HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2012-01-05, Page 15THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 5, 2012. PAGE 15.
By John Clement
Christmas is an important
celebration on the Christian
calendar. We believe that God
became incarnate, offered his life to
achieve our redemption, and left us
with a mission to join in the work of
advancing the “good news.”
The Christian Farmers Federation
of Ontario (CFFO) finds its roots in
the “good news” that life can be
lived according to patterns that are
both liberating for farmers and
which build up families and
communities. Many of our members
believe that God has called them to
participate in the biological cycle of
food production and they value the
development of public policies that
help them as producers, marketers
and citizens. Through it all, the
members of the CFFO hope to be a
blessing to Ontario agriculture.
One of the biggest contributions
the CFFO has brought to the
province is a focus on fairness in
public policies. We’ve had lots of
lively conversations amongst our
members due to the fact that nearly
everyone has their own particular
take on what’s fair in a given
situation. That being said, there are
three broad areas that have defined
much of the CFFO’s contribution.
A continual perspective within the
CFFO is that public programs
should never allow one farmer to
“work the system” so that an
advantage can be gained over a
fellow farmer. Nobody wants to see
public monies being used to
eventually subsidize farm
expansions, even though many want
to see support offered to help
farmers through losses.
Another perspective that is often
heard singles out public programs
that leave some farmers out of the
benefits. For example, farmers can
sometimes be disadvantaged
because programs can reward
specialization while ignoring
attempts to manage risk through on-
farm diversification.
Finally, CFFO members have
been ready to offer leadership on
fairness issues that focus on gaining
access to market opportunities. For
example, marketing systems may
sometimes need tweaking to ensure
opportunities to new entrants. This
is always seen within a balancing act
that tries to also be fair to farmers
who have already made a significant
investment in the industry.
That’s a very quick overview of
the very practical aspects of how the
Christmas story has impacted many
of the 4,200 members who have
chosen to join the CFFO.
Total receipts for Brussels
Livestock for the week ending Dec.
30 were 1,062 cattle, 127 lambs and
goats.
On Tuesday fed steers and heifers
sold on a strong active trade. Choice
steers and heifers sold $118 to $124.
Second cut sold $112 to $117. Cows
sold on a strong active trade at
higher prices. On Thursday veal sold
on a steady market. Lambs sold
barely steady due to less demand.
Sheep and goats sold on an active
steady trade. On Friday calves and
yearlings sold on a strong active
trade.
There were 12 steers on offer. Dr.
Keith Dunstan of Mildmay,
consigned one black steer weighing
1,355 lbs. selling to St. Helen’s Meat
Packers for $113.75.
There were 106 heifers on offer.
Johnston Farms of Bluevale,
consigned 34 heifers averaging
1,357 lbs. selling for an average of
$123.39 with six red heifers
averaging 1,415 lbs. selling to
Norwich Packers for $123.75.
Martin Metske of Lucknow,
consigned 26 heifers averaging
1,348 lbs. selling for an average of
$120.67 with seven black heifers
averaging 1,390 lbs. selling for
$121. Noah Weppler of Ayton,
consigned six heifers averaging
1,401 lbs. selling for an average of
$115.97 with five charolais heifers
averaging 1,423 lbs. selling for
$117.75. Jim Ginn of Clinton,
consigned six red heifers averaging
1,078 lbs. selling for $117.
There were 160 cows on offer.
Export types sold $60 to $65; beef
cows, $55 to $80 with sales to $89;
D1 and D2, $55 to $60; D3, $50 to
$55; D4, $35 to $45. Robert
Gowland of Formosa, consigned one
limousin cow weighing 1,235 lbs.
selling for $84.50. Noyes Farms of
Belle Vallee, consigned nine cows
averaging 1,282 lbs. selling for an
average of $69.72 with one charolais
cow weighing 1,300 lbs. selling for
$78. Herman Terpstra of Brussels,
consigned one holstein cow
weighing 1,275 lbs. selling for
$77.50.
There were 10 bulls selling $60 to
$74 with sales to $83. James
Armstrong of Bayfield, consigned
one black bull weighing 1,545 lbs.
selling for $60.
There were 78 head of veal on
offer. Beef sold $135 to $170; good
holstein, $120 to $132 with sales to
$134.50; medium holstein, $110 to
$120; heavy holstein, $120 to $130.
Lawrence Brubacher of Harriston,
consigned six veal averaging 733
lbs. selling for an average of
$146.20 with one gold heifer
weighing 725 lbs. selling for $170.
