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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 2015-03-12, Page 11THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015. PAGE 11. Total receipts for Brussels Livestock for the week ending March 6 were 1,758 cattle, 475 lambs and goats. On Tuesday fed steers and heifers sold fully steady. Choice steers and heifers sold $190 to $194.50 with sales to $200. Second cut sold $186 to $190. Cows sold steady. On Thursday veal calves sold steady to the week’s decline. All classes of lambs sold steady. Lean sheep sold high while others sold steady. Goats sold steady. On Friday calves sold actively at fully steady prices. Good quality yearlings sold steady with plainer yearlings selling under pressure. Chris Smith of Brussels, consigned 14 cattle that averaged 1,618 lbs. and sold for an average price of $193.52 Three limousin steers averaged 1,625 lbs. and sold to Norwich Meat Packers for an average price of $200. David Bowles of Brussels, consigned eight cattle that averaged 1,592 lbs. and sold for an average price of $188.42. One black steer weighed 1,540 lbs. and sold to Clark Brothers Livestock for $195. George Roney of Staffa, consigned 10 cattle that averaged 1,363 lbs. and sold for an average price of $190.82. One black heifer weighed 1,265 lbs. and sold to Norwich Meat Packers for $194.50. Alicia Dalton of Walton, consigned 12 cattle that averaged 1,397 lbs. and sold for an average price of $191.92. One limousin heifer weighed 1,505 lbs. and sold to Horizon Meat Packers for $194.50. There were 161 cows on offer. Export types sold $118 to $135 with sales to $145; beef, $133 to $147 with sales to $166; D1 and D2, $85 to $90; D3, $75 to $85; D4, $70 to $75. John J. Shetler of Auburn, consigned one simmental cow that weighed 1,825 lbs. and sold for $166. There were 15 bulls selling $141 to $164. Bart Dervin of Hanover, consigned one limousin bull that weighed 2,255 lbs. and sold for $164. There were 223 head of veal on offer. Beef sold $175 to $225 with sales to $251; good holsteins, $150 to $160 with sales to $189; medium holsteins, $140 to $150; heavy holsteins, $135 to $145. Emanual M. Martin of Wallenstein, consigned one blue steer that weighed 790 lbs. and sold for $251. Reuben S. Martin of Wallenstein, consigned three calves that averaged 820 lbs. and sold for an average price of $228.66. One limousin heifer weighed 915 lbs. and sold for $239. John F. Martin of Elmira, consigned 10 calves that averaged 801 lbs. and sold for an average price of $211.06. Four limousin heifers averaged 829 lbs. and sold for an average price of $233. Lambs, 50 - 64 lbs. sold $290 to $317; 65 - 79 lbs., $279 to $292; 80 - 94 lbs., $223 to $230; 95 - 109 lbs., $223 to $227/lb. Sheep sold $75 to $125 with sales to $135/lb. Goats: kids sold $220 to $300 with sales to $330; nannies, $50 to $100 with sales to $121; billies, $150 to $300/lb. Top quality stocker steers, 400 - 499 lbs., sold $297 to $330; 500 - 599 lbs., $288 to $329; 600 - 699 lbs., $272 to $300; 700 - 799 lbs., $258 to $287; 800 - 899 lbs., $226 to $254; 900 - 999 lbs., $219 to $230; 1,000 lbs. and over, $199 to $214. Top quality stocker heifers, 400 - 499 lbs. sold $258 to $294; 500 - 599 lbs., $258 to $294; 600 - 699 lbs., $262 to $287; 700 - 799 lbs., $226 to $239; 800 - 899 lbs., $223 to $237; 900 lbs. and over, $205 to $214. Neonicotinoids, processing plants, the rural lens and protection programs were issues of the day as agriculture leaders in Huron County presented their concerns to Huron- Bruce MP Ben Lobb and MPP Lisa Thompson at the Huron County Federation of Agriculture’s Politician’s Forum held March 6 at the Clinton Legion. The farmers were polite. The politicians even moreso as dairy, egg, bean, wheat, pork producers and agriculture committee leaders shared their concerns. “This meeting is always like a shot of adrenaline in the arm,” said Thompson as she took down notes, promising she was going to “walk the talk” and start viewing potential policy through the rural lens, a concept met with various degrees of understanding, but meant to refer to the process of vetting proposed policy through a framework of questions to determine if it benefits the rural community. “The first bill I encourage you to put the rural lens on is Bill 66,” said Thompson. “It’s the perfect piece of policy where the lens can work to identify which part of the policy works, and which doesn’t.” Bill 66 is an act to protect and restore the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin. “I raised the rural lens as an issue five years ago and recently, I heard the premier use the phrase three times in her opening address,” stated Jim Ginn, the mayor of Central Huron. “Will it even be used? I am optimistic. Will the premier know what it really means? I am realistic.” Ginn explained that the purpose of the lens is to stop the negative consequences of policies before they are put into place at the municipal level. Tony McQuail of the National Farmers Union (NFU) said the NFU feels frustrated that the rural lens, or the rural voice is not given much attention. He questioned whether the current electoral process works to provide rural Ontario with a voice. “What we are seeing is a majority government with hardly any