HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2011-09-22, Page 18PAGE 18. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2011.
Supply management debate continues
By Nathan Stevens
Andrew Coyne, one of Canada’s
most respected journalists, has gar-
nered a lot of attention in his recent
article in Maclean’s that turned a
harsh eye towards supply manage-
ment. He makes a number of strong
assertions in his article that are wor-
thy of further discussion. This is the
third in a series of commentaries
that will provide counterpoints to
those assertions, this time focusing
on trade and a final comment on the
necessity for scrutiny of the system.
Regarding trade, critics of supply
management need to remember that
nearly all countries have something
that they choose to provide special
protection for regardless of any out-
side factor. Japan has rice produc-
tion. America has the big five grains
that receive tremendous support.
Europe has shifted how it provides
support, but there is still plenty
available to farmers who are willing
to engage in new environmental pro-
gramming. Even in free market
dairy regions like Australia, supply
control is exerted by forcing farmers
to own shares in processors before
production can be shipped.
Furthermore, on an aggregate
basis, North America is the most
open region in the world in terms of
agricultural trade. A balanced posi-
tion that promotes expanded oppor-
tunities for those agricultural com-
modities that are seeking new mar-
kets while maintaining the supply
management system is achievable.
The Christian Farmers’ Federation
of Ontario (CFFO) is just one of
many agricultural organizations that
believe that there are many opportu-
nities for export-oriented farmers to
realize new opportunities without
requiring the dismantling of supply
management.
Finally, it is entirely appropriate
for scrutiny to be turned towards a
system that operates with consider-
able intervention from government.
If supply management stays on tar-
get as a system that provides a living
for farming families by passing rea-
sonable costs to consumers, then it
will continue to have merit.
However, if greed and complacency
create a system where a handful of
farmers are able to gouge consumers
at unfair rates, then the system will
require an overhaul. Coyne’s article
should serve as a reminder to those
within supply management that they
must always remember the purpose
of the system and stay true to it.
Andrew Coyne turned a harsh eye
towards supply management in his
recent Maclean’s article. Such
scrutiny is necessary and good for
regulated industries from time to
time. Trade in agriculture needs to
be balanced to provide opportunity
for export-oriented industries and
stability for a supply management
system that stays true to its purpose.
Total receipts for Brussels
Livestock for the week ending Sept.
16 were 2,452 cattle, 686 lambs and
goats. On Tuesday fed steers and
heifers sold $2 higher. Choice steers
and heifers sold $109 to $114.
Second cut sold $101 to $108. Cows
sold barely steady. On Thursday veal
sold on a strong active trade at prices
$5 to $8 higher. Lambs, sheep and
goats all sold steady. On
Friday, calves and yearlings sold on
a strong active market at steady
prices.
There were 91 steers on offer.
Leonard and Andrew Black of
Proton Station, consigned 24 steers
averaging 1,441 lbs. selling for an
average of $110.09 with twelve red
steers averaging 1,408 lbs. selling to
St. Helen’s Meat Packers for
$111.25. Earl Bennewies of
Mitchell, consigned three steers
averaging 1,362 lbs. selling for an
average of $110.16 with one rwf
steer weighing 1,360 lbs. selling to
Norwich Packers for $110.25. Peter
L. Lawlor of Mount Forest con-
signed five steers averaging 1,473
lbs. selling for an average of $107.99
with one limousin steer weighing
1,455 lbs. selling to Ryding Regency
for $110. Trevor Pfeffer of Ayton,
consigned one simmental steer
weighing 1,495 lbs. selling to St.
Helen’s Meat Packers for $108.
There were 76 heifers on offer.
Southlore Farms of Palmerston, con-
signed seven heifers averaging 1,307
lbs. selling for an average of $111.21
with two black heifers averaging
1,323 lbs. selling to St. Helen’s Meat
Packers for $112. Corgercrest Farms
of Seaforth, consigned three heifers
averaging 1,180 lbs. selling for an
average of $109.76 with two limou-
sin heifers averaging 1,213 lbs. sell-
ing to Norwich Packers for $110.
There were 292 cows on offer.
