Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1990-01-24, Page 14PAGE 14. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 24, 1990. Packers share bad times Cattle prices lower at Brussels with pork producers The bad times in the pork industry appear to be hitting packers as well as farmers, Jim Rollings, Livestock Marketing Manager for the Ontario Pork Producers Marketing Board (OPPMB) told Huron County Pork Producers Wednesday. Speaking at the annual meeting of the association in Blyth Mr. Rollings said that traditionally when it’s bad times for pork producers it’s good times for packers but that doesn’t appear to be the case at present. One packing plant has laid off 250 workers and cut its daily kill from 3600 to 2100 hogs, he said and the company says it may cut even further. “We’re very concerned,’’ he said, noting other packers are also claiming they are losing money. Currently plants have the capacity to kill 82,000 hogs a week but at one time there was capacity for 88,000 hogs a week. Ironically the board could often only supply 84,000 hogs at that time. JIM ROLLINGS Packers in trouble too The market at Brussels Livestock Inc. met a moderate demand selling steady at $2.00 lower on second class cattle. There were 470 slaughter cattle and 235 pigs on offer. Good to choice steers were $89 to $92 to the high of $95.25 per hundredweight. Fourteen steers consigned by Ken Dalton, RR 1, Walton averag­ ing 1276 lbs. sold for $90.82 to the high of $95.25. One steer consign­ ed by Jim Taylor, RR 5, Wingham, weighed 1290 lbs. and sold for $90. Twenty-two steers consigned by George Adams, RR 2, Wroxeter, averaging 1269 lbs. sold for $88.07 to a high of $93.75. Fifteen steers consigned by Murray Forbes, RR 2, Clinton averaging 1313 lbs. sold for $89.93 to a high of $93. One steer consigned by Steve Adams, RR 5, Brussels weighing 1380 lbs. sold for $90. Two steers consigned by Tom Detzler, Mildmay weighing 1270 lbs. sold for $90.14. Nine Holstein Top pork producers honoured steers consigned by Jim Moffatt, RR 1, Wingham weighing 1541 lbs. sold for $74.85. Good to choice heifers sold from' $87 to $89. Seven heifers consigned by Glen Johnston, RR 2, Bluevale weighing 1147 lbs. sold for $88.46. Five heifers consigned by Lloyd Weppler, RR 2, Ayton weighing 1183 lbs. sold for $87.61. Nine heifers consigned by Abe Vander- veen, RR 2, Brussels weighing 1091 lbs. sold for $84.20 to a high of $90. Four heifers consigned by Noah Weppler, RR 2, Ayton, weighing 1223 lbs. sold for $86.15. There were 145 cows on offer selling $3.00 to $5.00 higher. DI and D2 cows sold from $56 to $59; D3 and D4 cows, $52 to $56; canners and cutters, $50 to $52. One Charolais cow consigned by Neil Dolmage, RR 4, Walton weighing 1890 lbs. sold for $63.75. Two Holstein cows consigned by Derk Logtenberg, RR 1, Dungann­ on weighing 1235 lbs. sold for $62.91. Eight cows consigned by Tom Black, RR 1, Belgrave, weigh­ ing 1103 lbs. sold for $64.60. Three cows consigned by Drennan Farms, RR 1, Dungannon weighing 1510 lbs. sold for $61.67. Five cows consigned by Murray Johnston, RR 2, Bluevale weighing 1252 lbs. sold for $60.45. One cow consigned by Bev McNay, RR 3, Lucknow weighing 1340 lbs. sold for $62. Six cows consigned by Doug Scott, RR 7, Lucknow weigh­ ing 1268 lbs. sold for $58.07. One bull consigned by Jim Armstrong, RR 2, Listowel weighing 1750 lbs. sold for $75.50. One bull consigned by Gerald Murray, RR 5, Holyrood weighing 1810 lbs. sold for $74. Pigs under 40 lbs. averaged $111.58; 40 to 60 lbs., $86.47; over 60 lbs., $86.93. WIN A TRIP TO ORLANDO SAT. FEB. 10, 1990 BRUSSELSOPTIMISTS VALENTINEDANCE &DRAW $9. per ticket AVAILABLEFROM ANY OPTIMIST MEMBER Arrangements by Hanover Travel Farm Calls for licencing rejected by farmers Top pork producers were hon­ oured at the annual meeting of the Huron County Pork Producers Association in Blyth Wednesday. The prize for the top indexing average among shippers of 50 to 100 hogs was Diane Peckitt with an index of 108.2. In the 100 to 500 hog bracket, Harold Eskritt had the top index of 108.4. In the 500 - 1000 hog category, Johana Brand had the top index of 107.1 while in the 1000 hog and over category, Rick Govers had a top index of 108.2. 