Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2011-03-03, Page 23THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 3, 2011. PAGE 23. Ontario’s farmers are fed up with the heavily-regulated business environment in which they operate their businesses. At the same time, society and government have become overly cautious, trying to out-smart common sense by putting more and more costly rules and regulations in place that are burdening our farming community. This year’s Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario (CFFO) Seminar Series is entitled Enough is Enough and examines the case for an improved regulatory process. An annual event for 16 years, the organization’s seminar series aims at facilitating grassroots participation in policy development. This year’s edition will explore the reasons for the over-regulated farm business situation and will look towards alternative approaches to regulations that can be proposed to elected leaders, other organizations and the consuming public. Long-time CFFO friend, Bill van Geest, will be the principal facilitator for the series. He is a trained facilitator, executive coach and strategic planner and enjoys helping organizations and their leaders move forward with clarity and purpose. Nathan Stevens, the CFFO’s Research and Policy Advisor, will also be on hand at selected locations to work alongside those in attendance. Bob Seguin and Al Mussell, from the George Morris Centre, will draw on their experiences as members of “Canada’s Independent Agri-Food Think Tank” to help attendees explore the rationale and complexities behind legislation and regulations. Seguin has first-hand knowledge in understanding regulations, having served as a senior manager in several government departments. Join us as we explore and critique the frustrating and complex world of legislation and regulations. The CFFO Seminar Series is open to all who wish to attend. Log on to the CFFO’s website at www.christianfarmers.org for details on how to register and where our individual seminars are being held. We encourage you to attend a seminar in your local community for information, provocative facilitation, fellowship and a good lunch. We welcome the contribution of your time and thoughts. Total receipts for Brussels Livestock for the week ending Feb. 25 were 1,810 cattle, 338 lambs and goats. On Tuesday fed steers and heifers sold steady with some slight pressure. Choice steers and heifers sold $104 to $107 with sales to $108.75. Second cut sold $99.75 to $104. Cows sold under pressure with prices $1 to $2 easier. On Thursday good quality holstein veal calves sold steady, while beef veal plain and medium sold under pressure with prices $2 to $5 lower. Lambs sold higher while sheep and goats sold steady. On Friday calves sold steady to last week’s prices, while yearlings sold $2 to $3 lower. There were 165 steers on offer. Kevin Leddy of Auburn, consigned twenty-six steers averaging 1,413 lbs. selling for an average of $103.43 with three limousin steers averaging 1,398 lbs. selling to Horizon Meat Packers for $108.25. Kyle Cressman of Gowanstown, consigned three steers averaging 1,508 lbs. selling for an average of $105.08 with one red steer weighing 1,495 lbs. selling to St. Helen’s Meat Packers for $106.75. Allan Thornton of Gorrie, consigned four steers averaging 1,306 lbs. selling for an average of $104.22 with one charolais steer weighing 1,280 lbs. selling for $106.50. Martin Metske of Lucknow, consigned five steers averaging 1,361 lbs. selling for an average of $105.30 with one red steer weighing 1,350 lbs. selling to Horizon Meat Packers for $106.50. Mary Schiestel of Teeswater, consigned ten steers averaging 1,536 lbs. selling for an average of $105.33 with six black steers averaging 1,538 lbs. selling to St. Helen’s Meat Packers for $105.75. Loomis Farms of Ailsa Craig, consigned twelve steers averaging 1,507 lbs. selling for an average of $104.57 with five charolais steers averaging 1,496 lbs. selling for $105.75. Ed VanDonkersgoed of Wroxeter, consigned four steers averaging 1,450 lbs. selling for an average of $103.42 with three limousin steers averaging 1,498 lbs. selling for $105. Francis Riley of Walkerton, consigned ten steers averaging 1,461 lbs. selling for an average of $104.61 with six charolais steers averaging 1,493 lbs. selling for $105. Joseph M. Bauman of Newton, consigned eighteen steers averaging 1,435 lbs. selling for an average of $98.34 with five gold steers averaging 1,501 lbs. selling for $104.75. Mark and Elaine Fischer of Ayton, consigned eleven steers averaging 1,501 lbs. selling for an average of $102.60 with five charolais steers averaging 1,510 lbs. selling for $104.50. There were 167 heifers on offer. Bill Frank of Listowel, consigned sixteen heifers averaging 1,393 lbs. selling for an average of $105.42 with two charolais heifers averaging 1,463 lbs. selling to Norwich Packers for $108.75. Johnston Farms of Bluevale, consigned fifty heifers averaging 1,389 lbs. selling for an average of $104.97 with one black heifer weighing 1,175 lbs. selling for $108. Mel Weber of Wingham, consigned three black heifers averaging 1,420 lbs. selling for an average of $105.78 with one black heifer weighing 1,510 lbs. selling to St. Helen’s Meat Packers for $106.75. Sellers Farms of Bluevale, consigned twenty-two heifers averaging 1,478 lbs. selling for an average of $105.27 with seven charolais heifers averaging 1,519 lbs. selling to Holly Park Meat Packers for $105.75. D&M Farms of Listowel, consigned two heifers averaging 1,408 lbs. selling for an average of $100.29 with one rwf heifer weighing 1,255 lbs. selling for $105. Hank W. Huigenbos of Wingham, consigned nine heiferss averaging 1,196 lbs. selling for an average of $102.42 with three limousin heifers averaging 1,203 lbs. selling to St. Helen’s Meat Packers for $104.75. Byron Beyersbergen of Lucknow, consigned three heifers averaging 1,432 lbs. selling for an average of $104.67 with one rwf heifer weighing 1,400 lbs. selling to St. Helen’s Meat Packers for $104.50. Brad Hern of Woodham, consigned