HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2013-02-21, Page 11THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2013. PAGE 11.
Jane Muegge said that her 36
years with the Ontario Ministry of
Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
(OMAFRA) were both a privilege
and a pleasure.
Muegge, who retired at the end of
2012 from her position of
Agricultural and Rural Economic
Development Officer, started with
OMAFRA in 1976 when she
graduated with a Bachelor of
Applied Arts from Ryerson
University in Toronto. She was hired
into the home economics branch in
North Simcoe, working in the Barrie
area. She was one of the first
graduates from Ryerson University
hired to the office and one of the first
people in the office to not be from
the University of Guelph. She
worked as a home economist.
“I worked with 4-H groups,
women’s groups like the Women’s
Institute and taught people about life
practices like cooking, gardening
and conservation,” she said. “I
covered pretty much anything to do
with home like budgets and home
management.”
Not long after, she got married to
her husband Len and moved to
London.
“I did contract work in Middlesex,
covered maternity leaves in Oxford
and Perth [Counties] and eventually
came to Huron County on a
permanent basis,” she said. “I never
really had a break for more than two
weeks in there until I retired.”
Through the years Muegge took
different positions as the ministry
changed and evolved, and, from
home economist, she moved on to a
rural organization specialist, a rural
community adviser, a regional
information co-ordinator, an
agricultural economic development
adviser and finally an agricultural
and rural economic development
adviser.
“Each job was different, and we
gradually had broader mandates,”
she explained. “I’m glad because it
meant I could get back to what I
liked doing.”
As the mandates gradually grew to
include all rural life, Muegge said it
became easier to deal with issues.
“The ministry began recognizing
the web of rural life and seeing that
each person counts as important to
one another,” she said. “Through
that I began working with
municipalities and organizations.”
She also said that she has found it
interesting how some things have
begun resurfacing from when she
started.
“When I started, I worked in local
food,” she said. “Gas and electric
companies had economists that
would help their customers to
conserve energy and use food
economically. Now, there’s a big
emphasis on local food again which
is awesome.”
Over the years Muegge said that
she has enjoyed helping
organizations through her various
positions, training people to work
out solutions to their
OFA praises Wynne’s strong start
Total receipts for Brussels
Livestock for the week ending Feb.
15 were 2,242 cattle, 480 lambs and
goats. On Tuesday fed steers and
heifers sold on a steady trade.
Choice steers and heifers sold $122
to $126 with sales to $137.75.
Second cut sold $118 to $121. Cows
sold $2 to $3 lower. On Thursday all
classes of veal sold on a strong
active market. Lambs sold slightly
higher. Sheep sold steady and goats
sold on a strong active demand. On
Friday steers calves sold on a steady
market while heifer calves and
yearlings sold under pressure at $2
to $3 lower.
Fritz Farms of Brussels, consigned
20 steers averaging 1,483 lbs. selling
for an average of $124.98 with one
blonde steer weighing 1,370 lbs.
selling to Horizon Meat Packers for
$137.75. David Bowles of Brussels,
consigned one grey steer weighing
1,410 lbs. selling to Horizon Meat
Packers for $132. Robin Riehl of
Gadshill, consigned two steers
averaging 1,395 lbs. selling for an
average of $110.37 with one blonde
steer weighing 1,440 lbs. selling to
Horizon Meat Packers for $125.25.
Kim Lennox of Ayton, consigned
one rwf steer weighing 1,605 lbs.
selling to St. Helen’s Meat Packers
for $124.
Hank Huigenbos of Wingham,
consigned three heifers averaging
1,255 lbs. selling for an average of
$130 with one limousin heifer
weighing 1,240 lbs. selling to
Norwich Packers for $131.50.
Gerald Bross of Mildmay, consigned
five heifers averaging 1,407 lbs.
selling for an average of $124.44
with one grey heifer weighing 1,505
lbs. selling to Norwich Packers for
$128.25. Terry Murray of Clifford,
consigned seven heifers averaging
1,302 lbs. selling for an average of
$122.97 with one charolais heifer
weighing 1,415 lbs. selling to
Horizon Meat Packers for $128. Bill
Wasnidge of Ailsa Craig, consigned
nine heifers averaging 1,388 lbs.
selling for an average of $124.22
with one charolais heifer weighing
1,435 lbs. selling to Horizon Meat
Packers for $126.50.
Keys Farms of Varna, consigned
six heifers averaging 1,384 lbs.
selling for an average of $122.88
with four black heifers averaging
1,315 lbs. selling to Norwich
Packers for $124.25. Kuntzide
Wagyu of Formosa, consigned one
red heifer weighing 1,165 lbs.
selling to Norwich Packers for
$123.50. John A. Clark of
Ridgetown, consigned three heifers
averaging 1,357 lbs. selling for an
average of $119.95 with one black
heifer weighing 1,310 lbs. selling for
$123. Dennis and MaryLou Bross of
Listowel, consigned four black
heifers averaging 1,263 lbs.
selling to Norwich Packers for
$122.50.
There were 260 cows on offer.
Export types sold $62 to $67 with
sales to $72; beef, $65 to $74 with
sales to $88; D1 and D2, $54 to $63;
D3, $45 to $52; D4, $37 to $45.
