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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2017-03-09, Page 12a Huron t''rnty Federati PAGE 12.THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 9, 2017. Etgl Drudge ELEVATORS"' 43269 Amberley Rd. RR #2 Wroxeter Ph. 519.335.6813 Fax 519-335-4352 Jeff's Cell 519-291-7777 Receiving Elevator for ENSALL 1STRICT y!O-OPERATIVF Agriculture Brussels Livestock report IJJHURON TRACTOR BLYTH ,. EERE 519-523-4244 www. hurontractor.com Veal calves sell on strong market at sale Total receipts for Brussels Livestock for the week ending March 3 were 1,451 cattle and 788 lambs and goats. On Tuesday fed steers and heifers sold on a good steady trade. Choice steers and heifers sold $150 to $154 with a high of $160.25. Second cut sold $147 to $150. Cows sold fully steady. On Thursday veal calves sold on a stronger market at prices $1 to $2 higher. Beef calves sold steady. Lambs and goats sold steady. Sheep sold barely steady. On Friday calves and yearlings sold on a selective demand at steady prices. Elam W. Martin of Harriston, consigned eight head that averaged 1,373 lbs. and sold for an average price of $142.08. One black steer weighed 1,500 lbs. and sold for $153. Brian Berg of Gadshill, consigned nine head that averaged 1,610 lbs. and sold for an average price of $148.21. Five steers averaged 1,600 lbs. and sold for $150.25. Noah and Neil Weppler of Ayton, consigned 10 head that averaged 1,518 lbs. and sold for an average price of $149.63. One black heifer weighed 1,590 lbs. and sold for $160.25. Ron Smith of Denfield, consigned nine head that averaged 1,417 lbs. and sold for an average price of $150. One charolais heifer weighed 1,595 lbs., sold for $152. There were 210 cows on offer. Export types sold $80 to $87 with sales to $97; beef, $78 to $85 with sales to $97; D1 and D2, $79 to $86; D3, $74 to $79; D4, $55 to $70. Groenberg Farms of Lucknow, consigned one charolais cow that weighed 1,665 lbs. and sold for $97. There were 14 bulls selling $74 to $106.50. Paul Maclntyre of Lucknow, consigned one limousin bull that weighed 2,260 lbs. and sold for $106.50. There were 150 head of veal on offer. Beef sold $130 to $170 with sales to $179; good holsteins, $120 to $130 with sales to $132; Si heavy holsteins, $115 to $120; heavy holsteins, $107 to $115. Matt Ferraro Farms of Hanover, consigned 11 head that averaged 885 lbs. and sold for an average price of $149.63. One limousin steer weighed 980 lbs. and sold for $158. Lamar Frey of Listowel, consigned four head that averaged 801 lbs. and sold for an average price of $170.62. One limousin heifer weighed 805 lbs. and sold for $179. Mark Ditner of Palmerston, consigned six head that averaged 748 lbs. and sold for an average price of $127.13. Two holstein steers averaged 730 lbs. and sold for $132. Lambs under 50 lbs. sold $354 to $370; 50 - 64 lbs., $344 to $395; 65 - 79 lbs., $314 to $370; 80 - 94 lbs., $250 to $262; 95 - 110 lbs., $223 to $240 / lb. Sheep sold $90 to $190 / lb. Goats: kids sold $200 to $350; nannies, $100 to $175; billies, $150 to $300 / lb. Top quality stocker steers, 400 - 499 lbs., sold $189 to $217; 500 - 599 lbs., $188 to $225; 600 - 699 lbs., $178 to $215; 700 - 799 lbs., $165 to $187; 800 - 899 lbs., $152 to $163; 900 - 999 lbs., $155 to $168; 1,000 lbs. and over, $156 to $165. Top quality stocker heifers, 300 - 399 lbs., sold $177 to $207; 400 - 499 lbs., $158 to $190; 500 - 599 lbs., $156 to $189; 600 - 699 lbs., $144 to $180; 700 - 799 lbs., $147 to $156; 800 - 899 lbs., $150 to $156; 900 lbs. and over, $149 to $158. Titus Martin of Wingham, consigned 17 steers that averaged 1,007 lbs. and sold for an average price of $167.30. Twelve charolais steers averaged 1,000 lbs. and sold for an average price of $168.50. Bruce Hicks of Little Britain, consigned 38 heifers that averaged 1,070 lbs. and sold for an average price of $150.67. Fifteen charolais heifers averaged 1,019 lbs. and sold for an average price of $154.25. Farmers voice concern over Heritage Plan at forum I1riair 11 - ILMEW %A All ears Huron -Bruce MP Ben Lobb, left, and Huron -Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson, right, were listening intently at the annual Huron County Federation of Agriculture's MP/MPP forum held in Clinton late last month. Federation President Erica Murray, centre, helped bring concerns of members to the politicians. (Lisa B. Por photo) By Lisa B. Pot The Rural Voice Landowner fears over property rights as affected by the proposed Huron Natural Heritage Plan Implementation Strategy dominated the discussion at the Huron County Federation of Agriculture's Local Politician Forum in Clinton late last month with one landowner saying there is no need for it while a councillor believes the perceived impact of the plan has been "grossly exaggerated" Concern and unrest has been growing in the county after two public forums were held last fall; one in Zurich and one in Belgrave. Since then, landowners who believe the plan is ill-timed, unnecessary, costly, could interfere with farming practices, is an unwanted provincial requirement, and will lead to thousands of acres of land being taken out of production have been writing letters and encouraging all county landowners