The URL can be used to link to this page

The Citizen, 2015-04-09, Page 18PAGE 18. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015. The annual Conservationist of the Year Awards evening was held on Thursday, March 19 for the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA). It was one of several events being held during the International Year of Soils 2015. The ABCA is working with a number of farm and community groups to host events during 2015 in honour of the International Year of Soils. The 68th United Nations General Assembly has declared 2015 the International Year of Soils. The year of events is to make people aware how important soil is for a secure food supply and for healthy land and water. Conservation authority staff began the year of celebrations by joining local farmers in attending a Soil Smart workshop in January. Staff followed this up by taking an Agricultural Erosion Control Structures Training Course in February. Upon successful course completion, they will be able to pro- vide technical assistance and design berms and other erosion control structures. The ABCA then hosted a conservation awards evening for the public with an International Year of Soils theme. The Conservationist of the Year Award winner was Cordner Farms owned by Jane Sadler Richards and Doug Richards, son of former Brussels residents Wendell and Sheila Richards. In 1988, Jane Sadler Richards and Doug Richards bought 100 acres of agricultural and ‘river-bottom’ land situated on the Little Ausable River near Ailsa Craig in southern Ontario. While raising their family (Laura, Chris, John), Doug and Jane also transformed their land, Cordner Farms, into a well-balanced and vibrant example of nature co-exist- ing with agriculture. Over the years, their conservation efforts have included: • Providing wildlife, bird and insect habitat by establishing seven acres of Tallgrass Prairie; creat- ing/maintaining windbreaks, wildlife corridors, woodlots, and meadows. • Protecting fragile land (muck soil, steep slopes) by fencing cattle out of watercourses and planting trees. • Improving water management by spearheading a request for municipal drain work resulting in a proper out- let, sediment trap and tile repair. • Improving water quality by stabi- lizing the bank and rehabilitating a rock chute within a river bed. • Maintaining a no-hunting and, generally, a catch-and-release fish- ing policy. • Supporting a share-crop agree- ment that includes minimum and no- till conservation crop production. • Improving water quality by fenc- ing cattle out of watercourses, installing a protected crossing, con- structing a proper field tile outlet on a hillside and improving/maintain- ing two grassed waterways on a municipal drain. The speaker for the evening was Don Lobb, the first national recipi- ent of the L. B. Thomson Award for soil conservation. The conservation awards event took place at Ironwood Golf Club. The ABCA is also planning events and tours this year in partnership with the Huron and Middlesex Soil and Crop Improvement Associations, the Huron County Water Protection Steering Committee, the Ecological Farmers Association, and local 4-H clubs. These events are to take place in April, May, June, July, and August. More information is to be posted online at abca.on.ca. The annual Bannockburn Fall Hike will feature soils information this year as part of the year of events. Conservation educators from ABCA will also design a new curriculum- based soil education program for local schools. Soil is considered a non-renewable natural resource. That’s one reason it’s so important to protect this valu- able resource, especially as the world demand for food grows. Recent local research by the ABCA also highlighted the role of covered soils to store water which helps to limit runoff. Healthy soil provides habitat for billions of living crea- tures. There are a number other rea- sons soil is vital – including using nutrients and creating food. Once soil health is lost, it’s very hard to get it back again. It may not be possible to recover that soil health in one person’s lifetime. Soil forms the basis for the growing of the food we eat. Societies that have over- looked the importance of soil have paid a heavy price, according to soil conservation experts. Soil is at the core of land resources. Farming relies on it. People rely on soil for food, feed, fuel, and fibre produc- tion. There are only some places where productive soil is found. Soil faces increasing pressure as the world’s demand for food grows. Increased urbanization and more intense and competing land uses cre- ate the potential to cause losses and degradation of the soil resource. Total receipts for Brussels Livestock for the week ending April 