean Durocher, DVM, MSc

Dairy herd health coordinator

R&D, Valacta

Virginie Filteau, DVM

Coaticook Veterinarian Clinic

General Manager of DS@HR inc.*

Generally speaking, there doesn’t seem to be any economic advantage to extending the calving interval beyond 13 months, and this is true even in herds with above-average production. To maintain that calving interval, however, the cows need to get pregnant. They obviously need to be fertile, but it’s also essential to identify the cows in heat and inseminate them!

Establishing a reproductive strategy

Improving the calving interval involves implementing a strategy that requires you to:

1. Determine the herd’s voluntary waiting period (VWP)

2. Breed a maximum number of cows as soon as the VWP has ended

3. Identify and quickly reinseminate nonpregnant cows

Without a doubt, success with regard to the last two elements depends on accurate heat detection.

How adept am I at detecting a cow in heat ?

How many dairy producers are able to answer that question? If you have preventive medicine data available, your veterinarian will be able to tell you very precisely what your heat detection rate is. If you don’t have access to that data, we suggest you do a self-evaluation. Over the course of the next 21 days, record the heats in the cows that should be inseminated. The cows under observation will be those that have terminated the voluntary waiting period and those that have already been inseminated but may come into heat again 18 to 24 days after breeding. Ideally, during that period you should inseminate all the cows waiting for their first service as well as all nonpregnant cows. You can calculate your efficiency rating by dividing the number of cows bred by the number of cows that should have been bred. In our exercise, 50 per cent is an excellent heat detection rate.

A useless test, you think? On the contrary, it will ensure that you adopt a breeding management strategy based on objective information rather than on intuition. Take the time to verify your detection rate (your veterinarian can show it to you with DS@HR), or do our little test. You may be surprised by the results.

An analysis of the DS@HR veterinary health database revealed that the average breeding rate for Quebec dairy herds monitored in preventive medicine in 2006 varied from 34 to 43 per cent (source: Dr. Denis DuTremblay, FVM). So there’s definitely room for improvement!

Which reproductive management tool is best suited to my operation?

Should I opt for heat detection or a hormone synchronization program? To answer that question properly, let’s look at three herds with a same 60-day voluntary waiting period, but with different heat detection rates and different reproductive management strategies.

For each farm, we have a graph of the calving — first breeding interval , which is a description of the herd at a given time . Each point represents one cow. The horizontal axis corresponds to the number of days in milk for each animal. The vertical axis represents the number of days in milk at the time of the first insemination (or calving — first breeding interval ).

Calving —f irst breeding interval

Comparison of three farms

Source: Hypothesis adapted from DCRC 2007

Figure A shows the distribution of the calving—first breeding interval (CFBI) in a herd with a heat detection rate of 20 per cent. Note that the CFBI of many of the cows exceeds 100 days. The points located at 0 on the vertical axis represent the cows that have not yet been inseminated, which is normal for those that have been lactating less than 60 days. Points on the zero axis over 60 days correspond to cows that haven’t yet been bred or animals that are scheduled to be culled.

Figure B presents a much more interesting distribution. The difference between Herd A and Herd B is the heat detection rate. Producer B begins breeding his cows at the same time as Producer A (60-day VWP), but is more efficient at detecting heat (50 per cent versus 20 per cent). Producer B doesn’t use hormone synchronization programs very often, but isn’t hesitant to use them on the few late breeders in his herd.

Figure C shows a dairy operation that functions exclusively with hormone synchronisation programs. The CFBI distribution is more tightly clustered here than in the previous graph.

Farms B and C have excellent performance, as confirmed by the small number of cows with a CFBI of more than 100 days. Moreover, the number of animals not bred after 60 days in milk is lower in these herds than in Herd A.

So, will it be heat detection or hormone synchronization programs? Figure C shows that hormone synchronization programs, which systematically target open cows at the beginning of lactation, tend to lower the CFBI by “forcing” breeding, in comparison with a management system where insemination is a function of heat detection alone. Such programs are particularly advantageous in herds where heat detection rates are low. By implementing a hormone synchronization program, we create a breeding opportunity, which in turn improves the pregnancy rate, since no breeding means no pregnancy!