to download and read the plan — something both sides agree on. "People need to be encouraged to understand the facts," says Scott Tousaw, Huron County's Director of Planning and Development, who was interviewed for this story to get answers of the concerns being raised by landowners. "Comments are more than welcome on the county's Natural Heritage Plan page." The issue isn't just restricted to Huron County. Natural Heritage Plans are being discussed, debated, accepted and rejected across the province. The Perth County plan is in progress with implementation planned for this year. Lambton County's plan is in process. Grey County plans to present its draft plan this year while Middlesex completed its plan in 2014. The plan's focus is to define natural heritage systems and identify tools to enhance and protect those features (forest, wetlands, shorelines, etc) for the long term. Huron is in the thick of it right now. Bev Hill of Hill & Hill Farms presented his worries at the Zurich meeting and in an interview with The Rural Voice, said "the plan has significant implications on landowners' rights." He believes regulations are a negative approach to preserving the diversity of natural features and believes incentives are the best way to improve natural areas. "The landowners in Huron County, by way of incentives, have increased forest cover and protect waterways by means of things like fencing cattle out of creeks," said Hill. "I believe in incentives versus regulations because landowners respond to incentive... they react to regulations." He presented data based on Huron County maps which suggests forest cover in the county increased from 12.9 per cent to 16.8 per cent. Also, since 2008, the Headwaters Initiative has been involved in the completion of 60 wetland projects and the planting of more than 250,000 trees and shrubs. Moreover, participants in the Huron County Clean Water Project have planted 150 hectares of trees, 100 kilometres of windbreaks and fenced cattle out of 40 streams. Hill suggested that with this kind of program uptake, there is little support for a Natural Heritage Plan and that instead of adding an additional level of bureaucracy to landowners, efforts and resources going into creating a plan for Huron should go towards "badly -needed gully and shoreline restoration along the lake." Furthermore, there should have been more public notice and participation by landowners. Tousaw agrees that of all the input received on the draft plan, most has been on the concern side rather than the support side. "This doesn't surprise me. Particularly with board planning exercises. The people in support tend to speak less than those in opposition," said Tousaw. He agrees that due to "strong reaction" to the plan, there needs to be more public input. Plans for further public open houses plus an extension on the plan approval date are ongoing. He said it's important to remember that the plan is a study only and would require an amendment to the official plan to be implemented. Furthermore, the plan is just a different name for an already existing plan called the Natural Environment Plan. It definitely needed updating, said Tousaw. Plus, it's a directive from the province. "Provincial policy requires approval authorities like counties and municipal councils to plan for natural heritage systems," said Tousaw. "In the past, when maps were done, it was a delineating exercise to map out areas according to use — urban, recreation, natural, agricultural. Now the policy requires the protection of natural environment systems, the whole system via a Natural Heritage Plan." He believes it's wise planning to look at these systems with updated maps from 2006 and soon, new pictures from 2015. "It's good land use planning to plan using the latest information. We have the updated information so we need to use it." The research that went into forming the plan is valuable because it supports action to maintain and improve a healthy ecosystem, Tousaw said. "Through a systematic approach, we now have a scientific methodology that identifies what is important for the natural environment system," said Tousaw. "All of this ties strongly to productive agricultural lands. We need a symbiotic relationship between agriculture and the environment because a healthy ecosystem supports healthy agriculture. Farmers agree, but they have concerns about future progress and the freedom to build without excessive red tape. Neil Vincent, Reeve of North Huron, said the plan will be just one more thing the building inspector has to look at before approving a project. "This plan is just another layer of bureaucracy for farmers to ask permission to build." Adjacent land uses are a big concern to farmers like Ethan Wallace, a dairy farmer who spoke at the forum. He said he has a swamp in his bush and according to his understanding of the plan setback guidelines, it could affect how he Continued on page 15 BRUSSELS LIVESTOCK Division of Gamble & Rogers Ltd. UPCOMING SALES TUESDAYS 9:00 a.m. Fed Cattle, Bulls & Cows THURSDAYS 8:00 a.m. Drop Calves 10:00 a.m.Veal 11:30 a.m. Lambs, Goats & Sheep FRIDAYS 10:00 a.m. Stockers Visit our webpage at: www.brusselslivestock.ca email us at: info@ brusselslivestock.ca Call us 519-887-6461