EDITORIAL: QFA Editorial:

A Clean Food Act

Gib Drury

QFA President

A clean food act? Why not? We already have a clean air act and a clean water act so let's finish the job and ensure that everyone has the big three basics of life: clean air to breathe, clean water to drink and clean food to eat.

That is what we need as human beings to keep us alive. Without any one of them, the future is certain - there isn't one! You're dead in your tracks. Without air, the human is good for 2-3 minutes. Without water, the body reserves may last 1-2 weeks. Without food, you could hope for 2-3 weeks.

Seems to me that these three ingredients are pretty essential to our survival—so what have we done to make sure they are available to us at all times?

Our clean air act protects the atmosphere around us and keeps it free of toxic pollutants. Fortunately, air pollution is easy to detect and monitor and therefore can be controlled. Similarly, a clean water act can protect our fresh water and is also easy to monitor.

Properly enforced with high compliance rates, the clean air and water acts do the trick and provide us with breathable air and drinkable water.

But a clean food act is definitely more problematic. It would be nearly impossible to monitor all the food that is consumed by all citizens in our daily lives. The best we could do is inspect a miniscule fraction of it as it passes down the food chain from the producer to the consumer, and even then we would only check for contaminants, not for nutritional values.

The very best way to ensure food quality, wholesomeness and nutrient value is to make sure that the producer knows that these are the key attributes the consumer demands and is willing to pay a fair and equitable price for. That way, we would have the best of foods all the time.

Unfortunately, the message the primary producer is now hearing is that price is the most important factor in the consumer's mind. Therefore, cheap food trumps clean food every time. “Produce cheap food, not good food,” is the business mantra.

Canada needs a clean food act to guarantee that healthful food is available to all Canadians. On this point we can all agree but, as the saying goes, the devil is in the details. How could it work? The worst case scenario would be a bunch of regulations that would spawn an army of inspectors and prosecutors to enforce the legislation. Instead, we need a clean food act based on positive incentives. That would be a hands-down winner. Set up a super efficient bureaucracy (not too big please) that would be a perfect communication channel between the consumer who wants good, nutritious, clean food, and the farmers, who are willing to custom produce what is needed, provided they are fairly and equitably paid for their inputs and final products.

We already have classic examples in Canada of such a system in the supply managed commodities: milk, chicken and eggs. These products appear on our supermarket shelves with a pre-determined equitable price and a quality assurance. No one needs to worry about their quality because governments, industry and producers themselves are constantly monitoring every facet of the production chain. The beauty of this supply managed system is not only that everyone gets their fair share and the consumers get exactly what they want, but there is no waste because the supply is matched to the demand and we only produce what is needed.

So, this is an excellent basis for a clean food act. Organize the production end so that everyone gets their fair and just reward, and organize the consumption end so that the consumer is offered the best quality of clean food at predetermined prices. Now, that's a feast fit for a king!

Future of agriculture commission on hold for Quebec election

Andrew McClelland

Advocate Staff Reporter

Quebec agricultural producers were disappointed to learn last month that the much-anticipated hearings for the Commission on the Future of Quebec Agriculture and Agri-food (CAAAQ) will be postponed due to the upcoming provincial election.

On February 21, the CAAAQ announced that its public consultations in certain areas would be put off until the end of the electoral campaign that will see Quebeckers choose their next provincial government. The hearings, designed to let Quebec farmers and producers groups voice their opinions regarding the future of their industry, will resume in the Chaudière-Appalaches region on March 27, the morning after voting day.

Despite the announcement, the CAAAQ held its February 22 public hearing in Victoriaville as scheduled. That hearing, the second conducted by the commission for the Centre-du-Quebec region, saw presentations on a wide array of topics from high-levels of stress among farmers to solutions for creating a more environmentally sustainable agriculture.

The upcoming election could mean big things for Quebec agriculture. With no guarantee that a new government would feel impelled to put the recommendations of the CAAAQ into action, the great hope that the commission will usher in a new era of provincial agriculture policy based on producers’ input is diminishing.

“I don’t know what you can really do, what will really come out of the commission,” says QFA board member Douglas Moorhead. “Often it seems like we can talk all we want, but each party will do what it wants to do in the end. I think that [the CAAAQ officials and provincial government] may listen and take some recommendations, but each party already has a set idea in their mind.”

