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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 2015-05-14, Page 16PAGE 16. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2015. Huron Clean Water Project celebrates 10 years The Huron County Clean Water Project is celebrating 10 years of providing grants to help county residents do more than 1,800 projects to improve water quality. The county has announced two new categories to help even more people get involved in the 2015 program: composting toilets and cover crops. The county grants have helped residents to plant more than 160 hectares of trees; complete more than 500 tree planting projects; fence cattle out of 40 kilometres of streams; plant more than 100 kilometres of windbreaks; have 75 liquid manure storages decommissioned; complete eight forest management plans; upgrade more than 300 private wells; complete more than 140 erosion control projects; and decommission more than 400 unused wells. The County of Huron provides funds for the Huron Clean Water Project and the Maitland Valley while the Ausable Bayfield conservation authorities provide service delivery for residents. Ben Van Diepenbeek is chair of the project review committee. He said he is impressed that the Huron Clean Water Project is celebrating its 10th anniversary. He also said he is pleased with the support of Huron County farmers and other landowners who have completed projects over the past ten years. “For every dollar invested by the county, another three and a half dollars’ worth of work gets done thanks to the additional contributions of landowners and other funding programs,” he said. People in Huron County have completed water quality projects valued at more than $8 million, with about one quarter of that coming from Huron Clean Water Project grants. The project review committee chairman said the success has been possible because county council and ratepayers have shown their support for water quality, because the two conservation authorities have been able to work closely with residents to apply for and complete projects, and because individual farmers, rural landowners, and community groups have shown their commitment by completing projects. “It all has to work together to make it happen,” Van Diepenbeek said. When the project review committee allocates grants the committee members think first about whether the project will help to protect and improve water quality. “I think there have been a lot of water quality improvements made,” he said. The committee reviews about 200 applications each year. According to the committee chairman, people in different parts of the province have looked to the Huron Clean Water Project as a model of how local government and landowners can work in partnership to protect and improve water quality. The cover crop incentive category is new in 2015. It will help agricultural producers to try new cover crop mixes that protect and improve soil, promote nitrogen fixation, and protect water quality. Cover crops such as rye, oats, radish or millet cover the soil during the time between cash crops, keeping bacteria, chemicals and nutrients out of creeks, rivers, and the lake which protects the health of water and people. “The goal of the financial incentive is to take some of the risk out of trying something new,” said Doug Hocking, Water Quality Specialist with the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority. The composting toilets category was added this year to help reduce the amount of waste from on-site septic systems on properties with a small volume of effluent and not enough room for a conventional septic system. Expenses eligible for funding include the toilet and associated project costs including the septic tank pump-out and inspection. The Huron Clean Water Project provides up to 50 per cent grant support for projects in categories that include manure storage decommissioning; clean water diversion; wetland creation and rural storm water management; fragile land retirement; livestock fencing; well decommissioning; wellhead protection; forest management plans and woodlot enhancement; stewardship guide implementation; and special projects, as well as the new cover crop and composting toilets categories. Funding from the County of Huron can be combined with other cost–share programs and landowner contributions. “The long-running program has helped landowners year after year but we also get interest from new people who have never done a