• OCA Board agrees with this resolution.

2. BSE - FEED REGULATIONS
(Amended motion) THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT OCA lobby the CFIA to work with the USDA to ban the use of SRMs in all feed used to produce livestock and poultry for human consumption.

• OCA Board agrees with this resolution.
• CFIA has developed a proposal to remove SRMs from all animal and pet food. The definition of SRM has been expanded to include all ruminant deadstock and non-ambulatory cattle. Non-ambulatory cattle are defined as cattle that are condemned prior to slaughter. The proposal would also ban SRMs from commercial fertilizer. Discussions are ongoing with the USDA regarding harmonization of this proposal.

5. BSE - CONTINGENCY PLAN
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that OCA and CCA co-ordinate with government to have contingency plans in place to reduce the economic loss and emotional stress to producers and their families.

• Work on this resolution is in progress

7. PRODUCER PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Ontario Cattlemen's Association, as the organization representing the interests of Ontario beef producers, aggressively explore all options available to them that would allow beef producers far more meaningful influence on the industry in general, and specifically, their business future.

• OCA is pursuing regulatory amendments under the BCMA as directed by the membership.
• OCA is in discussion with the Ontario Farm Products Marketing Commission.
• OCA has initiated a 'concept paper' with OMAF for the Ontario beef industry.

8. QUALITY STARTS HERE
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT OCA continue the support of the Quality Starts Here program, in light of the current BSE situation. We can not ask our customers to accept our beef if we do not have a Quality Assurance program.

• Funding for the Verified Beef Production Program will continue in 2004.

9. CORN FED BEEF
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT OCA continue to financially support this program.

• OCA has supported the Ontario Corn Fed Beef program from its inception.
• Successful brands take time for development.
• The OCA Board reviewed an Ontario Corn Fed Beef proposal and subsequently agreed to commit $100,000/year to the program for a three-year period beginning in 2004.

10. ONTARIO TENDER BEEF
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT we ask them to verify that the beef is Ontario produced.

• OCA has raised this issue in previous meetings with Sobeys
• OCA will be holding a series of meetings in 2005 with retailers. Sourcing Ontario grown beef will be an agenda item at these meetings.

15. NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT ACT - FUNDING
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT OCA lobby the provincial and federal governments for funding to cover 90% of the costs for manure storages and other compliance costs and that the beef producers be exempt from compliance until sufficient funding is forthcoming.

• The OCA Board agrees with this resolution, and continues to endorse and support the following OFEC technical and funding principles:
  • Nutrient Management technical standards that meet the criteria of needed, practical and affordable
  • No phase-in of Nutrient Management regulations without funding
  • A funding program that will cover 70-90% of capital cost (90% funding for hardship cases)
  • Funding for all costs of Nutrient Management implementation, including capital, operating, administrative and loss of land use.
  • A minimum 24-month lead time between funding availability and the expectation of full compliance
  • Compliance with Nutrient Management must supersede other requirements. There must be clarity on how compliance with the Nutrient Management Act will provide future protection for producers from municipal by-laws, and how Nutrient Management compliance will be recognized in relation to Source Protection legislation.
• In addition to the requested Nutrient Management funding principles, one of the key recommendations of the Ontario Farm Environmental Coalition (OFEC) is to follow an adaptive phase-in and funding model.
• Specifically, the Ontario Cattlemen's Association asked for an adaptive phase-in and funding model based on the principle that full implementation of Nutrient Management Plans and Strategies for all existing operations (including >300 NU) not be expected unless the following conditions apply:
  • The specific farm is identified and targeted as a high risk or high priority with-in the Source Water Protection framework.
  • There is an offer of cost share that meets the OFEC cost sharing principles.
• The OFEC funding principles and the recommended adaptive phase-in and funding model have not been followed.

16. INSPECTION OF ABATTOIRS
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT OCA, together with other stakeholders in the industry, lobby the provincial government to maintain provincial inspection of abattoirs. (If provincial inspection is terminated, there would be no legal way to kill animals for private use and for niche markets).

• The province of Ontario has not indicated any plan to terminate the provincial inspection system.
• OCA made a submission in response to the Justice Haines meat inspection report that strongly supports our current system. This submission is available on the OCA website at www.cattle.guelph.on.ca .

24. FARM LAND TAX RATES
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Ontario Cattlemen's Association (with the support of other farm organizations) lobby County and District councils to ensure that farm land is taxed fairly.

• OCA has written a letter to OFA which refers this resolution
• OFA is currently working on this issue with the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation. OCA supports the work being done by OFA.