Meanwhile, with producers’ groups insisting that supply management be maintained and demanding the province keep pressuring Ottawa to fix the current income crisis, Quebec’s political hopefuls are scrambling to get farmers on their side.

Liberal Premier Jean Charest was in Saint-Hyacinthe on February 24 to unveil his party’s plan for agriculture should they win re-election. Accompanied by Quebec Minister of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries Yvon Vallières, Charest visited the ferme Agri-Oeuf in the morning, followed by a press conference at nearby dairy farm L. Leblanc et Fils inc.

Charest announced the Liberals’ agenda for the industry, entitled “United for a successful agriculture.” The plan, for the 2007 to 2012 term, promises to uphold supply management systems and encourage the production, promotion and marketing of locally grown Quebec products. Charest also mentioned that his party plans to stimulate the expansion of new technologies in the agricultural industry, particularly those that help the environment.

“We have worked in close collaboration with the agricultural industry during our first term to make sure that agriculture is the basis of our rural economy,” said Charest.

The Premier was also joined by Claude Corbeil, Saint-Hyacinthe Liberal candidate and former president of the Fédération des producteurs de porcs du Québec, along with Nicolet-Yamaska hopeful and former Fédération des producteurs de volailles du Québec president, Yves Baril.

Minister Vallières also took the occasion to boast about the Liberals’ program for agriculture. “Our action plan will ensure the rise of the agriculture and agri-food industry in Quebec,” Vallières promised.

On his farm in the Mirabel riding, Douglas Moorhead remains sceptical that any party will commit to agriculture enough to make a sizeable difference.

“The Liberals have done just as well as the Parti Québécois ever did,” he says. “In their day, the PQ threw money at agriculture just to make it look like we could survive if we actually did separate. It’s hard to say—maybe we could survive? But then again, maybe the rest of Canada would feel different towards farmers in a separate Quebec.”

Advocate readership survey a great success!

Andrew McClelland

Advocate Staff Reporter

In December 2006, the Advocate published the first edition of its new annual readership survey, asking subscribers what they thought about the Quebec Farmers’ Association’s very own newspaper. Reader response was plentiful, and we’re happy to announce that the comments the Advocate received were resoundingly positive.

The survey asked Advocate subscribers where they get most of their agricultural news and what they feel is most important in a farm newspaper. Of the 76 completed surveys, 29 readers noted that they rely on MAPAQ for agricultural information, while 21 cited television as an important source for farm news. Thirteen respondents checked off both radio and Agriculture Canada, but 42 questionnaires showed that the QFA is the leading supplier of essential farm news for most Advocate readers.

Nearly all who answered the survey stated that news on provincial and federal agriculture policy is the most important feature of any agricultural paper. Sixty-three per cent felt that local and regional news was central to a farm publication, while 59 per cent said that they read agriculture newspapers to learn about other producers’ lives, techniques, and types of operations. Other readers mentioned that legal issues, taxation and accounting were of chief importance, as well as reading about young farmers embarking on a career in agriculture. In 2007, you can expect to see a new series in the Advocate, profiling producers under 40 years old who are making a go at farming.

The most popular answer to the question “What’s the first page you read when your Advocate arrives?” was, not surprisingly, “the front page.” However, the QFA board can be proud that five readers mentioned that they skip straight to the editorial when the Advocate lands on their doorstep. The same number added that they turn to the 4H News Spreader first.

No two answers were the same when it came to the question “What could the Advocate add to its pages to improve?” Most readers kindly told us they like the paper just the way it is, suggesting that nothing could be added and to “keep up the good work!” Many had insightful recommendations for new features, such as pages on politics and policy, equine research, forestry and horticulture, and environment. A few subscribers hoped to see more stories about wildlife to interest rural readers who aren’t involved in farming.

Others asked for more historical articles in the future, as well as columns sharing technical information and innovations made by other producers.

Most respondents drew a blank when asked what regular feature or page the Advocate could do without. Four of the completed surveys wrote that none of our regular features should be tampered with or removed, although two separate questionnaires asked for “less UPA propaganda” and “less organic hoopla.”

Only 17 readers said that they had placed a classified ad in the Advocate—far too low a number given that QFA members are entitled to three free classified ads per year! The majority who had taken advantage of the QFA’s classified ads said that they would purchase an ad again. Starting this month, you can also put your classified ad in all 27 Quebec Community Newspapers’ Association publications through the Advocate for a special price. (See page 22 for details.)

