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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2013-04-04, Page 11THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 2013. PAGE 11. Total receipts for Brussels Livestock for the week ending March 30 were 1,406 cattle, 709 lambs and goats. On Tuesday fed steers and heifers sold at prices $1 lower. Choice steers and heifers sold $115 to $119 with sales to $132.50. Second cut sold $111 to $115. Cows sold on a strong trade at prices $2 higher. On Thursday veal sold on a good strong trade. Beef calves traded on a steady market while holstein veal traded $1 to $2 higher. Lambs sold slightly lower and sheep sold on a strong active market. Goats sold at steady prices. On Friday all classes of cattle sold on a steady market. Chris Smith of Brussels, consigned 14 steers averaging 1589 lbs. selling for an average of $123.31. One grey steer weighed 1,495 lbs. and sold to Norwich Packers for $132.50. Paul Murray of Ripley, consigned two limousin steers averaging 1,530 lbs. selling for a top of $122.25. Gordon W. Frey of Drayton, consigned 18 steers averaging 1,637 lbs. selling for an average of $116.42. One gold steer weighed 1,555 lbs. and sold for $118.50. Ed Van Donkersgoed of Gorrie, consigned two steers averaging 1,495 lbs. selling for an average of $116.75. One red steer weighed 1,500 lbs. and sold to Norwich Packers for $117. Inglis Farms of Clifford, consigned six steers averaging 1,483 lbs. selling for an average of $115.82. One grey steer weighed 1,375 lbs. and sold for $118. Paul Murray of Ripley, consigned four heifers averaging 1,263 lbs. selling for an average of $117.18. One limousin heifer weighed 1,305 lbs. and sold for $121.50. David Bowles of Brussels, consigned 10 heifers averaging 1,370 lbs. selling for an average of $119.54. Two black heifers averaged 1,385 lbs. and sold to Norwich Packers for $121.25. Tom Fischer of Mildmay, consigned seven heifers averaging 1,392 lbs. selling for an average of $116.85. One charolais heifer weighed 1,365 lbs. and sold to Norwich Packers for $119.75. Frank Foran of Lucknow, consigned six heifers averaging 1,341 lbs. selling for an average of $116.69. Two black heifers averaged 1,295 lbs. and sold for $119. Ossosane Farms Ltd. of Goderich, consigned 12 heifers averaging 1,246 lbs. selling for an average of $114.46. One limousin heifer weighed 1,220 lbs. and sold to Norwich Packers for $118.25. Mac Inglis of Clifford, consigned two heifers averaging 1,245 lbs. selling for an average of $117.26. One black heifer weighed 1,295 lbs. and sold to St. Helen’s Meat Packers for $117.50. Walter Farms Ltd. of Mildmay, consigned nine heifers averaging 1,282 lbs. selling for an average of $116.38. A group of four black heifers averaged 1,338 lbs. and sold to Norwich Packers for $117.25. There were 302 cows on offer. Export types sold $62 to $77.50 with sales to $78; beef, $68.50 to $78 with sales to $84.50; D1 and D2, $54 to $63; D3, $45 to $52; D4, $37 to $45. Andy Stutzman of Lucknow, consigned two cows averaging 1,495 lbs. selling for an average of $78.37. One black cow weighed 1,395 lbs. and sold for $84.50. Weigand Farms of Dashwood, consigned two cows averaging 1,422 lbs. selling for an average of $76.46. One limousin cow weighed 1,515 lbs. and sold for $79.50. Brooksite Farms of Auburn, consigned two cows averaging 1,725 lbs. selling for an average of $77.59. One holstein cow weighed 1,725 lbs. and sold for $78. There were nine bulls selling $60 to $80. Groenberg Farms of Lucknow, consigned one charolais bull weighing 1,580 lbs. selling for $85. Glen Haney of Seaforth, consigned one charolais bull weighing 1,960 lbs. selling for $80.50. There were 101 head of veal on offer. Beef sold $110 to $150 with sales to $160; good holsteins, $85 to $93 with sales to $95.50; medium holsteins, $75 to $85; heavy holsteins, $80 to $90. Amos M. Martin of Wallenstein, consigned three veal averaging 743 lbs. selling for an average of $144.24. One limousin steer weighed 660 lbs. and sold for $160. Lamar Frey of Listowel, consigned nine veal averaging 780 lbs. selling for an average of $141.59. One limousin steer weighed 750 lbs. and sold for $156. Christian Bowman of Listowel, consigned two veal averaging 755 lbs. selling for $148. Lambs under 50 lbs. sold $187 to $211; 50 - 64 lbs., $181 to $223; 65 - 79 lbs., $169 to $207; 80 - 94 lbs., $145 to $174; 95 - 109 lbs., $145 to $157; 110 lbs. and over, $114 to $142. Sheep sold $50 to $80 with sales to $99. Goats: kids sold $50 to $100 with sales to $140 per head; nannies, $50 to $100 per head; billies, $150 to $250 with sales to $310 per head. Top quality stocker steers, 500 - 599 lbs., $126 to $156; 600 - 699 lbs., $126 to $154; 700 - 799 lbs., $123.50 to $139.50; 800 - 899 lbs., $123.25 to $140.50; 900 - 999 lbs., $122.50 to $139.85; 1,000 lbs. and over, $105 to $122. Top quality stocker heifers, 500 - 599 lbs., $115 to $150; 600 - 699 lbs., $116 to $129.50; 700 - 799 lbs., $108 to $130; 800 - 899 lbs., $111.50 to $122; 900 lbs. and over, $114.50 to $122. OFA to fight tire stewardship fees By Mark Wales, President, Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) Recently Ontario farmers learned that Ontario Tire Stewardship, that manages