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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 1991-12-18, Page 14PAGE 14. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1991. Fight critics with facts, dairy farmers told Dairy farmers need to be more active in getting the truth out about supply management marketing boards, a speaker told the 100 dairy farmers at the annual Huron Coun ty Dairy Day at the Blyth and Dis trict Community Centre Thursday. Tom Core of Lambton county said that there is a lot of misinfor mation, speculation and innuendo in the media these days about sup ply management but "if we have Sales remain steady at Brussels Livestock sale Sales at Brussels Livestock for the week ending December 13 were: slaughter cattle, 1175; cows, 330; veai calves, 305; lambs and goats, 100; stockers, 1200; pigs, 175. This weeks' trade was steady with the previous week. There were 772 steers on offer selling from $70.90 to $83 to the high of $91.50. Seven steers consigned by Joe Michlowski, Palmerston averaging 1040 lbs. sold for an average of $87.45 to the high of $91.50. Six steers consigned by Dean Aldwin- kle, Vama averaging 1213 lbs. sold for an average of $83.25 to the high of $85.50. Twenty steers consigned by K & A Beef Farms, Wroxeter, averaging 1123 lbs. sold for an average of $82.45 to the high of $86.75. Nine steers consigned by John Lutten- bergcr, Wroxeter averaging 1103 lbs. sold for an average of $81.30 to the high of $86. Five steers con signed by Calvin Semple, Ethel, averaging 1360 lbs. sold for an average of $81.20 to the high of $84. Seven steers consigned by Eric Pott, Orangeville averaging 1191 lbs. sold for an average of $81.05 to the high of $83. Fifty-seven steers consigned by W. B. Pletch Co. Ltd., Rockwood averaging 1264 lbs. sold for an average of $80.35 to the high of $86. Twenty- three steers consigned by Gerald Giesel, Elmira, averaging 1400 lbs. sold for an average of $80.15 to the high of $83.75. Thirty-four steers consigned by Maple Ridge Farms, Brussels averaging 1295 lbs. sold for an average of $79.45 to the high of $81.80. • Thirty-six steers consigned by Cunningham Farms, Lucan averag ing 1485 lbs. sold for an average of $77.40 to the high of $85. Twenty- four steers consigned by Bill Hay den, Goderich averaging 1444 lbs. sold for an average of $75.50 to the high of $84.75. Ten steers con signed by Glen Johnston, Bluevale averaging 1279 lbs. sold for an average of $76.70 to the high of $81.50. There were 403 heifers on offer selling from $70 to $81.50 to the high of $81.75. One heifer consigned by Tevor King, Gorrie weighed 1100 lbs. sold for $81.75. One heifer consigned by Dale Sterling, Clinton, weighed 1240 lbs. sold for $81.25. Forty-two heifers consigned by Robert Stew art, Mount Forest, averaging 1281 lbs. sold for an average of $79.10 the facts we can shoot down these people." He mentioned a recent attack on supply management by business columnist Dianne Frances and an article in a consumers magazine by a writer who suggested the pricing formula for dairy products was off base because it allowed farmers the average industrial wage of $12 an hour but farmers weren't worth that much. So much of the media today is ready to print anything from any body, he said. "We are the most important people in Canada. I'm very, very sure that what I make for who I do is not excessive," he said. "I can't believe that anybody at the London Free Press or the Globe and Mail wants us to produce food at cost." He said he was sure that every person in that room was doing the best job he or she knew how. He said farmers needed to get the information on supply manage- to the high of $83. Six heifers con signed by Bell Hackett, Lucknow averaging 1078 lbs. sold for an average of $78.65 to the high of $81. Twelve heifers consigned by Wayne King, Gorrie averaging 1068 lbs. sold for an average of $78.35 to the high of $82.60. Twenty-one heifers consigned by Terry Murray, Clifford, averaging 1208 lbs. sold for an average of $77.85 to the high of $85.75. Six heifers consigned by Neil Rintoul, Lucknow averaging 1205 lbs. sold for an average of $77.70 to the high of $81.50. Thirteen heifers con signed by Ken Johnston, Bluevale averaging 1038 lbs. sold for an average of $77.70 to the high of $82.25. Six heifers consigned by David Proper, Wingham, averaging 1007 lbs. sold for an average of $76.85 to the high of $80. Four heifers consigned by Aaron Fischer, Ayton averaging 1125 lbs. sold for an average of $77.50 to the high of $83. There were 330 cows on offer selling from $44.75 to $57.50 to the high of $68. One cow consigned by Dale Anderson, Listowel weighed 1200 lbs. sold for $62.75. Three cows consigned by Warden and Glen Haney, Seaforth averaging 1373 lbs. sold for an average of $59.90 to the high of $68. One cow con signed by John Van Loo, Bluevale weighed 860 lbs. sold for $59.75. Two cows consigned by Charle McLeod, Glen Huron, averaging 1205 lbs. sold for an average of $59.50 to the high of $61. Two cows consigned by Gord Hender son, Brucefield, averaging 1350 lbs. sold for an average of $58.50 to the high of $60. There were 305 veal on offer selling from $72.50 to $90 to the high of $104. Three veal consigned by