Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1992-03-18, Page 11THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18,1992. PAGE 11. Premium cattle $1 higher at Brussels sale Sales al Brussels Livestock for the week ending March 13, were: slaughter cattle, 1200; cows, 252; veal calves, 206; lambs and goats, 64; stockers, 700; pigs, 145. There was a good strong trade this week. Premium cattle were $1 higher and other cattle steady. Cows were on a steady demand. There were 863 steers on offer selling from $82.90 to $88.25 to the high of $95.75. Seventeen steers consigned by Doug Gear, Orton, averaging 1326 lbs. sold for an average of $88 to the high of $95.75. Ten steers consigned by K & A Beef Farms, Wroxeter averag­ ing 1269 lbs. sold for an average of $90.85 to the high of $94.50. Twelve steers consigned by Paul Johnston, Bluevale averaging 1302 lbs. sold for an average of $87.50 to the high of $94.50. Twelve steers consigned by Bruce Bros., Belgrave averaging 1396 lbs. sold for an average of $88.25 to the high of $92.25. Ten steers consigned by Glen Johnston, Bluevale averaging 1307 lbs. sold for an average of $85.70 to the high of $92. Twelve steers consigned by Steve Foster, Linwood averaging 1370 lbs. sold for an average of $88.65 to the high of $95.50. Six­ teen steers consigned by George Blake, Brussels, averaging 1255 lbs. sold for an average of $87.40 to the high of $91.75. Thirty-nine arm steers consigned by Charlie Hick- ling, Barrie averaging 1335 lbs. sold for an average of $86.40 to the high of $91.50. Thirteen steers consigned by Neil Foster, Linwood averaging 1334 lbs. sold for an average of $90.75 to the high of $91.50. Twenty­ seven steers consigned by Cunning­ ham Farms, Lucan averaging 1417 lbs. sold for an average of $86.85 to the high of $91.25. Twelve steers consigned by Bill Andrew, Luc­ know averaging 1458 lbs. sold for an average of $86.70 to the high of $90.75. Thirty-eight steers con­ signed by Geo. Underwood Farms, Wingham averaging 1379 lbs. sold for an average of $86.60 to the high of $90.25. Fourteen steers con­ signed by Gerald Geisel, Elmira averaging 1497 lbs. sold for an average of $86.75 to the high of $89.25. Twenty-eight steers con­ signed by Murray Forbes, Clinton averaging 1338 lbs. sold for an average of $87.20 to the high of $88.10. Thirteen steers consigned by John A. Elliott, Ripley averag­ ing 1190 lbs. sold for an average of $86.65 to the high of $88. There were 252 cows on offer selling from $50.75 to $60 to the high of $68.25. One cow consigned by Michael Lane, Seaforth weighed 1270 lbs. sold for $68.25. One cow consigned by Jim Van Osch, Luc­ know weighed 1130 lbs. sold for $67. Four cows consigned by Mur­ ray Hastings, Wingham, averaging 1330 lbs. sold for an average of $63 to the high of $65. Two cows con­ signed by Dave Haldcnby, Holy­ rood, averaging 1175 lbs. sold for an average of $63.30 to the high of $64. There were 206 veal on offer selling from $68 to $90 io the high of $106. Nine veal consigned by Eldon Westman, St. Marys averag­ ing 552 lbs. sold for an average of $92.15 to the high of $106. Six veal consigned by John Schwarlzcniru bcr, Brussels averaging 553 lbs. sold for an average of $85.90 io the high of $96.50. Four veal con­ signed by Doug McBride, Centralia averaging 573 lbs. sold for an aver­ age of $88.65 to the high of $95. There were 145 pigs on offer with 32 paper pigs. Pigs 50 to 60 lbs. sold to a high of 66 cents per lb.; 60 to 70 lb. to a high of 58 cents per lb.; 70 to 80 lb. to a high of 52 cents per lb.; heavy feeders over 80 lbs. sold to 50 cents per lb. The paper pig sale at Brussels Livestock has been working well for both buyer and seller with a number of order-buyers quite inter­ ested in buying larger numbers. Anyone wanting to know more par­ ticulars, call Brussels Livestock. Saving money best reason to switch to no-till-speaker The number one reason he switched to no-till farming was to save money, Holyrood farmer Jim Gowland told those attending the Progressive Agriculture Workshop in Brussels Thursday. Mr. Gowland told the 50 farmers at the meeting, sponsored by the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority, that he felt he had to increase the profitability of his farm and had to find a way of doing more work by himself. He also wanted to cut equipment and ener­ gy costs. Since making the switch to no-till he has increased his cash crop acreage from 350 to 550-600 acres yet the amount of fuel he has used hasn't increased, Mr. Gowland said. He said he had tried minimum tillage but had found the equipment costs too high and was unhappy with the seed-bed preparation. The second biggest reason for the switch to no-till was environmen­ tal, he said. He worried that the soil structure on his farm would be