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The Citizen, 2011-02-10, Page 15THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2011. PAGE 15. Total receipts for Brussels Livestock for the week ending Feb. 4 were 1,432 cattle, 109 lambs and goats. On Tuesday fed steers and heifers sold $1 to $2 higher. Choice steers and heifers sold $103 to $106 with sales to $111.50. Second cut sold $99 to $102. Cows sold on a strong trade. On Thursday veal sold steady to last week’s prices. Lambs, sheep and goats all sold steady. On Friday calves and yearlings sold on a strong active trade. There were 83 steers on offer. Southlore Farms of Palmerston, consigned six steers averaging 1,551 lbs. selling for an average of $106.17 with one limousin steer weighing 1,355 lbs. selling to St. Helen’s Meat Packers for $108.25. Miriam Terpstra of Brussels, consigned three steers averaging 1,337 lbs. selling for an average of $106.67 with two black steers averaging 1,340 lbs. selling to Horizon Meat Packers for $108.25. Noah Weppler of Ayton, consigned five steers averaging 1,453 lbs. selling for an average of $105.31 with one limousin steer weighing 1,355 lbs. selling to Holly Park Meat Packers for $106.75. Trevor Pfeffer of Ayton, consigned four red steers averaging 1,460 lbs. selling to Ryding Regency for $105.50. Andrew Lennox of Kenilworth, consigned ten steers averaging 1,382 lbs. selling for an average of $103.44 with six red steers averaging 1,376 lbs. selling to Norwich Packers for $105.25. John Wiersma of Blyth, consigned five steers averaging 1,506 lbs. selling for an average of $101.80 with one limousin steer weighing 1,415 lbs. selling to Holly Park Meat Packers for $105. Dave Golley of Wingham, consigned three steers averaging 1,483 lbs. selling for an average of $103.75 with two gold steers averaging 1,445 lbs. selling to Ryding Regency for $104.25. Tom and Ernie Lobb of Clinton, consigned ten steers averaging 1,388 lbs. selling for an average of $102.48 with seven black steers averaging 1,394 lbs. selling for $103.10. Dwayne and Lorri Dickert of Ayton, consigned two steers averaging 1,520 lbs. selling for an average of $102.02 with one red steer weighing 1,550 lbs. selling to St. Helen’s Meat Packers for $103. Reval K. Dettman of Clifford, consigned three steers averaging 1,588 lbs. selling for an average of $103.16 with two simmental steers averaging 1,583 lbs. selling to Ryding Regency for $102.75. There were 272 heifers on offer. Decroft Farms of Clinton, consigned twenty-one heifers averaging 1,349 lbs. selling for an average of $105.48 with one crossbred heifer weighing 1,285 lbs. selling to Norwich Packers for $111.50. John Barbour of Orangeville, consigned fourteen heifers averaging 1,372 lbs. selling for an average of $102.81 with one black heifer weighing 1,345 lbs. selling to Norwich Packers for $107.25. Johnston Farms of Bluevale, consigned twenty-one heifers averaging 1,448 lbs. selling for an average of $104.01 with four charolais heifers averaging 1,535 lbs. selling to Holly Park Meat Packers for $106.25. M-R Farms of Exeter, consigned twenty-five heifers averaging 1,240 lbs. selling for an average of $104.15 with one bwf heifer weighing 1,355 lbs. selling to Norwich Packers for $106.25. George Roney of Staffa, consigned ten heifers averaging 1,417 lbs. selling for an average of $104.82 with two gold heifers averaging 1,488 lbs. selling to St. Helen’s Meat Packers for $106. Sellers Farms of Bluevale, consigned twenty-two heifers averaging 1,500 lbs. selling for an average of $105.09 with nine charolais heifers averaging 1,514 lbs. selling to Holly Park Meat Packers for $105.50. Edwin Weber of Wroxeter, consigned twelve heifers averaging 1,273 lbs. selling for an average of $104.19 with six charolais heifers averaging 1,358 lbs. selling to Ryding Regency for $105.35. Corgercrest Farms of Seaforth, consigned nineteen heifers averaging 1,347 lbs. selling for an average of $102.88 with two grey heifers averaging 1,313 lbs. selling to Holly Park Meat Packers for $105. Martin Metske of Lucknow, consigned thirty-two heifers averaging 1,338 lbs. selling for an average of $103.80 with nine black heifers averaging 1,433 lbs. selling for $104.85. Ezra B. Bauman of Wallenstein, consigned twelve heifers averaging 1,322 lbs. selling for an average of $97.58 with four charolais heifers averaging 1,340 lbs. selling to Ryding Regency for $104.75. There were 379 cows on offer. Export types