the recycling of “off-road” tires like the ones used on farm equipment and vehicles in construction, mining and forestry, has not been paying its way. Ontario farmers have also received very short notice that the government is looking to Ontario farmers to help clean up the debt and pay the high price of recycling. The Ontario Tire Stewardship program manages the collection of fees that anyone purchasing a tire in Ontario must pay. The fees are directed toward the eventual costs of recycling that tire. Farmers purchase off-road tires each year for farm equipment such as tractors and combines. Until March 31 agricultural tires carried a stewardship fee of $15.29 per tire, regardless of rim diameter or tire weight. Now, all off-road tires will carry a stewardship fee based on the weight of the tire – and that pushes the fees for some common agricultural tires up to $350 per tire. It’s a drastic price increase that will be detrimental to Ontario farm businesses and the rural communities they support. The increase is all the more devastating because it has come as a surprise. There were no opportunities for the public, or Ontario’s largest general farm organization, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA), to comment on these increases. Ontario farmers were not informed of these changes. This decision to raise fees in excess of 400 per cent will unfairly penalize farm businesses by costing them thousands of dollars of unanticipated fees each year. It also contributes to the uneven playing field for Ontario farmers against international competition and will render the program unsustainable as lower cost off-shore tires are sourced. The OFA invites farmers to voice their concerns about this important issue to their local MPP, as well as Premier Kathleen Wynne and other key decision-makers at the Ontario Legislature. With this issue, the OFA launches actnow.ofa.on.ca, a call-to- action website designed exclusively for the OFA to help Ontario farmers take action on issues that matter to Ontario farms. Users simply visit actnow.ofa.on.ca and fill in their information in the form provided to view a draft letter to their MPP and others about this issue. The form automatically selects a user’s MPP based on the address provided, making it an easy and effective lobby tool for Ontario farmers. Tell your MPP and Premier Wynne that increasing tire stewardship fees on agricultural tires by more than 400 per cent is unacceptable. The OFA is asking the Ontario government to reverse the decision to significantly increase the Ontario tire stewardship fees on agricultural and off-road tires and commit instead to working with the industries affected to achieve a workable and fair solution. Local Food Act 2013 has great potential says CFFO AgricultureBrussels Livestock report Fed steers, heifers sell lower at sale 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 2013 Special Spring Sales Vaccinated Sales Mon., April 8 & 29 Sale starting at 10:00 a.m. sponsored by Huron-Perth Beef Producers By Nathan Stevens This week, the provincial government introduced the Local Food Act, 2013. This act has the potential to be a positive opportunity for government to lead the way on local food. It also represents an opportunity for farmers in Ontario to supply Ontario’s public bodies with local food. The act has three simple purposes. The first is to foster successful and resilient local food economies and systems throughout Ontario. The second is to increase awareness of local food in Ontario, including the diversity of local food. The third is to encourage the development of new markets for local food. The Local Food Act will focus primarily on enabling the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food to establish local food targets for a wide array of publicly-funded institutions. Targets and goals can be set, in consultation with organizations that have an interest in the particular goal or target that is being considered. Every three years a report is to be prepared that assesses the progress being made on achieving the local food goals and targets. The scope of the act allows for a selection of which foods are included in a target, which means that the quantitative targets can also have qualitative implications. This will allow government to prioritize certain food types over others if it chooses to do so, based on public concerns. For example, it could set a target for fruits and vegetables in public institutions, but not for other food groups. Unfortunately, there is no contingency for dealing with price gaps between what an institution can afford and what a farmer needs to be profitable. This means that some targets may be very difficult to achieve for public institutions, especially in an era of tight fiscal situations for both governments and public institutions. If targets must be met, then institutions will be forced to reduce service in other areas. The Local Food Act has the potential to turn our public institutions into champions of the local food movement. This, in turn, has the potential to benefit many Ontario producers that are focused on producing food for consumers close to home. Get breaking farm news on the Rural Voice section of our website www.northhuron.on.ca