Ca lving — first breeding interval : is it the most important factor?

What happens after first breeding has a significant impact on the overall performance of a dairy farm. Any serviced cows that have not yet been declared pregnant should be observed to detect an eventual return to heat. Keep in mind the last component of our reproductive management strategy: identify and quickly reinseminate nonpregnant cows!

Regular visits from your veterinarian make early pregnancy detection possible. Your veterinarian can also recommend strategies to help you reservice nonpregnant cows as quickly as possible. Even in a scenario where breeding synchronization is used extensively, heat detection 18 to 24 days after insemination is a crucial factor in reducing the calving interval.

Hence, it’s important to take the time to objectively determine your effective heat detection rate. To do that, don’t hesitate to ask for assistance from your veterinarian or the advisors in your region.

If your heat detection rate (or breeding rate) is near 45 to 50 per cent, you already have the tools you need to establish an insemination strategy for your cows. Your strategy is probably based on good observation and heat detection. Hormone synchronization programs can be used as a complement or to ensure that the cows will be inseminated during times when you are less available on the farm.

If your heat detection rate is under 30 per cent, however, some major adjustments are required. Improving heat detection is a must. If the realities of your operation limit the time available for heat detection, implementing a systematic breeding synchronization program may make the job easier. Still, it’s important to bear in mind that the success of such a program depends on a number of conditions: clear identification of the cows to be injected, good record keeping, efficient injection management (correct dosage, proper storage of hormones, strict adherence to the protocol). If heat detection is a problem but you’re well organized, you’re a good candidate for this type of strategy.

Don’t hesitate to discuss the matter with your veterinarian and advisors.

* DS@HR: Dossier Santé Animale – Animal Health Report. This is an organisation created and run by Quebec veterinarians, with their own software. The use of the @ in their name reflects their commitment to high technology.

* FVM: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Montreal

Calving — first breeding interval

Comparison of three farms

Farm A: 60-day V W P, Heat detection rate: 20 per cent

Farm B: 60-day V W P, Heat detection rate: 50 per cent
+ Ovulation synchronisation protocol for late breeders

Farm C: 60-day V W P, Ovulation synchronisation protocol for all cows

Editorial

Collective marketing: as relevant as ever

Christian Lacasse

UPA President

If we are to believe the CAAAQ, the present system of collective marketing “creates a dynamic that hinders the development of the agri-food sector.”

The world has changed so much, the report states, since the Act respecting the marketing of agricultural products was introduced over 50 years ago. In spite of its benefits, “we need to assess… the limitations and drawbacks of a marketing system created when the market was far less sophisticated.” Is this argument valid? Is it true, as it suggests, that our system is that inflexible? Since it’s the appropriate season, let’s take a look at the example of maple syrup production. During the 1990s, maple syrup production was chaotic: the market was completely disorganized even though production had tripled. Producers were faced with unpaid syrup, erratic markets, prices in free-fall and large inventory surpluses. In 1995, producers had had enough. They closed ranks and began to take control of their collective marketing, by introducing quality control for their bulk syrup. The rest is history: the first marketing agreement in 1998 with pre-set prices; the elimination of surpluses coupled with an inventory management fund in 2000; the creation of a marketing agency in 2002; production quotas in 2004 and the signing of a “courageous truce”–the first negotiated agreement in 2006.

The maple producers’ road has been difficult and cluttered with obstacles. It is not always easy to introduce collective marketing, beginning with the mobilization of producers based on an idea. A lot of teeth were gnashing, and not only because of dealings with buyers and processors. One thing remains clear: the progress that was accomplished would not have been possible if it had not been for the right to take control and organize ourselves. Was the development of the sector hampered by this? You be the judge. Maple production has shown an annual increase of over ten per cent over the past several years. The list of processed maple products, those famous “differentiated products” referred to so often in the CAAAQ report, has now reached almost 250–an example which, following in the footsteps of our 350 cheeses, should also have at least merited a mention in the report!

