Pork producers are studying whether provincial fees they pay to fund marketing, research and other programs should be shared with the national organization.
The Canadian Pork Council now receives voluntary contributions from nine provinces. Newfoundland does not have an association.
“National checkoff does not mean the provincial checkoff has to go up. It might just be a reallocation of funds,” said Neil Ketilson, general manager of Sask Pork.
The council’s duties have recently reached beyond that of a national lobby group because of its work under the Canadian Quality Assurance program for food safety, hog traceability, animal welfare and trucking standards.
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Florian Possberg, owner of Big Sky Farms in Saskatchewan and vice-chair of the Canadian Pork Council, told the Alberta Pork annual meeting in Calgary Dec. 6 that the national agency needs more money than it receives through provincial memberships.
“I do not know what the right number is, but I do know it needs to be more,” he said.
National pork consumption is dropping, he said, so more promotion could help.
As well, the pork council is underfunded and understaffed when called upon to defend trade actions against the United States.
“We do not have the funds to go head to head with the Americans,” he said.
The amount of money available for pork programs in each province varies.
British Columbia markets about 350,000 hogs per year, making it difficult for the producer organization there to manage programs.
Alberta markets 3.5 million hogs and collects a $1 per hog levy. Saskatchewan producers are assessed 75 cents per hog sold.
Possberg said diverting some provincial check-off money to the national organization could also go toward advertising Canadian pork to the world.
In addition, Canadian pork exports to the U.S. are subject to an American levy but Canada does not collect on the 130,000 tonnes of U.S. pork imported to Canada.
Martin Rice, general manager of the Canadian Pork Council, agreed a national levy would be useful if all provinces agree.
“It is something that will have to come from provinces and each province has its own set of priorities and challenges,” he said.
The Canadian Pork Council has set up a committee to assess the need for such funding. A proposal could be ready by the group’s next annual meeting in July.
