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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1998-02-25, Page 25Page 24 Times -Advocate; February 25, 1998 Maple syrup season gets underway Local maple syrup producers are cautiously optimistic about this year's potential By Kate Monk T -A Reporter iLDERTON - The sap is running! Ross Daily of CFPL-TV officially opened the 1998 maple syrup last Wednesday. at Rolling Ridge Maple Products near llderton. Local maple syrup producers are Cautiously optimistic about this year's syrup season. The Robson family, owners of Rolling Ridge, have been tapping for more than a week although the trees arc far from reaching peak production. March is the key month for sap production and the main concern of Nelson McLaughlin is that the weather doesn't warm up six) quickly and cause the maple buds -'to open. McLaughlin. the president of the South West District Ontario Maple Syrup Association said ideal weather has warm. sunny days and cool nights. As Soon. as the buds open, the sap takes on a hitter taste which puts an. end to the syrup sea- son. it takes 40 liters of sap to make one liter of syrup and getting one li- ter of syrup per tree is considered to he a good yield. Most trees have only one tap although very large maple trees along waterways could have up to three taps. There are 70,000 taps in the south west dis- • trice, making it a $700,000 industry American .front, this Will he a year McLaughlin said maple syrup op- of• change for .the producers Ken .erasions tend to he family owned McGregor of Strathroy is the sec- and operated. relary of•the Ontario Maple Syrup "Even with a pipeline. it's still la- producers._ He said the weather will hor intensive." he explained. add- he the greatest influence. ing it's advantageous to have fami- The ice storm in the maple helt of ly members involved. Even so.. eastern Ontario. Quebec and the larger producers hire outside help. United States will reduce • pin-. He said it's a very good fit with a duction by roughly 10 per cent and cash crop- faint--PeepOrannn-takes'McOregor--said-prices-should-only place in January and February. Pro- increase by 10 per cent at the. most • duction happens in March and the due to the ice storm. season• is wrapped up in April. McGregor said'initial damage es- Approximately 80 per cern of the timates were higher hut once peo= syrup is sold on -the retail market- ple visited the sugar hushes. the es -- and the remaining 20 per cent is. timates were scaled down. Some sold. in hulk ' for food processing.' forests have extensive damage re- .The.profit margin is greatest in the sulting with only the tree trunks retail industry but the hulk market left. These damaged frees will still. takes the lower grade. darker syrup produce sapahis year hut Will even- -which has more fl:•vor. tually die. Asa result. some maple Value-added products such as . syrup producers will be out of busi- maplc butter. hard and soft . maple. ness for several years to come. candy. maple jelly and baked goods "The ice storm couldn't have are increasing in popularity. - - happened al. a worse time of the As well. several- maple hushes year." McGregor explained. Pro- open for public and school group ducers- , had . already purchased tours fill the' void left by govern- ' equipment and supplies for the sea- ment funding cutbacks to agencies son and had to lay out considerable such as conservation authorities. At cash to clean up their woodlots. Rolling Ridge Maple Produ, t., the As a rest 'r. the producers are .nearby church .even holds pancake "cash poor" which raises the -yon- lunches on Saturdays during the cern of banking lnstitutlons. maple syrup season. , In other parts of •Ontario the • On the provincial and North open winter has helped producers. Brussels livestock sales The