While 49 respondents said their copy of the Advocate arrives on time, 16 were dissatisfied with their delivery, citing that their paper shows up too late in the month or that their delivery time varies greatly. Starting with this issue, we are now publishing a week earlier in the month so that you have more time to enjoy your Quebec Farmers’ Advocate.

It was with bated breath that Advocate staff tabulated the results of question 11. That question slyly asked readers to voice their opinions on whether the paper has improved in the past two years—during which time the current editorial staff took over running the Advocate. To our delight, 54 per cent of subscribers answered that the paper has improved over the past two years, while the rest felt that the Advocate had maintained the same level of quality. Gladly, not a single respondent felt that the Advocate has worsened over the past years. We would like to thank the kind readers who took the time to send in their surveys, and invite everyone to participate in our next readership survey in December 2007.

Keep in mind that the Advocate welcomes reader feedback and suggestions throughout the year. If you have something to say, please write a letter to the editor, or simply drop us a line at:

The Quebec Farmers’ Advocate

555 Roland Therrien, office 255

Longueuil, QC J4H 4E7

Phone: 450-679-0540 ext. 8536

Fax: 450-463-5291

E-mail: qfa_advocate@upa.qc.ca

Transport hay—there’s rules to follow

When you are dealing with marketing hay, you must also take into account its loading and transport. While the size of bales, their density and storage are important factors to consider for any farmer wishing to sell hay, transportation is also an essential aspect. Therefore, before hopping into your pick-up loaded with hay, you had better be sure you’re following the rules.

As explained by Guy Desrosiers, an officer working for the Service de la normalisation technique, a division of Transports-Quebec (MTQ), rules can also change periodically. And this is precisely the case with regard to the transportation of goods by road, where the regulations were modified in July 2005. For anyone who ignores these rules, there could be some unhappy consequences.

According to Order in Council 583-2005, published on June 29, 2005 in the Gazette officielle du Québec, there is now a distinction made between light vehicles (that is, a truck or pick-up weighing 3,000 kg or less) and heavy vehicles, weighing more than 3,000 kg. This classification can also cause confusion, because there are pick-up trucks in both categories. It is therefore important to know to which group your vehicle belongs.

Loading cargo

According to the law, any cargo transported in or on a vehicle, hay included, must be immobilized or stowed in a manner to prevent it from falling, overturning, becoming unfastened from the vehicle, from being blown away by the wind or shifting in a way to compromise the stability or maneuverability of the vehicle. Also, since a pick-up has sides, it can be considered as a confined-cargo vehicle, which means that the tie-down system must be strong enough to resist the forces that could come into play if the sides are too low or too weak during transport.

The securing system used to tie down cargo in a pick-up must always be appropriate for the type of use. Therefore, for the transportation of hay bales, ropes may be used; or straps, which are even stronger.

A question of common sense

According to the current regulations, a load of hay must be firmly immobilized or tied down in the transporting vehicle, by means of a structure of adequate strength, a blocking device, stiffeners, supports, tie-downs or a combination of the above. Although fittings and other equipment may be necessary to accomplish this, it is not necessary to modify the vehicle, at least for pick-up trucks weighing 3,000 kg or more. In this case, it is not necessary to equip the vehicle with additional suspension or higher performing brakes. However, if your pick-up is in the 3,000 kg or less category, it might be a good idea to do this in order to avoid premature wear or breakage.

It should be noted that, according to article 474 of the Highway Safety Code, a police officer who has reasonable grounds to believe that the load on a vehicle represents a danger can demand that the vehicle be driven to a convenient location for inspection, at the owner’s expense, until the situation has been corrected. It is therefore better to ensure that the bales are tied down in a manner above reproach.

Desrosiers sums up that for the transport of hay, the bottom line is to use common sense to guide your safety measures. “Farmers are given enough leeway concerning transportation. Many methods are accepted during police inspections, as long as they are safe and well-suited.”

This article was originally published in Utili-Terre magazine.

Making the most of every day

Residents of the Foyer Wales in the Eastern Townships help others while helping themselves…

Claudia Villemaire

QFA Eastern Townships Reporter

RICHMOND - They don't want to hear the word 'old'. Actually they'd just as soon not hear the word 'senior'. It's not common knowledge and perhaps, sometimes, just a little taken for granted. But there's a bevy of 'older' folk here whose talent, energy and willingness to put in a full day's work to bring a better quality of life to their community.