0 I! 0 Two resolutions that would have licenced pork producers and their facilities were defeated by produ­ cers at the Huron County Pork Producers Association annual meeting in Blyth Wednesday. Jim Hunter of Grey township proposed the two resolutions point­ ing out pork producers have an image problem with urban people who worry about animal welfare. In Europe there are already licences for farmers, he said. He suggested that if farmers entered into their own licencing system it would help head off the image that farmers aren’t professionals and show that farmers have concerns for the welfare of their animals. Licencing would limit the number of people who come into the industry with no idea of what animals need, he said. “If we do it (licencing) and we set it up it’s less likely to be imposed on us,” he said. Politicians might jump on the bandwagon if there is pressure from urban residents, he said and it would be better for farmers to look after licencing themselves. The second resolution called for Meeting to look at Crop Insurance changes The Huron County Federation of Agriculture is sponsoring a meet­ ing to hopefully resolve 1989 Hay Crop Insurance problems on Wed­ nesday, January 31 in the cafeteria of Central Huron Secondary School, Cliaton. The agenda will include an update on crop insurance and the changes coming up in 1990 on all crop insurance. There will be a question and answer period follow­ ing. Guest speakers are: Steve Willis, Commodity Specialist with the Crop Insurance Commission of Ontario and Gordon Hill, Chair­ man. For more information contact Brenda McIntosh 522-0358. licencing of new hog facilities to make sure they live up to the code of practice set up for animal welfare. Mr. Hunter pointed out the licencing would affect only new facilities not existing ones. “Any­ one who’s afraid of having new buildings that wouldn’t live up to the code of practice isn’t serious about the code”, he said. Both resolutions were lost. Also lost at the meeting was a resolution calling for the OPPMB to support supply management in the pork industry. Again Mr. Hunter supported the resolution saying “If we always oversupply to the needs we’ll never get the price.” It was pointed out that the 8 - 10,000 hogs produced extra to the province’s needs each week cost Continued on page 19 MONOWAY FARMS Wayne Fear and Sons YORKSHIRE LANDRACE DU ROC HAMPSHIRE Quality Swine Approved Boars Priced $300 and up • ROP PerformanceTested giltsand boars from a herd with very good motheringability •QS F1 York x Land race gilts, open or bred, available on a regular basis. YORK,LANDRACE, HAMPSHIRE, DUR0C& DUROCXHAMPBOARS Herd Classified Good * * by theAnimal Industry Branch; Quality Swine Approved Contact Wayne Fear at MONOWAY FARMS 6MILES WESTOF BRUSSELSON HURON RD. #16 Call Wayne anytime at 519-887-6477 Call Gord at noon or after six p.m. at 519-887-6668 Q.S. Rep. Don Ruttan RR7-98R4 Between 7- ANNOUNCEMENT MARLOWE EMKE Cook’s Division of Parrish & Heimbecker, Limited is pleased to announce the appointment of Marlowe Emke to the position of Agri-Sales Representative at the Amberley Branch. Marlowe’s agricultural background includes extensive sales and management experience in the Kincardine/Port Elgin area. This appointment reflects Cook’s continued commitment to serving the needs of our customers in our trading area. Drop by our Amberley Branch to meet our new team member and discuss your agricultural needs. Division Of Parrish & Heimbecker, Limited AMBERLEY 395-3601 “Where you can trade with confidence’’