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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2012-01-12, Page 12PAGE 12. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 12, 2012. AgricultureBrussels Livestock report Fed steers, heifers sell higher, steady Total receipts for Brussels Livestock for the week ending Jan. 6 were 1,273 cattle, 258 lambs and goats. On Tuesday, fed steers and heifers sold on a higher market at steady prices. Choice steers and heifers sold $119 to $124 with sales to $125.75. Second cut sold $110 to $118. Cows sold steady to last week’s prices. On Thursday veal sold on a strong active trade at steady prices. Market lambs sold on a strong active trade at prices $10 to $20 higher. Sheep and goats sold on a strong demand at prices $10 to $20 higher. Calves and yearlings both sold on a strong active trade at prices $2 higher. There were 36 steers on offer. Francis Riley of Walkerton, consigned 10 black steers averaging 1,500 lbs. selling to Ryding Regency for $122.75. Terry Murray of Clifford, consigned 10 steers averaging 1,369 lbs. selling for an average of $118.56 with two rwf steers averaging 1,328 lbs. selling to Ryding Regency for $121.75. There were 46 heifers on offer. Art and George Hinz of Monkton, consigned seven heifers averaging 1,373 lbs. selling for an average of $122.44 with one limousin heifer weighing 1,315 lbs. selling for $125.75. Keys Farms of Varna, consigned seven heifers averaging 1,302 lbs. selling to Norwich Packers for $120.75. There were 217 cows on offer. Export types sold $69 to $73.50 with sales to $75; beef cows, $60 to $71.50 with sales to $74.50; D1 and D2, $55 to $60; D3, $50 to $55; D4, $35 to $45. Rick Portena of Monk- ton, consigned five cows averaging 1,338 lbs. selling for an average of $62.06 with one holstein cow weighing 1,505 lbs. selling for $75. Howard Widdis of Conn, consigned four cows averaging 1,550 lbs. sell- ing for an average of $71.94 with two charolais cows averaging 1,513 lbs. selling for $74.50. Albert Weber of Mildmay, consigned four cows averag- ing 1,464 lbs. selling for an average of $66.56 with one black cow averaging 1,275 lbs. selling for $74. There were 10 bulls on offer selling $66 to $74 with sales to $84.50. Mark Kramer of Mildmay, consigned one black bull weighing 2,200 lbs. selling for $75. ABS Global Canada Inc., of Elmira, consigned six bulls averaging 2,173 lbs. selling for an average of $66.71 with one holstein bull weighing 2,170 lbs. selling for $68. There were 101 head of veal on offer. Beef sold $135 to $170 with sales to $172; good holstein, $120 to $130 with sales to $139; medium holstein, $100 to $120; heavy holstein, $120 to $130. Lamar Frey of Listowel, consigned 10 veal averaging 752 lbs. selling for an average of $156.44 with one limousin heifer weighing 800 lbs. selling for $172. Terry Greidanus of Londesborough, consigned 11 veal averaging 683 lbs. selling for an average of $132.82 with one black heifer weighing 765 lbs. selling for $158. John Martin of Lucknow, consigned eight veal averaging 739 lbs. selling for an average of $127.43 with one holstein steer weighing 765 lbs. selling for $136. Lambs under 50 lbs. sold to $260; 50 - 64 lbs., $215 to $265; 65 - 79 lbs., $220 to $242; 80 - 94 lbs., $199 to $222; 95 - 109 lbs., $205 to $212; 110 lbs. and over, $203 to $214. Sheep sold $90 to $140 with sales to $160. Goats: nannies sold $90 to $120 to $160 per head; billies, $200 to $300 to $350 per head. Top quality stocker steers under 400 lbs. sold $128 to $203; 400 - 499 lbs., $169.50 to $193.50; 500 - 599 lbs., $100 to $178; 600 - 699 lbs., $135 to $164; 700 - 799 lbs., $131 to $152.50; 800 - 899 lbs., $121.50 to $147; 900 - 999 lbs., $120 to $141.50; 1,000 lbs. and over, $116.50 to $135.25. Top quality stocker heifer, 300 - 399 lbs. sold $145 to $184; 400 - 499 lbs., $138 to $164; 500 - 599 lbs., $125 to $153; 600 - 699 lbs., $126 to $145.25; 700 - 799 lbs., $120.50 to $133.50; 800 - 899 lbs., $121.50 to $134; 900 lbs. and over, $125.50 to $133. Continued from page 11 one business paying a few dollars and have others paying a few hundred dollars because one is in an older storefront and another decided to build their own store,” Elliott explained, stating that the minimum of $95 and maximum of $250 was the fairest way to do it. “We tried to keep things as close to the BBA membership as possible, financially,” he said. Elliott explained that through creating a BIA the village would be able to access funding that hadn’t been available to them before like federal grants and money through the Ontario Trillium project. He also stated that, with a fairly steady source of income, the BIA could do more than the BBA could ever do. “The BBA was charging $75 for a membership and had 13 members in the last year,” he said. “Now we have 80 commercial businesses and we’ll be able to sustain some kind of funding model.” A calender was set by the group with meetings being held from January through May and from September through December on the first Thursday of the month. Riach made the original motion that led to that decision, stating that, if necessary, the board could meet at the call of the chair during the summer months when they have no planned meetings. This could cause some complications, as, due to wanting to keep their annual general meeting in line with North Huron Township’s financial releases, it could result in not having the annual general meeting (AGM) until much later in the year. The financial statements are typically released midway through the second quarter of the year and, due to the three month break, it could take as much as eight months before an AGM could be held to present that information. For membership meetings, Elliott suggested that the BIA make a practice of inviting the members out on a quarterly basis to network and discuss issues surrounding business in the village as well as keep people involved in the BIA. Local business owner Les Cook thought it would be a good idea. “It would be kind of neat to, a couple times a year, have a network meeting,” he said. Another idea that members were amicable to was to have breakfast meetings to allow people to get together before the business day. Huron Business Development Coordinator Douglas Barill stated that he thought it was also a good idea and that he himself had visited Clinton’s BIA meeting earlier that day that had featured a similar theme. “Tonight I came from the Clinton BIA’s meeting and it was an opportunity for me to lead a discussion in a social and unorganized way,” he said. “Everyone just shouted their ideas and there was discussion to follow. It