The Citizen, 2011-03-24, Page 12PAGE 12. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 2011. AgricultureBrussels Livestock report
Fed steers, heifers sell $2 higher at sale
Total receipts for Brussels
Livestock for the week ending
March 18 were 1,993 cattle, 562
lambs and goats. On Tuesday fed
steers and heifers sold on a strong
active trade at prices $2 higher.
Choice steers and heifers sold $106
to $110 with sales to $112.25.
Second cut sold $101 to $105. Cows
sold on a strong active trade at fully
steady prices. On Thursday right
weight holstein veal calves traded $2
to $5 higher with heavy holstein veal
trading steady. Beef veal calves sold
stronger with prices $5 to $10
higher. Lambs sold steady and sheep
and goats sold on a strong active
trade. On Friday calves and
yearlings sold on a strong active
market.
There were 184 steers on offer.
Schmidtbrook Farms of Woodstock,
consigned thirteen steers averaging
1,655 lbs. selling for an average of
$106.29 with one limousin steer
weighing 1,700 lbs. selling to
Horizon Meat Packers for $112.25.
Larry Reinhart Sr. of Mildmay,
consigned five steers averaging
1,389 lbs. selling for an average of
$106.02 with two limousin steers
averaging 1,415 lbs. selling to
Horizon Meat Packers for $109.75.
Neil Dolmage of Walton, consigned
five steers averaging 1,530 lbs.
selling for an average of $108.39
with two charolais steers averaging
1,510 lbs. selling to Norwich
Packers for $109. Murray Wagg of
Mitchell, consigned twenty-four
steers averaging 1,650 lbs. selling
for an average of $107.49 with eight
black steers averaging 1,449 lbs.
selling to Holly Park Meat Packers
for $108.25.
Leonard J. Stroeder of Clifford,
consigned six steers averaging 1,727
lbs selling for an average of $98.57
with two simmental steers averaging
1,590 lbs. selling to Ryding Regency
for $107.75. Matt Haney of
Seaforth, consigned five charolais
steers averaging 1,492 lbs. selling to
Holly Park Meat Packers for
$107.50. Kevin Leddy of Auburn,
consigned forty-two steers averaging
1,428 lbs. selling for an average of
$103.75 with four charolais steers
averaging 1,515 lbs. selling to
Ryding Regency for $106.75.
Murray Gordner of Mitchell,
consigned four steers averaging
1,411 lbs. selling for an average of
$106.32 with three gold steers
averaging 1,340 lbs. selling to
Norwich Packers for $106.75. Ed
VanDonkersgoed of Wroxeter,
consigned two red steers averaging
1,470 lbs. selling to Ryding Regency
for $106.50. Dwayne and
Lorri Dickert of Ayton,
consigned four steers averaging
1,543 lbs. selling for an average of
$105.37 with two red steers
averaging 1,528 lbs. selling for
$106.
There were 160 heifers on offer.
Bill Frank of Listowel, consigned
seven heifers averaging 1,349 lbs.
selling for an average of $105.32
with one gold heifer weighing 1,285
lbs. selling to Norwich Packers for
$110.50. Glen Geisel of West
Montrose, consigned seven heifers
averaging 1,409 lbs selling for an
average of $106.28 with one
charolais heifer weighing 1,400 lbs.
selling to Norwich Packers for
$110.25. Paul Murray of Ripley,
consigned seven heifers averaging
1,205 lbs. selling for an average of
$103.09 with three gold heifers
averaging 1,042 lbs. selling for
$109.50. Darren Johnston Farms
Ltd., of Bluevale, consigned thirty-
five heifers averaging 1,345 lbs.
selling for an average of $105.13
with five red heifers averaging 1,297
lbs. selling to Norwich Packers for
$107.50.
Jeremy Sippel of Milverton,
consigned eleven heifers averaging
1,364 lbs. selling for an average of
$104.55 with three red heifers
averaging 1,498 lbs. selling to
Norwich Packers for $107. Jason
McBeath of Varna, consigned
nineteen heifers averaging 1,318 lbs.
selling for an average of $104.96
with eight black heifers averaging
1,278 lbs. selling for $106. Robert
R. Norris of Staffa, consigned five
heifers averaging 1,321 lbs. selling
for an average of $104.13 with four
red heifers averaging 1,293 lbs.
selling for $105.
There were 290 cows on offer.
Export types sold $63 to $70; beef
cows, $67 to $76 with sales to $86;
D1 and D2, $50 to $55; D3, $46 to
$50; D4, $35 to $40. Sherdon Farms
of Lucknow, consigned two cows
averaging 1,270 lbs. selling for an
average of $74.03 with one black
cow weighing 1,400 lbs. selling for
$76.50. Art and Louise Versteeg of
Clifford, consigned one holstein cow
weighing 1,150 lbs. selling for $76.
Bernie Gowan of Allenford,
consigned four cows averaging
1,384 lbs. selling for an average of
$69.68 with two limousin cows
averaging 1,373 lbs. selling for
$74.50.
There were 21 bulls on offer
selling $69 to $79.50 with sales to
$86. Delmar Boles of
Arthur, consigned one red bull
weighing 1,430 lbs. selling
for $86. Kim Leonhardt of
Bornholm, consigned one
red bull weighing 1,615 lbs. selling
for $81.
