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THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2004. PAGE 15.
Agriculture
Brussels Livestock report
Steers, heifers sell on active, steady trade
Total receipts for Brussels
Livestock for the week ending Feb.
20 were 1.536 head of cattle, 466
lambs and goats. On Tuesday, steers
and heifers sold on an active steady
trade. Fancy steers and heifers sold
$90 to $97 with sales to $117.50.
Choice steers and heifers sold $78 to
$82. Second cut steers and heifers
sold $68 to $77. The cows sold on a
fully steady market. On Thursday
the good holstein veal sold at prices
$2 to $5 higher. The plainer and
heavier holstein veal sold on a
strong demand with prices $5 to $10
higher. The lambs sold on an active
trade with the prices steady to the
week's decline. On Friday the calves
sold at prices steady to last week
with the yearlings selling at prices
$3 to $5 higher.
There were 369 steers on offer.
Enoch Martin, Linwood, consigned
two limousin steers averaging 1,395
lbs. which sold for $99.50. His over-
all offering of fourteen steers aver-
aged 1,420 lbs. selling for an aver-
age price of $93.53. Nineteen steers
consigned by Joseph M. Bauman,
Newton, averaged 1,368 lbs. selling
for an average price of $81.94 with
his top blonde steer weighing 1,415
lbs. selling to Norwich Packers for
$95. David Bowles, Brussels, con-
signed one black wf steer weighing
1,360 lbs. which sold for $90.50. His
By Elyse DeBruyn
Citizen staff
" During the annual meeting of the
Huron County Dairy Farmers
Association last Thursday in
Brussels, Bill Weaver, among many
guest speakers, spoke about the
Youth Apprenticeship Program.
Weaver, a former executive of the
Huron County Ministry of
Agriculture and a pork producer in
Chatham, told those present at the
lunch meeting, that the apprentice-
ship program will be a "better
opportunity for us as producers, par-
ents and employers," because the
apprenting student will know what
they are doing on the farm.
He said the primary reason for the
program is for the existence and
availability of qualified help.
"We need to have proof of indi-
viduals out there that have the abili-
ties that are important to the industry
(to know dairy farming.)"
Weaver explained that the curricu-
lum, which teaches information on
both dairy and swine, was created
from requests and questions of pro-
ducers involved in developing the
curriculum and establishing stan-
dards.
The two-and-a-half-year program
has no age limit, but does require a
Grade 12 diploma or a GED.
He said 90 per cent of the course is
"learning on the farm" and the other
10 per cent is in-class.
The in-class portion of the course
runs for one week every month from
September to April in Kempville
where the students stay in a resi-
dence until the week is over.
The staff (for in-class training)
includes local vets, who take the stu-
overall offering of four steers aver-
aged 1,425 lbs. selling for an aver-
age price of $85.25.
Nine steers consigned by Gilbert
Janssen, Hanover, averaged 1,373
lbs. which sold for an average price
of $84.90 with his top blue steer
weighing 1,385 lbs. selling to
Norwich Packers for $93. Jim-
Howatt, Londesborough, consigned
one black steer weighing 1,505 lbs;
which sold for $88.75. His overall
offering of twelve steers averaged
1,508 lbs. selling for an average
price of $82.16. Four red steers con-
signed by Bill Kerslake, Staffa,
averaged 1,361 lbs. selling for an
average price of $81.12 with sales to
$85.75.
Andrew Martin, Chesley, con-
signed one gold steer weighing
1,400 lbs. which sold for $87.75. His
overall offering of twelve steers
averaged 1,438 lbs. selling for an
average price of $79.08. Nine steers
consigned by Schmidt Brook Farms,
Woodstock, averaged 1,566 lbs. sell-
ing for an average price of $76.85
with their top limousin steer weigh-
ing 1,420 lbs. selling for $87.75.
Cunningham Farms, Lucan, con-
signed one gold steer weighing
1,475 lbs. which sold to Dominion
Meat Packers for $90. Their overall
offering of 41 steers averaged 1,559
lbs. selling for an average price of
dents out to modern dairy farms for
various demonstrations.
Class sizes are kept small, with
about 11-12 students in each, so that
"they can learn from each other."
"It's very practical. They get the
skills they need to be effective work-
ers on the farm," said Weaver.
Students are to be treated as
employees while completing their
on-the-farm-training.
A log book is used to keep track of
the different components taught on
each farm. As the student learns
each component, that section in the
log book is signed by both the
employer and student stating that he
or she has learned it.
For example a student is taught
how to put the feed in and taught the
food requirements on the farm for
quality control, Since each farm may
vary in operation, so does the
knowledge of each student. They
learn as they go.
Once the course has been complet-
ed, the students take a test created by
the Ministry of Agriculture. If the
students pass the test, Weaver said
they become a certified dairy hurst-
person, thus making them "more
valuable to you on the farm and to
themselves."
He said involvement with the
school system has a pretty big
impact because it is the "main
source of a lot of potential appli-
cants, especially when trades are
getting more popular."
Since the school boards have
some form of co-op component,
Weaver said apprenticeships should
be encouraged within the co-op pro-
gram.
"There is a great amount of inter-
est to get people in placements on
$75.75. Six steers consigned by Bob
McLachlan, Alvinston, averaged
1,358 lbs. selling for an average
price of $75.28 with his top black
steer weighing 1,255 lbs. selling to
Norwich Packers for $92.
