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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 2015-12-03, Page 19THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2015. PAGE 19. McCabe to serve second term Inside the lines, father Father Keith Morrison helped these two youngsters out on Saturday as St. Ambrose Catholic Church in Brussels held its annual Christmas bazaar. Each taking a third of the colouring workload alongside Morrison were Alison Van Nes, left, and Hendrick Van Nes, centre. (Vicky Bremner photo) Inwood-area cash crop farmer Don McCabe was acclaimed as president of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) at the organization’s annual general meeting this week in Toronto. McCabe returns for a second one- year term to lead the organization of 37,000 Ontario farm families. The OFA’s two vice presidents, Collingwood-area hay and sweet corn farmer Keith Currie and northern Ontario dairy farmer Peggy Brekveld were also acclaimed. Mark Reusser, Waterloo County turkey farmer, was later elected by the board as its fourth executive member. In total, the OFA’s Board of Directors is made up of 18 positions representing regions across Ontario. This year’s theme, “How to Talk Farming and Influence People”, guided the event’s presentations and discussions. The agenda was also filled with leadership elections and discussions on grassroots resolutions. The OFA kicked off 80th anniversary celebrations at the AGM with the announcement of three anniversary bursaries, the 80 by 80 trivia contest, a farm gate challenge and a member-exclusive trip to the 2017 World Agriculture Expo. Details of the anniversary celebrations are available at www.ofa.on.ca. The Ontario Federation of Agriculture is the largest general farm organization in Ontario, representing 37,000 farm families across the province as a dynamic farmer-led organization based in Guelph. Total receipts for Brussels Livestock for the week ending Nov. 27 were 2,919 cattle and 371 lambs and goats. On Tuesday fed steers and heifers sold on a good demand at steady prices. Choice steers and heifers sold $157 to $161 with sales to $165.75. Second cut $154 - $157. Cows sold on a selective demand. On Thursday holstein calves sold on a selective demand while beef calves sold steady. Heavy lambs sold lower while lighter lambs sold higher. Sheep and goats sold steady. On Friday calves sold under pressure and yearlings sold barely steady. Woodham Farms of Woodham, consigned 11 steers that averaged 1,612 lbs. and sold for an average price of $156.19. Two black steers averaged 1,443 lbs. and sold to Ryding Regency for an average price of $162. Karen Bowles of Brussels, consigned five steers that averaged 1,450 lbs. and sold for an average price of $160.12. Three black steers averaged 1,465 lbs. and sold to Norwich Packers for an average price of $161.50. Sidney B. Martin of Harriston, consigned 10 heifers that averaged 1,249 lbs. and sold for an average price of $157.60. Four limousin heifers averaged 1,295 lbs. and sold to Norwich Packers for an average price of $165.75. Rod Bren Farms of Wingham, consigned seven cattle that averaged 1,328 lbs. and sold for an average price of $154.51. One gold heifer weighed 1,430 lbs. and sold to Ryding Regency for $163.50. There were 355 cows on offer. Export types sold $78 to $84 with sales to $98; beef, $95 to $105 with sales to $108; D1 and D2, $80 to $87; D3, $77 to $85; D4, $60 to $77. Steve Haney of Seaforth, consigned one black cow that weighed 1,825 lbs. and sold for $108. There were 20 bulls selling $109 to $141. Alton Century Farms Ltd. of Lucknow, consigned one charolais bull that weighed 2,460 lbs. and sold for $135. There were 145 head of veal on offer. Beef sold $180 to $250 with sales to $253; good holsteins, $160 to $170 with sales to $175; medium holsteins, $140 to $150; slightly heavy holsteins, $150 to $160; heavy holsteins, (800+), $130 to $140. Lamar Frey of Listowel, consigned six calves that averaged 865 lbs. and sold for an average price of $237.34. Two black steers averaged 858 lbs. and sold for $253. Nathan Becker of Ayton, consigned one limousin heifer that weighed 915 lbs. and sold for $227. Lambs, 50 - 64 lbs. sold $314 to $350; 65 - 79 lbs., $240 to $312; 80 - 94 lbs.,$206 to $215; 95 - 110 lbs., $197 to $200 / lb. George Snell of Blyth, sold two lambs that averaged 58 lbs. and sold for an average price of $350. Sheep sold $90 to $125 with sales to $130 / lb. Goats: kids sold $150 to $275 with sales to $300; nannies, $100 to $140; billies, $150 