project before,” said Kate Monk, Stewardship, Land and Education Manager with Ausable Bayfield Conservation. “As staff, our job is to provide information, do the paperwork and get the best funding possible to help with project costs. We see positive changes on local properties and water in our communities,” said Hocking. “That’s good for water and good for the local economy.” For more information visit mvca.on.ca, abca.on.ca, or huroncounty.ca. You may also phone Maitland Valley Conservation Authority at 519-335-3557 or Ausable Bayfield Conservation at 519-235-2610 or toll-free 1-888- 286-2610. Total receipts for Brussels Livestock for the week ending May 8 were 1,717 cattle and 860 lambs and goats. On Tuesday fed steers and heifers sold on an active trade at steady prices. Choice steers and heifers sold $194 to $198 with sales to $214.50. Second cut sold $190 to $194. Cows sold steady. On Thursday veal sold at prices $2 to $3 easier. Lambs sold slightly lower, sheep sold barely steady, while goats sold on a very strong trade. On Friday calves and yearlings sold on a steady trade. Chris Smith of Brussels, consigned 21 steers that averaged 1,638 lbs. and sold for an average price of $205.72. Two limousin steers averaged 1,633 lbs. and sold to Cargill Meat Solutions for $214.50. Wilton Dickert of Ayton, consigned one black steer that weighed 1,505 lbs. and sold to Norwich Meat Packers for $197.50. Noah Weppler of Ayton, consigned nine cattle that averaged 1,474 lbs. and sold for an average price of $189.04. One bwf heifer weighed 1,485 lbs. and sold to St. Helen’s Meat Packers for $199. Bill Scott of Harriston, consigned 12 cattle that averaged 1,583 lbs. and sold for an average price of $187.07. One black heifer weighed 1,450 lbs. and sold to Norwich Meat Packers for $195.50. There were 134 cows on offer. Byron Miller of Thornloe, consigned one charolais cow that weighed 1,500 lbs. and sold for $157. Export types sold $112 to $124; beef, $127 to $135 with sales to $157; D1 and D2, $118 to $125; D3, $100 to $118; D4, $85 to $95. There were five bulls selling $141 to $164. Harvey Parker of Charlton, consigned one hereford bull that weighed 1,635 lbs. and sold for $164. There were 134 head of veal on offer. Beef sold $175 to $235 with sales to $252; good holsteins, $140 to $150 with sales to $163; medium holsteins, $130 to $140; heavy holsteins, $130 to $140. William B. Bauman of Elmira, consigned two calves that averaged 865 lbs. and sold for an average price of $228.94. One red heifer weighed 780 lbs. and sold for $252. Lamar Frey of Listowel, consigned 11 calves that averaged 881 lbs. and sold for an average price of $210.37. Two limousin steers averaged 863 lbs. and sold for $244. Jim Maw of Forest, consigned two steers that averaged 875 lbs. and sold for an average price of $231.17. One red steer weighed 900 lbs. and sold for $244. Reuben S. Martin of Wallenstein, consigned three heifers that averaged 787 lbs. and sold for an average price of $216.72. One blonde heifer weighed 855 lbs. and sold for $232. Lambs, 50 - 64 lbs. sold $290 to $310; 65 - 79 lbs., $272 to $292; 80 - 94 lbs., $278 to $284; 95 - 109 lbs., $277 to $286/lb. Sheep sold $75 to $119/lb. Goats: kids sold $250 to $350 with sales to $400; nannies, $50 to $100; billies, $150 to $300/lb. Top quality stocker steers under 400 lbs. sold $303 to $370; 400 - 499 lbs., $282 to $334; 500 - 599 lbs., $290 to $335; 600 - 699 lbs., $284 to $314; 700 - 799 lbs., $233 to $279; 800 - 899 lbs., $244 to $253; 900 - 999 lbs., $239 to $250; 1,000 lbs. and over, $209 to $215. Top quality stocker heifers, 300 - 399 lbs., sold $301 to $340; 400 - 499 lbs., $258 to $290; 500 - 599 lbs., $255 to $290; 600 - 699 lbs., $253 to $271; 700 - 799 lbs., $240 to $254; 800 - 899 lbs., $229 to $238; 900 lbs. and over, $214 to $226. Agriculture Brussels Livestock report Fed steers, heifers sell at steady prices BLYTH 519-523-4244 www.hurontractor.com 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 Recognition Mary Douma, left, and her husband Maurice, not pictured, were honoured last week with a service award from the Ontario Association of Agricultural Societies (OAAS) for their 10 years of service to the Brussels Agricultural Society in the secretary and treasurer roles, respectively. The Doumas were presented with the award at the Brussels Agricultural Society’s May 6 meeting by President Merv Bauer, right. (Shawn Loughlin photo) 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