Hidden away in the nooks and crannies of the local Foyer Wales, where nearly 200 older folk reside, a little searching recently found talent galore. These active citizens quietly work on projects that have brought funds for good causes, and kept alive a positive atmosphere in a foyer that is, usually, a difficult move from their own home and family.

Tucked up on the top floor we found Ray and Lil McMorine, getting ready to celebrate their 63 wedding anniversary this spring. But this devoted couple are not just sitting around waiting for the party to begin. For the past ten years Ray has been on the Users' Committee, sitting in the president's chair, fielding complaints and suggested improvements brought to him by committee members from every section of the foyer.

"Yes, I'll be giving it up this year I guess," he begins, adding it's time for younger 'blood' to take up the cause. "I'll be 82 in the fall," this retired Canadian Johns Manville employee states. "I loved my work in quality control and in some ways, it helped me to understand what this committee was all about," he adds.

The group has been meeting once a month for a decade now. Members bring residents complaints or suggestions for improvements to their board members, the committee studies each situation and then presents their findings to administration. "It's not all bad things. Sometimes there are suggestions that could improve our situation such as railings in the stairways, pointing out needed repairs that haven't been noticed by staff—things that make our life here just a bit easier and more comfortable."

Down the hall in a spacious apartment overlooking the St. Francis and the hills that rise up towards the west, Mavis Frost is taking a break, glancing through a magazine when we knock. There's a Knitters' Club at this foyer and Frost heads up a group whose flying needles turn out dozens of mitts, socks, scarves and toques, all given to local schools or women's centres. "We have two or three ladies who crochet afghans, too, and everything is donated wherever there's a call for some warm socks and such," she says. The Wales Home Knitters' club depends on the generosity of local folk to stock up on the bundles of wool needed to meet the demand. "And we have a sale once a year, too. We sell what's left over after the winter and everything we make goes to the Wales Home Foundation," Frost explained. Occasionally, they meet and have a mini-knitting bee. But most times a visitor making the rounds in this sprawling complex will find residents, quietly rocking in their room or apartment, knitting needles clicking away.

But Frost is not satisfied to just sit and knit. The tiny shop where residents can indulge in a bit of junk food, and pick up some necessities such as tissues or toothpaste, is also this busy lady's domain on Fridays. She does a thriving business, making sure the inventory has almost any small item a resident might want, keeps track of sales and makes sure everything is in “apple-pie” order at the end of the day.

"I like to keep busy," she admits. "Have no time to think about this growing old business. I still help out at my church in Danville and the UCW, too, whenever they need me. I do still have my car and can get out and do some errands for residents who are not as mobile as I am. Seems like there's never enough time."

"Of course, being in good health makes all this possible, and so far, so good," she adds.

Near the main entrance, plush carpets and comfortable chairs in the big sitting-room hint that here plenty of activity takes place every day. There are card parties, bingo games, concerts and plays scheduled every month. This day, luck is with us as we spy Eileen Perkins preparing to leave after an afternoon of visiting and card games. Perkins is well-known in this area for her support for seniors’ programs as well as her continued interest in community affairs.

Raising a family and helping out on the family farm prepared her for the challenges she has undertaken for the seniors' community. During her years on the farm, active participation in the Farm Radio Forum and Quebec Farmers Association trained her for her role as representative on the seniors’ regional council. A member representing the Anglophone sector on the Table de Concertation des Aines in the Val St-Francois MRC, Perkins says she doesn't do much at the committee table, but folks who know her beg to differ. Insisting on equal treatment for the English-speaking seniors in the area, Perkins has succeeded in having special days and events set aside for those who don't speak French.

"We'll have our info day this year," she announces. "There are eighteen members representing all the municipalities, government agencies such as the HLDs, and also the churches."

There's excitement in her voice now as she talks about a new representative who will oversee the continued care and maintenance of Protestant churches, most of them heritage sites in the MRC. "I really can't do both and it's important that we stress the historical importance of these churches," she states.

But Perkins has never been content with just one activity. Her involvement with the Youth Fair—her favourite topic, by the way—spans 25 years now. "I really believe in getting the youngsters involved in some way at the fair. That way, there'll be young adults someday whose past experience will bring them back to take an active part in our county fair, already 150 years old. Keeping our fair going is really a passion for me and the Youth Fair is a great way to get the kids interested."