The example of maple production illustrates what can be achieved when a joint marketing plan reaches maturity. It is thanks to this maturity and the stability that comes with it that producers were able to consolidate their production, as described above, and to recently increase their quotas to a level approaching 24 million pounds of syrup (an increase of 34 per cent!), of which 1.2 million pounds was reserved for new businesses, representing 166 “new recruits.” It is also thanks to this maturity that it is now possible for businesses in this production sector to proceed with investments, to create new products and to develop new markets. When producers organize themselves, when they put order into their marketing system and when they position themselves on equal footing with their partners, it becomes possible to set common objectives throughout the whole supply chain.

In fact, collective marketing encourages a healthy business environment where all parties can benefit. If it is well managed, making adjustments when required and creating a climate of confidence and stability, it becomes an effective lever for injecting all the oxygen needed for the system to function properly, including the production of those differentiated products. Indeed, it is for this reason that the marketing boards will not hesitate to meet the challenge recently set before them by the Minister of Agriculture regarding this. Our joint marketing plans not only provide everything necessary to grow while meeting the needs of producers, but also to seize new market opportunities. The maple producers have proved it. Others have done it before them and others will do it in the future.

2008-03-27

Budget promises diversification and support for young farmers

Quebec Minister of Agriculture Laurent Lessard will have an additional $60 million over five years at his disposal to follow up on the report of the Pronovost Commission. Quebec’s finance minister, Monique Jerome-Forget, plans to diversify agriculture and encourage aspiring farmers in the $63.8 billion budget that she introduced last Thursday in Quebec City. Once again, those left out were the wood producers who cannot count on any direct assistance.

In her speech in the National Assembly, the Minister of Finance acknowledged that agriculture and agri-food are among the most “promising” sectors for potential growth around the world. She then announced a bonus of $12 million per year over the next five years in order to implement “certain” recommendations made by the recent Commission on the Future of Quebec Agriculture and Agri-food (CAAAQ). The money will come from the Treasury Board’s reserve funds and will therefore not directly increase the budget of the Agriculture ministry, which will remain at $703 million and represents only 1.1 per cent of the provincial budget. However, when depreciation charges are added in, the total amount allocated to agriculture rises to $724 million, an increase of $13 million over last year.

In addition to the diversification of agriculture and support for young farmers, the extra $60 million announced by Jerome-Forget will also go toward modernizing food processing businesses. However, she did not explain any of the new measures that would be put into effect for agriculture. No doubt in order to maximize media coverage, Jerome-Forget left those details for a future announcement by her colleague Laurent Lessard.

It is highly probable that Minister Lessard will satisfy the wishes of young farmers who are hoping for the creation of a “patient capital” fund to help finance new start-up projects in agriculture.

The 2008 budget also re-confirmed the $14 million over three years that was announced last December to promote the purchase of Quebec food products, of which $3.5 million will be available in the upcoming financial year.

La Financiè re

In her announcement, the Minister of Finance did not increase the budget of La Financière Agricole du Québec, where the expected deficit for last year could reach $286.6 million. The government had extended the agreement regarding La Financière for one year, without disclosing the amount that it would receive. Now Quebec has maintained the status quo by allocating $305 million. La Financière expects that its deficit will surpass the $300 million mark for the up-coming 2008-2009 financial period, reaching $315.7 million. This is a $29.1 million increase, which is due for the most part to the extraordinary payments necessary to compensate for the crisis in the pork sector. As predicted, the Property Tax Reimbursement Program again jumped by an additional $3.8 million, resulting in a total of $114.6 million that will end up in municipal coffers.

