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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2012-09-27, Page 15THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2012. PAGE 15. By Mark Wales, President Ontario Federation of Agriculture Canada’s federal government has sent a clear signal to farmers across the country: our government is not prepared to shoulder much of the responsibility or risks involved with feeding Canadian food to Canadians. The federal government’s recent announcement of the five-year Growing Forward 2 policy framework for agriculture, agri-food and agri-products has cut funding from the precise areas where Canadian farmers need it most: in cost-shared programs intended to provide a modicum of income stability in these highly uncertain economic times. The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) – and its provincial and federal counterparts from across the country – have stated the importance of Business Risk Management programs to Canadian farm families at every available consultation opportunity. Canadian farm organizations have presented a unified message that Canada’s AgriStability program – which helps regulate farm income levels in large margin declines – is in dire need of enhancements, not cuts. With the proposed changes to AgriStability, the already troubled program will be even less effective because many farmers will see little value in enrolling at all. The changes are designed to limit the government’s expenditure exposure. The OFA’s calculations suggest the cuts will provide a net savings to government of approximately $350 million per year. Likewise, Canada’s AgriInvest program – which matches farmer investments with government dollars to manage small margin declines – has also been cut by about $100 million. Together, the changes to the two programs will save government at least $450 million per year. What’s good in all this? The OFA would like to thank the Ontario Minister of Agriculture Ted McMeekin for being forthright and honest about the worst-case scenario that was to come and his efforts in working with other provincial agriculture ministers to reduce the severity of these cuts. We appreciate his candour and efforts to keep the OFA informed about the meetings taking place at the federal, provincial and territorial table. For Ontario farmers, there is little else to be positive about. In the coming weeks, Canadians can expect the federal government will put the best possible face on its butchered agricultural policy. We can expect to hear a lot about the government’s investment in driving innovation in Canada’s agri-food sector. But the OFA sees nothing innovative about the government shirking its shared responsibility in feeding Canadians. And there is nothing to celebrate about leaving Canadian farmers to shoulder the significant financial ramifications of primary agriculture in such an unpredictable world economy. Total receipts for Brussels Livestock for the week ending Sept. 21 were 2,376 cattle, 602 lambs and goats. On Tuesday fed steers and heifers sold steady to last week’s prices. Choice steers and heifers sold $108 to $114 with sales up to $134. Second cut sold $104 to $107. Cows sold on a strong active trade. On Thursday veal sold on a stronger demand with holsteins trading $5 to $10 higher while beef sold $2 to $5 higher. All classes of lambs traded at steady prices. Sheep sold slightly higher and goats sold on a strong market. On Friday calves sold on a strong active trade and yearlings sold $1 to $2 higher. Earl Gingrich of Chesley, consigned 10 steers averaging 1,435 lbs. selling for an average of $128.44 with one limousin steer weighing 1,420 lbs. selling for $134. Paul B. Martin of Wallenstein, consigned three steers averaging 1,538 lbs. selling for an average of $121.83 with one limousin steer weighing 1,405 lbs. selling to Horizon Meat Packers for $130. Wayne B. Martin of Drayton, consigned four steers averaging 1,431 lbs. selling for an average of $125.13 with one limousin steer weighing 1,415 lbs. selling to Horizon Meat Packers for $129.50. Willard B. Martin of Drayton, consigned four steers averaging 1,475 lbs. selling for an average of $117.54 with one limousin steer weighing 1,435 lbs. selling for $123. Leonard and Andrew Black of Proton Station, consigned 12 steers averaging 1,488 lbs. selling for an average of $117.67 with two charolais steers averaging 1,305 lbs. selling to Norwich Packers for $109.75. Paul M. Weber of Mount Forest, consigned 17 heifers averaging 1,352 lbs. selling for an average of $107.13 with two red heifers averaging 1,328 lbs. selling to Norwich Packers for $112.50. Berkana Farms of Brussels, consigned six heifers averaging 1,238 lbs. selling for an average $109.40 with one red heifer weighing 1,290 lbs. selling to Norwich Packers for $110. Bradley Gilchrist of Lucknow, consigned one black heifer weighing 1,310 lbs. selling for $109. There were 202 cows on