The Citizen, 2007-01-11, Page 9Total receipts for Brussels
Livestock for the week ending Jan. 5
were 1,732 head of cattle, 444 lambs
and goats.
On Tuesday the fed steers and
heifers sold $2 higher. The choice
steers and heifers sold $89 to $92
with sales to $97.50. Second cut sold
$86 to $89 with the cows selling
steady. On Thursday veal sold $5 to
$7 lower. Light lambs sold steady
and the heavy lambs sold $10 to $20
lower. Sheep and goats sold on a
steady market. On Friday calves and
yearlings sold on a steady market.
There were 414 steers on offer.
Walter Riddell of Granton, con-
signed six steers averaging 1,304
lbs. selling for an average of $91.93
with two black steers averaging
1,330 lbs. selling to Dominion Meat
Packers for $96. Don McAlpine of
Ailsa Craig, consigned seventy-one
steers averaging 1,493 lbs. selling
for an average of $92.18 with one
limousin steer weighing 1,490 lbs.
selling to Dominion Meat Packers
for $95.
Jim Howatt of Londesborough,
consigned twenty-eight steers aver-
aging 1,489 lbs. selling for an aver-
age of $91.39 with four limousin
steers averaging 1,430 lbs. selling to
Dominion Meat Packers for $93.75.
Schmidt Brook Farms Inc. of
Woodstock, consigned fourteen
steers averaging 1,622 lbs. selling
for an average of $89.43 with three
limousin steers averaging 1,547 lbs.
selling to Dominion Meat Packers
for $93.75.
Brad McAlpine of Ailsa Craig,
consigned six steers averaging 1,428
lbs. selling for an average of $91.33
with two gold steers averaging 1,473
lbs. selling to Ryding Regency for
$93. Joseph M. Bauman of Newton,
consigned seven steers averaging
1,518 lbs. selling for an average of
$89.84 with three limousin steers
averaging 1,507 lbs. selling to
Dominion Meat Packers for $92.85.
Chris Smith of Brussels, con-
signed twenty-eight steers averaging
1,557 lbs. selling for an average of
$89.43 with two black steers averag-
ing 1,445 lbs. selling for $92.75.
Cunningham Farms of Lucan, con-
signed thirty-two steers averaging
1,582 lbs. selling for an average of
$89.30 with seven charolais steers
averaging 1,507 lbs. selling for
$92.50. Fred Cowdrey of Lucan,
consigned twelve steers averaging
1,498 lbs. selling for an average of
$90.43 with eight black steers aver-
aging 1,523 lbs. selling for $91.75.
There were 226 heifers on offer.
Martin Metske of Lucknow, con-
signed nineteen heifers averaging
1,351 lbs. selling for an average of
$90.38 with two blue heifers averag-
ing 1,303 lbs. selling to Norwich
Packers for $97.50. Johnston Farms
of Bluevale, consigned thirty-nine
heifers averaging 1,348 lbs. selling
for an average of $90.99 with seven
red heifers averaging 1,239 lbs. sell-
ing to Dominion Meat Packers for
$94.35. Andy Vander Veen of Blyth,
consigned nine heifers averaging
1,421 lbs. selling for an average of
$92.02 with one limousin heifer
weighing 1,420 lbs. selling to
Norwich Packers for $94.25. Roy
Natywary of Gads Hill, consigned
fourteen heifers averaging 1,170 lbs.
selling for an average of $90.96 with
two black heifers averaging 1,028
lbs. selling to Norwich Packers for
$93.50.
John Glousher of Wingham, con-
signed five heifers averaging 1,387
lbs. selling for an average of $92.51
with two gold heifers averaging
1,310 lbs. selling to Dominion Meat
Packers for $93.25. Neil Edgar of
Wingham, consigned thirteen heifers
averaging 1,406 lbs. selling for an
average of $90.79 with three limou-
sin heifers averaging 1,357 lbs. sell-
ing to Ryding Regency for $93. Ken
McAlpine of Ailsa Craig, consigned
ten heifers averaging 1,249 lbs. sell-
ing for an average of $91.05 with
two red heifers averaging 1,220 lbs.
selling to Dominion Meat Packers
for $92.75.
Paul Buttar of Londesborough,
consigned thirteen heifers averaging
1,332 lbs. selling for an average of
$90.13 with one rwf heifer weighing
1,360 lbs. selling to Ryding Regency
for $92.50. John Wiersma of Blyth,
consigned two heifers averaging
1,428 lbs. selling for an average of
$91.24 with one limousin heifer
weighing 1,370 lbs. selling to
Dominion Meat Packers for $91.50.