With regard to food security and animal health, Quebec will invest $4.7 million to hire more regional personnel to increase inspections in food establishments. The additional inspectors will also work on the prevention of avian influenza and the control of rabies in raccoons in the Montérégie region. The Quebec government also wishes to continue to develop food traceability by introducing new regulations to cover the cervid and pork sectors. Concerning environmental protection, credits for the Prime-Vert Program have been reduced by $1.6 million, bringing the total down to $36.6 million. However, Quebec has set aside a sum of $5.8 million for the new Water Quality Improvement Program in the agricultural zone, which is part of the larger Blue-green Algae Response Plan.

Pierre-Yvon Bégin

LTCN 2008-03-20

PHOTO A PAGE 3, LTCN 20 MARS

bdv: Quebec’s Finance minister, Monique Jerome-Forget, did not announce any increase to La Financière Agricole du Québec ’s budget for 2008.

Photo: Pierre-Yvon Bégin/TCN

Centralized quota sales delayed until the fall at poultry AGM

Les Éleveurs de volailles du Quebec (EVQ) has decided to put off the consultation process regarding the centralized sale of quota until the fall of 2008. EVQ President Martin Dufresne made the announcement to the 125 producers attending the annual meeting of the Saint-Hyacinthe syndicate on March 12, 2008. “The project has not been scrapped, although the board of directors decided last February to first examine the existing rules and regulations,” he explained. He also added that the World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations and the new chicken marketing agreement had taken up a lot of time and energy. The idea of a centralized quota sales mechanism, which is already the practice in the dairy sector and being examined in the table egg sector, received only partial support at the April 2007 annual meeting of the EVQ. It was a solution proposed in response to criticism from producers regarding the extremely high price of quota.

Another matter of contention was the request by the Centre-du-Québec sector to revise the boundaries of the 11 regions in order to have a more balanced distribution of the province’s 750 producers. Presently, the Saint-Hyacinthe region, representing 250 producers, has only one vote on the EVQ board of directors.

Antibiotic-free

Critical remarks made by representatives of Rôtisseries St-Hubert that supply management was the cause of the scarcity of chicken wings and the absence of antibiotic-free chickens in Quebec were again discussed. “There are small volumes of antibiotic-free chickens produced in Quebec and Ontario,” noted Dufresne. “However, large-scale production is problematic.” The permission given to Tyson Foods to label their chickens as antibiotic-free has since been revoked, but it did add fuel to the fire. “ Rôtisseries St-Hubert’s president, Réné Léger, is increasingly aware of the problems that have to be resolved,” stated Dufresne. “A committee, including players from all sectors of the industry, was formed last week to look at the production of antibiotic-free chickens from all angles, from the hatchery to the packing plant. We will not leave our main customer searching for answers.”

Production allocations

Quebec has retained its share of the Canadian market (27.1 per cent) for the past five years. However, the EVQ will face a huge challenge now that Alberta has demanded that Chicken Farmers of Canada (CFC) take into account the population as well as the historic volumes when distributing the production allocations to the provinces. A similar debate is on-going with turkey producers, since Saskatchewan wants to increase its production volumes.

The CFC intends to change its approach in trying to limit additional chicken imports into Canada. Last year, 3.2 million kilograms were imported, out of the forecasted 6.2 million kilograms. About 7 million kilograms are expected in 2008. The CFC wants the federal government to limit these entries to about 3 million kilograms instead of requiring that access be maintained at 7.5 per cent of the market, as stipulated by international trade agreements.

This concern by the industry (considering the 38 million kilograms in inventory and the announced $0.07/kilograms increase in chicken prices to offset higher feed costs) has led the CFC to proceed cautiously, by allocating only moderate production volumes for the 2008 summer period.

Jean-Charles Gagné

LTCN 2008-03-20

PHOTO: EN BAS DE PAGE 5, LTCN 20 MARS

BAS-DE-VIGNETTE : The annual general meeting of the Saint-Hyacinthe syndicate of Les Éleveurs e volailles du Quebec was held on March 12.

