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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1997-04-02, Page 14PAGE 14. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2,1997 Brussels Livestock report Mux Lea Farms heifers reach $97.25 The sales at Brussels Livestock for the week ending March 29 were: fed cattle, 474; cows, 275; veal calves, 186; lambs and goats, 50 and Stockers, 1,301. Fed steers and heifers sold on a good steady active trade. Cows sold steady. Veal sold on a strong active trade. Lambs sold steady. All stockers sold on a strong active trade. There were 288 steers on offer selling from $88 to $94 to die high of $101. Twenty steers consigned by Jim Howatt, Londesboro, averaging 1,436 lbs. sold for an average of $93.81 with sales to $101. Ten steers consigned by Kada Farms, Bluevale, averaging 1,318 lbs. sold for an average of $93.20 with sales to $97.25. Fifty- two steers consigned by Cunning­ ham Farms, Lucan, averaging 1,421 lbs. sold for an average of $91.60 with sales to $96.50. Three steers consigned by Tom and Ernie Lobb, Clinton, averaging 1,502 lbs. sold for an average of jp arm MPP Johns discusses rural health care issue Health care in Huron and Perth Counties cannot support the cost of eight Chief Executive Officers earning $100,000 each (plus staff), Helen Johns told the annual Mem­ bers of Parliament Dinner of the Huron County Federation of Agri­ culture in Clinton March 22. Speaking to a concern raised in a brief from the Huron County Pork Producers' Association, Johns said she had urged the eight hospitals to do something about the situation but they had been unable to reach an agreement until the Task Force of the District Health Council had proposed a plan that appeared to close four hospitals. Johns claimed people had jumped to premature conclusions on the possibility of closures. "I don t think there was ever the intention that four hospi­ tals would close," she said. Now, she said, before the provin­ cial hospital restructuring commis­ sion moves into rural areas the government has decided there should be a re-examination of the rules for rural health care. "The bottom line is that right now the system is not working." Hospital beds have been sitting unused for a decade, she said, but it costs money to maintain those beds even if they aren't used. The gov­ ernment is trying to reassign the money to get a better system, she said. Right now the government can't pay the doctors what they want and rural areas can't attract doctors. Johns reminded listeners that it was her government that began paying doctors a $70 an hour fee to make sure there would be doctors in emergency rooms in rural hospitals. Johns suggested hospitals should rent out their extra space to health- related businesses to make extra revenue. Despite the perception of cuts, Johns said, the government has not cut money from the system. In fact the cost of healthcare is likely to be $18.4 billion this year, up from $91.49 with sales to $93.75. Fifteen steers consigned by Don Culbert, Dungannon, averaging 1,387 lbs. sold for an average of $90.52 with sales to $92. Four steers consigned by George Goetz, Mildmay, aver­ aging 1,419 lbs. sold for an average of $89.45 with sales to $91.75. Two steers consigned by Kenneth Scott, Teeswater, averag­ ing 1,390 lbs. sold for an average of $90.82 with sales to $91.50. Two steers consigned by Gordon Daer, Auburn, averaging 1,200 lbs. sold for $90.25. Seven steers consigned by Ross Battin, Monkton, averaging 1,366 lbs. sold for an average of $89.28 with sales to $90.25. Ten steers consigned by Mary Blackler, Kirkton, averaging 1,255 lbs. sold for an average of $89.21 with sales to $90. There were 172 heifers on offer selling from $88 to $94 to the high of $97.25. Fourteen steers consigned by Mux Lea Farms, Woodstock, averaging 1,179 lbs. $17.3 when the government took office in 1995. Carol Mitchell, reeve of Clinton and a member of the Clinton Public Hospital board, said she applauded the eight Huron-Perth hospitals for getting together to find a solution (by agreeing to some cuts nd one administration). Speaking