There were 235 heifers on offer.
Clarence Dekens, Clinton, con-
signed one black heifer weighing
1,345 lbs. which sold for $98.25. His
overall offering of twelve heifers
averaged 1,262 lbs. selling for an
average price of $85.13. Fourteen
heifers consigned by Hugh Love,
Atwood, averaged 1,314 lbs. selling
for an average price of $76.98 with
his top red heifer weighing 1,240
lbs. selling for $93.75. John Martin,
Lucknow, consigned one limousin
heifer weighing 1,115 lbs. which
sold to Dominion Meat Packers for
$90.
Eight limousin heifers consigned
by Merkley. Farms, Wroxeter, aver-
aged 1,302 lbs. which sold for
$87.50. Sellers Farms, Bluevale,
consigned thirty-two heifers averag-
ing 1,446 lbs. which sold for an
average price of $81.96 with their
top six limousin heifers averaging
1,401 lbs. selling for $88.75.
One limousin heifer consigned by
John Wiersma, Blyth, weighed
1,360 lbs. selling to Norwich
Packers for $89. His overall offering
of two heifers averaged 1,388 lbs.
farms."
He said the co-op placement is
first, like a trial period, then leading
to a potential apprenticeship if both
sides agree.
The program costs $400 a year
which covers the tuition fees for the
in-class training.
With the slogan "learn. as I earn,"
Weaver said the cost to the employ-
er is modified and can be worked out
between the employer and student.
Students are permitted to com-
plete their "on-the-farm-training"
on their family farm, but are encour-
aged to apprentice on a different
farm.
selling for an average price of
$81.36. Jake Rylaarsdam, Clinton,
consigned twelve heifers averaging
1,353 lbs. which sold for an average
price of $76.66 with his top simmen-
tal heifer weighing 1,385 lbs. selling
to Norwich Packers for $85.25. Nine
gold heifers consigned by Tom
Hem, Woodham, averaged 1,324
lbs. selling for an average price of
$75.90 with sales up to $86.25.
Ivan Dane, Wroxeter, consigned
one limousin heifer weighing 1,370
lbs. which sold to Norwich Packers
.for $86. His overall offering of eight
heifers averaged' 1,521 lbs. selling
for an average price of $75.52.
Seven heifers consigned by Grant
Lehbrass, Alvinston, averaged 1,252
lbs. selling for an average price of
$74.90 with his top limousin heifer
weighing 1,250 lbs. selling for
$86.25.
There were 170 cows on offer. DI
and 02 cows sold $18 to $25 with
sales to $29; D3, $10 to $15; D4, $5
to $10. Donann Acres, Lucknow,
consigned one simmental cow
weighing 1,425 lbs. which sold to
Levinoff Meat Products for $22.
One charolais cow consigned by
Harold Metcalf, Wingham, weighed
1,730 lbs. which sold to Levinoff
Meat Products for $22. His overall
offering of two cows averaged 1,700
lbs. selling for an average price of
$19.54. Two gold cows consigned
by Jim Rapson, Walton, averaged
1,715 lbs. selling to Levinoff Meat
Products for $22.
There were four bulls on offer
selling from $14 to $17. Dorothy
Hamilton, Listowel, consigned one
hereford bull weighing 2,310 lbs.
which sold to Levinoff Meat
Products for $17. One holstein bull
consigned by Ben Van Miltenberg,
Seaforth, weighed 1,470 lbs. selling
for $15.50.
There were 151 head of veal on
offer. Holstein sold $75 to $85 with
sales to $97; Plain Holstein, $50 to
$70. Mark and Paul Pennington,
Mildmay, consigned two limousin
veal heifers averaging 710 lbs.
which sold to Highland Packers Ltd.
for $116.50. Their overall offering
of three veal calves averaged 717
lbs. selling for an average price of
$102.41. One holstein veal steer
consigned by Mark Pfeffer, Clifford,
weighed 645 lbs. selling to
Millgrove Meat Packers for $97. His
overall offering of two holstein veal
steers averaged 630 lbs. sold for an
average price of $91.14. Lyle
Kinsmen, Kippen, consigned one
holstein veal steer weighing 680 lbs.
which sold to Highland Packers Ltd.
for $95. His overall offering of
seven holstein veal steers averaged
719 lbs. selling for an average price
of $81.07.
Lambs, 50 - 64 lbs. sold $139 to
$162; 65 - 79 lbs., $112 to $137; 80
- 94 lbs., $81 to $107; 95 - 109 lbs.,
$67 to $96.
Goats sold $15 to $51.
Sheep sold $45 to $60.
Top quality stocker steers, under
400 lbs. sold $74 to $99; 400 - 499
_lbs., $81 to $105; 500 - 599 lbs., $78
to $96.50; 600 - 699 lbs., $72 to $87;
700 - 799 lbs., $60 to $87; 800 - 899
lbs., $65.50 to $96.50; 900 - 999
lbs., $64 to $108; 1,000 lbs. and
over, $70.50 to $82.50.
Top quality stocker heifers, 300 -
399 lbs., sold to $64; 400 - 499 lbs.,
$61 to $88; 500 - 599 lbs., $60 to
$79; 600 - 699 lbs., $65 to $71; 700
- 799 lbs., $65 to $73; 800 - 899 lbs.,
$64.50 to $73; 900 lbs. and over, $60
to $85.50.
,Dairy producers learn
about apprentice program