sold $56 to $68; beef cows, $54 to $64 with sales to $73.50; D2 and D2, $50 to $55; D3, $46 to $50; D4, $35 to $40. Jim Rapson of Walton, consigned two cows averaging 1,240 lbs. selling for an average of $69.44 with one black cow weighing 1,360 lbs. selling for $73.50. Almelo Holsteins of Brussels, consigned four cows averaging 1,445 lbs. selling for an average of $66.14 with one holstein cow weighing 1,235 lbs. selling for $73.50. South Kinloss Acres of Lucknow, consigned four cows averaging 1,613 lbs. selling for an average of $53.68 with one gold cow weighing 1,545 lbs. selling for $72.50. There were too few bulls to establish a market. There were 140 head of veal on offer. Beef sold $120 to $145 with sales to $152; good holstein, $92 to $98 with sales to $105; medium holstein, $90 to $95; plain holstein, $75 to $85; heavy holstein, $88 to $95. Lamar Frey of Listowel, consigned nine veal averaging 717 lbs. selling for an average of $133.76 with two crossbred heifers weighing 663 lbs. selling for $152. Terry Greidanus of Londesborough, consigned five veal averaging 784 lbs. selling for an average of $123.86 with one roan heifer weighing 815 lbs. selling for $142. Frank VanHooydonk of Parkhill, consigned two veal averaging 735 lbs. selling for an average of $123.04 with two crossbred steers averaging 715 lbs. selling for $138. Lambs 50 - 64 lbs. sold $127 to $270; 80 - 94 lbs., $190 to $228; 95 - 110 lbs., $185 to $200. Sheep sold $60 to $110 with sales to $153. Goats: kids sold $80 to $125 to $150 per head; nannies, $50 to $100 to $125 per head; billies, $150 to $250 to $300 per head. Top quality stocker steers under 400 lbs. sold $117 to $185; 400 - 499 lbs., $100 to $171; 500 - 599 lbs., $149 to $162.50; 600 - 699 lbs., $127.50 to $146.50; 700 - 799 lbs., $125 to $136.50; 800 - 899 lbs., $117 to $132.50; 900 - 999 lbs., $117 to $125.25; 1,000 lbs. and over, $109.75 to $121.75. Top quality stocker heifers under 300 lbs. sold $100 to $143; 300 - 399 lbs., $126 to $148; 400 - 499 lbs., $131 to $147; 500 - 599 lbs., $120.50 to $143; 600 - 699 lbs., $120 to $133.50; 700 - 799 lbs., $114 to $125; 800 - 899 lbs., $109.50 to $123.75; 900 lbs. and over, $105 to $116. Pork producers shouldn’t expect any fast relief from the problems that U.S. mandatory Country of Origin Labelling (MCOOL) have brought to Ontario’s industry, a trade expert told the annual meeting of the Huron County Pork Producers Association. Speaking in Seaforth, Feb. 3, Bobby Seeber, Policy Advisor on Intergovernmental Relations and Trade for OMAFRA said he has been “getting a sense there’s a positive feeling about the case that has been put forward” in Canada’s World Trade Association (WTO) challenge against MCOOL in the U.S. The Canadian argument is that not only is the U.S. not complying with its WTO obligations, but it is “shooting itself in the foot” by disrupting the integration of the Canadian and U.S. beef and pork industries and losing the efficiencies that integration had brought. MCOOL regulations require processors to identify meat not only produced outside of the U.S., but even identify if the pigs or cattle that produced the meat had been born elsewhere but raised in the U.S. That had been a growing trend with the widespread purchase of Canadian feeder pigs to be raised on U.S. farms. Rather than handle the headaches of the paperwork, many packers just refused to take pigs that had been born in Canada. But even if Canada wins the decision of the WTO panel expected as early as this fall, the U.S. can be expected to appeal, Seeber said. The decision on that appeal might come as early as next spring. If that again went against the U.S. it would be given time to put itself in a position of compliance. If Canada wasn’t satisfied with those efforts, it would require another WTO panel. “The WTO dispute process on the U.S. and New Zealand complaint against Canadian dairy practices took four or five years to work its way to completion, Seeber said. Despite the problems caused by MCOOL, Amy Cronin, Huron County director to Ontario Pork, reported later in the meeting that feeder pig exports to the U.S. had recovered somewhat in 2010 after dipping badly in 2009. Seeber also discussed the progress of the current round of WTO talks which began in 2001. The process has been slowed by the pressure on the U.S. to cut its subsidies to agriculture at a time when the U.S. electoral cycle made such cuts politically unpalatable. The