Loading...
The Citizen, 1998-02-11, Page 14arm Ont. Pork hosts meeting Assorted Lying Steno Coloured Roses boxed $42.00 (greens Includ Luann's Country' Flowers 523-4440 PAGE 14. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1998. Brussels Livestock report K. Bachert bulls tip scale at 1,427 lbs, sell for $86 The sales at Brussels Livestock for the week ending Feb. 6 were: fed cattle, 480; cows, 313; veal and bob calves, 380; lambs and goats, 124; stockers, 1,563. The fancy steers and heifers sold steady with second cut selling $2 to $3 lower. Cows sold barely steady. Veal and lambs both traded on a steady market. Calves sold $2 to $3 lower under pressure with yearlings selling steady. There were 193 steers on offer selling from $87 to $97 to the high of $105.50. Twenty-one steers consigned by Jim Howatt, Londesboro, averaging 1,473 lbs. sold for an average of $94.30 with sales to $98.75. Thirteen steers consigned by Schmidt Brook Farms Inc., Woodstock, averaging 1,507 lbs. sold for an average of $89.51 with sales to $98.25. Four steers consigned by Machan Construction, Monkton, averaging 1,296 lbs. sold for an average of $96.74 with sales to $98. Eleven steers consigned by Kada Farms, Bluevale, averaging 1,330 lbs. sold for an average of $91.65 with sales to $95.50. Four steers consigned by Karl Terpstra, Mitchell, averaging 1,363 lbs. sold for an average of $89.31 with sales to $92. Seventeen steers consigned by Don Culbert, Dungannon, averaging 1,385 lbs. sold for an average of $90.71 with sales to $91.25. Three steers consigned by Paul Murray, Ripley, averaging 1,400 lbs. sold for an average of $90.73 with sales to $91. One steer consigned by Robert Hunking, Auburn, weighing 1,370 lbs. sold for $90.75. Two steers consigned by John Govers, Crediton, averaging 1,432 lbs. sold for an average of $89.13 with sales to $89.50. Five steers consigned by Shawn McMahon, Bluevale, averaging 1,092 lbs. sold for an average of $85.90 with sales to $89. There were 262 heifers on offer selling from $87 to $97 to the high of $99.75. Sixteen heifers consigned by Johnston Farms, Bluevale, averaging 1,176 lbs. sold for an average of $90.83 with sales to $99.75. Three heifers consigned by Allan Thornton, Gorrie, averaging 1,140 lbs. sold for an average of $89.14 with sales to $97. Fifteen heifers consigned by Peter Sereda, Crediton, averaging 1,192 lbs. sold for an average of $91.42 with sales to $96.75. Twenty-five heifers consigned by Rick Govers, Crediton, averaging 1,267 lbs. sold for an average of $90.82 with sales to $96.25. Six heifers consigned by John Smuck, Wingham, averaging 1,068 lbs. sold for an average of $91.95 with sales to $96. Eighteen heifers consigned by Hugh Love, Atwood, averaging 1,153 lbs. sold for an average of $89.12 with sales to $95.75. Twenty heifers consigned by Gordon Dougherty, Goderich, averaging 1,210 lbs. sold for an average of $89.02 with sales to $95. Twelve heifers consigned by Harold Jonker, Orangeville, averaging 1,082 lbs. sold for an average of $92.80 with sales to $95. Nine heifers consigned by Bill Mainland, Arthur, averaging 1,315 lbs. sold for an average of $87.42 with sales to $94. Five heifers consigned by Terry Murray, Clifford, averaging 1,353 lbs. sold for an average of $89.26 with sales to $94. There were 313 cows on offer selling from $32 to $57 to the high of $68.50. Two cows consigned by Bruce Pewtress, Wingham, averaging 1,048 lbs. sold for an average of $60.55 with sales to $68.50. Three hereford cows bonsigned by Ron Well, Cargill, averaging 1,272 lbs. sold for an average of $55.55 with sales to $68. Four cows consigned by George Errington, Auburn, averaging 1,251 lbs. sold for an average of $52.09 with sales to $64.50. There were 18 bulls on offer selling from $55 to $68.25 to the high of $86. Two bulls consigned by Keith Bachert, Walton, averaging 1,427 lbs. sold for an average of $85.48 with sales to $86. One simmental bull consigned by Terpstra 'Farms, Brussels, weighing 1,765 lbs. sold for $78.50. There Were 380 bob and veal on offer selling: Beef sold $95 to $128; Holstein, $80 to $92; Plain Holstein, $65 to $80. Twelve veal consigned by John Verburg, Londesboro, averaging 662 lbs. sold for an average of $108.07 with sales to $128. Two veal consigned by Leon Brubacher, Clifford, averaging 683 lbs. sold for an average of $118.93 with sales to $125. Seven veal consigned by Henry Bos, Blyth, averaging 681 lbs. sold for an average of $98.75 with sales to $123. Lambs, 50 - 79 lbs., sold $172.50 to $192.50; 80 - 94 lbs., 1.140 to $162.50. Sheep sold $61 to $77. Steers, under 400 lbs., sold $106 to $128; 400 - 499 lbs., $99 to $121.50; 500 - 599 lbs., $105 to $120; 600 - 699 lbs., $96.50 to $114; 700 - 799 lbs., $92 to $107.50; 800 - 899 lbs., $94 to $116; 900 lbs. and over, $96.50 to $113. Heifers, 300 - 399 lbs., sold $72 to $120.50; 400 - 499 lbs., $89 to $114; 500 - 599 lbs., $87 to $118; 600 - 699 lbs., $84.50 to $105.75; 700 - 799 lbs., $70.50 to $105.50; 800 - 899 lbs., $83 to $94.25; 900 lbs., and over, $64.50 to $96.50. Plain stockers sold $50 to $65. Pork task force suggests co-op Ontario Pork should give up its monopoly on marketing hogs and concentrate on industry-wide issues while a new co-operative is set up to sell hogs for Ontario producers who want to join. Those major recommendations proposed by the Ontario Pork Industry Marketing Task Force were unveiled to Huron County Producers at their annual meeting in Varna, Jan. 22. Clare Schlegel of Perth County and Jody Durand of Zurich, two of the members of the task force, pre- sented the proposals, advising pro- ducers to discuss them at their county meetings so the matter can be voted on at Ontario Pork's annu- al meeting in March. The task force was set up after pressure from many producers to end Ontario Pork's sale monopoly and make it compete to sell hogs with other agencies, white taking the cost of marketing hogs off the shoulders of those producers who deal directly with packer. Various members of the nine- person task force visited