HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2011-04-07, Page 12PAGE 12. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 7, 2011.
The establishment of a Risk
Management Program (RMP) was
the single most important action the
provincial government could have
taken in today’s budget, say farmers
representing the Ontario Agriculture
Sustainability Coalition (OASC).
The new program will help ensure
the economic success of Ontario’s
non-supply managed commodities,
which include beef, pork, veal, lamb,
fruits, vegetables and grains and
oilseeds.
OASC leaders praised the
provincial government for delivering
this much-needed tool to Ontario
farmers, but also renewed their call
for the federal government to join in
the program.
“The Premier, Minister of
Agriculture, and Finance Minister
have earned our thanks as the
establishment of RMP will be a
critical tool to give our farmers the
predictability, stability and
bankability they need to move their
businesses forward,” says Bette Jean
Crews, President of the Ontario
Federation of Agriculture.
“Today, the provincial government
demonstrated its commitment to
Ontario’s farmers,” said Henry
Stevens, President of the Christian
Farmers Federation of Ontario.
“RMP was by far the best solution
that offered farmers the support they
have been requesting and the most
hope for their future.”
OASC members will press all
federal candidates to follow the
province’s lead and provide their
share of financial support for the
RMP so that farmers would receive
the benefits of a fully-funded
program. A pilot program has been
funded for the last four years by the
provincial government for Ontario’s
grains and oilseeds sector.
“Our farmers have benefited
greatly from the original provincial
pilot program, but it’s now also time
for the federal government to step up
and support this initiative,” says Leo
Guilbeault, Chair of Ontario Grains
and Oilseeds. “The establishment of
a permanent program will give our
farmers the confidence they need to
make long-term investments
necessary to succeed.”
“The fact that the provincial
government decided to move
forward on RMP during these tough
fiscal times, and without the
participation of the federal
government, makes this
announcement that much more
significant to Ontario farmers; we
look forward to working with the
minister over the coming months to
finalize program design,” adds
Wilma Jeffray, Chair of Ontario
Pork.
Ontario Pork and the Ontario
Cattlemen’s Association united in a
professional public affairs campaign
to communicate fully to all elected
members of government the
importance of this program and what
it means to hog and beef farmers.
“This announcement is a game-
changer for Ontario farmers who
today have good reason to be
optimistic about their future,” says
Mark Wales, Chair of the Ontario
Fruit and Vegetable Growers’
Association Safety Nets Committee.
The Ontario Agriculture
Sustainability Coalition was formed
to help secure sustainable, bankable
and predictable risk management
programming for non-supply
managed farmers in Ontario.
Coalition members include the
Ontario Cattlemen’s Association, the
Ontario Fruit and Vegetable
Growers’ Association, Ontario Veal,
Ontario Grains and Oilseeds,
Ontario Pork and Ontario Sheep
Marketing Agency, together with the
Christian Farmers’ Federation of
Ontario and the Ontario Federation
of Agriculture.
Total receipt for Brussels
Livestock for the week ending
March 31 were 2,149 cattle, 749
lambs and goats. On Tuesday fed
steers and heifers sold on an active
market with prices $2 to $3 higher.
Choice steers and heifers sold $107
to $110 with sales to $114.75.
Second cut sold $104 to $107. Cows
sold on a strong steady trade at
prices $2 to $3 higher. On Thursday
holstein veal calves traded under
pressure, while beef veal sold barely
steady. Lambs sold on a strong
active trade with prices for heavy
lambs $5 to $10 higher. Sheep and
nanny goats sold under pressure. On
Friday calves sold on an active
market at prices $2 to $3 higher
while yearlings sold fully
steady.
There were 189 steers on offer.
Schmidtbrook Farms of Woodstock,
consigned thirteen steers averaging
1,653 lbs. selling for an average of
$108.11 with one gold steer
weighing 1,690 lbs. selling to
Horizon Meat Packers for $112.
Murray Shiell of Wingham,
consigned thirty-six steers averaging
1,626 lbs. selling for an average of
$109.58 with a group of ten
charolais steer weighing 1,623 lbs.
selling for $111.25. Neil Dolmage of
Walton, consigned nine steers
averaging 1,509 lbs. selling for an
average of $110.72 with four
charolais steers averaging 1,479 lbs.
selling to Ryding Regency for $111.
