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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2019-03-07, Page 12THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2019. PAGE 13. Total receipts for Brussels Livestock for the week ending March 1 were 1,745 cattle and 376 lambs and goats. On Tuesday due to the extreme weather, there was only a small run of fed cattle with no choice cattle on offer. Second cut cattle sold steady. Second cut steers and heifers sold $135 to $147. Cows sold on a strong active market. On Thursday veal sold steady. Lambs sold higher. Sheep and goats sold steady. On Friday calves and yearlings sold on a strong active trade at steady prices. Lyle Kinsman of Kippen, consigned five heifers that averaged 1,417 lbs. and sold for an average price of $141.95. One gold heifer weighed 1,385 lbs. and sold for $143. Reval and Sharon Dettman of Clifford, consigned three heifers that averaged 1,345 lbs. sold for an average of $129.74. One blue heifer weighed 1,250 lbs., sold for $134. There were 225 cows on offer. Beef sold $70 to $80 with a high of $82.50; D1 and D2, $59 to $65 with a high of $66.50; D3, $55 to $58; D4, $45 to $55. Scottslea Farms Ltd. of Blyth, consigned one rwf cow that weighed 1,815 lbs., sold for $82.50. There were 14 bulls selling $78 to $116. Alton Century Farms Ltd. of Lucknow, consigned one charolais bull at 2,035 lbs. sold for $116. There were 225 head of veal on offer. Beef sold $140 to $155; good holsteins, $106 to $111 with sales to $115; Sl heavy holsteins, $80 to $90; heavy holsteins, $70 to $90; medium holsteins, $80 to $100. Paul M. Martin of Lucknow, consigned eight head that averaged 832 lbs. and sold for an average price of $138.40. One limousin heifer weighed 835 lbs. and sold for $150. Lamar Frey of Listowel, consigned six head. One blonde steer weighed 840 lbs. and sold for $155. Stewart Martin of Mount Forest, consigned two head. One holstein heifer at 230 lbs. sold for $115. Lambs 50 - 64 lbs. sold $342 to $375; 65 - 79 lbs., $336 to $350; 80 - 94 lbs., $253 to $274; 95 - 109 lbs., $238 to $254; 110 lbs. and over, $186 to $229. Sheep sold $128 to $160. Goats: billies sold $150 to $300; nannies, $100 to $160; kids: meat, $320 to $440 / lb.; dairy, $250 to $395/lb. VanderNeut Farms Ltd. of Mount Forest, consigned five lambs that averaged 61 lbs. and sold for an average price of $375. Pete Lise of Teeswater, consigned six lambs that averaged 82 lbs. and sold for an average price of $296. Three lambs averaged 74 lbs. and sold for an average price of $350. Top quality stocker steers under 400 lbs. sold $182 to $215; 400 - 499 lbs., $184 to $252; 500 - 599 lbs., $191 to $239; 600 - 699 lbs., $182 to $216.50; 700 - 799 lbs., $182 to $195.50; 800 - 899 lbs., $180 to $185; 900 - 999 lbs., $175 to $186; 1,000 lbs. and over, $157 to $175.50. Top quality stocker heifers, 300 - 399 lbs. sold $165 to $205; 400 - 499 lbs., $144 to $192; 500 - 599 lbs., $173 to $200; 600 - 699 lbs., $152 to $180; 700 - 799 lbs., $140 to $164; 800 - 899 lbs., $149 to $168; 900 lbs. and over, $159 to $176. Bob Phibbs of Jarvis, consigned 16 cattle. Three red steers averaged 915 lbs. and sold for $178.50. Joe Sherk of Wellesley, consigned 21 charolais heifers. Eleven heifers averaged 1,007 lbs. and sold for an average price of $169.50. The economy is doing very well in rural Ontario says Huron-Bruce MP Ben Lobb and labour issues shouldn’t detract from that. Lobb was speaking to farmers and agricultural leaders at the Huron County Federation of Agriculture’s (HCFA) Local Politician Forum, held Friday at the Clinton Legion. Held annually as a way for the agricultural industry to inform and connect with local politicians. Lobb said he’d been attending the event for 11 years. Both he and Huron- Bruce MPP and provincial Minister of Education Lisa Thompson were praised for their commitment to agriculture. Finding qualified labour and being able to pay for it was a concern across sectors represented at the forum. Among the other concerns addressed at the event were trade, a lack of processing plants, new transportation guidelines, taxes on farmland and risk management programs. Meanwhile, both Lobb and Thompson reminded the group the province is in debt and encouraged farmers to search out and develop new markets for their products. “There are opportunities out there to market but no possibility for it if we don’t have the processing facilities to get it there,” acknowledged Lobb, referencing the 300 million Christians in India looking to enjoy pork in a country where there isn’t enough supply. “If we can fix our trade and processing issues there is tremendous opportunity for beef and pork products to go elsewhere,” he said. The whole issue of food infrastructure was addressed and it began with Harvey Hoggart, speaking on behalf of the Huron County Beef Producers. He said Ontario produces more cattle than there is capacity to process them. With the United States reducing how many Canadian cattle cross the border, cattle processing has backed up in Ontario. “We need more competition in the market but the only ones who can compete with Cargill Proteins are Tyson Food and JBS Food Company (both American companies) and I can’t see them wanting to come to Ontario,” said Hoggart. “Labour and process capacity are in my notes,” said Lobb, responding to