I will open by saying that all of our meals this year proudly feature Ontario Corn Fed-Beef (OCFB). This is because in 2007, your Board approved a request from the Ontario Cattle Feeder’s Association (OCFA) to provide $400,000 a year, for three years, in support of OCFB. In this agreement, it has been accepted that: there will be increased communication between OCFA and OCA; that we will work towards exchange of information between sectors; that there will be use of Canadian Cattle Identification Agency (CCIA) numbers to enhance producer feedback; and that we will establish a protocol for Ontario calves to fit into the OCFB program.

As you all know, this has not been a good year for our industry, which is why we chose the theme Meeting Our Challenges. There is simply no way to sugar-coat it.

What we need to do is understand why things happened the way that they did. Then, we should commit to either changing what we do, or must meekly accept whatever crumbs the commodity markets throw our way.

Many of you heard Charlie Gracey deliver the consultant’s report on OCA’s 10-Year Vision, last October. During the sessions I was at, Charlie always said that “a workable definition of madness was doing things the way you always have, and expecting a different outcome”. The 10-Year vision may not be radical enough for all of you, but it does focus on things we can actually do fairly quickly to give us an increased expectation of better financial results. I see the way OCA has taken on the role of major funding partner for OCFB this year as a commitment to provide you with options that could make your business better. Last year, OCFB jumped into the spotlight by gaining entry to the Loblaws chain. This was achieved against great odds, and was due to incredible perseverance by Jim Clark. It is now up to all of the producers of this province to get on board with change. How many of you remember Red Green’s Man’s Prayer?: “I’m a man...but I can change...if I have to...I guess.” Well, I know change is hard. I’ve had to change a few things in my life, as many of us do. It’s always difficult at the time, however, it can work out better than ever expected, in the end. There are elements of OCA’s 10-Year Vision that will require you to change what you are doing. Others have blazed the trail for you, to make your journey easier. Dr. Peter Kotzeff deserves a lot of praise for the pioneering work he’s done with protocols for the Bluewater Black and Bruce Peninsula Calf Clubs. Peter has completed the hard work associated with being the first to attempt something. Cow/calf producers who aren’t involved in a group like this, need to be, to maximize their returns.

Building horizontal alliances among cow/calf producers is just one part of the 10-Year Vision, however. Is it up to OCA to do this? No. Producers have to do the work, but OCA will assume a facilitator role in the process. One of the comments often made by cow/calf producers is that feedlot operators won’t buy Ontario calves. However, part of the agreement with OCFB commits to working together to develop a protocol for Ontario calves to make them fit into the OCFB program. This is just one example of how we are working to bring the industry together. OCFB has the potential to be the largest vertical value chain in the province. It could change your fate as beef producers. We all have a responsibility to support it fully. Please think about that. At this point, I’d like to quickly re-cap some of our other major activities this year.

COMMUNICATIONS

As well as the fine work which is being done by OCA’s Communications Department, including a dramatically improved Web site, five editions of Ontario Beef magazine, three issues of the Ontario Steakholder, and 50 OCA Weekly Updates, I would like to highlight a few of the other activities that your Board and staff undertook to attempt to ensure communications channels are open.

In the Spring of 2007, we once again traveled the province to hold Regional Meetings. Invited to these are the President and Advisory Councillor for every county. On July 12-13th, we held our Summer Advisory Council meeting in Gore Bay. The OCA Board also approved theaforementioned series of fall dinner meetings to roll out OCA's 10-Year Vision. A total of thirteen were held throughout the province, with representation from staff and Board at each meeting. This was during the depths of our fall pricing lows, and provided a good chance for producers to come out and express their opinions.

Finally, the Advisory Council held their Fall meeting in Cobourg at the end of November. You, as members, are free to push your issues up to the Board at any time of the year, via your Advisory Councillor. The above-mentioned meetings give your Councillor a forum to express your views.

COUNTY GRANTS AND SHARECOST

County grants were increased to $1,000 this year (based on submitting minutes of the County annual meeting), and the Sharecost Program was increased to reimburse counties for 80% of their out-of-pocket expenses up to $5,000 ($2,500 each for producer and consumer initiatives).

These increases made funds available to counties who wanted to increase their promotion and outreach. Payouts this year, through Sharecost, increased from $36,000 in 2006, to almost $88,000.

INITIATIVES FOR YOUTH

The 4-H Queen's Guineas Steer Show lost its major sponsors in 2007, and needed support to continue. This event, held at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto, is the largest junior steer show in Canada.

Your Board took the position that OCA would be a sponsor for this event in 2007, and we provided $100 to each participant.

BCMA UPDATE

We were delighted when The Honourable Gerry Ritz, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and The Honourable Leona Dombrowsky, Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, signed the final documents to implement the long-awaited changes to the Beef Cattle Marketing Act. Getting these amendments through, which include the increase in check-off and a 7-day exemption for dealers, were a major task for staff. It is good to see the conclusion.

STAFFING

Finally, I would like to welcome two new members of the OCA staff. Lisa Turney has joined OCA as a part-time Administrative Assistant, providing support to the VBP-QSH program. As well, LeaAnne Hodgins has stepped into the role of Trade Show and Promotions Coordinator and will be providing communications support. If you have been at any of the events this fall, I’m sure you will have already met her.

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS AND LOBBYING

OCA was active on an number of fronts in the area of government relations. For more details, see page 13.

Other items which OCA worked on throughout the year included: implementation of the advanced payment program for cattle; the Market Development Partnership Program; the Industry Development Fund; the Source Water Protection Act; and the age verification project, to name a few. This year also saw us “go live” with our membership database and complete our Situation Response Communications Plan. Over the next few pages of this report, you will be able to read more about some of these items and also some areas I have not covered here.

In closing, I would like to reiterate that I know 2007 has been a challenging year for producers in this province, but your staff at OCA does understand this. We will continue to work hard for you in the upcoming year to help Meet Our Challenges.

Dave Stewart
Executive Director
Ontario Cattlemen’s Association