All these folk are in their eighties, hale and hearty, doing their good works and favourite things with all the passion and energy of much younger people. Spending a few hours with them is a lesson in positive thought, a striking example of taking life in stride and getting the most out of every hour of every day.

The Conservatives’ Big Cheese

Barry Wilson

Special to the Advocate

It was like watching the proverbial slow motion car wreck.

On November 20, 2000, a week before a federal election, the newly minted Canadian Alliance was targeting rural Ontario seats as the most likely entry point for the CA into the electoral landscape of Canada’s most populous province.

As part of their attempt to appeal to Ontario rural voters, Alliance policy on supply management had morphed from hostility to warm embrace.

That day, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture hosted a late-campaign candidates’ panel and the Alliance sent Saskatchewan rural MP Garry Breitkreuz as their representative. He was mauled.

Agriculture was not his file, and to a sceptical crowd he repeated the party campaign mantra that it supported supply management marketing boards.

Then-Liberal agriculture minister Lyle Vanclief pounced. The Alliance also had a policy of allowing citizen-initiated referenda that could be used by the urban majority to vote for cheaper food and the end of marketing boards, he said.

It would never happened, responded Breitkreuz.

Progressive Conservative leader and former prime minister Joe Clark moved in for the kill, suggesting the Alliance would have to decide which “sacred principle” to ditch when urban consumer power clashed with minority farmer protection.

“If I was in the supply managed industry, I would be very nervous about what the Alliance stands for,” Clark said. “I think they are ambiguous on the principle.”

Breitkreuz blustered and squirmed. Any chance that the influential farm activists in the room would go back to their communities to suggest farmers give the Alliance a chance simply disappeared.

The Canadian Alliance won just two eastern Ontario rural seats and dreams of a breakthrough in vote-rich southwest Ontario died.

Fast forward to the scene in Ottawa last month when Conservative agriculture minister Chuck Strahl had dairy farmers, a tough crowd for a politician at the best of times, on their feet applauding, figuratively eating yogurt out of his hand.

He had just announced an unprecedented government decision to use World Trade Organization rules to create a new tariff to protect dairy farmers against unlimited increases in dairy-displacing milk protein concentrate product.

He had also announced that a regulation would be created to limit the ability of processors to use dairy substitutes in cheese manufacture.

Strahl, a British Columbia hobby beef farmer, was instantly a big cheese among dairy farmers.

He had given them more than they expected. He had positioned the Conservatives as defenders of supply management despite its anti trade-barrier history, and despite its attack on the Canadian Wheat Board marketing monopoly which had opponents saying supply management was next. He had positioned his party favourably—even despite the December comments by trade minister David Emerson that defence of supply management tariffs had hurt trade negotiators’ ability to win more market access for export sectors.

Strahl, by announcing a protectionist policy that the Liberals had resisted, created Conservative supply management credentials.

“There should be no doubt in producers’ minds about this government’s support for supply management,” said Dairy Farmers of Canada president Jacques Laforge.

It was music to the ears of rural Conservative candidates looking for gains in Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes in the next election. It was a political masterstroke, however much critics might question its sincerity.

Even Joe Clark would have a difficult time mocking the commitment. It may not be a “sacred principle” but it is good politics for a parry in the search for seats.

Grass-based food is the natural way, says Utah nutritionist

Andrew McClelland

Advocate Staff Reporter

Dr. Tilak Dhiman, a nutritionist at Utah State University, isn’t one to shy away from the big issues in life when sharing his opinions on milk and meat production.

“We live in a materialistic society today,” he tells a group of agricultural producers attending a pasture day organized by the Réseau Agri-Conseil Outaouais held at Bristol town hall on February 3. “We have everything—a three-car garage, big-screen televisions—but still we are not happy because we are moving away from Nature. And the more we move away from Nature, the sicker and less healthy we become.”

A graduate from Himachal University in Palampur, India, Dhiman has enjoyed an illustrious career in the United States and around the world, lending his expertise to such diverse projects as the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s taskforce to reduce livestock methane emissions to improving feed and dairy management in India.

But his overriding commitment is to finding scientific improvements to food production to help farmers deliver cleaner, better food.

