REVENUE ASSURANCE PROGRAM
- A POSSIBILITY FOR ONTARIO
by David Morris

Jeff Davis

For Jeff Davis, Director for Region 13 (Elgin County), developing a set of safety net programs suitable for Ontario is a high priority. Jeff is currently a member of the Safety Net Committee for OCPA. "That's where my interests lie," he says. "With the new Agricultural Policy Framework (APF) coming through, there have been all kinds of changes. As a Board, we have tried to put our views about what was needed across to the government as best we could. Unfortunately, they have not listened to us as much as we would have liked. It is still an on-going process, however. Some avenues have opened up for reviewing the APF that give us an on-going chance to offer input. The OCPA will definitely stay involved and do what they can for the betterment of our producers."

According to Davis, one of the prime goals of the OCPA Board is the development of a program to replace the Market Revenue Insurance Program. "We are working towards a Revenue Assurance Program, similar to what they have in Alberta," he explains. "We're still in the early stages and there is certainly a lot of work yet to be done in that area. That is where I want to focus a lot of my energies - towards getting something like that in place here."

"Their system is tied in with crop insurance. In addition to being able to buy insurance to protect against poor yields, their growers can get coverage to protect the price. The pricing option is set in the spring, and if the price at harvest falls below that level, they get a payout. Their approach to setting the price would not be satisfactory here because of the differences in our marketing systems. We are still working to develop a price-setting mechanism for Ontario. It is a huge challenge to come up with an approach that works for growers in Ontario, that is acceptable to the World Trade Organization, and that our governments are willing to fund."

"However, we do have a commitment from the provincial government to provide some funding to agriculture for this type of program. One of their campaign promises was to continue the transition funding and to support a replacement for the Market Revenue Program. The OCPA is committed to working with the government toward that goal. Honourable Steve Peters has certainly shown the ability and willingness to talk with farm groups to work out an agreement. We are very happy with his commitment to do that and we look forward to working with him to get a program like this in place."

Davis is optimistic about the potential for successful negotiations with government now that new ministers of agriculture are in place at both the federal and provincial levels. "At the federal level, from both the OCPAs point of view and the farmers' point of view, the appointment of Mr. Bob Speller as Minister was a great move. It was time for new blood and new thoughts. We are especially pleased to have Mr. Speller, given his background in having prepared the task force report on agriculture. There are a lot of good ideas in that report. We look forward to working with him now to get those ideas implemented."

"Provincially, We understand that Mr. Peters has had a baptism by fire, so to speak, when he took over as agriculture minister, having a lot of difficult issues to contend with right off the bat - both he and Speller have. Mr. Peters is the representative for this area and we have always had a good working relationship with him, locally. I can see no reason why we would not be able to have just as good a relationship with him now at the provincial level."

Jeff farms with his father, Keith, in Elgin County between St. Thomas and Belmont. Together, they are the shareholder-partners in K and R Davis Farms Ltd. and cash crop 525 acres, devoted to corn, seed soybeans and winter wheat. Jeff explains that his involvement with OCPA just evolved from his interest in agriculture. "I came through the farm supply business," he says. "When I started farming full-time, I wanted to keep up with what was going on in agriculture and began going to meetings. Eventually, I was elected to the local board for the Elgin Corn Producers' Association and then was asked to stand for a Director at the provincial level. I thought, "Why not? I might as well give it a shot." It has been a real learning experience. If someone has any interest at all, it's sure the way to learn. You learn a lot just by being on the local board and when you get to the provincial level, the knowledge really increases. So, I really encourage anyone who expresses an interest to get involved."

In addition to his OCPA commitments, Jeff is also a Director of the Elgin County Soil and Crop Improvement Association. One of his roles with that organization is to look after a 12 acre test farm for them. Currently, the plots are planted to winter wheat, having been in soybeans last year. Corn will follow in 2005. Over the years, they have tried various approaches for seed treatments, planting depths and rates, row widths, pest control and so on. "Doing plots like this is important stuff," says Jeff. "If you don't try something new now and again, you'll never know if you could make your crops better or not."