Ontario establishes hog industry advisory committee

Ontario’s hog industry is taking a collabora­tive step forward.

"We’ve established the On­tario hog industry advisory com­mittee to help Ontario Pork Producers’ Marketing Board transition to a new hog mar­ket­ing environment in which pro­ducers will have more market­ing options," said Elmer Bu­chan­an, acting chairman 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 commission carried through to establish the committee 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," said 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.

 

Comments