30. BILL 81 REGULATIONS
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the OCA Board ask the M.O.E. to place in abeyance all Bill 81 regulations aimed at nutrient management related to outdoor livestock feeding, at all locations, until quantitative evidence from appropriate scientific monitoring of actual site specific studies is available to justify the actual need and probably cost/benefit of such regulations, and until the economic position of beef producers improves to a point where initiatives designed to mitigate environmental impacts caused by outdoor feeding can be afforded.

• The OCA Board agrees with this resolution, and continues to endorse and support the following principles that all Nutrient Management technical standards must meet the criteria of needed, practical and affordable.
• OCA will continue to encourage government to appropriately monitor outdoor confinement sites in order to justify the need and probable cost/benefit of these regulations.
• The OCA Board agrees with the need for appropriate funding programs, and continues to endorse and support the OFEC technical and funding principles (see response to Resolution #15).

RESOLUTIONS FROM THE FLOOR:

CAIS - NEGATIVE MARGINS
THEREFORE be it resolved that OCA work with other farm organizations to demand that the CAIS program be fixed so that it can stabilize farm income by fully covering negative margins.
FURTHER be it resolved that OCA and other farm organizations lobby that all BSE and CAIS payments be considered as dissimilar funding and included in reference margin calculations.

• OCA requested full negative margin coverage. The federal and provincial government signed an amending agreement to the APF that allowed for up to 60% coverage.
• OCA continues to lobby for the inclusion of BSE payments in calculating reference margins.

A.C.C. COMMODITY LOAN PROGRAM
THEREFORE be it resolved that O.C.A. lobby to change the ACC loan program as it now exists to better meet the needs of all sectors.

• OCA has met with ACC to discuss the logistics of this resolution. Legislative change is required and being reviewed to meet the intent of the request.

RESOLUTIONS REFERRED TO THE OCA BOARD OF DIRECTORS:

14. NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT ACT - DELAY
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT OCA work with other organizations to ask for a delay in the implementation of the Nutrient Management Act, or provide appropriate funding to all sectors to aid in compliance.

• The Nutrient Management Act currently applies to all new and expanding to > 300 NU operations.
• The phase-in for farm operations <300 NU is under review by the Provincial Nutrient Management Advisory Committee, and is not expected to be in place until 2008 at the earliest.
• The Key Dates for Nutrient Management Act Compliance for existing greater than 300 NU farm operations is as follows:
  • March 31, 2005 - Nutrient Management Strategy must be submitted in order to access the Nutrient Management Financial Assistance Program
  • July 1, 2005 - Nutrient Management Strategy must be submitted
  • December 31, 2005 - Nutrient Management Plan must be approved
  (A Nutrient Management Strategy outlines how much manure and other nutrient materials will be generated, how it will be stored and where it will be used. A Nutrient Management Plan assesses the appropriate rate at which the manure and other nutrient materials are applied to land.)
• The OCA Board agrees with the need for appropriate funding programs, and continues to endorse and support the OFEC technical and funding principles (see response to Resolution #15).

16. INSPECTION OF ABATTOIRS
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT OCA, together with other stakeholders in the industry, lobby the provincial government to maintain provincial inspection of abattoirs. (If provincial inspection is terminated, there would be no legal way to kill animals for private use and for niche markets).

• This issue has been discussed with government.

17. AUDIT OF CATTLE PRICES FOR REPORTING
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT an audit process be put in place to ensure cattle prices reported be confirmed to be accurate.
 

• OCA has included this resolution within its requested changes to the BCMA.

18. RECORD KEEPING TECHNOLOGIES
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the OCA provide resources to meet new technologies that would assist larger operations in their record keeping, i.e. radio tags tied to computer technology.

• This is outside OCA's mandate. Software programs exist and are available commercially.

19. JOINT MEETING OF GOVERNMENTS
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the OCA Board lobby our Ontario Ag Minister, Mr. Peters, to negotiate a joint meeting with all Agriculture Ministers and their Parliamentary Assistants to discuss our livestock, BSE and border issues with our Federal Minister Mr. Speller and the rural caucus of Canada.

• Ministers are already meeting regularly.
• These meetings are scheduled regularly.

20. LOBBYING OF GOVERNMENTS
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT continued pressure be applied at the P.M. and Ministerial level on the U.S. President and appropriate Secretaries (Ministers) to open the U.S. / Canada border to live cattle exports on completion of the U.S. BSE investigation and the comment process.

• OCA supports this resolution.
• OCA works closely with CCA on meeting the intent of this resolution.

REFERRED TO ONTARIO FEDERATION OF AGRICULTURE:

21. COMPENSATION FOR WILDLIFE DAMAGE
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT all wildlife damage to crops, property and livestock be fairly compensated.

