The Citizen, 2006-01-12, Page 11.4;
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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.Plgs, Lambs, Goats & Sheep
FRIDAYS
10:00 a.m. Stockers
THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 12, 2006. PAGE 11.
Agriculture
Brussels Livestock report
Cows trade steady at last week's sales
Total receipts for the week ending
Jan. 6 were 2,251 head of cattle, 568
lambs and goats.
On Tuesday the fed steers and
heifers sold on a barely steady mar-
ket. Choice steers and heifers sold
$102 to $107 with sales to $110.75.
Second-cut steers and heifers sold
$96 to $100. The cows also traded at
prices steady to last week. On
Thursday the veal sold on a strong
active trade at prices $2 to $5 higher.
The lambs sold actively' on a strong
demand. On Friday calves sold on a
strong active trade with yearlings
steady.
There were 641 steers on offer.
Mrs. Minerva Martin, Mount Forest,
consigned one blonde steer weighing
1,420 lbs. which sold to Dominion
Meat Packers for $110.75. Her overall
offering of nineteen steers averaged
1,298 lbs. selling for an average price
of $103.99. Six steers consigned by
Ronald Horst, Listowel, averaged
1,433 lbs. which sold for an average
price of $104.53 with his top three
limousin steers averaging 1,390 lbs.
selling for $109.60.
David Bowles, Brussels, consigned
one black steer weighing 1,465 lbs.
which sold for $108.25. His overall
offering of four steers averaged 1,504
lbs. selling for an average price of
$106.44. Walter Riddell, Granton,
consigned four limousin steers aver-
aging 1,423 lbs. which sold to
Dominion Meat Packers for $107.75.
His overall offering of nine steers
averaged 1,419 lbs. selling for an
average price of $105.78. Twelve
steers consigned by Lawrence Martin
of Harriston, averaged 1,414 lbs.
which sold for an average price of
$105.30 with his top two limousin •
steers averaging 1,335 lbs. selling to
Norval Meat Packers for $109.10.
Edwin Bauman, Wallenstein, con-
signed three gold steers with the aver-
age weight of 1,313 lbs. selling for
$109 to Dominion Meat Packers. His
total consignment of eight steers aver-
aged 1,337 lbs. selling for $104.91.
Seven steers consigned by Lloyd
Frey, Harriston, averaged 1,363 lbs.
which sold for an average price of
$104.62. His top selling gold steer
weighed 1,230 lbs. and sold for
$108.50 to Norval Meat Packers.
David S. M. Sherk, St. Clements, con-
signed twenty-one steers averaging at
a weight of 1,380 lbs. selling for an
average price of $104.02. His top lim-
ousin steer weighed 1,255 selling for
$109.25 to Norval Meat Packers.
Ammon M. Bauman, Wellesley,
had his top two red wf steers average
a weight. of 1,268 lbs. selling for
$107.50 with a total consignment of
twenty-five steers averaging 1,335
lbs. and selling for an average price of
$103.67. Twenty-eight steers con-
signed by Ronjac Farms, averaged a
weight of 1,458 lbs. selling for an
average price of $99.96. The top six
mixed steers weighed an average of
1,435 lbs. and sold for $108.
There were 217 heifers on offer.
Dave Watson, Thedford, consigned
six limousin heifers averaging 1,423
lbs. which sold for $109.35. His over-
all offering of twelve heifers averaged
1,338 lbs. selling for an average price
of $105.79. Eleven heifers consigned
by George Horst, Paisley, averaged
1,310 lbs. selling for an average price
of $102.48 with his top gold heifer
weighing 1,275 lbs. selling to
Dominion Meat Packers for $107.
Tom Bender, Kippen, consigned one
black heifer weighing 1,135 lbs.
which sold for $107. Corgercrest
Farms, Seaforth, consigned three
charolais heifers averaged 1,348 lbs.
selling for $105.25.
Thirty-six heifers consigned by
Geoff Dalton, Walton, averaged at
1,396 lbs. selling for an average of
$105.04. His top limousin heifer
weighed 1,440 lbs. and sold for
$106.75. J&H Farms Grand Valley,
had three limousin heifers averaging
1,287 lbs. selling for $106.85. The
total consignment of thirteen heifers
weighed an average of 1,260 lbs. and
averaged a price of $104.69.