destroyed if he continued yearly tillage. With light soils, he also worried about wind erosion. Prop­ er crop rotation has a tremendous impact on the soil quality, he said. He has also taken some vulnerable land out of production and planted it in trees to save the soil. Farmers looking to switch to no- lill should move carefully, he said. He suggested starting with a five- acre plot of good farmland to experiment with. Start with an easy crop to no-till such as wheat into bean stubble, he said. Only increase the acreage under no-till when you have been successful with what you've got and confident you can make the management changes necessary, he said. You have to learn the reasons for the mistakes you've made he said. Farmers should also work at the change at their own speed and not be rushed into changing too quickly. "It will take many of us a complete genera­ tion to refine and adapt to no-till cropping," he said. No-till farming is not just a change of equipment but a complete change in the way a farmer operates. He advised farmers to experi­ ment with equipment they have, then maybe rent equipment, before making a commitment to no-till. Too many farmers are looking to get grants to buy no-till equipment before they’ve had an experience, he said. "Only buy equipment when you're ready to make a long-term commitment." Equipment should be specific to the needs of the indi­ vidual farmer. No-till farming brings different weed pressures than regular culti­ vation and farmers must learn how to identify the weeds and know what chemicals to use. "If you don’t know what weeds they are you might as well save your money," he said. But the bottom line about all farming is "you've got to make money," he said. There were 322 heifers on offer selling from $80.50 to $88 to the high of $94.75. Forty-five heifers consigned by G. A. Stewart Farms, Ripley averaging 1164 lbs. sold for an average of $87.70 to the high of $94.75. Ten heifers consigned by Terry McCarthy, Dublin, averaging 1104 lbs. sold for an average of $86.55 to the high of $92. Ten heifers consigned by John Hunter, Grand Valley, averaging 1035 lbs. sold for an average of $86.90 to the high of $92. Eleven heifers con­ signed by Jake Versteeg, Clifford, averaging 1165 lbs. sold for an average of $88.90 to the high of $91.20. Three heifers consigned by Mur­ ray Wilson, Walkerton averaging 1227 lbs. sold for an average of $86.80 to the high of $90.25. Eigh­ teen heifers consigned by Lawrence Plaetzer, Auburn, averaging 1148 lbs. sold for an average of $85.75 to the high of $87.85. Barnyard run-off poses serious pollution danger It's not only important to look after manure from a farm operation, but also to look after the liquids that run off a barnyard, Harold House, Agricultural Engineer with the Clinton office of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food (OMAF) told farmers attending the Progressive Agriculture Workshop at Brussels, Thursday. Even if you want to deal with solid manure instead of liquid manure, you've got to deal with the liquids which arc a potent pollutant containing high amounts of nitro­ gen, he said. In years past farmers ignored the pond of liquids that surrounded a manure pile but now good manure management involved trying to pre- vent as much liquid as possible and containing any there is. Mr. House showed several possi­ ble plans for manure storage pads that also included collection areas Continued on page 15. <> ©Husqvarna Chainsaw* ; > Poulan PRO Outdoor Power Product* ; 1 ' > Oregon Saw Chiln ” z Windsor Saw Chain ,; GLEN SAWS RR #3 Clinton ; Over 30 Years of Service & Dependability ' 1 W. Gordon Glen ;> 482-9292 ■; Home 233-3175 :> Huron County Cattlemen's Association Beef Barbeque and Dance Saturday, March 28 at Brussels, Morris & Grey Community Centre Music by Beechwood Barbeque from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. Dance from 9 p.m. -1 a.m. $10. 00 per person Tickets available from local directors or call 887-6186 Door Prizes UPCOMING SALES TUESDAYS THURSDAYS FRIDAYS 10 11 11 1 a.m. a.m a.m. p.m. Slaughter Cattle & Cows Veal, Goats, Sheep & Lambs Stockers Pigs BRUSSELS 887-6461.......... ...... Division of Parrish & Heimbecker, Limited PRODUCER MEETING & CROP PLANNING SEMINARY Monday, March 23,11 a.m. South Huron Recreation Centre - Exeter Tuesday, March 24,11 a.m. Lucknow Community Centre - Lucknow Wednesday, March 25 11 a.m. Brussels Community Centre - Brussels Guest speakers include John Deputter and Charles Broadwell In order to plan lunch accommodation, please contact your nearest Cook’s Branch, prior to March 20th, to advise which meeting you plan to attend. Henaall 262-2410 WaltonKirkton Amberley Beechwood 395-3601 232-4281229-8986 527-1540 356-2292 887-9261 Centralia 228-6661 Parkhil1 294-6256