sales at Brussels Livestock for the week ending February 20.'199/1. Fed cattle: 528 • • ' Cows: 264 Stockers 1166. Veal and Bob Calves: 457 . Lambs and Goats: 141 'Fed steers and heifers sold•S2 higher. Cows sold 52-54 higher Veal sold 54.55 lower Lambs sold -on a strong active trade. On Friday all weights of siockers,sold at prices S2•S5 higher. - , , There were 256 steers on offerselling from 90.00 to 95.00 to the -high of 10400 Fifteen steers consigned by Jim Howatt. Londesborough averaging 1428 lbs. sold for an average of 99 98 with a limo steer weighing 1430 lbs. selling to MGI Packers for 1114 00 Thirteen steers consigned by Alton O'Neil. Lucan averaging 1453 lbs sold for an -average of92.25 with sales to 103.50. Thirteen steers consigned by Schmidt Brook Farms Inc.. Woodstock averaging ( 562 lh, sold for an average of 92.21 with sales to 99.75: i-ourteen-steers consigned by Leonard Black Proton Station. averaging 1324 lbs. sold for an average of 89.61 with sales to 97.50. ' -Twenty-nine steers consigned by -Cunningham Farms. Lucan averaging 1427 lbs. sold kr an -average of 93 66 with sales to 97.25. - Three steers consigned by Dave Bender. Palmerston averaging 1252 lbs. sols for 96.25.' , Four steers consigned by Armand Fischer, Neustadt averaging 1332 lbs. sold for an aver• age of 95.45 with sales to 96.00. Eleven steers consigned by Don Culbert. Dungannon averaging 1362 lbs sold for an aser- age of 91.80 with sales to 92.75. One steer consigned by Rob Vanderveen. Brussels weighmg`1230 lbs. sold for 92.75 - Ten steers consigned by Ivan Schmidt, Hanover averaging 1105 lbs. sold for an average of 87.91 with sales to 92-.50. There were 262 heifers on offer selling from 90.01/to 95.00 ;o the high of 103 00 Eleven heifers consigned by- !Cada Farms,. Bluesale averaging -1276 Ills, sold for an aser- age of 96.86 with sales to 103.00: . Two heifers consigned by Groenberg Farms. Lucknow averaging 1127 lbs. sold kir anus = erage of 100.77 with -sales to 101.00. - - Five heifers consigned by S -Bar Farms. honorer averaging 1274 lbs sold fur an aserage of 96.12 with sales to 9925. ' - Five heifers consigned by Hugh Love, Atwood averaging 1189 lbs. sold for an average of • 93.82 with sales to 98.75. Eight heifers consigned by Charles Fischer. Mildmay averaging 1 136 Ihs sold for an aser- age of 9326 with sales to 97.35 _ One gold heifer consigned by George Poortinga. VA/Wham-weighing 1200 lbs sold for 95.25. Fourteen heifers consigned by -Mux Lea Farms. Woodstock averaging 1244 lbs. sold for an average of 91.40 with sales to 95.1)(): Eight heifers consigned by Woodham Far,ns. Wooiiham averaging 1262 lbs sold o ah sales to 95101. - , Four heifers consigned by David Bowles. Brussels. averaging 1121 IN sold for an aver • age of 92.39 with sales to 94 75. Two heifers consigned by Warren Weppler & Sons Ltd . Clifford aseraging 1107' lbs sold for an average of 90.05 with sales to 93 75. Thin: were 268'cows on offer selling f • 38.00 10 60 00 10 the high of 76 5t) ' - • Six cows consigned by K&A Beef Faith, Wroxeter averaging 1 390 lbs sold for'an aser- age of 68 41 with sales to 71150. One cow consigned by Groenberg Farms', Lucknow weighing 1325 Ihs sold fur 70 511 One luno cow consigned by Jeff Scott. t)rumtxr weighing 1325 lbs sold for 70 s0 There were 6 hulls on offer selling from 59.00 to 69 00 to the high of 72 1111' One sun hull consigned by George Sheehy. Narnston weighing'1885 lbs sold for 69 50 One I hull consigned by Jun Rapson, Walton• weighing 154(1lbs. sold for 69 (8) There were 370 veal on offer selling from. beef - 900010 141.001. hol - 700010 851)0. plain hul - 55.110 to 70.