Export types sold $60 to $75 with
sales to $88.60; beef cows, $68 to
$76 with sales to $77.50; D1 and D2,
$52 to $56; D3, $46 to $52; D4, $35
to $50. Gelora Farms of Walkerton,
consigned four cows averaging
1,316 lbs. selling for an average of
$68.18 with one holstein cow weigh-
ing 1,455 lbs. selling for $88.50.
Ikendale Farms of Walkerton, con-
signed four cows averaging 1,331
lbs. selling for an average of $63.45
with one holstein cow weighing
1,305 lbs. selling for $88. Les
Falconer of Clinton, consigned two
cows averaging 1,525 lbs. selling for
an average of $73.51 with one black
cow weighing 1,490 lbs. selling for
$77.50.
There were 15 bulls on offer sell-
ing $62.50 to $71.50 with sales to
$86. Bill and Cathy Kumpf of
Earlton, consigned one limousin bull
weighing 2,100 lbs. selling for $83.
Dennis Coghlin of Listowel, con-
signed one black bull weighing
1,485 lbs. selling for $80.
There were 124 head of veal on
offer. Beef sold $130 to $170 with
sales to $176; good holstein, $122 to
$135 with sales to $137.50; medium
holstein, $100 to $120; heavy hol-
stein, $115 to $125 with sales to
$128. Lamar Frey of Listowel, con-
signed nine veal averaging 735 lbs.
selling for an average of $159.73
with one blonde heifer weighing 675
lbs. selling for $176. Mark and Paul
Pennington of Mildmay, consigned
ten veal averaging 694 lbs. selling
for an average of $124.93 with one
gold heifer weighing 746 lbs. selling
for $164. Les Falconer of Clinton,
consigned two veal averaging 813
lbs. selling for an average or $150.46
with one black steer weighing 740
lbs. selling for $157.
Lambs under 50 lbs. sold $195 to
$255; 50 - 64 lbs., $215 to $233; 65
- 79 lbs., $189 to $220; 80 - 94 lbs.,
$176 to $199; 95 - 109 lbs., $180 to
$199; 110 lbs. and over, $148 to
$193.
Sheep sold $90 to $112 with sales
to $117.
Goats: kids sold $75 to $140 to
$143 per head; nannies, $50 to $100
to $110 per head; billies, $250 to
$300 to $350 per head.
Top quality stocker steers under
400 lbs. sold $105 to $207; 400 - 499
lbs., $147 to $186; 500 - 599 lbs.,
$110 to $177.50; 600 - 699 lbs.,
$122.50 to $157.50; 700 - 799 lbs.,
$119 to $142.50; 800 - 899 lbs.,
$109 to $131; 900 - 999 lbs.,
$100.50 to $118; 1,000 lbs. and over,
$100 to $120.
Top quality stocker heifers under
300 lbs. sold $137 to $173; 300 - 399
lbs., $125 to $185; 400 - 499 lbs.,
$134 to $165; 500 - 599 lbs.,
$128.50 to $146; 600 - 699 lbs.,
$111 to $132; 700 - 799 lbs., $114 to
$131.50; 800 - 899 lbs., $109 to
$117; 900 lbs. and over, $100 to
$110.75.
Shawn and Trisha Drennan of
Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh
(ACW) are landowners facing a
pending windfarm project known as
Kingsbridge II. Kingsbridge II will
consist of upwards of 150 turbines
one of which will be as close as
approximately 650 metres from
their home.
Twelve more turbines will be
located within the surrounding two
kilometres. After learning that 11
families living amongst two differ-
ent wind projects (one located in
their neighbouring township) had
their homes purchased by wind
companies, the Drennans sought to
gather key information from these
former residents about the adverse
health and safety effects of the wind
turbines. However, they learned that
as a part of the buyout agreements,
these residents were blocked from
discussing any negative experiences
with the wind turbines, including
adverse health effects.
The Drennans, supported by the
community group S.W.E.A.R. (Safe
Wind Energy for All Residents) will
go to court, asking the court to inval-
idate the non-disclosure clauses
which gag their neighbours as fun-
damentally against the public inter-
est.
ACW couple takes
turbine companies
to court over gags
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FRIDAYS
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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28
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