“Perhaps forty or fifty years ago, we were concerned that the world food supply was not enough,” said Dhiman. “But we have plenty of food in the world today. What we need to do now is to improve the quality of that food.”

For Dhiman, improving the quality of our meat and dairy products means producing them on pasture. After devoting years to studying the nutritional and health benefits of grass-fed meat and milk, he is convinced that many current farming methods result in unhealthy food—and an unhealthy society.

“In the United States, 25 to 28 per cent of our beef comes from culled cattle,” noted Dhiman in his presentation. Citing the increasing rate of diseases such as mastitis, lameness and abomasal displacement in such cattle, Dhiman argued against the excesses he sees as a mounting cause for concern in beef production. “Thirty per cent of cows’ livers are discarded at the slaughterhouse because they have abscesses,” he said. “All we care about is raising a cow to 1,200 pounds–and that’s that.”

But Dhiman, who also holds a doctorate from the National Dairy Institute in Karnal, India, sees encouraging signs in greater consumer concern over food quality and nutritional value. And producers, he thinks, can lead the way in letting the public know what top-quality food is.

“These days, consumers care about the environment, about water, air, animals and food. They may not understand agriculture—or have any experience in it—but they do care about healthy food. And many have the money to buy it.”

Dhiman sees the growth of the organic food market as one indication that shoppers want healthy food. He explains that since 1997, organic food sales have increased by 18 per cent in the U.S., now taking up a total of 2.5 per cent of the entire market. Dhiman also believes that it will be smaller producers who will benefit from the organic food trend.

“Organic gives smaller farms an advantage, a niche market,” he explains. “A small farm can raise its herd all on grass and therefore make nutritious food. A feedlot with 10,000 cattle cannot do that.”

What’s more, Dhiman claims, is that the public already trusts farmers to produce healthy, clean food, a perception that small producers can take advantage of. Commenting on a recent study that asked participants “Who do you trust to ensure the safety of the foods you eat?” Dhiman noted that while only 20 per cent of people trusted their elected officials on the matter, a whopping 70 per cent answered that they trust farmers. In many circles, it seems, the stereotype of the honest country farmer still goes a long way.

Recently, Dhiman has focused his research on improving the conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) content in dairy and meat products, something that grass-based food provides in spades. His findings boast an impressive catalogue of advantages for grass-based products, showing that much of it provides five times the amount of CLA, two to three times the amount of vitamin E and an increase in Omega-3 acids.

Interestingly, Dhiman also claims that the trans fats (the current food bogey man according to most of today’s diet schemes) found in grass-based food actually have a positive effect on human health.

“When you read in the newspapers that trans fats are bad,” he mentions, “those are industrial trans fats. But the trans fats contained in grass-fed beef, for instance, are good for your health and can even help you lose weight.”

For Dhiman, the small family farm will clearly be able to survive if producers can satisfy consumers’ needs for healthier food produced in a natural way.

“Industrial farming has led us down a very narrow path,” he said to the attentive group gathered in Bristol town hall. “Large supermarkets impose restrictions on us when we raise our product—a cut of beef must have so much marbling, its fat much be very white, or it is not accepted. Why can’t we have diversity in our food? Diversity exists in Nature.”

25 ^th a nniversary of the Joint P lan

A quarter century of involvement and accomplishment!

Michel Dessureault

FPBQ President

“ We need the numbers in order to get what we want.” Those were the words of Abel Marion, president of the UPA from 1936 to 1954, during one of the annual general meetings of the Union Catholique des Cultivateurs—the forerunner of the UPA—in response to a farmer who had asked him: “ When is the law on marketing and the joint plan going to be adopted by the government of Quebec?”

While being a necessity, having strength in numbers is in vain without the solidarity and involvement of men and women who shape our destiny through their vision, perseverance and relentless work, and who have become stronger and stand taller for having faced the many crises in our beef industry.

2007 marks the 25 ^th anniversary of our Joint Plan, approved in 1982 following a referendum of 28,002 agricultural producers. On this occasion, we are reminded of the range and strength of this privileged collective marketing tool. It boasts a heritage so rich in achievements that they are too numerous to list here.

The many accomplishments that have come out of the plan have enabled us to take control of our production sector. We have created a more favourable environment in order to ensure the best net income possible for all producers, conditions of sale which are more adequate and, most importantly, more equitable amongst ourselves. The list of our achievements goes on: guaranteed payment, the creation of four sales agencies, marketing agreements that buyers must abide by, a research and development fund and promotional programs.

