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The Rural Voice, 1989-10, Page 74RAINY RIVER Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER Box 416, Emo, Ontario POW 1 E0 807-482-2051 • The Rural Voice is provided to Rainy River Federation members by the RRFA. Beautiful sunny weather allowed District farmers to finish their harvest- ing in early September. There was a slight frost on September 9, but besides that and a few intermittent showers, pleasant weather dominated the Rainy River District this summer. Perhaps too much heat has reduced bumper grain crops, but most District farmers harvested their largest hay crop ever. The 30th annual Stratton Stocker Sale was the main topic in the District as September came to a close. All signs point to a good sale with top prices. RAINY RIVER DISTRICT 30TH ANNUAL FALL FEEDER SALE SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1989 SATELLITE TO LLOYDMINSTER, SASKATCHEWAN TORONTO STOCK YARDS OLEX IN KITCHENER DEADLINE FOR SALE ENTRIES OCTOBER 6, 1989 Directors of the Rainy River District Cattlemen's Association have com- pleted all the arrangements, and their plans are falling neatly into place. Several changes have been made for the October 21 sale, and it appears that they will have a positive effect. One of these changes is the return to co -mingled cattle sorted into larger lots. Directors have learned that order buyers prefer larger lots of quality sorted cattle. The many small one -owner lots had also resulted in higher costs when selling on satellite. Another change is the return to the three per cent shrink method of selling. All cattle will be weighed when re- ceived at the yard, and sold at three per cent pencil shrink. This is the same method used suc- cessfully at the Stratton Sale for many years, and coincides with stocker sales in western Canada. The three per cent shrink method will also eliminate possible delays dur- ing the satellite selling time. Cattle will be weighed and identified at receiving. Other changes include satellite to three separate locations. 72 THE RURAL VOICE The Stratton Sale will begin at 12:45 p.m. local time on Saturday, October 21, immediately following a western calf sale from Saskatchewan on the same satellite network. The increased number of cattle of- fered for sale, the same day, should interest the volume buyers. Also, the quality of District cattle will be judged in comparison to the bids on the Saskatchewan calves. Western cattle are sorted by quality, not colour. Order buyers purchasing western cattle are accustomed to this grading standard. Joe O'Donnell, a professional grader with the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool in Regina, will be responsible for sorting cattle at the Stratton Sale. Cattle will be weighed in, identified, and sorted into conforming lots. Some well -matched one -owner lots may be left intact or added to with like quality cattle. This sorting method is expected to streamline the operation of the sale, as well as bring top prices. Some of the younger District cattle- men, willing to learn this western style of grading, will assist the experienced grader. As well as satelliting to both west and east, the directors have contacted buyers in Winnipeg and Brandon to make use of the improved buyer facili- ties at the Stratton Sales Yard. It would appear that the directors of the RRCA have studied the problems, sought the advice, and made the recom- mended improvements. Now it is up to the producers of the Rainy River District to support the S tratton Sale by supplying the top-quality cattle required for a suc- cessful sale. FEDERATION OF AGRICULTURE The Rainy River Federation of Agri- culture recently presented a proposal to the new Minister of Natural Resources, Lyn McLeod of Thunder Bay, for better control of nuisance wildlife. Working in co-operation with Dis- trict municipalities, the RRFA proposes that control of nuisance wildlife should be administered locally but funded provincially. A committee representing a cross- section of farmers, trappers, and mu- nicipalities finally agreed that the root of the problem is inadequate funding for control of nuisance wildlife. The inade- quate income has resulted in fewer trap- pers to control a worsening problem. District farmers are losing livestock to ever-increasing wolf packs. District roads, farms, and woodlots are being flooded and damaged by a multiplying beaver population. The damage cost is becoming too high for rural residents to carry alone. Brigid Pyke, president of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, has accepted an invitation to attend the RRFA annual meeting on October 27. RRFA directors expect Mrs. Pyke will outline the problems facing agricul- ture and the reasons farmers should continue to support the OFA. With commodity groups all pulling in different directions, it would appear that only the OFA is concerned with agriculture as a whole. The problems facing farmers are growing as governments continue to cut back at the expense of those not well enough organized to defend themselves. Property tax rebates, U.S. border tariffs, and GATT negotiations are all problems too large to be solved by indi- vidual farmers. RRFA directors hope everyone will turn out to show their support for all the time and effort Brigid Pyke donates on behalf of agriculture in Ontario. The annual meeting is also election time. George Hyatt has completed two turns, and so a new president will be chosen on October 27. Four directors, the secretary, and the treasurer will also be chosen. Anyone willing to serve should contact an RRFA director. Peter VanBallegooie of Thunder Bay has agreed to stand for a second term as Northwestern Ontario director to the OFA. RRFA ANNUAL MEETING DINNER AND DANCE, EMO ARENA FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1989 BRIGID PYKE, OFA PRESIDENT TICKETS $12 AVAILABLE FROM ALL DIRECTORS RRFA, AND KAEMINGH ESSO IN EMO Dean Hodgson