Jack R. Nonkes of Auburn, con-
signed two heifers averaging 1,015
lbs. selling for an average of $90.40
with one black heifer weighing
1,075 lbs. selling for $90.75.
There were 206 cows on offer.
Beef cows sold $35 to $45 with sales
to $50; D1 & D2, $37 to $44; D3,
$32 to $37; D4, $20 to $28. Michael
D. Geddes of Clarksburg, consigned
four cows averaging 1,475 lbs. sell-
ing for an average of $38.21 with
one black cow weighing 1,110 lbs.
selling for $50. Trevor Charlton of
Hanover, consigned one hereford
cow weighing 1,425 lbs. selling for
$42.50. Mike Verhoog of Centralia,
consigned five cows averaging 1,200
lbs. selling for an average of $29.73
with one holstein cow weighing
1,205 lbs. selling for $42.
There were 39 bulls on offer sell-
ing $35 to $54 with sales to $67. Top
Meadows Farms of Clarksburg, con-
signed one limousin bull weighing
1,605 lbs. selling for $67. Ron
Pullman of Centralia, consigned one
black bull weighing 1,960 lbs. sell-
ing for $39.
There were 190 head of veal on
offer. Beef sold $110 to $135 with
sales to $141.50; good holstein, $97
to $108 with sales to $119; medium
holstein, $85 to $95; plain holstein,
$70 to $80; good heavy, $70 to $80.
Enock Martin of Proton Station,
consigned twenty veal averaging
762 lbs. selling for an average of
$135.46 with one limousin heifer
weighing 795 lbs. selling for
$141.50. John Martin of Lucknow,
consigned two veal averaging 738
lbs. selling for an average of $116.64
with one limousin heifer weighing
785 lbs. selling for $129.50. Paul
Bowman of Proton Station, con-
signed two veal averaging 718 lbs.
selling for an average of $127.50
with one limousin steer weighing
715 lbs. selling for $127.50.
Lambs 50 - 64 lbs., sold $192 to
$258; 65 - 79 lbs., $167 to $212; 80
- 94 lbs., $146 to $183; 95 - 109 lbs.,
$140 to $153; 110 lbs. and over,
$131 to $143.
Sheep sold $90 to $102.50 with
sales to $115.
Goats: kids sold $80 to $135; nan-
nies, $90 to $110; billies, $210 to
$327.
Top quality stocker steers under
400 lbs. sold $118 to $145; 400 - 499
lbs., $113 to $146; 500 - 599 lbs.,
$107.50 to $131; 600 - 699 lbs.,
$102 to $119; 700 - 799 lbs., $96 to
$112; 800 - 899 lbs., $100 to
$111.50; 900 - 999 lbs., $97.25 to
$103; 1,000 lbs. and over, $93.75 to
$101.25.
Top quality stocker heifers under
300 lbs. sold $134 to $150; 300 - 399
lbs., $113 to $140; 400 - 499 lbs.,
$108 to $133; 500 - 599 lbs., $97 to
$117; 600 - 699 lbs., $96 to $107.75;
800 - 899 lbs., $91 to $105; 900 lbs.
and over, $93 to $100.25.
AgricultureBrussels Livestock report
1,732 head of cattle on offer at sales
THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 2007. PAGE 9.
Agriculture leaders applaud Huron
East’s tax deferral as just another
example in Huron County leading
the way in providing rural Ontario
with the help they need in these
tough times.
“We’re very thankful that they’ve
recognized the ongoing cash flow
issues in the farming community,”
said Huron County Federation of
Agriculture president Stephen
Thompson.
“They have obligations that they
have to meet too and they’re being
very gracious in doing that.”
The helping hand extended by
Huron East council is one that has
extended far beyond their jurisdic-
tion, with farmers all across Ontario
feeling touched by this act of gen-
erosity.
“I’m going to reiterate what the
HCFA president Stephen Thompson
said and I think it’s really a very gra-
cious thing that council is doing. I
think those are excellent words real-
ly, the graciousness of the whole
thing, because it really does speak
volumes of the understanding of the
council in recognizing the chal-
lenges that the farmers in Huron
County have faced,” says Ontario
Federation of Agriculture president
Geri Kamenz.
This reaction comes just after
Huron East council has decided to
defer farmland taxation until the fall
tax installments of 2007 for the third
year in a row.
Although commodity prices have
improved from 2005 to 2006, coun-
cil still thought that a helping hand
would be welcome in this the farm-
ers’ most recent plight.
