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Compensation
urgently needed for
Ontario beef industry
June 10, 2003
(Guelph) -Ron Wooddisse, president of the Ontario Cattlemen’s Association (OCA)
says today that unless there is an immediate and meaningful compensation
plan announced, the current disaster in the beef industry will become a
catastrophe. Said Wooddisse, “Government investment at this point is
essential and the only way to prevent huge future losses.”
Twenty-one
days after the announcement of one BSE positive cow, the Ontario beef
industry is under severe pressure as a result of border closures
terminating access to major export markets. OCA has worked closely with
the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association and both national and provincial
government officials to develop a contingency plan to restore strength and
confidence in the marketplace.
However,
immediate funding is required to protect liquidity of the feedlot sector.
Mike McMorris, Executive Director of OCA said, “Both levels of
government need to take a leadership role in this situation and recognize
the value of the beef industry.”
In
Ontario, there are approximately 21,000 producers impacted by the current
BSE situation. Beef is the
second largest commodity in terms of annual farm gate receipts with a
value of approximately $1.2 billion. Beef exports from Ontario to the
U.S.A., in 2002, were valued at $354 million in live cattle and an
additional $292 million in beef product.
For
further information:
Mike
McMorris, OCA Executive Director, 519-824-0334;
Kelly
Daynard, OCA Communications Manager, 519-824-0334; The OCA Email
OCA
Website: www.cattle.guelph.on.ca
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