The Citizen, 2012-05-10, Page 15 THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012. PAGE 15.
The Christian Farmers Federation
of Ontario (CFFO) has been
advocating for results-based
regulations for Ontario farmers and
the agri-food sector in general. It is
encouraging to see that the Canadian
Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is
undertaking the challenge of moving
towards a results-based model for
meat inspections. The CFFO hopes
that this is the beginning of a new
wider trend in meeting regulatory
goals.
The CFFO supports outcome-
based regulation because it allows
operations of various sizes the
flexibility they require to reach the
desired outcome. This approach
cannot work when meeting product
specifications like weights and
measures, but when dealing with
environmental concerns, food safety
or safe harbour of endangered
species a single option for success is
not an adequate answer. Finally, the
CFFO does not object to dealing
with legitimate concerns, but there is
the need for a multi-path approach
to mitigating those concerns.
The proposed CFIA amendments
address a number of issues. The
most significant change from the
CFFO perspective is the effort to
convert prescriptive requirements,
where possible, to outcome-based
requirements. Other notable changes
are an effort to increase alignment of
regulations with Canada’s major
trading partners, and allow greater
flexibility in the types of activities
within a federally registered
establishment.
However, a results-based
approach isn’t perfect. The potential
downside of moving towards a
results-based process is that it may
increase the negotiating time
required to reach the appropriate
“how to” between the CFIA and the
plant in question. However, an open
dialogue based approach is more
likely to achieve cost effective,
while still safe, results for food
processors.
The Christian Farmers Federation
of Ontario is encouraged by the
CFIA decision to focus on moving
away from prescriptive regulations
towards results-based rules. The
CFFO hopes that this is the start
of a trend on the part of
Canada’s and Ontario’s regulatory
bodies toward a new approach
to meeting environmental,
food safety, and other social
objectives.
Total receipts for Brussels
Livestock for the week ending May
4 were 2,388 cattle, 681 lambs and
goats. On Tuesday fed steers and
heifers sold $1 lower. Choice steers
and heifers sold $112 to $115 with
sales to $129. Second cut sold $108
to $111. Cows sold $2 higher. On
Thursday veal sold at prices steady
to last week. Lambs sold on a
strong active trade. Sheep sold
barely steady and goats sold
steady. On Friday calves and
yearlings both sold on a strong
active trade.
There were 95 fed steers on offer.
Donald Weigand of Dashwood,
consigned three steers averaging
1,380 lbs. selling for an average of
$119.91 with one charolais steer
weighing 1,360 lbs. selling to
Norwich Packers for $120.75.
Murray Shiell of Wingham,
consigned 36 steers averaging 1,605
lbs. selling for an average of $112.56
with five charolais steers averaging
1,593 lbs. selling to Horizon Meat
Packers for $114.50. David Bowles
of Brussels, consigned five steers
averaging 1,880 lbs. selling for an
average of $108.95 with one black
steer weighing 1,615 lbs. selling to
Horizon Meat Packers for
$114.25.
Leonard and Andrew Black of
Proton Station, consigned 12 steers
averaging 1,434 lbs. selling for an
average of $113.79 with six black
steers averaging 1,412 lbs. selling
for $114. Dwayne and Lorrie
Dickert of Ayton, consigned three
steers averaging 1,512 lbs. selling
for an average of $113 with two red
steers averaging 1,523 lbs. selling
for $113.25. Russ Tree Farms of
Arthur, consigned five steers
averaging 1,562 lbs. selling for an
average of $103.74 with one
charolais steer weighing 1,355 lbs.
selling to Norwich Packers for
$113.25. Steve Lobsinger of
Palmerston, consigned three black
steers averaging 1,470 lbs. selling
for $111.75.
There were 73 fed heifers on offer.
Donald Cormack of Mount Forest,
consigned 15 heifers averaging
1,442 lbs. selling for an average of
$114.54 with two charolais heifers
averaging 1,398 lbs. selling for
$119. Art and George Hinz of
Monkton, consigned five heifers
averaging 1,422 lbs. selling for an
average of $115.58 with two
limousin heifers averaging 1,385 lbs.
selling to Norwich Packers for $118.
Bruce Dale of Centralia, consigned
seven heifers averaging 1,366 lbs.
selling for an average of $113.77
with one limousin heifer weighing
1,385 lbs. selling to Norwich
Packers for $115.75. William
McWhinney of Goderich, consigned
two charolais heifers averaging
1,388 lbs. selling for $115.25.
William Pentland of Goderich,
consigned two charolais heifers
averaging 1,313 lbs. selling for
$114. Allan Thornton of Gorrie,
consigned six heifers averaging
1,143 lbs. selling for an average of
$110.10 with one charolais heifer
weighing 1,140 lbs. selling for
$113.50.
There were 267 cows on offer.
Export types sold $73.50 to $84.50
with sales to $85; beef cows, $81.50
to $91 with sales to $97; D1 and D2,
$57 to $64; D3, $52 to $57; D4, $37
to $47. Carson Farms of Listowel,
consigned seven cows averaging
1,194 lbs. selling for an average of
$83.47 with one red cow weighing
1,285 lbs. selling for $97. Davidson
Farms of Monkton, consigned two
cows averaging 1,363 lbs. selling for
an average of $89.92 with one
limousin cow weighing 1,545 lbs.
selling for $91. Mike Henry of Tara,
consigned nine cows averaging
1,374 lbs. selling for an average of
$82.89 with one limousin cow
weighing 1,450 lbs. selling for $91.