The tax deferral by the numbers
means that over $900,000 in tax rev-
enue to the municipality will be
deferred until the last quarter of
2007, resulting in a $20,000 loss to
the municipality’s budget.
“Where it affects us a bit, and
we’ve actually done the calculation
for council so that they’re aware of
it, is we’re basically deferring
$900,000 in tax revenue. So that’s
money that we don’t have to invest,”
Brad Knight, Huron East treasurer
says.
“We lose about $20,000 a year in
investment income because of that.”
This is a hit council appears to be
willing to take in order to support its
agricultural residents.
“Anytime something happens in
Huron County, whether it is of this
nature or another, it really is monu-
mental,” Kamenz says.
“The size of the agricultural econ-
omy in Huron County exceeds that
of our five maritime provinces. It’s
huge and people tend to overlook it
and say it’s just another county in the
heartland of Ontario. No, it’s huge. I
think that speaks volumes of what
agriculture is contending and dealing
with.”
In a letter to Kamenz, Huron East
mayor Joe Seili says, “Deferring
farmland taxation allows the
Municipality of Huron East to
demonstrate support to its residents
who depend on agriculture for a liv-
ing.”
Council’s press release announc-
ing the deferral states that of Huron
East’s 7,700 taxable properties,
1,700 have farmland assessment
attached to them. In addition to this,
the release also states that just over
25 per cent of farmland assessment
in all of Huron County resides in
Huron East.
Huron East council is very pleased
with the steps they have taken to help
the farms of their ratepayers, and in
this department, they are leading the
way.
“I know other municipalities have
entertained this idea, but I am
unaware at this point of anyone else
implementing it,” Kamenz said.
The press release also pledges
council’s allegiance to the risk man-
agement program (RMP) the farmers
have been working so hard to obtain.
“Part of the reason for council con-
tinuing the farmland taxation defer-
ral policy is the inaction of the
Federal and Provincial governments
in developing a sustainable risk man-
agement program,” the release states.
RMP is something that Canadian
farmers have been after for quite
some time and through their travels
they have garnered a lot of support,
with Huron East being one of the
leaders.
“When we had talked about this a
couple years ago, anybody borrow-
ing money to farm and to put crops
in in the spring doesn’t have to bor-
row money to cover the taxes. I think
it’s significant to note that it’s not
just the municipal taxes, but it’s the
county’s portion as well,” Knight
said.
With commodity prices rising sig-
nificantly from 2005 to 2006 there
was a question as to whether council
would pass this motion or not.
Deputy-mayor Bernie MacLellan
was not initially in favour of extend-
ing the deferral to a third year, but in
the end council voted that the defer-
ral be carried.
In Knight’s proposal, several crops
are listed, all with significant jumps
in price. From Dec. 4 of 2005 to Dec.
4 of 2006, soft white wheat has risen
$1.93 a bushel, going from $2.95 to
$4.88, soft red wheat has gone up
$1.78, from $2.85 to $4.63 and old
crop corn jumped $0.88 a bushel,
from $2.52 to $3.40.
Knight’s report also states that
things appear to have stabilized, but
that farm income is far from boom-
ing.
“When we first discussed this two
years ago, commodity prices were
dropping and commodity prices
dropped again last year. This year
things appear to have stabilized a lit-
tle, but that deferral has proven to be
very popular,” Knight said.
“Council felt that farm economy
has been depressed for a number of
years and it’s maybe just starting to
bounce back a little bit, but felt that
the program was worth keeping for
another year.”
So farmers will be given a hand by
Huron East council this year again,
but what does the future hold? In
times of such uncertainty, farmers
don’t know what to expect as far as
commodity prices go as they contin-
ue to lobby for RMP.
“This is certainly a much appreci-
ated gesture on [Huron East coun-
cil’s] part and we certainly hope that
our issues are going to be met by
government because we’re still in the
position where we need a fully-fund-
ed risk management program,” said
Thompson.
“Although the need doesn’t seem
to be as imperative as it was a year
ago, still the need is there because
it’s only a matter of time before mar-
kets go down again and we’re in the
exact same position we were a year
ago with governments none the
wiser.”
However, Knight says that his
council will be the wiser and what-
ever happens council will be right
there to support the farmers.
“We’re going to look for direction
from council on an annual basis,”
Knight said.
“We certainly hope that farm econ-
omy stabilizes and improves, but if it
deteriorates, I’m sure council will
likely be supportive of it again, but
that is a decision for council at the
time.”
Farm leaders applaud Huron East action
TUESDAYS
9:00 a.m.
Fed Cattle, Bulls & Cows
THURSDAYS
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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
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The Citizen
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