A Desboro mixed farmer is the new Regional Coordinator for the National Farmers Union (NFU) in Ontario.
31 year old Shawn McGivern was elected to the NFU National Board during the NFUs regional meeting in Stratford on March 20th.
McGivern operates a thousand-acre certified organic farm.
He has a 50-head cow-calf operation and a 25-sow farrow-to-finish operation, in addition to raising sheep, hens, turkeys and ducks.
Along with his crops and livestock, he also has an on-farm store, a flour mill, and a cereal-manufacturing business called Grass Roots Organics.
McGivern says there are a number of critical issues facing farmers in Grey Bruce and right across Ontario these days, and the state of the beef and hog sector is one of the most important.
He says with the high value of the Canadian Dollar compared to the US currency, it makes it very difficult for beef or hog producers to export to the US and make any money.
McGivern says another issue that needs to be addressed is how to develop more value added production to the agricultural sector in Grey Bruce.
He cites apples as a good example of where the raw material is shipped of the region for processing, rather than having it finished in this area which would create new industries and jobs.
McGivern says the NFU is also concerned about the loss of small local abattoirs and the ability of local farmers to have their beef, pork and chicken processed locally.
He says increased Provincial regulations are facing many of these small local slaughter facilities out of business, which leaves the smaller producer with no where to process their animals.
McGivern says the NFU as begin a post card campaign directed to Agriculture Minister Carol Mitchell to bring to her attention their concern about the closure of the small abattoirs.