to $250 / lb. Top quality stocker steers under 400 lbs. sold $263 to $300; 400 - 499 lbs., $223 to $275; 500 - 599 lbs., $227 to $300; 600 - 699 lbs., $217 to $280; 700 - 799 lbs., $203 to $251; 800 - 899 lbs., $210 to $226; 900 - 999 lbs., $216 to $223; 1,000 lbs. and over, $193 to $204. Top quality stocker heifers, 300 - 399 lbs., sold $231 to $290; 400 - 499 lbs., $234 to $285; 500 - 599 lbs., $217 to $257; 600 - 799 lbs., $197 to $236; 700 - 799 lbs., $185 to $216; 800 - 899 lbs., $202 to $220; 900 lbs. and over, $176 to $196. Art Matheson of Perth, consigned 35 cattle. Twenty-two steers averaged 616 lbs. and sold for an average price of $264. Farmland in Ontario should be recognized as a permanent feature with economic and ecosystem benefits, according to a new joint report released in late November by Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) and Environmental Defence. Farmers and environmentalists don’t always agree, but the OFA and Environmental Defence jointly released the new report, Farmland at Risk: Why land-use planning needs improvements for a healthy agricultural future in the Greater Golden Horseshoe. The report finds that 75 per cent of the best farmland in the Toronto metropolitan area is at risk of being paved over, and highlights the challenges farmers face and the need to better protect farmland in the face of the region’s anticipated population growth. “Seventy-five per cent of prime farmland in the Toronto metropolitan area lies outside the protected Greenbelt, leaving it vulnerable to sprawl. Once soil is paved over, it’s lost forever,” says Tim Gray, Executive Director of Environmental Defence. “It’s time for a new perspective that sees agriculture as an essential component of our economy and cultural heritage, rather than being considered an afterthought.” “If we want to support a local food economy, we need to give farmers certainty that their land is protected and valued,” says Don McCabe, OFA President. “The current provincial land-use planning rules see farmland as development land in waiting. This discourages investment in farm businesses and fails to recognize agriculture as a long-term economic activity.” The report identifies key recommendations for changes that are needed to support a robust agricultural economy in the region and accommodate future growth. Among its recommendations, the report urges the Ontario government to: • Adopt a “positive planning” approach that better integrates agricultural concerns into land-use decision-making, permanently protects areas of high agricultural value, and supports agriculture as the pre-eminent land use. • Freeze urban boundaries in the Greater Golden Horseshoe (GGH) until 2031 and possibly 2041, as there is more than enough land within existing municipal boundaries to accommodate forecasted growth. • Tie allocation of provincial infrastructure funds to municipal- ities meeting intensification targets. • Require municipalities to conduct Agricultural Impact assessments when planning strategies affect agricultural areas. Agriculture in the GGH contributes $11 billion annually to Ontario’s economy. It also supplies $1.6 billion in environmental benefits per year including absorption of carbon pollution, water filtration, protection against erosion and runoff control. But nearly 300,000 acres of prime farmland in the GGH has been lost over the past 30 years. Additional loss of farmland will have significant economic, environ- mental and quality-of-life impacts. “The current review of the Greenbelt Plan and Growth Plan is an opportunity to move away from a 1950s car-centred, city-building model to smarter growth planning that can provide needed housing options, support the agricultural industry and the increasing demand for locally grown food,” Gray says. “Building up, not out, will enable us to protect farmland and build vibrant cities connected by transit.” Both organizations agree that if carefully planned and smartly managed, growth can present an opportunity to build a more prosperous, healthy and sustainable Ontario, with vibrant urban and rural communities that offer more (and better) options to live, work, and play while protecting our access to local food sources and supporting the farming sector. 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 Downtown Blyth 519-523-4740 Bainton’s Old Mill Wool Blankets Agriculture Brussels Livestock report Fed steers, heifers sell on good demand 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 Joint report calls for policy changes