offer. Export types sold $60 to $70 with sales to $82.50; beef cows, $64.50 to $85 with sales to $90.50; D1 and D2, $54 to $60; D3, $48 to $54; D4, $37 to $47. Dan Harris of St. Paul’s, consigned two cows averaging 1,355 lbs. selling for an average of $70.07 with one black cow weighing 1,465 lbs. selling for $85. Terpstra Farms of Brussels, consigned two cows averaging 1,290 lbs. selling for an average of $66.99 with one holstein cow weighing 1,420 lbs. selling for $82.50. Sandra Dewar of Walkerton, consigned five cows averaging 1,301 lbs. selling for an average of $65.33 with one limousin cow weighing 1,450 lbs. selling for $70.50. There were five bulls selling $59 to $68 with sales to $78.50. Sherdon Farms of Lucknow, consigned one black bull weighing 1,845 lbs. selling for $78.50. Jeff Speiran of Brussels, consigned one holstein bull weighing 1,610 lbs. selling for $72.50. There were 139 head of veal on offer. Beef sold $130 to $175 with sales to $181; good holsteins, $100 to $110 with sales to $113; medium holsteins, $85 to $95; heavy holsteins, $95 to $105 with sales to $109. Lamar Frey of Listowel, consigned 13 veal averaging 783 lbs. selling for an average of $140.24 with one charolais heifer weighing 770 lbs. selling for $180. Paul Bowman of Lucknow, consigned five veal averaging 864 lbs. selling for an average of $146.83 with a group of three limousin heifers weighing 842 lbs. selling for $163. Mark and Paul Pennington of Mildmay, consigned seven veal averaging 748 lbs. selling for an average of $118.36. One roan steer weighed 740 lbs. and sold for $136. Lambs under 50 lbs. sold $195 to $240; 50 - 64 lbs., $175 to $245; 65 - 79 lbs., $129 to $192; 80 - 94 lbs., $123 to $139; 95 - 110 lbs., $125 to $134; 110 lbs. and over, $117 to $130. Sheep sold $87 to $115 with sales to $128. Goats: kids sold $60 to $100 with sales to $145 per head; nannies, $50 to $100 per head with sales to $125 per head; billies, $150 to $250 with sales to $300 per head. Top quality stocker steers under 400 lbs. sold $135 to $222; 400 - 499 lbs., $175 to $203; 500 - 599 lbs., $160 to $182; 600 - 699 lbs., $144 to $164; 700 - 799 lbs., $140 to $158; 800 - 899 lbs., $135 to $159.25; 900 - 999 lbs., $128.50 to $142; 1,000 lbs. and over, $125 to $137.75. Top quality stocker heifers, 300 - 399 lbs. sold $124 to $172; 400 - 499 lbs., $155 to $180; 500 - 599 lbs., $141 to $169; 600 - 699 lbs., $123 to $148; 700 - 799 lbs., $118 to $144; 800 - 899 lbs., $117 to $138.25; 900 lbs. and over, $114 to $131. By Nathan Stevens The recent Federal – Provincial – Territorial Agricultural Minister’s Meeting resulted in major progress in developing Growing Forward 2. Hard decisions have been made on the future of Business Risk Management programming. The focus in the coming months now shifts towards Strategic Initiatives. The Christian Farmers’ Federation of Ontario (CFFO) core message to government over the past year has been asking government to get its fiscal house in order. Agriculture as a whole has been doing reasonably well for the last few years, with a few notable exceptions. The reality is that cuts to government spending are necessary and are coming to most sectors of the economy. Agriculture is able to carry its fair share of the burden that comes with these types of cuts. The privilege of having government support programs over an extended period of time also carries the responsibility of accepting cutbacks when they are needed for the good of the entire country and the economy as a whole. The CFFO is able to accept safety net cuts because, in the big picture, limitations on safety net payments are a better alternative than the problems that could come from a downgrading of our government’s debt and the impact it could have on interest rates. Ontario agriculture as a whole carries a substantial debt burden and an interest rate increase of just two or three per cent would upset the business plans of many farm operations. Fiscal discipline on the part of our governments reduces the risk of that occurring. Despite the overall reduction of spending on agriculture, Growing Forward will increase the funds available for Strategic Initiatives for Government sends clear sign says OFA Growing Forward 2 begins to take shape Leading the way The Brussels Legion Pipe Band was one of the main attractions at last week’s Brussels Fall Fair parade that made its way through the village on Wednesday, Sept. 19. While attendance was down for the fair, President of the Brussels Agricultural Society Nicole Noble called the event a success, saying it was a good two days for Brussels. (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 2012 Special Fall Sales SATURDAY, OCTOBER 6 4-H Show & Sale - 10:00 am Show; 1:00 pm Sale FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26 Regular Stocker Sale - 10:00 am Hereford Influence Sale - 1:00 pm AgricultureBrussels Livestock report Fed steers steady, cows strong at sale Continued on page 19