• Currently any compensation for livestock predator losses comes from the provincial government (wolves, coyotes, bears) or the municipality (domestic dogs). There is no compensation for crop losses by wild animals.
• OCA supports the Wildlife Damage Paper completed by OFA which calls for expanded compensation.

22. HUNTER DAMAGE COMPENSATION ACT
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Hunter Damage Compensation Act be reinstated.

• The Hunter Damage Compensation Act was repealed in 2000. In its absence, a farmer has to sue the hunter for damages (resolution was forwarded to OFA).

23. CROP LOSSES FROM WILDLIFE
WHEREAS crop losses in excess of millions of dollars exist because of increasing numbers of various wildlife species, such as deer, wild turkeys, bears & elk,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that OCA lobby the provincial government to develop programs and policies that would reduce these pressures on farmers' livelihoods.

• See response to Resolutions 21 & 22.

25. SUPPORT PROGRAMS
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT OCA appoint a committee to work with other commodity groups and OMAF to investigate the options of increasing the minimum gross production sales to qualify for farm status and support programs.

• This issue has been referred to OFA.

26. RE-DEVELOPMENT OF AGRICULTURE / BEEF INDUSTRY
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that we, as producers, take a proactive stand and petition the government to establish an inquiry with producers to review the historical operations and future potential of agriculture, make recommendations with respect to re-development of agriculture in general, and particularly the beef industry (specifically marketing strategies and the possibility of a supply-managed type strategy.)

• The beef portion is covered under OCA's long term strategy
• This issue has been referred to OFA
• OCA will be referencing marketing strategies within our Strategic Planning process and planning documents.

27. COMPLAINTS TO THE M.O.E. - IDENTIFICATION OF COMPLAINANTS
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT all complaints to the M.O.E. regarding real or perceived environmental offenses must be signed. No anonymous complaints should be entertained.

• OCA sent a motion to OFA that all complaints should be accompanied by a fee. OCA agrees with a user fee. Thiswill be taken to the Nutrient Management Advisory Committee.
• OCA agrees that complaints shouldn't be anonymous and has sent relevant correspondence to M.O.E..
• The Board of Directors passed a motion which read: That all complaints to MOE regarding real or perceived environmental offenses must be signed and accompanied by a non refundable $100 fee.

28. COMPLAINTS TO THE M.O.E. - MONETARY FEE
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT a monetary fee of $100 accompany any complaint to the M.O.E..

• See Response to Resolution #27

29. NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT ACT - GOVERNMENT CONTROL
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT Nutrient Management enforcement be placed back under OMAF control.

• OCA has written a letter to the Minister supporting the issue of OMAF control.

REFERRED TO OCA COW CALF AND FEEDLOT COMMITTEES:

31. PRE-CONDITIONED CATTLE
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT all stocker cattle traded in public markets be de-horned, castrated, and vaccinated.

• The Cow Calf Committee turned down this resolution because it falls outside of OCA's mandate.

32 VACCINATION CERTIFICATION
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT all replacement cattle traded publicly be certified vaccinated with appropriate identification, feedback and accountability.

• Both the feedlot and cow/calf committees endorsed this resolution:
• "Whereas vaccination of cattle is proven to improve the health of stocker cattle. Therefore be it resolved that all replacement cattle traded publicly be certified vaccinated with appropriate identification, feedback and accountability."
• The Board further supported this resolution with the following motion: THAT OCA continue to promote the importance of vaccinated calf sales and that all producers work in accordance with a veterinarian's consultation on protocols for individual operations.

THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTIONS WERE ALREADY BEING DEALT WITH BY OCA:

33. TRACKING ONTARIO FEEDLOT LOSSES
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT OCA continue to track Ontario feedlot losses in order to accurately lobby the provincial/federal governments for adequate compensation.

• OCA has been tracking losses since May 20, 2003 to the present.

34. TRACKING ONTARIO STOCKER LOSSES
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT OCA track stocker (500-900) losses in Ontario in order to adequately lobby the federal/provincial governments for adequate compensation for that sector.

• These losses are now being tracked and will cover May 20, 2003 to the present.

35. TRACKING ONTARIO CULL COW LOSSES
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT OCA track beef cull cows and dairy cull cow losses in Ontario to accurately lobby the provincial/federal governments for adequate compensation for that sector.

• These losses are now being tracked and will cover May 20, 2003 to the present.

36. INVESTMENT IN SLAUGHTER PLANTS
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT OCA lobby the provincial government to use this money to invest in new or upgraded slaughter plants in Ontario to increase slaughter capacity.