William Allen MacLean of
Cornwall, consigned four head
averaging 1,485 lbs. selling for an
average of $103.98 with two red
steers averaging 1,455 lbs. selling
for $110.75.
Murray Wagg of Mitchell,
consigned twenty-four steers
averaging 1,472 lbs. selling for an
average of $109.62 with eight black
steers averaging 1,456 lbs. selling
for $109.85. Randy and Jean
Pentland of Goderich, consigned
seven head averaging 1,447 lbs.
selling for an average of $108.60
with four charolais steers averaging
1,545 lbs. selling for $109.25. Kevin
Leddy of Auburn, consigned thirteen
steers averaging 1,447 lbs. selling
for an average of $106.57 with one
red steer weighing 1,520 lbs. selling
for $109. Chris Fischer of Mildmay,
consigned two steers averaging
1,207 lbs. selling for an average of
$108.20 with one black steer
weighing 1,220 lbs. selling to
Norwich Packers for $108.50.
Damen Farms of Lucan, consigned
three black steers weighing 1,350
lbs. selling to Ryding Regency for
$108.25. Andy Lennox of
Kenilworth, consigned ten steers
averaging 1,351 lbs. selling for an
average of $106.23 with a group of
five red steers selling for
$107.50.
There were 147 heifers on offer.
Bruce Dale of Centralia, consigned
eleven heifers averaging 1,367 lbs.
selling for an average of $109.30
with one limousin heifer weighing
1,400 lbs. selling to Norwich
Packers for $114.75. Aaron F.
Martin of Newton, consigned two
heifers averaging 1,250 lbs. selling
for an average of $109.50 with one
blonde heifer weighing 1,305 lbs.
selling to Horizon Meat Packers for
$110.50. Andy VanderVeen of Blyth,
consigned eight heifers averaging
1,357 lbs. selling for an average of
$108.456 with one limousin heifer
weighing 1,240 lbs. selling for
$109.50. Randy and Jean Pentland
of Goderich, sold one gold
heifer to Dominion Meat Packers
weighing 1,225 lbs. selling for
$109.25.
Kevin Stewardson of Wyoming,
consigned nine heifers averaging
1,295 lbs. selling for an average of
$104.47 with one simmental heifer
weighing 1,295 lbs. selling for
$108.50. Norm McClinchey of
Auburn, sold a group of four heifers
weighing 1,338 lbs. for a high of
$108.50. Byron Beyersbergen of
Lucknow, sold one heifer weighing
1,335 lbs. for a high of $108.50.
Jason Hoggart of Londesborough,
consigned three heifers averaging
1,418 lbs. selling for an average of
$107.75 with one simmental heifer
averaging 1,420 lbs. selling for
$108.25.Chris Fischer of Mildmay,
sold a group of three black heifers
averaging 1,275 lbs. selling for
$108.25. Johnston Farms of
Bluevale, consigned twelve heifers
averaging 1,366 lbs. selling for an
average of $108 with four limousin
heifers averaging 1,366 lbs. selling
for $108.
There were 226 cows on offer.
Export types sold $66 to $74; beef
cows, $67 to $76 with sales to
$85.50; D1 and D2, $50 to $55; D3,
$46 to $50; D4, $35 to $40. Randy
and Joan Pentland of Goderich,
consigned two cows averaging 1,315
lbs. selling for an average of $69.33
with one charolais cow weighing
1,605 lbs. selling for $85.50. Dr.
Keith Dunston of Mildmay,
consigned four cows averaging
1,290 lbs. selling for an average of
$74.65 with one red cow weighing
1,210 lbs. selling for $85. Berkana
Farms of Brussels, consigned five
cows averaging 1,447 lbs. selling for
an average of $74.46 with one roan
cow weighing 1,595 lbs. selling for
$80.50.
There were 12 bulls on offer
selling $65.50 to $85.50 with sales
to $94. Highland Crest Farms of
Lucknow, consigned one charolais
bull weighing 1,950 lbs. selling for
$94. Les C. Abell of Walkerton,
consigned one charolais bull
weighing 2,150 lbs. selling for $85.