about the new rural health care policy, she told Johns, "I hope that the rural health care policy will be what we need to ensure that we can provide health care for rural areas." She also wondered if provincial funding cuts would leave the bur­ den of cuts on the local level. Under provincial downloading, municipalities will be responsible for 50 per cent of the cost of home care in 1998, at a time when the province is calling for greater use of homecare to shorten hospital stays. When the government talks about "reinvesting" the savings from hospital closings, she said, "whose money are we reinvesting?" Johns and Huron-Bruce MP Paul Steckle clashed briefly over the part played by the federal govern­ ment in health care cuts. Johns said the province had to make cuts to government programs because of federal funding cuts and the deficit. Steckle claimed that the federal government cut its funding to Ontario for health and social ser­ vices from $10.3 billion in 1993-94 to $9.1 billion in 1998-99 while the province has, through its proposed 30 per cent provincial income tax reduction, reduced its income by $5 billion. As well, he said, by bring­ ing interest rates down substantial­ ly, the federal government is saving the province $500 million a year in interest payments on the debt. Johns said Steckle was using 1998-99 figures when the federal government's contribution will start to climb again and said part of the interest rate saving was due to lenders giving Ontario a better rate because they have more confidence in the government now. sold for an average of $91.53 with sales to $97.25. Seven heifers consigned by Darren Johnston, Bluevale, averaging 1,280 lbs. sold for an average of $90.78 with sales to $97. Nine heifers consigned by Woodham Farms, Woodham, averaging 1,199 lbs. sold for an average of $80.88 with sales to $94.25. Six heifers consigned by Pete Dewys, Varna, averaging 1,192 lbs. sold for an average of $90.55 with sales to $94. Seven heifers consigned by Decroft Farms Limited, Clinton, averaging 1,074 lbs. sold for an average of $91.31 with sales to $93.75. Four heifers consigned by Corgercrest Farms Ltd., Seaforth, averaging 1,291 lbs. sold for an average of $88.72 with sales to $92.50. Nine heifers con­ signed by Allan Thornton, Gorrie, averaging 1,231 lbs. sold for an average of $88.92 with sales to $90.50. Six heifers consigned by Frank Scheuerman, Cargill, averaging AfP fights to cut costs Paul Steckle promised to contin­ ue the fight to cut the cost of the new Pest Management Registration Agency (PMRA) when he spoke to the Huron County Federation of Agriculture's Members of Parlia­ ment Dinner in Clinton, March 22. The MP for Huron-Bruce said "It's an issue that's not going to go away," adding that rural MPs are constantly lobbying David Ding­ wall, Ministry of Health under whose jurisdiction the new PMRA is set up. The agency will seek to recover the cost of registering pes­ ticides from the users. But Everett Ridder, representing the Huron County Fruit Growers Association, said that Canada is too small a market in some specialty products to be able to recover the full cost of testing a new chemical from the small number of users. He argued that registration must be harmonized with other countries so these chemicals don't have to be re­ tested for the Canadian market. "Unless the rules are harmonized with other countries, we are at a competitive disadvantage," he told Steckle. Canadian farmers cannot use some chemicals "even though produce treated with these chemi­ cals we can't use is allowed into Canada". Steckle said while he shared the concerns, there are some false impressions about the size of the new agency. "I'm not suggesting they need 400 people but it's not as if they hired 200 new people. These people were already there under the agriculture and food and environ­ ment departments." (Staff from three federal departments are being Custom cleaning and/or treating of: Soybeans and Small Grains in Brussels Area K. & L. BRAY FARMS Ethel, Ontario (519) 887-6553 1,062 lbs. sold for an average of $85.03 with sales to $89.50. Four