Denmark, western Canada, and the mid-west- ern U.S. to study marketing meth- ods, a survey was conducted of 1200 producers and regional meet- ings were held with producers, before the recommendations were formulated. The recommendations are based on the reality that Ontario produces more pork than it consumes. Because the U.S. and possibility other provinces will continue to be important markets, the task force rejected the possibility of going to a closed system like the one used in Denmark. The objective of the task force was to build on the foundation of 50 years of co-operative marketing while allowing individual produc- ers to continue to explore new sys- tems of production and marketing. On that basis it was proposed that Ontario Pork create a separate sales co-operative for those producers willing to participate. "It is neces- sary to have the sales co-operative (or co-operatives) operate separate- ly from Ontario Pork to avoid any impression that universal service fees are supporting or subsidizing sales services in which all produc- ers do not participate," said Schlegel in a presentation prepared by the task force for presentation to producers meetings across the province. "Producers who do not use the sales services of the producers sales co-operative should not -have rea- son to believe that they are subsi- dizing the services they are not using. "This should also allow the sales co-operative to be more focussed upon offering the best sales service, without "political" interference." Schlegel also suggested the sales co-operative would have a freer hand to enforce qu'ality standards since it would not be supported by universal fees. Speaking earlier in his report as Zone A director to Ontario Pork, Schlegel said such a co-op could be the largest seller of pork in North America. Ontario Pork would no longer be directly involved in direct sales ser- vices but would instead concentrate on universal services for all pro- ducers. A transitional period of one year would be necessary to allow other agencies, both private and the co-operative, to be set up to market hogs. In that time producers would be allowed to market directly but Ontario Pork would also market on a fee-for-service basis. Ontario Pork would no longer be responsi- ble for scheduling of hog delivery to packing plants. Ontario Pork would, however, maintain the authority to collect sales related information. "Informa- tion is seen as by most producers as the most important tool to allow independent Ontario farm operators to compete with the large U.S. inte- grators," Schlegel said. While Ontario Pork might not need information on all sales it would be essential to have a statis- tically significant sample on an ongoing basis, he said. The task force found that Manitoba and Alberta, in moving to an open mar- keting system, were unable to maintain reliable and accurate price reporting of their hogs. "Price reporting takes on added importance in an open sales system, because producers will wish to compare the performance that they are getting from their sales system or agent, to that of the provincial average." Ontario Pork should also ensure that carcass-related information on yield, grade, quality and demerits is available for all producers and that industry averages are available for comparisons. Ontario Pork would then concen- trate on such universal services as research support, international trade development, lobbying on behalf of producers, consumer marketing, speaking for producers on issues such as animal welfare and envi- ronmental management, and devel- oping and enforcing standards of production, transportation and wel- fare. Ontario Pork, once it is removed from the adversarial position of try- ing to bargain with packers for the best price, could then work more closely with all segments of the industry, the task force said. McQuails hold community garden meeting The ground may be frozen but members of the Meeting Place Organic Farm Community Garden gathered at the McQuail farm on Saturday to make plans for the coming growing season. The garden, which supplies the fresh summer vegetables and storable vegetables for the winter, is located about 10 km south east of Lucknow. It has 30 members from Wingham, Kincardine, Teeswater, Lucknow and Blyth. McQuail's do the planting, weeding and harvesting. The garden members buy a share in the garden in the spring, then once a week during the growing season they pick up a week's worth of fresh organic vegetables from the Continued on page 15 Ontario Pork still represents all producers, large and srrip.11, Clare Schlegel, Ontario Pork Zone A director told producers at the annu- al meeting of the Huron County Pork Producers in Varna, Jan. 22. SChlegel was answering angry criticism from Melvin Greb of RR2, Dashwood, who accused directors of selling out independent producers by contracting hogs to packers. "You're working for McCains (owners of Canada Pack- ers) not the independent produc- ers," he said, claiming the contracting of large numbers of hogs to packers was undermining the ability of smaller producers to compete. But Schlegel claimed Ontario Pork was able to let small produc- ers have more clout by going to packers with large lots of hogs. Cit- ing research by Dr. Kate Dewey, Schlegel said independent farrow- to-fmish producers who do a good job will continue to be major providers of lowest-cost hogs to the Ontario market. As part of one loop himself, Schlegel said, "we have to be care- ful or we'll put ourselves out of business, especially when the prices are bad like they are now." Prices have been hurt by the strike at Canada Packers which meant hogs had to be shipped to the U.S. at the same time as numbers of U.S. pigs going to market is close to record numbers. As well, Continued on page 15 BRUSSELS LIVESTOCK Division of Gamble & UPCOMING Rogers Ltd. SALES TUESDAYS 9:00 a.m. Finished Cattle & Cows THURSDAYS 9:00 a.m. Bob Calves Veals followed by Goats Sheep & Lambs FRIDAYS 10:00 a.m. Stocker Cattle 1:00 p.m. Pigs BRUSSELS 887-6461