4 were 1,243 cattle and 1,076 lambs and goats. On Tuesday fed steers and heifers sold on an active trade at steady prices. Choice steers and heifers sold $193 to $199 with sales to $220. Second cut sold $189 to $193. Cows sold on a strong steady trade. On Thursday veal sold on an active trade, steady to the week’s decline. All sizes of lambs sold at higher prices. Sheep and goats sold steady. On Friday yearlings sold fully steady and grass calves sold $3 to $5 higher. David Bowles of Brussels, con- signed 10 cattle that averaged 1,368 lbs. and sold for an average price of $196.46. One black steer weighed 1,495 lbs. and sold to Clark Brothers Livestock for $200. Fred Bieman of Ayton, consigned one black steer that weighed 1,510 lbs. and sold to St. Helen’s Meat Packers for $199. Jonathan Martin of Proton Station, consigned 10 cattle that averaged 1,347 lbs. and sold for an average price of $212.09. One heifer weighed 1,240 lbs. and sold to Bruno’s Meat Distributors for $220. Owen Chaffe of Mitchell, consigned two heifers that averaged 1,600 lbs. and sold for an average price of $203.05. One red heifer weighed 1,470 lbs. and sold to Cargill Meat Solutions for $209. There were 157 cows on offer. Export types sold $122 to $136; beef, $136 to $150 with sales to $168; D1 and D2, $85 to $90; D3, $75 to $85; D4, $70 to $75. Jesse Van Loo of Bluevale, consigned one charolais cow that weighed 1,975 lbs. and sold for $168. There were seven bulls selling $137 to $165. Glen Bieman of Ayton, consigned one red bull that weighed 1,990 lbs. and sold for $165. There were 105 head of veal on offer. Beef sold $220 to $229; good holsteins, $145 to $155 with sales to $178; medium holsteins, $135 to $145; heavy holsteins, $140 to $150. Lamar Frey of Listowel, consigned nine calves that averaged 825 lbs. and sold for an average price of $209.95. One limousin heifer weighed 800 lbs. and sold for $229. Lawrence Brubacher of Harriston, consigned three calves that averaged 838 lbs. and sold for an average price of $213.73. One gold heifer weighed 815 lbs. and sold for $225. Lambs, 50 - 64 lbs. sold $391 to $417; 65 - 79 lbs., $360 to $391; 80 - 94 lbs., $305 to $323; 95 - 109 lbs., $280 to $282/lb. Sheep sold $75 to $130. Goats: kids sold $300 to $350 with sales to $400; nannies, $50 to $120; billies, $150 - $300/lb. Top quality stocker steers, 400 - 499 lbs., sold $346 to $356; 500 - 599 lbs., $316 to $352; 600 - 699 lbs., $308 to $325; 700 - 799 lbs., $264 to $294; 800 - 899 lbs., $240 to $265; 900 - 999 lbs., $239 to $252; 1,000 lbs. and over, $225 to $234. Top quality stocker heifers, 400 - 499 lbs., sold $302 to $320; 500 - 599 lbs., $297 to $330; 600 - 699 lbs., $280 to $308; 700 - 799 lbs., $245 to $260; 800 - 899 lbs., $228 to $246; 900 lbs. and over, $214 to $225. The results are in and hundreds of Ontario pork producers are better able to control and reduce the spread of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea (PED) virus thanks to the PED Biosecurity Special Intake Funding Assistance Program that wrapped up in late 2014. The Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA) paid out over 900 claims worth more than $7.4 million for projects that included cleaning and disinfecting equipment and facilities (including equipment for managing deadstock), and building or improving Danish entry systems which have distinctly ‘clean’ and ‘dirty’ sides to maintain sanitary conditions inside the barn. The special program was funded by the governments of Canada and Ontario under Growing Forward 2 (GF2), a federal-provincial-territori- al initiative. It was offered in addi- tion to the existing GF2 funding assistance program. “The pork industry is a key driver of jobs and economic growth in this country. The Government of Canada remains committed to strengthening traceability and biosecurity in our pork industry to secure Canada’s reputation for producing safe, high- quality food,” said Gerry Ritz, Minister of Agriculture and Agri- Food Canada. “The PED Biosecurity Special Family with Brussels roots wins ABCA award PED program proves successful Putting in the work Jane Sadler Richards, left, and Doug Richards, centre, accepted the Conservationist of the Year Award earlier this year from the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority, represented that night by Mike Tam, right, chairman of the Authority’s board of directors. Richards is the son of the late well-known Brussels residents Wendell and Sheila Richards. (Photo submitted) 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 Agriculture Brussels Livestock report Fed steers, heifers sell on active trade BLYTH 519-523-4244 www.hurontractor.comHensall 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 Continued on page 23