There were 193 head of veal on
offer. Beef sold $100 to $135 with
sales to $140; good holstein, $80 to
$90 with sales to $94; medium
holstein, $70 to $80; heavy holstein,
$70 to $80 to the top of $85. Lamar
Frey of Listowel, consigned nine
veal averaging 718 lbs. selling for an
average of $114.83 with one
charolais heifer weighing 705 lbs.
selling for $140. Terry Greidanus of
Londesborough, consigned fifteen
veal averaging 657 lbs. selling for an
average of $102.43 with two
limousin heifers averaging 650 lbs.
selling for $134. Maynard
Brubacher of Wallenstein, consigned
seven veal averaging 761 lbs. selling
for an average of $125.82 with one
steer averaging 705 lbs. selling for
$136.
Lambs under 50 lbs. sold $247 to
$305; 50 - 64 lbs., $254 to $317; 65
- 79 lbs., $225 to $251; 80 - 94 lbs.,
$211 to $270; 95 - 109 lbs., $212 to
$227; 110 lbs. and over, $137 to
$219.
Sheep sold $50 to $83 with sales
to $108.
Goats: kids sold $80 to $140 to
$150 per head; nannies, $50 to 490
to $108 per head; billies, $250 to
$300 to $350 per head.
Top quality stocker steers under
400 lbs. sold $120 to $164; 400 -
499 lbs., $144 to $174; 500 - 599
lbs., $130 to $156; 600 - 699 lbs.,
$127.75 to $153.75; 700 - 799 lbs.,
$122.50 to $142; 800 - 899 lbs.,
$118.50 to $130.25; 900 - 999 lbs.,
$112 to $124; 1,000 lbs. and over,
$100 to $118.
Top quality stocker heifers, 300 -
399 lbs. sold $122 to $160; 400 -
499 lbs., $138 to $154; 500 - 599
lbs., $118 to $148.75; 600 - 699 lbs.,
$119 to $135; 700 - 799 lbs., $111 to
$129.50; 800 - 899 lbs., $109 to
$119.75; 900 lbs. and over, $104 to
$113.
Speaking outside the Legislative
Chamber at Queen’s Park, the
leadership of the Ontario
Cattlemen’s Association and Ontario
Pork applauded the Ontario
government’s decision to establish a
new risk management program
(RMP) to give farmers the insurance
to protect against market
fluctuations beyond their control last
week.
“Today’s announcement is great
news for Ontario farmers, rural
communities and everyone involved
in agriculture and agri-food,” said
Curtis Royal, President, Ontario
Cattlemen’s Association and owner
of Royal Farms in Simcoe County.
“The establishment of a permanent
risk management insurance program
will give our farmers the tools they
need to sustain their operations so
they can continue to provide high
quality, locally-grown food to
Ontario consumers,” Curtis added.
Ontario Pork and the Ontario
Cattlemen’s Association thanked
Agriculture Minister Carol Mitchell
for her unwavering support for RMP
and said they looked forward to
working with the Minister over the
coming months to finalize the
program design, including an
implementation plan that ensures
farmers get the immediate support
they require in 2011 from this
insurance-based program.
Ontario’s beef and pork farmers
have made the establishment of the
RMP insurance program their to
priority and launched an
unprecedented campaign to ensure
MPPs understand how important
this program is to the future success
of their industry, the creation of agri-
food jobs and Ontario’s supply of
local food products. This campaign
complemented the efforts of the
Ontario Agricultural Sustainability
Coalition (OASC) of which both
organizations are active participants.
The campaign is also focused on
the federal government, requesting
them to partner with the industry
and Ontario government in
establishing the insurance program.
The federal government has not yet
agreed to participate in this
initiative. “We encourage the federal
government to follow Ontario’s lead
and participate in the establishment
of this program to ensure Ontario
farmers receive all of the benefits
and protections a full RMP would
provide,” said Royal.
Based largely on the successful
model implemented by the
Government of Ontario for the
Grants and Oilseeds industry, the
program proposed by farmers would
offset the difference between the
current market price and the average
long-term cost of production for
local Ontario farmers.
Designed originally as a three-
RMP welcomed by beef and pork farmers
OASC praises provincial government for RMP
TUESDAYS
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Fed Cattle, Bulls & Cows
THURSDAYS
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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
2011 Special Spring Sales
Easter Lamb & Goat Sale
Thurs., April 7, 14 & 21
starting at 11:30 a.m.
Stocker Sale in lieu of Good Friday
Sat., April 23
Sale starting at 10:00 a.m.
Vaccinated Calves & Yearlings
Mon., April 18 & May 9
Sale starting at 10:00 a.m.
Agriculture
Brussels Livestock report
Cows sell higher on strong steady trade
Continued on page 22