From cris e s to strengths

Surprisingly, the crises that have marked the federation’s path have also been the catalysts for our biggest advances. Like a family that comes together in times of trouble, producers have rolled up their sleeves when called upon. When the family is threatened, we are right by their side!

Ours was a path strewn with obstacles, but our tenacity and our capacity to innovate was demonstrated time and time again. Even at the time of writing the Joint Plan in 1982, we foresaw the creation of marketing committees to represent each sector of production. An historical first!

At other times, we predicted and anticipated events. The creation of the Réseau Encans Québec, in 2001, showed a giant step forward and paved the way for a model of actions based on partnerships with beef industry specialists—partnerships that were then achieved with the abattoirs.

Incidentally, the bankruptcy of abattoirs in the 1980s led to the creation of the guaranteed payment plan, in 1989. The program required a change to the marketing law. To this day, the FPBQ is the only federation that offers a 100 per cent payment guarantee. This achievement is also one of the best examples of the strength of collective leverage: none of us could have acquired such protection individually!

The BVD crisis at the beginning of the 1990s led to the creation of the research fund that enables the accomplishment of approximately fifteen projects per year. This crisis also led to the realisation that animal health could menace the very survival of our farms. This is why we are still demanding a production insurance program (animal mortality insurance).

Also, we shouldn’t fail to mention the biggest crisis in our beef history, that of BSE in 2003. All told, Quebec is faring better than the rest of Canada, thanks in part to our Joint Plan and to the strength in numbers that has enabled us to acquire two abattoirs: Levinoff-Colbex and Billette. Through these purchases, we’ve been able to improve our competitive position and respond to one of our priorities—to be in touch with consumers. These acquisitions were obtained thanks to the engagement of all producers, but the continuation and success of our post-production actions would not be viable without the financial support of the federal and provincial governments. There again, our demands are still not fully met.

At the eve of the Commission sur l’avenir de l’agriculture et de l’agroalimentaire québécois (Commission on the Future of Agriculture and Agri-food), which will hear audiences throughout Quebec in 2007, it is important to reiterate our pledge to produce healthy, quality meat at the lowest cost possible. In order to achieve this, government regulations must be coherent and adapted to our business environment. This large public consultation will also give us the opportunity to sensitize citizens and inform consumers of the measures we take in order to respond to their needs and expectations concerning animal welfare, food security, traceability, and respect for the environment.

History has shown us that our Joint Plan, voted by and for producers, was able to evolve and affect change throughout the last 25 years. Recent events affecting our production confirm that it is a modern and still-current tool. In 2007, it is out of the question to rehash the past, and we must forge ahead while always trying to improve our ways of doing things. Still today, to get what we want, we still need strength in numbers. The support and engagement of producers will always be our greatest asset!

Want to save time on your reports? ATQ has solutions for you!

Do you have too much paperwork? Is there not enough time to do it? Here are a few solutions to allow you to eliminate much of the paper and to help you complete your Agri-Traçabilité Québec reports.

To speed up and facilitate your ATQ reports

Use ATQ’s free software, which is available on our website at www.agri-tracabilite.qc.ca. This software program allows you to complete the electronic forms and send your data to ATQ over the internet. It is easy to use and also compatible with hand-held tag readers, allowing you to store your data on your computer. Goodbye paperwork!

Get direct access to your ATQ file via our transactional website ATQ Direct, and do your own activations, site transfers and inventory updates. To obtain direct access, you’ll need to obtain a calling ATQ Customer Services at 1-866-270-4319.

Purchasing electronic tag readers

Two types of stick readers that allow you to read your animals’ electronic tags are available through ATQ. These tag readers can be very useful and profitable, since they can store hundreds of tag numbers that you can then transfer directly into electronic forms and/or to your management software. To learn more about this, check ATQ’s website under the heading “RFID Readers.”

▪ easy to use

▪ compatible with many management software programs

▪ reduces the paperwork

▪ equipment is manufactured and tested in Quebec

▪ prices vary from $600 to $875

▪ financing is available

Federal subsidies apply (producers of finished steers, grain-fed calves, milk-fed calves and semi-finished beef cattle)—obtain further information at time of purchase!

Equipment Loans