GUELPH, Ont. – The Ontario Veal Association (OVA) has launched its campaign to educate veal and dairy producers about the upcoming producer expression of opinion vote being conducted by the Ontario Farm Products Marketing Commission (OFPMC).
Veal and dairy producers are being asked to support a proposal that seeks to establish a separate veal marketing board under the Farm Products Marketing Act (FPMA). All veal and dairy producers will receive a voting package in the mail prior to the voting period of March 1829, 2013. The veal producer expression of opinion vote will be a mailin ballot and will be administered by the OFPMC.
“Essentially, we are looking for veal and dairy producers to support this initiative by voting yes”, explained OVA Executive Director Jennifer Haley. “The organization will have no powers to control price, establish quotas or determine how product is marketed. However, we will have the ability to collect our own checkoff and in turn be able to better manage our organization in an efficient and responsible manner”, she added.
The OVA was established under the Agricultural and Horticultural Organizations Act in 1990 to address the specific needs of the grainfed and milkfed veal sectors. Since that time, the OVA has worked on a number of important projects and initiatives that include research, education, policy development, lobbying, consumer promotions and more.
Currently, a mandatory checkoff is collected on all calves sold under the authority of the Beef Cattle Marketing Act (BCMA), which is administered by the Ontario Cattlemen’s Association (OCA). The OVA works with the OCA every year to establish a veal project budget that represents the total checkoff collected from bull calves and finished veal calves. OCA retains and administers these funds on behalf of the veal sector.
“Quite simply, we will continue to do all the things we have been doing as a commodity organization. The only difference is that it will be the OVA collecting the $3.00 per head checkoff on all bull calves, precons and finished calves rather than the OCA”, stated OVA President Judy Dirksen.
Dirksen explains that the upcoming vote and desire for autonomy is the natural next step for the OVA as an organization. She points out that both OCA and OVA have come to this conclusion together because it will reduce the overhead and administrative burden for both organizations. This will ensure that any savings can be put back into programs, research and promotions that will support the veal industry.
“The Board of Directors of the Ontario Cattlemen’s Association is completely supportive of the Ontario Veal Association’s request for full standing under the Farm Products Marketing Act. This process began before our restructuring in 2003, and was recognized as a natural evolution at that time”, stated Dave Stewart, OCA Executive Director.
"Dairy Farmers of Ontario encourages all producers to carefully study this important endeavour and be sure to cast their vote", stated Bill Emmott, Dairy Farmers of Ontario (DFO) Chair.
“We appreciate the support of both OCA and DFO with our initiative and we look forward to continuing to work with them as cattle industry partners”, added Dirksen.
For more information about the veal vote, go to www.ontarioveal.on.ca; contact the OVA office at 519 8242942; or attend an upcoming information session meeting.
For more information please contact: Jennifer Haley, Executive Director, 5198242942 jhaley@livestockalliance.ca
Source: Ontario Veal Association (OVA)