representation from the rural areas,” said McQuail. “Until we have an electoral process that gives us a voice, we will repeat this situation. We have GPS systems in all our vehicles, yet when it comes to our electoral system, we have a horse and buggy approach to policies.” Still, he felt this annual politician forum had value to share ideas and help politicians understand the needs and concerns of the rural community. Ginn agreed, citing the relationship between agriculture leaders with Lobb and Thompson “open” and something he valued. While behaviour at the meeting was so impeccable that one participant confessed she missed the days “when they would yell at each other across the room,” there were moments of tension, however, particularly when the issue of neonicotinoids was raised. Neonicotinoids was listed as one of the ongoing issues for the NFU, which supports the reduction of neonicotinoid pesticide use in field crops. “We’re concerned about the impact on biodiversity in the agriculture sector,” said McQuail. One of NFU’s platforms is advocating for alternative structures and government policies that resist corporate control of food, while promoting vibrant rural communities, the production of safe food and biodiverse natural ecosystems. The comment raised the ire of Neil Vincent, the reeve of North Huron, who said our soils really need neonicotinoid-treated seeds and the extras bushels farmers produce when they are used. “There’s too much of a knee-jerk reaction to this issue. I don’t want to have to go back to using a whole bunch of insecticides when I can use a product that contains neonicotinoids to produce the crop we need!” Thompson agreed with Vincent that the government came out as “too aggressive” on the issue. Lobb added that the approach should be a scientific one, not a reactionary one. “There is an education process going on. I believe they are now looking at a different compound to treat the seed with a wax base. When we react in a knee-jerk way, we don’t allow for all the innovative processes that get you a product you need for where you are going,” he said. Bethany Johnson of the Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario said a recent research report that came across her desk indicates neonicotinoids are water-soluble and potentially floating to the surface during heavy rains to remain in the dust when fields dry. Yet this research has since been denied funding, she added, looking pointedly across the room. Keith Black of the Grain Farmers of Ontario felt that gaze and admitted that “neonicotinoids is our biggest issue” and that while the grain farmers discontinued funding that particular study, the organization is heavily invested in funding research and is working with other government agencies and beekeepers to determine the science between neonicotinoid use and declining bee populations. Also, the use of neonicotinoids isn’t limited to the corn and soybean growers. “Over 80 per cent of neonicotinoid use in Ontario is not for seed corn, but in things like gardening sprays and dog collars.” “The minister of the environment is calling for an 80 per cent acreage reduction, not an 80 per cent rate reduction. Maybe 50 per cent could be done, but not 80 per cent,” said Black, especially when there are so many factors that are contributing to bee deaths. “Maybe science will prove that neonicotinoids should be banned,” said Black. “But we need science and research to prove that.” McQuail said it behooves all farmers to “get this right.” The use of neonicotinoids is not just a problem for insects, it’s a problem for people, because farming is a biological system and when farmers use things like neonicotinoids, it upsets the balance. “Since one third of our crops depend on pollination, it would be wise to be cautionary, rather than arrogant,” he said. FARM FUNDING PROGRAMS The reduced coverage for programs like AgriStability (from 85 to 70 per cent coverage) and AgriInvest (from three to one per Farm groups address issues at MP/MPP forum An important day Local farmers gathered at the Clinton Legion on Friday to discuss a multitude of issues with Huron-Bruce MP Ben Lobb, left, and MPP Lisa Thompson, centre. The annual afternoon was organized by the Huron County Federation of Agriculture, headed up by president Joan Vincent, right. (Lisa B. Pot photo) 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 Call us 519-887-6461 Visit our webpage at: www.brusselslivestock.ca email us at: info@brusselslivestock.ca BRUSSELS LIVESTOCK Division of Gamble & Rogers Ltd. UPCOMING SALES Open 24 Hours Blyth Laundromat 191 Westmoreland St., Blyth 519-523-9687 Agriculture Brussels Livestock report Fed steers, heifers sell fully steady at sale BLYTH 519-523-4244 www.hurontractor.com By Lisa B. Pot Special to The Citizen Continued on page 14 Hensall 519-262-3002 | 1-800-265-5190 | www.hdc.on.ca Multiple Locations across Southwestern Ontario · GRAIN ELEVATORS · CROP PRODUCTS · PETROLEUM & PROPANE · FEEDProud to be farmer-owned. wouthoss Srrotions accraoccaMultiple L ensall 519-262-3002 | 1-800-265-5190 | wH V· GRAIN ELE d.wneo farmer-o bee ud tPro · FEED · PETROLEUM & PROP · CROP PRODUC arioern Onttaesttewwe a.on.c.hdcwwensall 519-262-3002 | 1-800-265-5190 | w ORSTAATV ANEM&PROPPA ST· CROP PRODUC