News
Supply management being considered by Ontario agency
Sept. 23, 2009 -A study to determine the viability of supply management for the Ontario hog sector has revealed it would require the provincial industry to downsize by 43 to 58 percent, as well as overcome several significant hurldes, including international trade and tariff issues.
September 23, 2009 By Ontario Pork
September 23, 2009
Guelph -A recent study prepared by the University of Guelph, Ridgetown Campus, finds that implementing a supply management system for Ontario’s hog industry would be a challenge. Commissioned by Ontario Pork, the study suggests that the Ontario industry would need to shrink anywhere from 43 – 58 percent and overcome significant hurdles including international trade issues and development of a tariff system; reduction in production to meet domestic consumption; production allocation among provinces and whether a quota system would be used to set production volumes. Supply management attempts to match domestic production with estimated domestic consumption. It would also have to be national in scope and have the support of all provinces with a stake in it. Author of the study, college professor and research co-ordinator, Ken McEwan says “the movement to a supply management system would involve considerable downsizing of the existing Canadian swine herd. The implications of this downsizing to industry business partners would be far-reaching and in some cases could mean closure.” “This topic has been brought up several times over the years,” said chair Wilma Jeffray. “With pork producers looking for alternatives and options in this depressed market, Ontario Pork felt it was time to investigate the supply management concept and its feasibility. From the numbers presented I think there is clear evidence that Ontario’s hog sector would be severely impacted by adopting this system.” The study can be found on the Ontario Pork website at ontariopork.on.ca