Matt Haney, Seaforth, consigned
seven heifers averaging 1,202 lbs.
selling an average of $104.58. Top
four gold heifers sold for $105 weigh-
ing an average of 1,319 lbs. Twelve
heifers consigned by Murray Switzer
of St. Marys, averaged 1,251 lbs. sell-
ing for an average price of $104.40.
Top five gold heifers sold for $106
weighing an average of 1,207 lbs.
Ross Baird, Wingham, consigned
three heifers, averaging $103.74 with
an average weight of $1,259 lbs. Top
roan heifer sold for $106.50 with a
weight of 1,085 lbs. Kevin
Stewardson, Wyoming, consigned six
heifers at an average price of $101.85
weighing an average of 1,284 lbs. Top
three charolais heifers sold for $105
weighing an average of 1,200 lbs.
There were 332 cows on offer. DI
and D2 cows sold $35 to $42 with
sales to $62.50; D3, $30 to $35; D4,
$20 to $25. Doug Johnston,
Holyrood, consigned one limousin
cow weighing 1,675 lbs. which sold
for $60.. Silver Dollar Charolais,
Ripley, consigned one charolais cow
weighing 1,865 lbs. that sold for
$48.50. Burton Eskrick, Tiverton,
consigned one simmental cow weigh-
ing 1,740 lbs. selling for $46.50.
There were 17 bulls on offer selling
from $25 to $49.50 with sales to $77.
Bill Pearson, Ethel, consigned one
limousin bull weighing 1,910 lbs.
selling for $49.50. Jason Borth,
Clifford, consigned one charolais bull
weighing 1,995 lbs. which sold for
$48.
There were 160 head of veal on
offer. Beef sold $115 to $125 with
sales to $134.50; good holstein, $105
to $115 with sales to $123; medium
holstein, $90 to $105; heavy, $75 to
$85 with sales to $90, George Horst,
Paisley, consigned one red veal heifer
weighing 695 lbs. which sold for
$134.50. One limousin veal steer con-
signed by Mike Kikkert, Zurich,
weighed 725 lbs. selling for $128.
Reuben A. Miller, Lucknow, con-
signed one red wf veal steer weighing
730 lbs. which sold for $127.
Lambs under 50 lbs. sold $165 to
$215; 50 - 64 lbs., $212 to $285; 65 -
79 lbs., $197 to $245; 80 - 94 lbs.,
$164 to $217; 95 - 109 lbs., $165 to
$179; 1101bs. and over, $150 to $164.
Sheep sold $70 to $107.50 with
sales to $120.
Goats sold $22.50 to $265.
Top quality stocker steers under
400 lbs. sold $95 to $141; 400 - 499
lbs., $105 to $139; 500 - 599 lbs.,
$110 to $138; 600 - 699 lbs., $116 to
$129.75; 700 - 799 lbs., $109.50 to
$128; 800 - 899 lbs., $100 to $121;
900 - 999 lbs., $111.25 to $117.50;
1,000 lbs. and over, $98.25 to
$121.50.
Top quality stocker heifers, 300 -
399 lbs., sold $85 to $124; 400 - 499
lbs., $104 to $130; 500 - 599 lbs., $91
to $122; 600 - 699 lbs., $98 to $124;
700 - 799 lbs., $99.50 to $123; 800 -
899 lbs., $98 to $117.50;
900 lbs. and over, $97.50 to
$120.75.
OFA Commentary
Bonnett says agriculture can impact election
By Ron Bonnett, President,
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
Agricultural policies announced
last month by the two main political
parties in the Jan. 23 federal election
offered next to nothing of value to
our farmers. Whoever forms the next
federal government has to under-
stand agricultural issues and imme-
diately respond to the farm income
crisis gripping rural Canada.
The large economic contribution
agriculture makes to society makes it
difficult to understand why Canada's
politicians are so reluctant to act
when foreign subsidies create tough
economic times for our farmers.
Based on 2001 statistics, primary
agriculture and processed food had a
Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
value of almost $11 billion for
Ontario alone, employing more than
650,000 people.
By electoral ridings, 11 came in
with more than $200 million of GDP
each - ridings such as Haldimand
Norfolk with $391 million; Chatham
Continued from page 1
Agriculture has recently sent
"Commitment to Agriculture" cards
to candidates requesting each person
running to provide their commit-
ment to delivering immediate assis-
tance to-farmers right after the elec-
tion.