heifers consigned by Normangrove Farms, Wingham, averaging 1,276 lbs. sold for an average of $87.12 with sales to $89.50. Four heifers consigned by Glen Kerr, Palmer­ ston, averaging 1,296 lbs. sold for an average of $88.29 with sales to $88.75. There were 275 cows on offer selling from $45 to $61 to the high of $68.50. One cow consigned by John Geiger, Zurich, weighing 1,250 lbs. sold for $68.50. Two Limousin cows consigned by Rick and Allan Craig, Caledon East, averaging 1,203 lbs. sold for an average of $63.24 with sales to $66.50. One Limousin cow consigned by Gary Van Camp, Brussels, weighing 1,475 lbs. sold for $64. There were 11 bulls on offer selling from $52.50 to $58 to the high of $63.50. One Charolais bull consigned by Eli B. Bowman, brought together in the new agen­ cy). In addition, he said, the cost of operating the agency has dropped from $16 million to $12.7 and "I think it will come down more. The pressure is still on." Bob Down of Hensail, president of the Ontario Corn Producers' Association, praised the help given by rural MPs in Ottawa, saying the progress made so far wouldn't have been possible without them. Still, he said, he is concerned by the number of people involved in the agency. Down also warned that the PMRA is just the foot-in-the-door of cost recovery and both federal and provincial governments will be looking for ways to make others pay Tor the work previously done by government "That's one of the reasons we're fighting hard." Ken Kelly, vice-president of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, agreed with complaints about the number of people to be employed by the agency. "There is no need to continue to stimulate Ottawa job creation," he said. There needs to be a new effort to get people to accept a benefitter- pay system, not a user-pay system, Kelly said. The real benefit of PMRA goes to consumers, not to farmers, he said. Farmers will be hurt by having to pay more for chemicals under the PMRA because "we have no way to pass on the cost" FRIDAYS UPCOMING TUESDAYS 9 a.m. Finished Cattle & Cows THURSDAYS 10:00 a.m. Bob Calves Veals followed by Goats Sheep & Lambs Stocker Cattle Pigs 887-6461 Holyrood, weighing 1,400 lbs. sold for $62. Two Charolais bulls consigned by Sam Snobelen, Ripley, averaging 1,503 lbs. sold for an average of $55.43 with sales to $58. There were 186 veal on offer selling: Beef, $80 to $111; Hol­ stein, $75 to $85; Plain Holstein, $55 to $70. Eight veal consigned by Don Smith, Mount Forest, averaging 676 lbs. sold for an average of $91 with sales to $111. Four veal consigned by John Verburg, Londesboro, averaging 645 lbs. sold for an average of $97.90 with sales to $108. Five veal consigned by Mark and Paul Pennington, Mildmay, averaging 667 lbs. sold for an average of $95.84 with sales to $102. Lambs, 50 to 79 lbs., sold $200 to $22. Sheep sold $33 to $56. Goats sold $20 to $90. Steers, under 400 lbs., sold $96 to $105; 400 - 499 lbs., $85 to $110; 500 - 599 lbs., $80 to $113; 600 - 699 lbs., $74 to $111; 700 to 799 lbs., $76.50 to $103.50; 800 to 899 lbs., $86 to $111.50; and 900 lbs. and over, $80.50 to $103.50. Heifers, 300 - 399 lbs.* sold $74 to $109; 400 to 499 lbs., $79 to $105; 500 to 599 lbs., $82 to $101.50; 600 to 699 lbs., $72 to $102; 700 to 799 lbs., $80.50 to $98; 800 to 899 lbs., $92 to $101.50; 900 lbs. and over, $68 to $94. Plain stockers sold $38 to $58. Robert Mathers It is with deep regret that we inform you of the untimely death of Robert (Bob) Mathers. He suffered a massive heart attack. Many of you maybe think he was Bob McGavin for when he called you he said "This is Bob at McGavin’s". He was 51 years of age and employed with us for 20 years. Bob is survived by his wife Judy, sons Jeff and Bradley and a cherished grandson Charley Also left to moum are his mother Mrs. Charles Mathers, 2 sisters and 2 brothers and Judy's family The Mathers home address is: R.R.*2,Listowel,ON N4W 3G7 We would appreciate hearing from you if you have any outstanding business through contacts with Bob. He was a valued employee and we will cherish his memory The staff of McGavin's