HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2011-08-18, Page 15THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2011. PAGE 15.
By John Clement
Christian Farmers Federation
of Ontario
The Christian Farmers Federation
of Ontario (CFFO) places a lot of
emphasis on values. And arguably,
one of the biggest and most constant
values for most of our members
comes down to “fairness.” It’s not
always stated upfront when our
members engage each other at
committee meetings and seminars,
but it’s a steady presupposition
that drives a good deal of
conversation.
Over the years, many CFFO
conversations and position
statements have emphasized the
importance of fairness. These
conversations have been lively
affairs because everyone has their
own particular take on what’s fair in
a given situation. Here are three
broad areas that have drawn a good
deal of discussion over time:
• Gaining Access to Opportuni-
ties. Most farmers want access to
opportunities in farming and are
willing to put in the effort to make it
a reality. However, if a barrier stands
in the way, particularly if it’s a
matter of policy, great debate can
take place over whether the barrier
should be there in the first place or
whether it needs to be modified. And
being fair to those already in the
industry and having made an
investment becomes the other part of
the conversation. Usually, beginning
farmer initiatives and exemptions to
marketing legislation are prime
candidates for this fairness
discussion.
• Gaining an Advantage Over
Others. Most farmers appreciate the
help that public policies and
programs can bring to farming.
However, if public policies and
programs are designed in such a way
that some producers can gain a cash
advantage over others, great debates
can ensue. Nobody wants to see
public monies being used to
eventually subsidize farm
expansions, but most people also
want to see losses covered for farms,
regardless of whether they are big or
small. Prime candidates for this
discussion are whether public
programs should see cash payments
capped per operation.
• Gaining a Spot at the Table.
Public policies can sometimes be put
together in a hurry to address urgent
needs. But in the process, some
farmers can be left out of the
process. Sometimes, there is little
debate over where fairness lies,
particularly when identifiable
groups have been left out. However,
sometimes farmers can be
disadvantaged because of the
choices they’ve made about how to
manage their businesses. Prime
candidates for this discussion are
public programs that reward
specialization while ignoring sound
risk management diversification
choices made by farmers.
There are a number of other target
areas for fairness discussions in
farming. For example, the
Agricultural Odyssey Group Report,
issued in 2002, states that in regards
to world trade that “producers must
accept that the current global
business environment is not “fair”
and move on to developing
strategies that level the playing field
and provide marketing and price
discovery alternatives.” My best bet
is that in conversations regarding
everything from trade arrangements
to livestock ear tags, the notion of
“fairness” in farming will never be
far from the surface.
Total receipts for Brussels
Livestock for the week ending Aug.
12 were 1,502 cattle, 814 lambs and
goats. On Tuesday fed steers and
heifers sold steady. Choice steers
and heifers sold $105 to $112 with
sales to $118. Second cut sold $100
to $104. Cows sold steady. On
Thursday beef veal calves traded on
a steady market, while holstein veal
calves sold $3 to $5 higher. Heavy
lambs and goats sold steady and
light lambs sold $3 to $5 higher.
Sheep sold on a strong trade. On
Friday calves and yearlings sold on a
strong active market.
There were 118 steers on offer.
Chris Smith of Brussels, consigned
twenty-one steers averaging 1,549
lbs. selling for an average of $106.69
with two limousin steers averaging
1,570 lbs. selling to Horizon Meats
for $118. Bill Scott of Harriston,
consigned three steers averaging
1,507 lbs. selling for an average of
$104.13 with one black steer
weighing 1,435 lbs. selling to
Paradise Farms for $113. Loomis
Farms of Ailsa Craig, consigned
thirty-six steers averaging 1,452 lbs.
selling for an average of $105.74
with one black steer weighing 1,350
lbs. selling to Norwich Packers for
$112.50.
Aaron F. Martin of Newton,
consigned ten steers averaging 1,524
lbs. selling for an average of $97.32
with one bwf steer weighing 1,345
lbs. selling to Paradise Farms for
$110. Gerald Kuepfer of Brunner,
consigned three steers averaging
1,578 lbs. selling for an average of
$107 with two cross-bred steers
averaging 1,523 lbs. selling to
Ryding Regency for $108.75. Matt
Haney of Seaforth, consigned five
steers averaging 1,521 lbs. selling
for an average of $104.50 with one
charolais steer weighing 1,475 lbs.
selling to Ryding Regency for
$107.75.
Jesse VanLoo of Bluevale,
consigned four steers averaging
1,538 lbs. selling for an average of
$103.88 with one charolais steer
weighing 1,565 lbs. selling to
Ryding Regency for $106.25. Glen
Bickle of Stratford, consigned
eleven steers averaging 1,185 lbs.
selling for an average of $101.87
with one red steer weighing 1,545
lbs. selling to Ryding Regency for
$106.25. Elam W. Martin of
Harriston, consigned two steers
averaging 1,483 lbs. selling for an
average of $103.73 with one
gold steer weighing 1,380 lbs.
selling for $106. Jim and John
Bennett of Goderich, consigned one
limousin steer weighing 1,470 lbs.
selling to Norwich Packers for
$105.75.