the comments. “A lot of Canadians would be shocked to know that over 50 per cent of our beef is not grown in Canada. That is a significant issue and governments of all shapes and sizes want automotive plants in their province, very seldom do you hear that they want a processing plant, but we need to do just that. Just as you said, there is no competition and when there is no competition, you do not get fair prices. We need to look at food infrastructure... it’s a worthwhile discussion to have at this time.” Thompson agreed. It really struck her that American processing companies won’t come to Ontario because of the price and availability of labour. She encouraged beef leaders to communicate with Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade Todd Smith. “He will be focusing on automotive and agriculture because he knows both sectors provide great jobs,” said Thompson. “We need to create a climate where businesses think Ontario is a great place to set up. We need to make Ontario a place that is back open for business.” Other concerns for the beef industry are new amendments released by the Canadian government to the Health of Animals regulations concerning transportation. The new regulations will reduce the period of time that cattle can be moved in transport trucks. “Minimizing stress and preventing injury of animals during transport is always our goal,” said Hoggart. “However, when you reduce the transport time, that means you have more unloading times and that is where most injuries to cattle occur,” he added. Also, it would require more feeding stations, more pen capacity and increased biosecurity. Lobb agreed with Hoggart. “People and livestock producers are trying to negotiate nicely behind the scenes and I don’t think the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) used all the data to make a determination, which is unfortunate,” said Lobb. “There is nothing we can do about it at this time, but it would be good to have a review and talk to livestock groups to see what the impacts are.” After Hoggart spoke, each commodity had a chance to report on their industry. Here are the highlights: Egg Farmers “Our story is a positive one,” said egg farmers Brent Grainger and Stephen Beeler. With consumption continuing to rise six per cent year after year in Canada, egg farmers are building new barns and enjoying success. However, they want this to continue by reducing imports of eggs from the United States. Thompson advised egg farmers to make these concerns known to Smith as he meets with U.S. senators to discuss trade issues. Beeler educated the crowd about the future of layer barns, saying all new barns are required to be built with enrichment systems, allowing the chicken to “express their natural behaviour. It is very important to consumers that the bird can be herself and do what she pleases.” Lobb used the opportunity to say if he was ever reincarnated, he’d like to come back as a chicken and do what he wants. On a more serious note, he said he is aligned with chicken and dairy farmers that the United States/Mexico/Canada trade deal is not a good deal. “It’s like the trades the Ottawa Senators make – they give up a lot and don’t get much in return.” Pork Producers Labour is a huge issue in the pork industry, said pork representatives Geert Geene and Bill Dowson. Long-term solutions are needed while the Temporary Foreign Worker Program is critical to getting workers when local workers don’t want to work in pig barns. Lobb agreed, revealing that Sofina Foods in Burlington has never laid anyone off in the history of the company. They need more shifts and more capacity and can’t find the workers to meet that demand. The labour shortage is real and companies hang onto the workers they have. Geene and Dowson also wanted to alert the crowd of how fearful the industry is of African Swine Fever ever getting into Canada. The disease has decimated the sow herd in China and will have unheard-of ramifications if it gets into the United States or Canada. “Prices will plummet and we will have nowhere to bring pigs. Even if we stopped breeding today, it takes 10 months to stop the flow of pigs,” said Geene. To prevent African Swine Fever from getting into the country, pork producers are asking for specially trained detective dogs to be used at airports. These dogs can sniff out meat, which is how the viral disease would likely enter the country. However, each one of these dogs Agriculture Brussels Livestock report Small run of fed cattle on offer at sale www.hurontractor.com BLYTH 519-523-424443269 Amberley Rd. RR #2 Wroxeter Ph. 519-335-6813 Fax 519-335-4352 Jeff’s Cell 519-291-7777 Receiving Elevator for TUESDAYS 9:00 a.m. Fed Cattle, Bulls & Cows THURSDAYS 8:00 a.m.Drop Calves 10:00 a.m.Veal 11:30 a.m. 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 BRUSSELS LIVESTOCK Division of Gamble & Rogers Ltd. UPCOMING SALES Lobb, Thompson hear farmers’ concerns at forum A time to listen Huron-Bruce MP Ben Lobb, left, and Huron-Bruce MPP and Ontario Minister of Education Lisa Thompson, centre, were both in Clinton on Friday for the Huron County Federation of Agriculture’s annual local politician forum. Federation President Ethan Wallace, right, played host for the day, held at the Clinton Legion. (Lisa B. Pot photo) By Lisa B. Pot The Rural Voice Continued on page 20