<b>Ontario Pork marketing board loses monopoly<b>
The Canadian Press-The Ontario Pork marketing board is losing its monopoly, a move that will allow producers to sell their hogs wherever they like.
The decision by the Ontario Farm Products Marketing Commission means the Guelph-based board will no longer be the sole marketer of pigs in the province.
The new dual marketing system, to come into effect next spring, will let producers sell through Ontario Pork or market directly to customers.
Producer Bob Hunsberger of Breslau, Ont., said the decision means “more freedom of choice” and is a “good thing for the industry.”
He said Ontario's hog industry, faced with a high Canadian dollar and mushrooming feed costs, must improve its productivity.
Mr. Hunsberger said he believes allowing farmers the option of direct marketing without having to go through Ontario Pork should lower costs.
Ontario Pork chairman Curtiss Littlejohn expressed confidence that the board will remain the voice of the industry in Ontario and farther afield.
“We will lose some customers on the sales and logistics side,” he noted.
But the board will market hogs for producers who remain and will also provide a host of other services, such as advocating for producers and commissioning research at the University of Guelph while setting industry standards.
“The (commission) decision is very consistent with our strategic direction,” said Mr. Littlejohn, who added giving producers more choice has been a goal for some time.
Monday's commission decision follows four days of hearings in July in Guelph, initiated by industry representatives not happy with only one marketing body.
The Canadian Press-The Ontario Pork marketing board is losing its monopoly, a move that will allow producers to sell their hogs wherever they like.
The decision by the Ontario Farm Products Marketing Commission means the Guelph-based board will no longer be the sole marketer of pigs in the province.
The new dual marketing system, to come into effect next spring, will let producers sell through Ontario Pork or market directly to customers.
Producer Bob Hunsberger of Breslau, Ont., said the decision means “more freedom of choice” and is a “good thing for the industry.”
He said Ontario's hog industry, faced with a high Canadian dollar and mushrooming feed costs, must improve its productivity.
Mr. Hunsberger said he believes allowing farmers the option of direct marketing without having to go through Ontario Pork should lower costs.
Ontario Pork chairman Curtiss Littlejohn expressed confidence that the board will remain the voice of the industry in Ontario and farther afield.
“We will lose some customers on the sales and logistics side,” he noted.
But the board will market hogs for producers who remain and will also provide a host of other services, such as advocating for producers and commissioning research at the University of Guelph while setting industry standards.
“The (commission) decision is very consistent with our strategic direction,” said Mr. Littlejohn, who added giving producers more choice has been a goal for some time.
Monday's commission decision follows four days of hearings in July in Guelph, initiated by industry representatives not happy with only one marketing body.
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