"Approximately 69 per cent of the
labour force is tied to agriculture, so
it is important that not only farmers,
but businesses and residents who
rely on agriculture make agriculture
an election issue," a statement for
the federation said.
As of press time Grant Robertson
Kent Essex with $366 million;
Huron Bruce with 384 million dol-
lars; Middlesex Kent Lambton with
$359 million ; and Perth Wellington
with $383 million are major con-
tributors to the province's GDP.
Even primarily urban ridings show
up with millions of dollars- of GDP
from primary agriculture and
processed food - Toronto Danforth
with $51 million, Scarborough
Centre with $56 million, St.
Catharines with $105 million, York
South Weston with $81 million,
Hamilton Mountain with $94 mil-
lion, and Mississauga Streetsville
with $107 million.
Those figures illustrate just how
critical agriculture is to Ontario's
economic health. But unless our fed-
eral and provincial governments take
immediate action to provide income
support to the farm economy, those
economic bright spots are doomed to
fade.
With election polls showing candi-
dates running neck and neck in so
(NDP), Paul Steckle (Liberal) and
Dennis Valenta (Independent) were
the only candidates in Huron-Bruce
who had signed the commitment
card according to the Federation's
website.
Webster appeared on a local radio
talk show where he phoned in to ask
candidates about what they plan to
do for local farmers.
"They said it was in their platform
and never really answered the ques-
tion. All they have done is thrown
money at the BSE crisis. [I] felt it
was not adequate and that the politi-
cal leaders are not doing enough to . .
many ridings, Ontario ridings will
have a. significant influence on the
outcome of voting on Jan. 23. The
number of voters dependent on the
agricultural economy means Ontario
agriculture will influence the out-
come of the election - in fact,
Ontario farmers and those concerned
with their food supply, may very
well determine who will be
Canada's next prime minister.
As candidates present themselves
at all-candidate meetings, people
concerned about the future of
Canadian agriculture can get
involved - they can question candi-
dates about their positions on sup-
port for domestic agriculture pro-
duction and the standard of living of
producers and help voters decide
where to cast ballots.
The Ontario Federation of
Agriculture's national partner, the
Canadian Federation of Agriculture,
has arranged a debate among the
agricultural representatives from the
country's four major political par-
keep us afloat," he said.
"Some farmers have been forced
to liquidate their assets and I would
say that the Holstein and heifer busi-
ness is at the worst it's been since
the 30s."
"Agriculture has been missed in
this election and has been put down
to the back burner and [treated as if
it's] not important," he said.
Residents will have an
opportunity to hear the candidates'
opinions and ideas at an all
candidates meeting Alarmed for
Friday, Jan 13 in Holmesville at 8
p.m.
ties. This debate will take place on
Friday, Jan. 13, between 11 a.m. and
12:30 p.m. at Hart House Great Hall,
University of Toronto.
Agriculture's representatives from
each of the four main political par-
ties will square off for the debate
with questions coming from farmers
all across Canada.
By Bonnie Gropp
Citizen editor
It appears that Huron East may not
get the support it had hoped for in its
move to defer farm taxes.
At the county council meeting,
Jan. 5, Joe Seili, councillor for
Huron East, explained that for the
second year in a row, his council had
decided to defer the farm portion of
the property tax until the fall to
lessen the burden for farmers. He
then asked if othere were prepared to
join them. •
"A lot of people did take advan-
tage of it,""Said Seili, " and we urge
other councils to do this if they can.
It's not much but it is a help."
Councillor Dave Urlin of South
Huron had misgivings, however.
"We discussed this at our council
meeting and we don't totally agree
with this. Where do you draw the
line. We have the gas station owner
down the street who can barely
make ends meet, and the hardware
store owner who's trying to compete
against WalMart. I think it's a bad
way to do it."
Urlin added that there are three
The OFA and its farm family
members will be listening for clear
and unequivocal support for farm
income programs so desperately
needed by Ontario farmers.
Responses should help everyone
involved in the agri-food sector
decide where their vote will
go.
farmers on South Huron council and
theywere all opposed to the action.
Warden Rob Morley of South
Huron, said that members of the fed-
eration of agriculture had asked to
come and speak to council. "I
expect in early spring we'll hear
from them."
• Business relies on agriculture
Seili seeks county support
on farm tax deferral