U.S. has also been pushing for greater market access to emerging countries such as India, apparently feeling that if they were going to have to give up something they wanted to gain something in return, Seeber said. This year there seems to be a sense that negotiations need to some conclusion, Seeber said. “The window of opportunity is at its widest but it’s still a very narrow gap.” Canada has also been aggressively pursuing a bilateral trade agreement with the European Union (EU), an agreement that could be bigger in scope and value than the North American Free Trade Agreement, Seeber said. The deal is much bigger than just agriculture with concerns about investment and services, market access and intellectual property. There have already been six rounds of negotiations and there’s a desire to have an agreement on core elements by the end of the year. On the agricultural side of the negotiations Canada wants to rectify the tariff barriers against beef and pork and to get an understanding on issues of sanitary and phyto-sanitary roadblocks to food entering the EU. “If (processing) plants here are not certified in the EU, then even if you have tariff access, you don’t really have access,” said Seeber of the health restrictions used to block imports. For its part, the EU wants a review of the monopoly power of the Canadian Wheat Board, the restrictions on imports of supply managed farm commodities, and the purchasing activities of the Ontario Liquor Board, which is one of the largest purchasers of European wine and alcohol. In answer to a question from Varna pork producer Bev Hill, Seeber said supply management is not a “deal killer”. “Supply managment is a complicating factor,” Seeber said, “but the EU has its own complicating factors. Both sides have polical issues at home.” The EU wants protection for European food products that are identified with the geographical place of their development, things such as Parma ham, and Mozzarella or Camembert cheeses. Many of these names have slipped into the Canadian vocabulary and have come to describe a type of, for instance, cheese, with Canadian cheesemakers making products called by this name. Europe wants protection for more than 200 such products identified by their region of origin. In trade negotiations with South Korea, it won protection for 100 items. “To go down that path would be extremely disruptive in how we do business,” said Seeber. Despite these issues about 90 per cent of agricultural negotiating points have been agreed on, he said, leaving about 10 per cent of issues that will require more negotiations. After surviving a difficult year, better times may be just ahead, President Rob Versteeg told Huron County Pork Producers at their annual meeting in Seaforth, Feb. 3. The price increase that appeared to be happening at one point fizzled, said Versteeg in reviewing the past year. At the same time higher prices for corn drove up feed costs. “But many of us still made a profit,” he said, although those profits were eaten up in paying interest on loans required to see them through the difficult times of the past few years. He pointed out that in the past five years producers have had to deal with a large number of obstacles to survival, from the increase in value of the Canadian dollar, to mandatory country of origin labelling in the U.S. to higher feed costs and disease. The difficult conditions have resulted in a 25 per cent reduction in the number of sows on Ontario farms leading to fewer feeder pigs. But currently futures prices for this summer are at a record high, he said, and even though corn isn’t cheap, “with the efficiencies we’ve had to employ, we should be profitable.” A year ago at the meeting Huron’s producers were still waiting to hear the results of their appeal to the Farm Products Appeal Tribunal the previous November over Ontario Pork’s decision to separate its marketing operations from its other services. Huron won the appeal but the decision was overturned by Carol Mitchell, Ontario’s Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. Though the decision was overturned, Versteeg said it was important to recognize the efforts of Grant Love and John Vanderburg who put so much effort into the successful appeal. Good news is coming Huron pork producers updated on U.S. trade issues AgricultureBrussels Livestock report Fed steers and heifers sell up to $2 higher 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