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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1995-07-26, Page 16Page 16 Times -Advocate, July 26, 1995 Royal Agricultural Winter Fair: a necessary farm experience TORONTO - "It was the great- est thing in the whole world that ever happened to me! " No, these words spoken by an en- thusiastic grade three Toronto stu- dent, do not refer to a trip to Dis- ney World. She is instead summing up her experience at the 1994 Royal Agricultural Winter Fair. As one of the 40,000 school children who attended the Fair last fall, Diana spent a day in the coun- try without even leaving the city. Unfortunately, it might be the clos- est she ever gets to a farm. During the twelve days, while the exhibitors of over 10,000 farm ani- mals are busy promoting their products in and out of the show ring, the urban community has the unique opportunity to experience something they might otherwise be denied. "I might not be able to live in the country but I'm glad the country comes to me every year at the Royal! I like getting to see the animals up close" were the words of a grade three student after her visit last year. Another young girl feels that the trip is a very worth- while adventure as "it shows how life can be on a farm." It is comments like these, as well as the support from 900 school groups in Ontario, Quebec and even bordering U.S. States that show the importance and success of the Royal School Tours Pro- gram. Designed in conjunction with the Agriculture in the Class- room Program, the Royal en- courages students to develop positive attitudes and a better un- derstanding of the Canadian agri food system through hands-on activities at twelve different edu- cation centres. Children are given opportunities to operating milking machine, to grind wheat into flour, to tap trees for maple syrup, and even to grade I ef,gs. As well, the honey centre features a glass -walled honey hive along with discussions on bee keeping, while the swine booth in- cludes a sow and her new-born piglets. For many of the attending stu- dents, the Fair is the only direct contact they have with agriculture. Thus it is very important that the facts about the industry be present- ed to them in an interesting and simple but accurate form. According to evaluations com- pleted by many of the children last year, they seem to be receiving the correct messages. When asked what they had learned during thcir day, students demonstrated their new knowledge with answers such as "pigs have more than one baby"," manure is good for the soil"," a chicken can lay up to 300 eggs in one year" and "one cow can produce over 25 cartons of milk in a day". They were especially im- pressed by how hard farmers must work to take care of their animals. Sarah, a grade eight student, gave her reaction when she wrote that " on the bus ride over to the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, I was ex- pecting it to be another one of those stupid educational tours that I had to take... but I really enjoyed myself. I learned a lot. It was my first visit to the Royal but it cer- tainly won't be my last!" To the delight of the fair organizers, this is how most children respond. In 1995, the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair will be held from No- vember 7-18. New education cen- tres focusing on sheep, composting and worm farming as well as car- ing for pets and farm animals arc being developed. Other attractions include Seniors' Day and Food Day on Nov. 7 and 8 respectively. The ever popular Super -Dogs will per- form daily, while the Knob Hill Petting Farm animals will return to once again to delight people of all ages with their insatiable appetites for food and attention. If a day in the county sounds ap- pealing, or farm animals arc some- thing only previously seen on television, the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair is an event not to be missed. It is guaranteed to over- whelm and delight the senses. Sara, a grade three girl sums up the experience well. " It was the best day ever. We saw pigs, cows, horses and ma- chines. We heard mooing, yelp- ing, talking and laughing. There were Things to smell, touch and taste. FARM 1IP17ATF. One Foot in the Furrow Do you suppose the American's are beginning to understand that part of the Canadian psyche is to By Bob Trotter play fair? I mean, they have tried over the last few years to intimidate us in so Denfield livestock DENFIELD - The market at Denfield traded on a mixed demand with the desirable well fed cattle trad- ing fairly steady and the plainer well fed cattle 2.00 cwt. lower. Cows and bulls traded under pressure due to a sharp drop in American boneless beef. A light run of stockers sold steady. 