There were 12 bulls selling $76 to
$89 with sales to $92. Terpstra
Farms of Brussels consigned one
holstein bull weighing 2,105 lbs.
selling for $100. Boschlea Holsteins
of Atwood, consigned two holstein
bulls averaging 1,483 lbs. selling for
$98.
There were 154 head of veal on
offer. Beef sold $110 to $160 with
sales to $186; good holstein, $82 to
$90 with sales to $101; medium
holsteins, $75 to $80; heavy
holstein, $75 to $85 with sales to
$88. Ervin Weber of Listowel,
consigned two red veal averaging
763 lbs. selling for an average of
$119.42 with one Belgium blue
heifer weighing 750 lbs. selling for
$186. Lamar Frey of Listowel
consigned 17 veal averaging 754 lbs.
selling for an average of $147.94
with four limousin heifers averaging
751 lbs. selling for $161. Robin
Wormington of Bluevale, consigned
two veal averaging 728 lbs. selling
for an average of $101.45 with one
rwf steer weighing 745 lbs. selling
for $128.
Lambs under 50 lbs. sold $220 to
$281; 50 - 64 lbs., $229 to $285; 65
- 79 lbs., $228 to $256; 80 - 94 lbs.,
$235 to $265; 95 - 109 lbs., $220 to
$265; 110 lbs. and over, $200 to
$257.
Sheep sold $55 to $85 with sales
to $115.
Goats: kids sold $75 to $140 with
sales to $160 per head; nannies, $50
to $100 per head; billies, $150 to
$250 with sales to $301 per head.
Top quality stocker steers under
400 lbs. sold $107 to $201; 400 -
499 lbs., $107.50 to $193; 500 - 599
lbs., $141 to $182; 600 - 699 lbs.,
$139.50 to $171; 700 - 799 lbs.,
$131.50 to $154; 800 - 899 lbs.,
$127.75 to $146; 900 - 999 lbs.,
$119.25 to $139.50; 1,000 lbs. and
over, $106.50 to $130.
Top quality stocker heifers under
300 lbs. sold $132 to $190; 300 -
399 lbs., $126 to $184; 400 - 499
lbs., $132 to $196; 500 - 599 lbs.,
$111 to $161.50; 600 - 699 lbs.,
$119 to $149; 700 - 799 lbs.,
$108.50 to $149.50; 800 - 899 lbs.,
$117 to $131; 900 lbs. and over,
$108.50 to $130.
By Bette Jean Crews, Director,
Ontario Federation of
Agriculture (OFA)
A provincial initiative is
underway to create a food and
nutrition strategy for Ontario.
Sustain Ontario – a coalition of
health and food industry
professionals – is among a group of
organizations contributing to the
document, which is available on the
group’s website until May 31.
While the coalition is particularly
interested in health and healthy
eating, it also plans to focus on
agricultural practices such as
economically and environmentally
sustainable farming. The Ontario
Federation of Agriculture (OFA)
believes that’s where Ontario
farmers and agricultural
organizations can pitch in.
Recently the OFA worked closely
with the Canadian Federation of
Agriculture and other organizations
to create a National Food Strategy.
The document is the culmination of
months of feedback from Ontario’s
entire agriculture and agri-food
value chain. It reflects a vision for
the future of food in Canada, from
the people who grow it, process it,
distribute and sell it.
The goals of the provincial
strategy – to promote health through
education, healthy eating and access
to healthful foods, and to strengthen
the Ontario economy and Ontario
environment through a sustainable
system – are consistent with the
goals of the National Food Strategy
document we have developed. This
Sustain Ontario initiative allows
stakeholders to provide Ontario-
specific input for food and health
and reflects the authorities and
responsibilities at the provincial
level.
Sustain Ontario is holding initial
consultations on an early draft of its
food strategy until the end of May.
Groups – including farmers and
farm groups – are invited to provide
input, and the draft strategy will be
re-circulated in June for more
feedback.
The OFA encourages all farmers
and agri-food stakeholders to take
this opportunity to comment on the
draft food and nutrition strategy for
Ontario – posted at
sustainontario.com
This is an excellent opportunity to
bring forward the ideas that have
already been discussed among the
agri-food stakeholders for inclusion
in this important document.
Farmers and agricultural value
chain participants are being asked
for our input. Let’s make sure
we take this opportunity to be
part of the larger discussion
about the future of food for our
province.
Farmer input needed for strategy
New inspection rules are
a step forward says CFFO
DUNGANNON 1-800-665-5675 WALTON
519-529-7951 Fax 519-529-3341 519-887-6023
2012 Chick Days
Chicks - Sexed or Mixed
Also Available: Turkeys, Geese, Ducks, Layers
We have a complete line of SHUR-GAIN Homestead Feeds
and Animal Health Products as well as feeders, waterers,
heat lamps, baled shavings etc.
Serving our friends and neighbours in the farming communities
with quality products and personalized service,
for over 25 years.
• Friday, May 18
for pickup Friday, June 22
Order Dates
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 lower at sale
Read
Rhea Hamilton Seeger’s
Gardening column
on the
Huron Home and
Garden Guide
section of our website
www.northhuron.on.ca