There were 86 heifers on offer. K
& A Farms of Wroxeter, consigned
two heifers averaging 1,285 lbs.
selling for an average of $112.92
with one black heifer weighing
1,250 lbs. selling to Paradise Farms
for $116. Andy VanderVeen of
Blyth, consigned ten heifers
averaging 1,283 lbs. selling for an
average of $107.13 with one
limousin heifer weighing 1,345 lbs.
selling to Norwich Packers for
$113.25. James L. Taylor of
Wingham, consigned two heifers
averaging 1,380 lbs. selling for an
average of $107.74 with one black
heifer weighing 1,545 lbs. selling to
Paradise Farms for $109.50. Ron
Bryce of Watford, consigned two
black heifers averaging 1,250 lbs.
selling for $107.75. Warren and
Marion Becker of Ayton, consigned
four heifers averaging 1,259 lbs.
selling for an average of $99.29 with
two red heifers averaging 1,245 lbs.
selling for $106.75.
There were 204 cows on offer.
Export types sold $65 to $73 with
sales to $78; beef cows, $70 to $83
with sales to $87; D1 and D2, $52 to
$56; D3, $46 to $52; D4, $35 to $40.
Ora Et Labora Inc. of Hensall,
consigned two cows averaging 1,483
lbs. selling for an average of $75.72
with one holstein cow weighing
1,365 lbs. selling for $83. Tom Ryan
of Dublin, consigned four cows
averaging 1,435 lbs. selling for an
average of $70.95 with one holstein
cow weighing 1,295 lbs. selling for
$80.50. Edgar Daer of Blyth,
consigned two cows averaging 1,493
lbs. selling for an average of $77.17
with one limousin cow weighing
1,340 lbs. selling for $78.
There were eight bulls on offer
selling $70 to $75 with sales to
$78.50. Andrew Campbell of
Belgrave, consigned one simmental
bull weighing 2,165 lbs. selling for
$78.50. Wayne Redmond of Auburn,
consigned one charolais bull
weighing 2,215 lbs. selling for $76.
There were 114 head of veal on
offer. Beef sold $110 to $155 with
sales to $160; good holstein, $100 to
$112 with sales to $115.50; medium
holstein, $90 to $100; heavy, $90 to
$100. Lamar Frey of Listowel,
consigned ten veal averaging 719
lbs. selling for an average of $136.42
with one crossbred heifer weighing
720 lbs. selling for $158. Maynard
Brubacher of Wallenstein, consigned
twelve veal averaging 740 lbs.
selling for an average of $139.75
with one charolais heifer weighing
760 lbs. selling for $155. Alvin
Horst of Listowel, consigned two
veal averaging 768 lbs. selling for an
average of $139.18 with one
crossbred steer weighing 740 lbs.
selling for $134.
Lambs under 50 lbs. sold $175 to
$206; 50 - 64 lbs., $204 to $255; 65
- 79 lbs., $185 to $242; 80 - 94 lbs.,
$178 to $204; 95 - 109 lbs., $180 to
$204; 110 lbs. and over, $188 to
$189.
Sheep sold $75 to $106 with sales
to $127.
Goats: kids sold $90 to $130 per
head; nannies, $70 to $110 to $125
per head; billies, $150 to $250 to
$350 per head.
Top quality stocker steers under
400 lbs. sold $100 to $200; 400 -
499 lbs., $125 to $175; 500 - 599
lbs., $100 to $159; 600 - 699 lbs.,
$127 to $146; 700 - 799 lbs.,
$109.50 to $145.25; 800 - 899 lbs.,
$117 to $135.50; 900 - 999 lbs.,
$113.50 to $125.25; 1,000 lbs. and
over, $100 to $120.
Top quality stocker heifers under
300 lbs. sold $105 to $200; 300 -
399 lbs., $120 to $172; 400 - 499
lbs., $120 to $153; 500 - 599 lbs.,
$119 to $144.50; 600 - 699 lbs.,
$119 to $133.50; 700 - 799 lbs.,
$110 to $128; 800 - 899 lbs., $108 to
$119; 900 lbs. and over, $102.25 to
$116.
Fairness in farming is paramount: CFFO
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Available for cattle, grains and oilseeds, hog, sheep, veal and fruit and vegetable farmers.
Check our website for application deadlines and to learn more about program eligibility.
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AgricultureBrussels Livestock report
Cow, beef veal calves sales stay steady
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