Isaac Stutzman of Lucknow,
consigned one black cow weighing
1,510 lbs. selling for $88. RJ Wilson
of Walkerton, consigned three cows
averaging 1,640 lbs. selling for an
average of $74.42 with one charolais
cow weighing 1,520 lbs. selling for
$79.50. Paul MacIntyre of Lucknow,
consigned two cows averaging 1,333
lbs. selling for an average of $68.83
with one black cow weighing 1,530
lbs. selling for $76.50.
There were 15 bulls selling $65 to
$72.30 with sales to $88. Fred
Leutenegger of Gowanstown,
consigned one holstein bull
weighing 1,725 lbs. selling for $87.
Alvin B. Martin of Teeswater,
consigned one holstein bull
weighing 1,810 lbs. selling for $86.
There were 154 head of veal on
offer. Beef sold $110 to $160 with
sales to $169; good holsteins, $88 to
$95 with sales to $104; medium
holsteins, $80 to $86; heavy
holsteins, $87 to $95. Lawrence
Brubacher of Harriston, consigned
four veal averaging 770 lbs. selling
for an average of $155.56 with two
crossbred heifers averaging 770 lbs.
selling for $169. Christian Bowman
of Listowel, consigned two veal
averaging 735 lbs. selling for an
average of $157.54 with one
limousin heifer weighing 740 lbs.
selling for $154. Lamar Frey of
Listowel, consigned 17 veal
averaging 794 lbs. selling for an
average of $138.80 with one
limousin steer weighing 790 lbs.
selling for $166.
Lambs under 50 lbs. sold $200 to
$220; 50 - 64 lbs., $185 to $219; 65
- 79 lbs., $144 to $199; 80 - 94 lbs.,
$136 to $155; 95 - 109 lbs., $138 to
$150; 110 lbs. and over, $132 to
$144.
Sheep sold $60 to $100 with sales
to $110.
Goats: kids sold $70 to $110 with
sales to $140 per head; nannies, $51
to $112 per head; billies, $150 to
$250 with sales to $375 per head.
Top quality stocker steers, 400 -
499 lbs. sold $135 to $180; 500 -
599 lbs., $115 to $174; 600 - 699
lbs., $123.50 to $160; 700 - 799 lbs.,
$116 to $155; 800 - 899 lbs., $113 to
$133; 900 - 999 lbs., $120 to
$136.25; 1,000 lbs. and over,
$107.50 to $136.25.
Top quality stocker heifers, 400 -
499 lbs. sold $121 to $167; 500 -
599 lbs., $117.50 to $144.50; 600 -
699 lbs., $115 to $138; 700 - 799
lbs., $106 to $129.50; 800 - 899 lbs.,
$116 to $126.50; 900 lbs. and over,
$114 to $122.
By Mark Wales, President
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
It’s been a positive week for
Ontario agriculture. On Feb. 11, I
was fortunate to be invited to attend
the swearing in of our new Premier
and Minister of Agriculture,
Kathleen Wynne, and watched
as she appointed her cabinet and
declared, “I’m here for all of
you.”
Premier Wynne had already
demonstrated her affinity for Ontario
agriculture in a pre-election
response to the Ontario Federation
of Agriculture (OFA) stating,
“Ontarians grow the best food in the
world, that’s why we’re continuing
to push hard to promote local foods
and support our farmers with risk
management programs.” Wynne’s
keen interest and desire to learn
about our industry demonstrates her
commitment to the agriculture
portfolio, and we are very positive
about this opportunity to work
together.
It’s also encouraging for Ontario
agriculture that all three political
parties have included local food
policies on their agendas. There has
never been a better time to develop a
more robust local food act – to grow
the role of local food processors and
farmers to supply local needs. The
OFA would also like to see food
processors and key elements of the
National Food Strategy incorporated
into a local food act.
Early indications show that
everyone in Cabinet supports
agriculture and rural Ontario. It
appears they also recognize that
some things need fixing, and now is
the time to address those regulatory
irritants. I had the opportunity to
speak to a number of Cabinet
members at the swearing in
ceremony and reception, where I
addressed the need for regulatory
reform on a number of issues.
The response was positive, many of
them were already aware of the
OFA’s positions on issues like
the OSPCA Act, local food act and
the Open for Business initiative. As
the largest general farm
organization, representing the
majority of farmers across Ontario,
the OFA’s commitment to new
government representatives is to
bring the best consensus-based
solutions we can get to reduce
regulatory red tape and enhance the
progression and development of our
industry.
Wynne is on record as a leader
who listens and we are encouraged
by her early attention to our industry.
But we know the real work – and
resulting actions – will begin in
earnest next week when the
legislature resumes sitting. The OFA
looks forward to forging a
productive, progressive working
relationship with Premier Wynne
and all Ontario MPPs.
Muegge retires after 36 years with OMAFRA
Retired
Jane Muegge retired after 36 years with the Ontario
Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. She held
positions from Simcoe to Oxford to Middlesex and here in
Huron County. (Denny Scott 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
AgricultureBrussels Livestock report
Fed steers, heifers sell steady at sale
By Denny Scott
The Citizen
Continued on page 17