became a very fun event.” Barill said that people preferred the social aspect and even enjoyed the opportunity to have a drink and dinner before and during discussing initiatives. Barill also explained that the county had a unique funding opportunity for on-the-ground business improvement ventures like the BIA. He explained that, for up to $10,000 a year, the county would offer to fund as much as 70 per cent of projects. From the remaining 30 per cent of any given project the BIA could enlist in-kind donations of products and work for up to 20 per cent of the final bill, meaning, for up to $10,000 worth of projects a year, the BIA could only spend $1,000. Barill also briefed the BIA on special advertising opportunities through the “Ontario’s West Coast” project which focuses on signage for local shops, art centres and experiences. The group was informed by Blyth Business Association (BBA) member and North Huron Councillor David Riach that the BBA sign, which is rented out to local events and groups and located on the grass land on County Road 4 directly across from the Blyth Sign on the Huron Tractor lot would be transfered to the group. “The sign will be turned over to the Blyth BIA and will generate income,” Riach explained. Riach also volunteered to be responsible for the sign as he had been for some time for the BIA. Other carryovers from the BBA included a potential advertising opportunity that Riach brought forward that would benefit local business owners if the BIA would take lead on it. Riach explained to the BIA that he had been contacted about an advertising opportunity that the BBA had participated in previously and wondered if the BIA was interested in continuing it. While it wouldn’t mean any money out of pocket for the BIA, the opportunity, a tourism booklet distributed throughout several counties, could be made more accessible and less expensive for local businesses if a member of the BIA would take responsibility and sell the advertising and bill the businesses involved. “There’s a better price available if the BIA takes care of the leg work,” Riach said. “Last year we had eight people involved including the Barn Dance Jamboree/Campout Weekend Jamboree and the Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association.” Riach explained that, for slightly more than $200, businesses could have a business-card size ad placed in the booklet, but that price increased if the producers of the booklet had to do the sales themselves. Elliott said it was a good opportunity to provide advertising for the area and stated he would spearhead the project to save the money for the local advertisers if necessary. Riach also suggested the BIA look into potentially hosting The Ontario Provincial Police Golden Helmets Precision Motorcycle Team, a 20- rider team that does trick motorcycle riding that he likened to the Snowbirds but “on the ground”. As one of their first official acts the BIA decided to send a letter to North Huron council encouraging them to replace flag poles in the village with more accesible units or retrofit the existing ones since there is no longer a bucket truck enabling the easy raising, lowering or replacement of a flag. “Poles with interior laynards cost $1,600 and it would cost $1,200 to retrofit the poles we have,” Elliott explained. “However, having a third party in to work on the flags costs $300 per visit.” There are also issues with having trucks at the village’s flags since wet weather makes the ground very soggy and could result in tracks or stuck vehicles. Other issues discussed included using the North Huron public website calender to help organize and advertise events, paper calenders to hand out to visitors and the BIA’s website. 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 BIA will enable Blyth to tap into grants, programs Pat Lynch is an unabashed supporter of farmers who work hard at their vocation and aren’t afraid to see their operations grow larger. A long-time fixture within Ontario agriculture, Lynch believes that farming is something that should be pursued with great passion and that those with farms of significant size shouldn’t feel guilty about their success. Lynch isn’t without credentials for his opinions. He’s been awarded for the efforts he’s made as a crop consultant by both industry and academia, plus has made strong contributions on provincial soil management, weed and research committees. Lynch brought some of his opinions on agriculture to the annual convention of the Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario (CFFO) and shared them during a panel presentation on sustainability and profits. According to Lynch, Ontario agriculture is a success story with strong productivity gains seen in both livestock and cropping over the last five decades. He pointed out that all of this has been done while farmers have learned to use less agricultural land, less pesticides, and less energy per acre. He also said that Ontario agriculture requires continued volume to be sustainable and that organic production will not produce as much per acre as modern farming techniques. Lynch maintains that profit is not a dirty word and that some farmers need to get over their guilt feelings about pushing for success. He pointed out that if Ontario farmers don’t pursue their vocations with passion, the land will still be farmed by other larger farmers, investors of Canadian funds, offshore investors or niche producers. Lynch also pointed out a number of roadblocks to sustainable profits. He advised farmers to guard against waiting for the government “to do something,” to stop the infighting between quota and non-quota farmers and to be willing to change production systems for changing markets. Lynch added that farmers need plans and strategies to succeed, plus they need to be willing to change their barns and equipment for greater efficiency. Finally, he advised strong family communications, the use of advisors, plus the use of products and services that contribute to success. The CFFO convention panel presentation is a good example of the wide variety of opinions on production agriculture that you will find within a meeting of the CFFO. You’ll also find strong discussions on marketing systems for farm products, meeting the challenge of climate change, best management practices in business, and research and innovation, to name a few. If you haven’t been to a CFFO meeting, check out our website’s coming events page, or watch for our media advertisements. You’re more than welcome to come to events where real farmers talk about real issues. We hope to see you there. No guilt for large farms advised