ONTARIO ESTABLISHES HOG
INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
GUELPH - Ontario's hog industry is taking a
collaborative step forward. "We've established the
Ontario Hog Industry Advisory Committee (HIAC) to help
Ontario Pork Producers' Marketing Board transition to a
new hog marketing environment in which producers will
have more marketing options," says Elmer Buchanan,
Acting Chair of the Ontario Farm Products Marketing
Commission.
The call for broader value-chain leadership in Ontario's
pork industry was an outcome of the July 2008 Commission
hearing into the future role of Ontario Pork. The
Ontario Farm Products Marketing Commission carried
through to establish HIAC to provide input and feedback
to Ontario Pork as it moves away from sole authority for
the marketing of hogs in the province.
"The Council brings producers, processors and the board
together to discuss how we move from the old system to a
new system smoothly. That is its immediate challenge,"
says Buchanan. "From what I've seen at the committee's
first two meetings in November, I'm impressed by the
commitment to make it effective for all stakeholders in
Ontario's pork industry."
In addition to Ontario Pork establishing an autonomous
hog sales and marketing group for Ontario producers who
wish to use its services, the committee also turned its
attention to the importance of investigating options to
provide producers with a payment protection program.
The members of the Ontario Hog Industry Advisory
Committee include:
-
Cathy Aker, Maple Leaf Foods
-
Elmer Buchanan, Ontario Farm Products Marketing
Commission and interim HIAC Chair
-
Jim Clark, Ontario Farm Products Marketing
Commission
-
Dan Cohoe, Quality Meat Packers
-
Bob Hunsberger, Conestoga Meat Packers
-
Wilma Jeffray, producer/Ontario Pork Producers'
Marketing Board elected director
-
Curtiss Littlejohn, producer/Ontario Pork Producers'
Marketing Board elected director
-
Gary Pennings, producer
-
James Reesor, producer
-
Jim Van Nes, producer
-
Allen Van Ravenswaay, producer
Contacts:
Ontario Farm Products Marketing Commission:
Elmer Buchanan 519-826-3407
Arva Machan 519-826-3394