• As part of the BSE Task Force, OCA requested $10M from the province of Ontario for cull cow management.
• $7M was allocated to the Mature Animal Abattoir fund specifically for upgrades and capacity increases.

37. FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR INCREASED SLAUGHTER CAPACITY
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT OCA, in co-operation with the OIMP, lobby the provincial government to provide financial support to increase the slaughter capacity of provincial plants.

• See Response to Resolution #36.

38. CONSTITUTION COMMITTEE
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the OCA create a Constitution Committee to review the constitution and present amendments to be presented at further Annual Meetings as intended.

• In January of 2004, an OCA Constitution Committee was established. Its mandate is to review the constitution and recommend changes to the OCA Board of Directors for further consideration by membership.
• First meeting of the Committee was April 21, 2004. A number of proposed changes were reviewed, and were brought forward to the Board and Advisory Council before the 2005 county meetings. They will be brought forward to voting delegates at the OCA 2005 Annual Meeting.

39. CULL COW PROGRAM
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the OCA recommend to OMAF that the Ontario cull cow aid program also not be tied to slaughter.

• The federal TISP (Transitional Industry Support Program) per head payment program did not require a slaughter certificate.
• The provincial $10M cull cow program did not have a per head payment component to it. Funds were used for a long term cull cow management strategy in Ontario.

40. STREAMSIDE GRAZING
BE IT RESOLVED THAT OCA work with national livestock organizations in seeking a regulation under the Fisheries Act that would allow low density streamside grazing. These groups should seek a Ministry policy directive in the interim to ensure that farmers are not subjected to the current enforcement process and associated impractical requirements.

• OCA has been very active in leading this issue.
• OCA & CCA have communicated concerns to Environment Canada regarding Section 36, and the interpretation of zero tolerance. We have requested that this section of the Fisheries Act be modified to allow for practical and economical solutions.

41. STREAMSIDE GRAZING
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT OCA, in co-operation with other livestock groups, continue to lobby the Ministry of the Environment and the Department of Fisheries & Oceans for an economical solution to cattle access to water courses.

• See response to Resolution #40.

42. IMPORT PERMITS
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT OCA lobby the federal government to continue withholding supplementary import permits for all of 2004.

• Supplementary imports are available as of April 22, 2004 to those processors that can show a need and can prove the product can not be accessed with Canada at competitive prices.
• The process has become much stricter than previously. OCA is on record of requesting indefinite termination of supplementary import permits.
• The Board passed a motion that read: THAT OCA's policy to CCA be that the federal government to continue withholding supplementary import permits for a minimum of three years and then reviewed.

43. BILL 81 - FUNDING OF ADDITIONAL CASE STUDIES
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT OCA's first funding priority be towards the supply of funding of additional case studies in each cattle sector, with regards to Bill 81.

• OCA has committed $30,000 toward sector/issue specific case studies in 2004.
• The case studies completed for the cow-calf and feedlot sector, combined with the public release of the OMAF sector and individual farm cost of implementation studies, have been sufficient in determining the overall cost and specific cost pressures associated with Nutrient Management compliance.

44. PRICING BY PACKERS AND RETAILERS
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT OCA, with the possible help from the Consumers Association of Canada, investigate possible price gouging by packers and retailers.

• The federal agriculture committee has reviewed this issue.
• OCA supports the efforts of M.P. Paul Steckle in this regard. A letter was sent supporting the investigation.

45. FEDERAL AND PROVINCIAL SUPPORT PROGRAM MONEY
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that OCA explain to the producer and consumer where the money of the federal and provincial support programs went.

• See response to Resolution #44.

46. INVESTIGATION OF PRICING DISCREPANCIES
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the OCA investigates the discrepancies and report back to the associations by March 15, 2004.

• See response to Resolution #44.

47. PRICING PRACTICES OF FINISHED CATTLE
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT OCA ask the provincial / federal governments to do a formal investigation into the competitive pricing practices of finished cattle.

• See response to Resolution #44.

48. PERMANENT ELECTRONIC IDENTIFICATION PROGRAM SYSTEM
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the OCA lobbies the CCA to develop and implement a mandatory national permanent electronic identification program system for all calves born in Canada.

• OCA holds a seat on the Board of the Canadian Cattle Identification Agency (CCIA).
• CCIA has committed to electronic identification of all cattle in 2005.

49. SILAGE YIELDS
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT OCA lobby Agricorp to accept producer yield check strips of silage varieties to determine dry bushel yields per ton of silage.

• Agricorp does not have the data to launch a program in the short term, however, positive discussions have been initiated