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18-The Champion Country, Tuesday, January 25, 2005 New year brings good news for Canadian farmers year to bring new hope and the promise of better things ahead. Rarely does it work like that, but 2005 arrived with a welcomed dose of good news for Canadian livestock producers. After 20 months of tremendous loss and suffering for farners and a number of others associated with the livestock sector in Canada, the United States announced it will lift many of the restrictions placed on imports of Canadiari livestock as a result of BSE. Aithough the change won't kick in until March, the announce- ment helps restore confidence. The strength of the U.S. conviction to lift the restrictions was tested the day following its declaration when Canadian officials announced the possible discovery of a second BSE case in Canada. Even after that case was confirmed, the U.S. restated that it's proceeding with its plans to accept Canadian livestock within announced guidelines. Wlhile Canada's livestock sector has suffered because of BSE, it OEA Ron Bonnet Commentary must be prepared to benefit from the lessons learned. BSE made it abundantly clear that placing the future of an entire sector in the hands of another nation should never be allowed to happen again. We need to remember the value of matching our production capa- bilities with our processing capabilities. A number of new processing plants are in the planning stage, the construction stage or the renovation stage. These projects must be completed and planning done for the sector's future processing needs. Y~LV~P$k~AYAJUU HSL cmphasizcd th ilu el 1.11 11ain i/.nli1 orzauon wr together in search of solutions to a comssmon problem. Efforts to get govemment assistance programs in place to help the livestock sec- tor brought the Canadian Cattlemen's Association, the Canadian Federation of Agriculture, their provincial counterparts and a num- ber of professional organizations together to develop and present the case for aid programs. These joint efforts put millions of dollars of assistance money into the hands of producers. Granted, it didn't all arrive at the optimum time, but within the promise of its arrival, many banks and suppliers continued to sup- port producers through the crisis. Farm organizations will need to continue to monitor the finan- cial needs of producers well beyond the March date when most Canadian livestock will be allowed into the United States. We want to ensure govemment programs already announced and in place are maintained until the devastating impacts of BSE on our livestock sector have passed. Farmers and their organization should be prepared to recognize the work of the politicians and bureaucrats throughout the process. We must give them thanks for the eventual lifting of the border bans, and continue to work to restore border regulations to pre- May 20, 2003 conditions. Producers and their families also deserve recognition for their efforts to survive the BSE crisis. Many of them played a signifi- cant role in taking the message of need to governments. Tbey have also encouraged their organizations to examine future marketing alternatives. We have looked at potential live- stock markets in other areas of the world and now have a better understanding of how great these market areas could be, and the marketing strategies necessary to work there. BSE bas been an expensive lesson for Canadian producers. The Ontario Federation of Agriculture thanks its members for their support and advice during the process. Ron Bonnet is president of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture. SAFETYZONE *** *% 25cM - SNOWMOBIL ES 20cM - SKATING PARTIES + 15CM - WALKING/SKATING Canadian Red Cross Nutrition & Fitness Centers 575 Ontario Street (The corner of Derry Rd.) WATCH FOR... Our Post It Note on the Front Page of Friday's issue of...