(0. Two veal consigned by John M. Martin. Holyroo d averaging 61.8 lbs sold for an average ut I 1 141 with sales to 141 001 Thier seal consigned by Hans Boonstoopel, Auburn averaging 627 Ihs sold for an aver- age ut 10.1 12 with sales to 119 51) - •- Seven se:d consigned t+y Henry Bus. Blyth averaging 687 lbs sold for an aserage of 96 54 with sates to 118 (x) Lambs -Under 51) Ihs.. 2000010 21(1(0. 50-79 lbs 175.(811(1115 0(1, 80-94 lbs 175 (X) Sheep 12 50111 137 50 Goats- 532 51) 6u SI .17 i0• Stockers-: Steers Under 4(0 Ihs _ 70.(0 to 121) lilt - 400 - 5(11) Ihs 10650 to 132 00 Sill) - 601 Ihs 106 50 to 122.(x) 60111 - 700 Ihs ' 107 (X) to 119.(X) 701' - 8(11) Ihs 11x) 51) to 114 50 • 111111 - 910 lbs. 95 50 to 11 1 50 900. 1(00) lbs. 87 SO to 106.00 1(11x) Ihs and over 72 (010 98 00 Heifers tinder 30) ibs. 78 (X) to 140 (X1 31111-41X1 Itis - 101 00 to 121.0(1 4(11)-5(8) lbs . 95 00 10 114.18) soo 61X) Ihs 921X) to 116 (0i 6(0-7(11) Ihs 89 Sl) to 111 50 7(X1 81X1 Ihs 81110 to 104 75 1100-9111) Ihs 76 (X) to .10.1.00. 910 lbs and user 72 S()1(197 50 - Don Taylor appointed to chair GUELPH - Noble Villeneuve. Minister of Agriculture. Food and Rural Affairs recently announced the appointment of Don Taylor as Chair of the Ontario Farm Products Marketing conunission (FPMC), pending approval by the Standing Committee on Public Appoint- ments. "Taylor's long-standing associa- tion with the Ontario agriculture in- dustry makes him an excellent choice for Chair of the FPMC," said Villeneuve. "His familiarity with a variety (if stakeholders and their issues will he an asset to the agri-food industry." Taylor has held several positions in the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs over the past 23 years. His most recent pose - lion was Director of Livestock Technology and East Region in OMALRA's Agriculture and Rural Division. Prior to that, he served as Principal at the New Liskeard and Ridgctown Colleges of Agricultural Technology. - Taylor succeeds Commission Chair Jitn Wheeler. who has .as - sullied the responsibilities of As- sistant Deputy Minister, Agricul- ture and Rural Division, in the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture. Food and Rural Affairs. The Ontario Farm Products Mar- keting Commission administers the Farm Products Marketing Act which provides for commodity reg- ulation under 23 marketing plans and each plan is adnunistdred by a producer marketing hoard. allowing them to get Into the wuud- Iots earlier in the winter: McGregor cited art example of a syrup pro: ducer on St. _.Joseph's Island in .northern Ontario who has increased his number of taps because there was less than one foot of snow in the bush. , ' The maple syrup industry is far from being tapped out. According -fa- McGregor,- there_are 70-mtllwn tappable trees in Ontario with only I.4 -million currently 'tapped. One additional factor•in effecting maple syrup production is the price of 'hardwood lumber. Although, the price has dropped in half since the autumn of 1997, prices had• reached very high levels in the past few years putting logging pressure on sugar hushes. , McGregor said several older pro- ducers who are at retirerhent age have opted to "cash it in" 'and have their woodlots logged. While re - 'moving older trees provides room for younger trees to grow, htgh- grading a woodlot '(removing the best seed trees). can compromise the Tong -term integrity 'of the'wood- lo_t. It's - s still, too, early to 'predict 'Whether this year's profits will he sweet ,or sour. •As In any, ag- ricultural endeavor. it's in 'Mother Nature's .hands. Denfield Livestock Sales Market report for February 17. 