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| OVSGA insists on ID tags at 2001 Farm Show January 19, 2001 The Ottawa Valley Seed Growers Association (OVSGA) has decided that all eligible animals at this year's Ottawa Valley Farm Show (OVFS) must be tagged under the new Canadian cattle identification program. The decision came following a discussion of the merits of the program at an OVSGA directors meeting held Jan. 15 at Kemptville College of Agricultural Technology (KCAT). With a first-ever four breed sales planned for the 74th OVFS at Lansdowne Park March 14-16 - including Simmental, Limousin, Hereford and Holstein - director Robert Dick, a Renfrew County beef producer, presented a motion calling for compulsory tagging of animals for display and sale, including the bull used in the annual guess-the-weight contest. As an organization dedicated to best agricultural practices, the Seed Growers should lead by example, Dick said, even though the tagging program doesn't become fully enforced until July 1. While it was noted some producers may keep their animals out of the sales rather than comply, virtually all directors felt the possibility of losing a few head didn't overrule the importance of tagging and promoting the new system. Introduced at the beginning of the year, bar-code ear tagging is designed to allow animal health authorities to trace cattle back to owners should a disease outbreak occur. The system - which will be demonstrated at the Farm Show - will eventually be enforced by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. In other business, directors approved a contribution of $500 to the Eastern Ontario Crop Conference scheduled for KCAT Feb. 23. The money was assigned specifically to sponsor the conference session on nutrient management. The final organizational meeting before the Farm Show will be held Feb. 12 at KCAT. FOR MORE INFORMATION: Tom Van Dusen, General Manager (613) 445-3407. Posted: Tuesday, February 13, 2001 |