two charolais heifers weighing 1,405 lbs. selling for $104.50. There were 307 cows on offer. Export types sold $60 to $65; beef cows, $63 to $73; D1 and D2, $50 to $55; D3, $46 to $50; D4, $35 to $40. Peter Oudshoorn of Auburn, consigned four cows averaging 1,784 lbs. selling for an average of $58.82 with one charolais cow weighing 1,790 lbs. selling for $72. Mark Pfeffer of Clifford, consigned one charolais cow weighing 1,505 lbs. selling for $71.50. Jeffrey Becker of Ayton, consigned three cows averaging 1,432 lbs. selling for an average of $62.65 with one black cow weighing 1,635 lbs. selling for $70.50. There were 13 bulls on offer selling $53.50 to $69.50 with sales to $72.50. Harvey Forbes Livestock of Wiarton, consigned one black bull weighing 2,475 lbs. selling for $72.50. Brian Parsons of Woodham, consigned one limousin bull weighing 1,540 lbs. selling for $60. There were 150 head of veal on offer. Beef sold $105 to $140 with sales to $150; good holstein, $90 to $99 with sales to $100; medium holstein, $70 to $80; plain holstein, $60 to $70; heavy holstein, $85 to $93. Lamar Frey of Listowel, consigned eight veal averaging 714 lbs. selling for an average of $126.02 with one crossbred heifer weighing 710 lbs. selling for $150. Gideon Zehr of Newton, consigned nine veal averaging 739 lbs. selling for an average of $119.27 with two charolais heifers weighing 738 lbs. selling for $143. Ervin Weber of Listowel, consigned one roan steer weighing 695 lbs. selling for $133. Lambs, 50 - 64 lbs. sold $230 to $278; 65 - 79 lbs., $220 to $255; 80 - 94 lbs., $202.50 to $241; 95 - 109 lbs., $190 to $211; 110 lbs. and over, $186 to $210. Sheep sold $80 to $106 with sales to $180. Goats: kids sold $100 to $125 to $140 per head; nannies, $50 to $100 to $125 per head; billies, $150 to $250 to $350 per head. Top quality stocker steers under 400 lbs. sold $105.50 to $179; 400 - 499 lbs., $145 to $169.50; 500 - 599 lbs., $130 to $161; 600 - 699 lbs., $124 to $159.50; 700 - 799 lbs., $126 to $134; 800 - 899 lbs., $105 to $128.25; 900 - 999 lbs., $110 to $128.75; 1,000 lbs. and over, $104.75 to $118. Top quality stocker heifers, 300 - 399 lbs., $141 to $159; 400 - 499 lbs., $134 to $159; 500 - 599 lbs., $127.75 to $140; 600 - 699 lbs., $111 to $132; 700 - 799 lbs., $116 to $125.25; 800 - 899 lbs., $111 to $120; 900 lbs. and over, $101.50 to $113. Drinking water source protection is taking a big step forward in the Maitland Valley and Ausable Bayfield areas. The source protection committee (SPC) for the region has announced it is beginning to prepare source protection plan policies. “This is an important time for the protection of drinking water in this region as the members of the committee will begin to tackle the challenge of creating policies to reduce risk to drinking water,” said Larry Brown, Chair of the Ausable Bayfield Maitland Valley Drinking Water Source Protection Committee. The local committee is sending formal Notice of Commencement of Source Protection Plan Policy Preparation to municipal administrators, First Nations, and to owners of properties where potential significant drinking water threats may exist. The committee is also informing those landowners of opportunities for financial assistance for their voluntary projects to protect water, and of opportunities to provide comments as plans are developed over the coming year. Significant drinking water threats can exist in the 100-metre radius of Tony and Fran McQuail of Lucknow recently joined farmers from across the Prairies for the sixth annual Western Canada Holistic Management (HM) Conference in Lloydminster, Alberta. The McQuails have been using HM since they took a course in 1995 sponsored by the Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario. Their training helped them become full time on the farm and make decisions which looked after family and environmental concerns as well as finances. Fran McQuail led a breakout session on personal goal setting with Linda Corcoran from Saskatchewan. The conference included a mix of innovative production sessions with inspirational keynotes by Kier Barker and Dr. Elaine Dembe. Holistic Management is a popular farm business strategy in western Canada. Developed by Allan Savory in the 1980s it differs from other business strategies by having a holistic goal as the centre of all the other planning elements, giving a focus for evaluating enterprises and choices. Holistic Management also has a tool box which includes financial planning, land use, grazing and testing questions which help farm families make better decisions. Producer panels shared their experience with winter grazing, family succession, cropping and family goal setting. Jeff Goebel from Portland, Oregon spoke of his 30 years experience as a certified educator. He helped a ranch that was losing $750,000 a year break even after just 12 months. He worked with a native community of 9,000 in the northwest. Using the Holistic Management model, they were able to save $17 million in a $55 million budget without cutting a program or a job. That budget was developed three months ahead of schedule and was passed unanimously by the band council. Goebel said helping people create their holistic goal releases amazing creativity. The McQuails are certified educators and will be offering two six-day courses in Holistic Management in March 2011. One will be held at their farm near Lucknow and the other will be held in the Kingston area. The course helps farm families develop their own holistic goal and then work on a financial and biological plan to start moving toward their goal. It also includes training in how to use the testing questions to make consistently better decisions which look after the family, the farm and the finances. For more information on the course, contact the McQuails at 519- 528-2493. Policy preparation begins for SWP Local farmers learn about holistic management Series to focus on improving farm regulatory process 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 Calves sell steady, yearlings sell lower Continued on page 30