1998 The market at Denfield traded ori/a strong'demand at prices 2.00 CWT higher on all tlassas of ted.cattlr with Amencan orders'regaining 2.00-34)0 CWT Cow sold sharply higher. stokers strong: veal steady. sows and boars higher. Bill Kouwenberg. Glencoe had the high sale of the day for a Belgian Blue steer 1200 lbs. at 115.00 purchased by- Richard Heleniak fOr Norirricti Pack- ers: • DoerEedy and Mark Vanderploeg. Denfield sold 1 I- heifers avg. wt. 1356 •Ihs. rigs pnce 1.00 lb. Sales to 105.50 purchased hy,Clark Bros. Ross Duff. Croton said 6 steers avg' wt. 1428 lbs. avg. pnce 98.21 ' " Brain Pelleboer. Wyoming sold 6 steers avg. wt. 1252 lbs. avg. puce - Ralph Pgol, Wyoming sold 8 head avg. wt. 1311 lbs. asg. pace 93 19. MattMuller, Crediton sold 10steervavg. wt. 1427 lbs. avg.•p'nce 90.17 'Bob Hodgins. Lucan sold 14sieers avg. we, 1433 lbs. avg. pnce )0.58. Jim McLachlan. Watford sold 9 steers avg. wt. 1459 lbs. avg. pnce 90.85 Gard Hardy. Lucan sold 12 steers avg. wt. 1320 lbs. avg. pnce 90.11 . Carlye Thomsoh. Parkhill sold 9 h1;avy steers avg. wt. 1527 lbs. avg, pnce 87'56. , Choice steers. 92.00-95.00. sales.to 115 00: Good setters. 88.00-92.00: Plain ted .leer+ 80.00-83:00. Gouvl. fed Holstein steers 78.00-83 ()0: ' Choucc exotic cross hatters: 9400-98.00.'iales to 105 50: Good heifers: 86.011-92 (111, Common St medium: 70.00-80.00: Heifers cows 58.00-65.00: Good cow:. 53.00-60.00. Canners and cutters. 43.00--19:00: Shelli: 25 04./35.00: Direct to Backer cows over 600 lbs.. 1.07. ' Direct ti+ backer hulls 1.(19; Choice seal. 95.00-1.00:. - Good vc,ll 804)0-90.00, Plain'veal 6).00-75.10: (sid kulstetn hull solves. /3-00-133 00. Pi?• 40-60 Ihs .5111X1-9000: ' Sows. 32.00-38.00. • Boars: .28.00-10 00 ' Ross Daily of CFPL TV officially opened the maple syrup season at Rolling.Ridge Maple Products near Ilderton last Wednesday while Nelson McLaughlin, president of the South West District- Maple Syrup Producers kept a watch= ful eye. Producers are cautiously optimistic about -this year's season. - 5 S 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 a:FARM MUT UAL . FINANCIAL SERVICES INC. TOP UP YOUR RRSP WITH A RRSP LOAN AT PRIME MUTUAL FUNDS AIC, AG -F, DYNAMIC C.L, MACKENZIE, O'DONNELL, TEMPLETON, TRIMARK AND MORE. CI, ROYAL LIFE, , SEGREGATED FUNDS EQUITABLE -LIFE, TRANSAMERICA LIFE AND MORE. • John Hanson, Branch Manager 497 Main St., South Exeter, Ont. ' NOM 1S1 519-235-4000 Norris Peever, Goderich 319-324-6105 Bob McNaughton, Seaforth 519-527-1571 Graeme Craig, Walton 519-887-9381 - McMaster Siemon, Mitchell 519-348-9150 Barb Worden, Dublin 519-345-2777 G ICs TOP PAYING INSTITUTION 5 5 ® Ontario Ontario • Fair Assessment System Want to know more about your property assessment? ,Over the past 12 months, all properties in Ontario were assessed on a fair, consistent and up-to-date basis. The new Ontario Fair Assessment System- requires that municipalities assist low-income senior •and disabled homeowners and allows them to phase in tax changes related to reassessment over a period of up.to eight years. Your municipality will continue to be responsible for setting municipal property tax rates. - During February, more than 3.8 million Notices of Property Assessment were mailed to individual property owners. - If you have questions about your assessment, you can get the answers you need by calling the Assessment information line at 1-800-827-1857, or by attending your local Community Assessment Information Session. Knowledgeable staff will be available toanswer your questions and to explain how these new assessments are fair, consistent and up-to-date: - Check.the list you received with your Notice of Property Assessment, call toll-free, or visit the -website for information about sessions in your area and about changes to Ontario's property assessment system. For more information: CaII the Assessment Information line at 1-800-827.1857 or contact your Regional Assessment Office. Or visit the website at www.gov.on.ca/FIN/engllsh/propeng.htm Pour de plus ample: renseIgnements, appeler 1-800-827-1857 ou contactor votre Bureau d'tfvaluat/on lonclere rdglonal. Ou consulter le site Web i www.gov.on.ce/FIN/french/proptre.htm 1