The Milk Producer - July 2010 - (Page 36)

Story and Photo By Bill Dimmick A strong voice Maintaining political support for supply management crucial to keep the system going s delegates to the 1992 Dairy farmers had been nurturing for more Farmers of Canada (DFC) than 25 years. About a month later, national policy conference between 30,000 and 40,000 Canworked through the meeting agenda, adian farmers braved frigid Ottawa tension mounted. International trade weather to rally in front of talks had reached a crucial point, the Parliament. They demanded the fedfederal government’s position at the eral government preserve supply bargaining table appeared uncertain, management at the GATT negotiaand dairy farmers feared supply man- tions, forerunner to the World Trade agement could become a casualty of Organization. the negotiations. The mammoth lobbying effort paid One man stepped up to a microoff when the GATT agreement evenphone and warned of dire conse- tually was signed. Supply managequences if Ottawa traded away the ment’s essence stayed intact, although marketing system during General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) negotiations in far-off Geneva, Switzerland. That brief intervention from Grant Smith helped galvanize dairy leaders to swing into action. Grant, the organization’s president a decade earlier, was attending his final DFC meeting. He had just retired after 24 years of serving fellow producers as a board member of the Ontario Milk Marketing Board (OMMB). During those years, his no-nonsense, straight-to-the-point approach earned him respect in his home province, across Canada and around the world. “I still remember that meeting as if it were yesterday,” Grant says, his eyes still clear and thoughtful as he nears his 93rd birthday in September. “I knew I was right.” The upshot was dramatic action by DFC to defend the Don’t take system for granted, cautions orderly marketing system dairy former OMMB chair Grant Smith. 36 | July 2010 | MilkPRODUCER A the system had to adapt to new trade rules. Get right policies in place To Grant, that essence is getting the right policies in place, approved by provincial and federal governments, that give dairy farmers the opportunity to earn fair returns from the marketplace. During the Great Depression of the 1930s, when Grant was a teenager, milk sometimes sold for as little as 65 cents per hundredweight (1.5 cents per litre), and a good dairy cow might fetch just $40. However, the Smiths, who farmed near the village of Burgessville, just south of Woodstock in Oxford County, fared better than most. They had a ready market for their milk at Parker’s Dairy in nearby Norwich. After buying the home farm from his father in 1950, Grant established Clearcreek Farms. He had worked at a variety of jobs after marrying Ruth in 1939 and starting a family. His father’s herd consisted of Holsteins and Guernseys. One of Grant’s brother’s, George, took the Guernseys for his own farm. Grant kept the Holsteins, a decision that would lead to an awardwinning herd and travelling the world as a respected classifier. Grant received a Master Breeder Shield in 1968 from Holstein Canada. He credits much of the success to sons Wayne and Barry. Barry later

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Milk Producer - July 2010

The Milk Producer - July 2010
Contents
Editor's Notes
DFO Chair’s Message
Diary Update
DFO
National Policy
DFC Promotion
Thrill of the Grill
Farm Finance
Foundation for Our Future
Agriculture Minister’s Message
General Manger’s Message
Overview
Then and Now:
Notable Quotes:
Grant Smith
Gordon Coukell
Peter Oosterhoff
Vera Mitchell
Bill Simpson
Lew Dunk
Albert Gauthier
Gary Marshall
Stuart Steckle
Tom Kane
Pat McManus
Research
Applied Science
Ruminations
Markets
New’N’Noted
Back Forty

The Milk Producer - July 2010