Allan Royce, Listowel averag ing 483 lbs. sold for an average of $99 to the high of $100. Two veal consigned by Doug Orth, Listowel averaging 420 lbs. sold for an aver age of $95.96 to the high of $98. Three veal consigned by Dave Elphick, Lucknow averaging 520 lbs. sold for an average of $94.35 to the high of $95. Three veal con signed by Doug Marroit, St. Marys averaging 537 lbs. sold for an aver age of $93.95 to the high of $104. One veal consigned by Willard Seigner, Mildmay weighed 580 lbs. sold for $93.50. Three veal con signed by Dr. Keith Dunston, Mild may averaging 547 lbs. sold for an average of $91.65 to the high of $103. ment so they could gel the real truth out. Mr. Core, who operates a 600 acre, 80-cow dairy farm with his brothers Ron and John (chairman of the Ontario Milk Marketing Board) was speaking on position ing farming business to meet the challenges of the future in the diary industry. He said he based his com ments on the premise that supply management would remain in effect. He said there is a really neg ative attitude on the farm right now and farmers need to put themselves in contact with other people who are positive about the future of farming. "It's real important to stay out of the coffee shop", he said, saying he had been in one twice in his life and that was more than enough. Among the challenges he has set for his own operation, he said, is to Huron's John Stafford heads Gay Lea Foods' board of directors John Stafford, RR 1, Wroxeter was elected Chairman of the Board of Directors of Gay Lea Foods Co operative Limited at a Board meet ing following the annual meeting held on December 5 at the Holiday Inn, Guelph, Ontario. Mr. Stafford operates a farm with his family in the area between Wroxeter and Belmore and has served on the Gay Lea Board since 1977. Also elected to the executive were John Hill, RR 4, Owen Sound, First Vice Chairman and Don Ahrens, RR 2, Elmwood, Sec ond Vice Chairman. Fred Meier, RR 4, Brussels was re-elected as a Director Zone 1„ The Co-operatives' pre-tax earn ings was down from last year's level and sales increased by 8.7 per cent to $157,000,000. The Co-operative will pay a com mon share dividend of $.60 per common share and a patronage div idend to its milk and cream produc er members returning over If you're “caught up” on a Christmas Gift... Send them a gift for every week! A Christmas Gift Subscription 52 weeks of the year, they'll be kept up to date on local happenings, events, who’s, what's, where’s, when's and why's ... we ll send them an attractive card on your behalf too! Find enclosed $20.50 ($38.26 If over 40 miles from Brussels) for a 1-year subscription for: Name.............................................................. .............. Address........................................................................ Postal Code................................................................. Send a gift card from............................................ get better computerized informa tion so he could maximize income per stall on the farm and look at the cost of production for both his dairy and his cropping operations. He also challenged himself to improve herd health. Il's important for farmers to keep up on information, he said, "read, ask questions and attend meetings," he said. He said he wanted to change his own thinking to look at manure as a resource instead of a problem. He warned that the environment will be the issue of the future, saying we're about 10 years behind the trends in Europe. Milk house wastes will likely have to be held in a tank, then spread on the fields, he said. There would have to be more control of runoff from manure stor age areas and farmers are probably not going to be allowed to spread $478,000 in dividends to member shareholders. Gay Lea Foods Co-operative Limited has operated dairy and food processing facilities in Ontario BRUSSELS LIVESTOCK Division of Gamble & Rogers Ltd. UPCOMING SALES Santa is getting manure in winter when the ground is frozen and can't absorb it. "Each of us can do things about that (the environment) now," he said. "We don't need input from government. We know the prob lems we have. We can do some thing about it a little bit at a time." Farmers need to develop a per sonal awareness, he said. "We have to understand more about ourselves so we can learn to deal with the world the way it is, not the way we'd like it to be." Farmers need to find ways to get their minds off their problems, all the way from meditation to taking long walks every day. And farmers need to communicate more, to care about one another and develop a sense of community. Farmers need to set goals for themselves and write them down, but be flexible enough to change as circumstances change. They should be willing to hire specialists to take in the complicated knowledge that they can't possibly lake in them selves: everything from accoun tants to herd health specialists to animal nutritionists but the farmer must still know enough to be able to evaluate the advice the experts pass on. “Caught Up” on a little reading 50 ■ (•38.26 If over 40 miles from Brussels) The North Huron itizen P.O. BOX 429, BLYTH, ONTARIO NOM 1 HO P.O. BOX 152, BRUSSELS, ONTARIO NOG 1 HO