For the time being producers will pay a reduced service levy fee from C$1.75 to C$1.65 per hog. This new fee became effective 5 January, 2009.

This will be a temporary first quarter measure, pending the new marketing environment resulting from the Farm Products Marketing Commission’s (FPMC) decision made last October to remove Ontario Pork’s marketing monopoly. A new forecast budget will be created for the remainder of the year to include the separation of universal services and marketing fees.

“The Board recognizes this is a temporary measure“ says Curtiss Littlejohn, Chair of Ontario Pork. “Any increases or reductions to the fee structure will be subject to change once our implementation plan is approved by Farm Products.“

The preliminary marketing implementation plan is due to the FPMC by 15 January and a completed plan is due by 1 March, 2009.

Ontario Pork represents the 2,900 farmers who market hogs in the province in many areas, including hog marketing, research, government representation, environmental issues, consumer education and food quality assurance. The pork industry in Ontario accounts for 33,000 jobs, and it is estimated that total industry output from farm gate sales is worth C$4.7 billion to the Ontario economy.