— Wendy Beswick has a plan to save Ontario’s beef farming by taking control over price and production.

It demands that farmers think big and consider a supply management type industry that will give farmers a price making role with processors. The plan would require government legislation that could allow farmers to become single desk sellers. Like dairy and poultry farmers, this new way of doing business wouldn’t cost taxpayers a cent and would lift an entire sector of farmers out of the financial doldrums, she says.

Beswick’s resolution was narrowly endorsed in a vote by the Ontario Cattlemen’s Association at their annual meeting Feb.23. Beswick was elated. Those opposed, including North Gower farmer John Newman, believe that it’s not the OCA’s place to tamper with an entire industry.

The resolution reads in part: "Be it resolved that the OCA begin an aggressive and proactive program to develop a strong, detailed, comprehensive plan that includes industry strategy, financial requirements, along with long-term attainable goals."

While the resolution is vague and doesn’t say supply management, to Beswick a proactive program should include it.

"It’s a major resolution when you ask for a complete overhaul of how people do business," Beswick said, adding that the resolution means she has been given the mandate to be a thorn in the side of the OCA executive until they move on her ideas. Like so many ideas, she realizes much of the work might come down to the one who came up with them.

Her idea began by thinking of the perfect world for beef farmers and then considering the framework to

"We can’t keep doing what we’re doing and expect to make money."

The Glengarry County chicken farm manager, and cow-calf operator with 23-head, says she spends hours walking through the barns and thinking about what can be done.

Her plan is modelled after Canada’s potato growers’ strategy. It’s a three-phase approach. First, establish the production intentions of producers and decide how much beef Ontario needs. Phase 2 includes incentives to farmers not to produce to keep supply in tune with demand. Phase 3 would monitor demand.

She also wants to lobby governments to limit beef packers from cattle ownership and prevent them from influencing price.

"This is a proposal to get people thinking outside the box," she said.