Lamar Frey of Listowel,
consigned ten veal averaging 740
lbs. selling for an average of
$157.76 with one crossbred heifer
weighing 680 lbs. selling for $166.
Dan Shetler of Auburn, consigned
three veal averaging 740 lbs. selling
for an average of $161.01 with one
black steer weighing 690 lbs. selling
for $170.
Lambs 50 - 64 lbs., sold $225 to
$240; 65 - 79 lbs., $200 to $242; 80
- 94 lbs., $86 to $194; 95 - 109 lbs.
sold to $195; 110 lbs. and over, $127
to $190.
Sheep sold $96 to $130.
Goats: kids sold $75 to $115 to
$135 per head; nannies, $75 to $100
to $125 per head; billies, $150 to
$300 to $350 per head.
Top quality stocker steers under
400 lbs. sold $127 to $178; 400 -
499 lbs., $158 to $173; 500 - 599
lbs., $151 to $168.50; 600 - 699 lbs.,
$144 to $168.50; 700 - 799 lbs.,
$138 to $156.50; 800 - 899 lbs.,
$138.50 to $149.25; 900 - 999 lbs.,
$135 to $147; 1,000 lbs. and over,
$126.25 to $135.
Top quality stocker heifers 300 -
399 lbs., sold $133 to $145; 400 -
499 lbs., $143 to $158; 500 - 599
lbs., $141 to $154; 600 - 699 lbs.,
$131 to $146; 700 - 799 lbs., $133
to $142.50; 800 - 899 lbs., $121 to
$136; 900 lbs. and over, $122 to
$128.
Total receipts for Brussels
Livestock for the week ending Dec.
23 were 1,335 cattle, 365 lambs and
goats.
On Tuesday, fed steers and heifers
sold steady. Choice steers and
heifers sold $115 to $120 with sales
to $123. Second cut sold $108 to
$114. Cows sold $3 to $5 higher. On
Thursday veal sold on a strong
demand at steady prices. Light
lambs sold under pressure and heavy
lambs sold barely steady. Sheep sold
on a higher market while goats sold
steady. On Friday calves and
yearlings sold on a strong active
trade.
There were 83 steers on offer.
Elam S.B. Martin of Wingham,
consigned nine steers averaging
1,380 lbs. selling for an average of
$119.16 with eight charolais steers
averaging 1,475 lbs. selling to
Paradise Farms for $120. Ray
Waechter of Walkerton, consigned
ten steers averaging 1,478 lbs.
selling for an average of $113.68
with two black steers averaging
1,470 lbs. selling to Paradise Farms
for $119.25. Bob Rice of Staffa,
consigned 18 steers averaging 1,257
lbs. selling for an average of
$113.55 with one charolais steer
weighing 1,475 lbs. selling for $119.
Kevin Leddy of Auburn, consigned
nine steers averaging 1,366 lbs.
selling for an average of $101.99
with one black steer weighing 1,400
lbs. selling for $116.25. Dennis of
Marylou Bross of Listowel,
consigned one grey steer averaging
1,465 lbs. selling for $115.
There were 111 heifers on offer.
Southlore Farms of Palmerston,
consigned 11 heifers averaging
1,464 lbs. selling for an average of
$116.10 with one charolais heifer
weighing 1,585 lbs. selling for $123.
Corgercrest Farms of Seaforth,
consigned 14 heifers averaging
1,270 lbs. selling for an average of
$112.58 with one red heifer
weighing 1,175 lbs. selling for
$122.75. Kyle Cressman of
Gowanstown, consigned five heifers
averaging 1,302 lbs. selling for an
average of $118.58 with one red
heifer weighing 1,445 lbs. selling to
Norwich Packers for $121.75.
Darren Johnston Farms of Bluevale,
consigned 18 heifers averaging
1,357 lbs. selling for an average of
$109.58 with one black heifer
weighing 1,375 lbs. selling to to
Norwich Packers for $121.25. Dr.
Keith Dunstan of Mildmay,
consigned one black heifer weighing
1,245 lbs. selling to Norwich
Packers for $117.75. Greg Hackett
of Lucknow, consigned four heifers
averaging 1,255 lbs. selling for an
average of $114.47 with three
charolais heifers averaging 1,268
lbs. selling to Norwich Packers for
$117.50.
There were 276 cows on offer.
Export types sold $57 to $70 with
sales to $80; beef cows, $60 to $75
with sales to $87; D1 and D2, $55 to
$60; D3, $50 to $55; D4, $35 to $45.