There were 158 head of veal on
offer. Beef sold $105 to $145 with
sales to $150; good holstein, $95 to
$105 with sales to $107; medium
holstein, $80 to $90; heavy holstein,
$80 to $92 with sales to $95. Ralph
DeWeerd of Londesborough,
consigned six veal averaging 715
lbs. selling for an average of $123.93
with one blonde heifer weighing 720
lbs. selling for $150. Lamar Frey of
Listowel consigned eight veal
averaging 712 lbs. selling for an
average of $132.12 with one
crossbred heifer weighing 670 lbs.
selling for $149. Ervin Weber of
Listowel, consigned two veal
averaging 695 lbs. selling for an
average of $111.10 with one
crossbred steer weighing 735 lbs.
selling for $121.
Lambs under 50 lbs. sold $270 to
$295; 50 - 64 lbs., $241 to $300; 65
- 79 lbs., $236 to $281; 80 - 94 lbs.,
$201 to $310; 94 - 109 lbs., $201 to
$225; 110 lbs. and over, $133 to
$204.
Sheep sold $70 to $99 with sales
to $133.
Goats: kids sold $75 to $110 to
$140 per head; nannies $50 to $100
per head; billies, $150 to $250 to
$300 per head.
Top quality stocker steers under
400 lbs. sold $103 to $169; 400 -
499 lbs., $123 to $173.50; 500 - 599
lbs., $126 to $159; 600 -
699 lbs., $115 to $145.50; 700 -
799 lbs., $116.50 to $133; 800 - 899
lbs., $113.50 to $127.75; 900 -
999 lbs., $102 to $121.75;
1,000 lbs. and over, $100 to
$116.75.
Top quality stocker heifers under
300 lbs. sold $133 to $210; 300 -
399 lbs., $110 to $175; 400 - 499
lbs., $110 to $154; 500 - 599 lbs.,
$123 to $144; 600 - 699 lbs., $110 to
$129.50; 700 - 799 lbs., $100 to
$120.50; 800 - 899 lbs., $102 to
$123; 900 lbs. and over, $100 to
$115.50.
Solar panel dials begin spinning as snow melts, sun shines
With the solar energy boom more
than a year behind the farming
communities, solar generation
owners are preparing for their first
full year with the technology, and
some, like Fred Pot of the Auburn
area, are excited about seeing the
sun.
Both roof-mounted and ground-
based installations got their first
taste of warm temperature and
sunlight in months with an
unseasonably warm weekend at the
end of February, and electrical dials
began turning for solar generator
owners and leasers hooked into the
provincial microFIT program.
Pot had his roof-mounted solar
project started in the fall and
finished by Christmas, and taking
the opportunity was an easy choice.
“I’d always wanted to redo my
drive shed,” he said. “I needed new
doors, and the structure was in need
of some renewal.”
Pot, who had talked to solar
company representatives at farm
shows, decided that, if the extra
costs were minimal, he would have
the system installed on top of his
building.
“The rafters were in good shape,
and it cost me less than $2,000 to get
them prepared,” Pot said.
Pot’s rafters were good, and,
according to his engineer, most on a
recently erected structure would be.
“The engineer told me that rafters
from up to 20 years ago will work he
said,” he said.
When controversial news started
coming in about the microFIT
contracts, which Pot had signed in
to, he wasn’t happy.
“When the news of the day came
out, I wasn’t excited,” he said. “But I
was prepared. I know you have to
trust people, like Hydro One, to keep
up their end of the bargain, but even
if things go wrong, these are my
solar panels and I can use them
myself.”
As long as his contract remains,
Pot has determined that he will pay
off his initial investment within
seven to 10 years.
Pot said the project was incredibly
hands-off for him. The company that
erected his panels, Faromor Limited,
did everything.
“They just moved in and took care
of everything,” he said. “I had
nothing to do with it, and, even if I
wanted to, my own electrician was
too busy setting up other solar rigs.”
Pot said he has been happy with
the installation, system and project
in general, and that the only problem
he has had thus far has been with
Central Huron.
Residents of Central Huron need
to pay for separate permits,
according to Pot, for their buildings
and their roof-mounted solar
projects, and each permit requires a
deposit.
Pot put down the deposit for his
building, and has received it back,
but has not yet received his deposit
for his solar panel, and the problem
is a line of sight.
When the project was originally
completed prior to Christmas, an e-
mail was sent to the building
inspector, but, according to Pot, she
claims to have not received it.
Pot explained that the building
inspector came out to see his solar
rig and the supports beneath it, but
couldn’t because of a shelving unit.
The inspector sent an e-mail to the
engineers, claiming that the project
hadn’t been completed, and called
for two supports to be nailed on to
the existing frame, which had
already been done according to Pot.
The problem continued when Pot
pointed to a ladder that would offer
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
By Denny Scott
The Citizen
A sunny disposition
Fred Pot was happy when the sun finally started showing
its face through the clouds as it finally gave a chance for
his roof-mounted solar system to start converting that sun
into energy, and that energy into cash. Pot, shown here
with the panels that operate the solar panels, had his solar
project installed late in 2010. (Denny Scott photo)
Continued on page 19