PHOTO: Jean-Charles Gagné/TCN

A project to buy back potato production surpluses is on the table

If the golden nematode was the principal topic on the minds of potato producers at their annual meeting in 2007, this year the focus was on the necessity of organizing their marketing system. “Our principal challenge is to balance supply with demand,” declared Fédération des producteurs de pommes de terre (FPPTQ) President Real Brière, speaking to about 80 producers attending their annual general meeting on March 27-28. To do this, a project to buy surplus production is on the table. According to Brière, recently elected as vice-president of United Potato Growers of Canada (UPGC), “all of the Eastern provinces are in agreement to further develop the idea.” Even New Brunswick producers have expressed “great interest” for the project, which is still in its early stages.

For several years now, producers have been experiencing fluctuating prices—strongly influenced by the supply levels in Eastern Canada—from Ontario to Prince Edward Island. The determination of Quebec producers to bring discipline to production, in order to bring it more in line with market demand, can only proceed with the support of the other provinces. The FPPTQ is therefore working closely with UPGC.

According to the federation’s figures presented to participants for the 1997-2005 period, a supply of 58 million hundredweights (cwt) “from the East” would have generated an average price of $10/cwt. By setting such a price objective, an inter-provincial system to purchase surpluses would be applied on volumes over 58 million cwt. This type of control on supply would lessen price variations and also the need to turn to income security programs. The FPPTQ obtained a majority vote at their meeting to go ahead with this work. It also received financial support from the Conseil pour le développement de l’agriculture du Québec (CDAQ) to evaluate various options and to expand the idea. The FPPTQ could also learn from work being done over the past several years in Manitoba and the United States. Denis Bilodeau, UPA’s 2 ^nd vice-president, welcomed the efforts of the FPPTQ “to try to obtain maximum income from the marketplace.” In the present context of the renewal of the La Financière agricole du Québec agreement, pressure is on for producer groups to improve their marketing structures.

Other concerns

Producers are very frustrated with relations with distributors and the current retail prices. The membership also passed two resolutions aimed at increasing the purchase of Quebec potatoes by the networks of hotels and restaurants and by government organizations. As for seed potato producers, they are worried about the future of Semences Elite du Québec. The five-year agreement with MAPAQ regarding the organization’s funding is coming to an end. Producers hoping for a contract renewal and for more consultation between all players in the industry.

Richelle Fortin

LTCN 2008-04-03

SVP UTILISER LA PHOTO A PAGE 17 DE LTCN 3 AVRIL

BAS-DE-VIGNETTE: The Fédération des producteurs de pommes de terre has a new executive council. Former president Pierre Chouinard (left) moves to the position of vice-president, while newly-elected president Real Brière (centre) and Charles Paquet round out the 2008 executive.

Photo: Richelle Fortin/TCN

Marcel Ostiguy takes over from Guy Coulombe in pork crisis

In a new push to come to an agreement in the pork industry, the Fédération des producteurs de porcs (FPPQ) have commissioned former Aliments Carrière president, Marcel Ostiguy.

Ostiguy should take over where the government negotiator, Guy Coulombe, left off after a final sprint of negotiations on March 3. “We think that he (Ostiguy) is well qualified to smooth relations with our processors,” declared FPPQ spokesperson Nathalie Hansen. In fact, Ostiguy is a young retiree from agriculture, after 30 years as a fruit and vegetable processor. In that time, he has had the opportunity to negotiate several marketing agreements without resorting to arbitration. “We are bound to come to an agreement,” added Hansen in response to a question on the difficulty of doing better than Guy Coulombe. According to the FPPQ, the solutions that Coulombe proposed can still be useful, particularly regarding indispensable partnerships and united efforts to find new markets. “We hope to come to an agreement quickly,” answered Hansen in response to being asked about how much time will be devoted to negotiations before bringing the issue before the Régie des marchés agricoles du Québec (RMAAQ). The RMAAQ was on the verge of arbitrating a new marketing agreement in the fall of 2006, just before the suspension of auctions based on the American reference price minus $5. “Going to the Régie would create an undesirable climate,” the FPPQ spok