Glen Haney of Seaforth, consigned
two cows averaging 1,390 lbs.
selling for an average of $63.72 with
one charolais cow weighing 1,805
lbs. selling for $76. Moyerdale
Farms of Mildmay, consigned four
cows averaging 1,430 lbs. selling for
an average of $69.93 with one
holstein cow weighing 1,360 lbs.
selling for $75. Craig Red of
Chesley, consigned four cows
averaging 1,211 lbs. selling for an
average of $69.08 with one
simmental cow weighing 1,300 lbs.
selling for $74.
There were 10 bulls selling $70 to
$75 with sales to $79. Allen R.
Douglas of Petrolia, consigned one
limousin bull weighing 1,845 lbs.
selling for $79. David Cronin of
Dublin, consigned one red bull
weighing 1,440 lbs. selling for
$75.
There were 58 head of veal on
offer. Beef sold $140 to $160 with
sales to $169; good holstein, $120 to
$130 with sales to $132.50; medium
holstein, $100 to $120; heavy
holstein, $120 to $130. Lawrence
Brubacher of Harriston, consigned
seven veal averaging 727 lbs. selling
for an average of $154.29 with one
limousin heifer weighing 730 lbs.
selling for $169. Lamar Frey of
Listowel, consigned 14 veal
averaging 762 lbs. selling for an
average of $150.28 with two
limousin heifers averaging 763 lbs.
selling for $166. Mark and Paul
Pennington of Mildmay, consigned
eight veal averaging 711 lbs. selling
for an average of $123.96 with one
holstein steer weighing 730 lbs.
selling for $131.50.
Lambs under 50 lbs. sold $257 to
$290; 50 - 64 lbs., $237 to $295; 65
- 79 lbs., $220 to $250; 80 - 94 lbs.,
$180 to $230; 95 - 109 lbs., $215 to
$220; 110 lbs. and over, $174 to
$195.
Sheep sold $75 to $122.
Goats: kids sold $80 to $95 per
head.
Top quality stocker steers under
400 lbs. sold $123 to $203; 400 -
499 lbs., $143 to $190; 500 - 599
lbs., $157.50 to $176; 600 - 699 lbs.,
$137 to $158; 700 - 799 lbs., $133 to
$155.50; 800 - 899 lbs., $120.50 to
$142.25; 900 - 999 lbs., $132.75 to
$142; 1,000 lbs. and over, $113 to
$133.
Top quality stocker heifers under
300 lbs. sold $116 to $167; 300 -
399 lbs., $141 to $175; 400 - 499
lbs., $134 to $169; 500 - 599 lbs.,
$119 to $153; 600 - 699 lbs., $129 to
$146; 700 - 799 lbs., $127 to $143;
800 - 899 lbs., $112 to $139; 900
lbs. and over, $118.75 to
$125.75.
By Nathan Stevens
As 2011 came to a close, we begin
to look forward to 2012. For many
of us, the beginning of a new year is
taken as an opportunity to commit to
new resolutions for the coming year,
either ending bad habits or starting
good ones. Or they develop a wish
list for what they want to
accomplish in the coming year.
I have some personal resolutions
and wishes I want to pursue in the
coming year. I also have some
resolutions and wishes for the
agriculture sector in 2012.
1. A thorough re-evaluation of
our approach to animal welfare
issues
The last year has seen Ontario’s
approach to animal welfare issues
move to the forefront of many
farmers’ discussions. The
conclusion reached by many is that
there is the need for a serious re-
evaluation of the entire process. The
vast majority of farmers provide top
notch care for their animals, but the
few bad actors that do exist need to
be dealt with properly for the good
of everyone.
2. A renewed focus on long-term
planning for Canadian
agriculture
Nationally, 2012 will see the
continued development of Growing
Forward 2, Canada’s Vision for
Agriculture for the 2013-2018
program years. Hopefully, the
national and provincial agriculture
ministers will listen to the voice of
farmers and industry and come to a
consensus on how to advance
agriculture for all the farmers across
our great nation.
Yet throughout the negotiations
on this deal there will be the need to
be realistic about the fiscal realities
of the federal and provincial
governments in the coming years.
The reality is that government and
farmers must be willing to prioritize
and focus on key programming that
will provide dividends down the
road, and be ready to accept the
possibility of reductions in other
areas.
My final wish for Ontario’s
farmers in 2012 is that they be given
the tools to excel in their operations,
and develop new innovative ways to
meet the challenges they face. I also
wish that you and your families
have a happy, healthy New Year.
Christian Farmers have strong holiday roots
New year brings new wish list
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. Pigs, 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 on strong trade