400 cattle, 220 pigs Mary Catherine McPhail, Kerwood, sold 6 steers ave. weight 1433 lbs. ave. price 91.82 sales to 95.25 purchased by Norwich Packers. Adelard Tellier, Tilbury, sold 40 steers ave. weight 1314 lbs. ave. price 88.95 sales to 92.00 purchased by Holly Park. Ken Eagelson, Parkhill, sold 5 steers ave. weight 1294 lbs. ave. price 89.00 sales to 92.00 purchased by Lobo Abattoir. Jackson Seeds, Tupperville, sold 6 steers ave. weight 1219 lbs. ave. price 89.20 sales to 91.00 purchased by MGI. Dean Childs, Dresdan, sold 6 steers ave. weight 1176 lbs. ave. price 89.00 sales to 91.75 purchased by MGI. Garrett Farms, Granton, sold 7 heifers ave. weight 1152 lbs. ave. price 86.00 sales to 92.00 purchased by Holly Park. Choice steers 88-92 sales to 95.25 Good steers 84-88 Choice exotic cross heifers 88-90 sales to 92 Common & medium 65-75 D3 & D4 cows 42-48 Bulls 55-74 Good heifers 82-87 DI & D2 cows 50-54 sales to 57 Shells 25-40 Heavy plain veal 50-68 10 steer calves ave. weight 500 Itis. sold at 1.10 Pigs 40-60 pounds 60-80 cents Over 60 pounds 60-76 cents Sows 32-40 Boars 28-33 Brussels livestock sales BRUSSELS - Sales at Brussels Livestock for the week ending July 14, 1995. Fed Cattle: 472 Cows:141 Veal calves: 214 Sheep & Goats: 214 Stockers: 613 Pigs:80 The market at Brussels Livestock saw fed steers and heifers selling 51.00 - 52.00 lower. Cows sold steady. On Thursday . veal sold steady. Lambs sold on a strong active trade. On Fri- day stockers sold very strong. There were 268 steers on offer selling from 86.00 to 90.00 to the high of 98.00. Thirteen steers consigned by Carlyle Thomson, Parkhill averaging 1293 lbs. sold for an average of 89.19 with sales to 98.00. Four steers consigned by Aarcn Fischer, Ayton averaging 1232 lbs. sold for an average of 92.10 with sales to 94.00. Eleven steers consigned by Bernard O'Donnell, Arthur averaging 1298 lbs. sold for an av- erage of 81.02 with sales to 93.25. Eight steers consigned by Irvin Schenk, Petersburg averaging 1347 lbs. sold for an aver- age of 88.36 with sales to 93.25. Thirty-six steers consigned by Don Culbert, Dungannon averaging 1332 lbs. sold for an average of 87.45 with sales to 91.50. Two steers consigned by John Wilkin, Elmwood averaging 1225 lbs. sold for an average of 88.75 with sales to 91.50. Four steers consigned by Rudolf Droefke, Walkerton averaging 1254 lbs. sold for an aver- age of 86.60 with sales to 90.25. Two steers consigned by Jim Howatt, Londesborough averaging 1 165 lbs. sold for an av- erage of 88.78 with sales to 89.50. Four steers consigned by Frank Dolmage, Seaforth averaging 1 138 lbs. sold for an aver- age of 86.52 with sales to 89.25. Eleven steers consigned by Kada Farms, Bluevale averaging 1425 lbs. sold for an average of 86.01 with sales to 87.75. There were 189 heifers on offer selling from 86.00 to 90.00 to the high of 97.25. Fourteen heifers consigned by Mux Lea Farms, Woodstock averaging 1211 lbs. sold for an average of 86.93 with sales to 97.25. Seventeen heifers consigned by Corrilea Farms, Bluevale averaging 1080 lbs. sold for an average of 87.88 with sales to 95.00. Two heifers consigned by Mark Fisher, Ayton averaging 1 177 lbs. sold for an average of 90.28 with sales to 93.50. Five heifers consigned by Geo. Oakes. Clinton averaging 951 lbs. sold for an average of 84.38 with sales to 91.50. Thirty-seven heifers consigned by Tilman Weber, St. Jacob's averaging 1091 lbs. sold for an average of 81.62 with sales to 90.00. Eight heifers consigned by Gerald Rathwell, Brucefield averaging 1 138 lbs. sold for an average of 79.11 with sales to 87.50. One heifer consigned by Barry Gray. Harriston weighing 1 130 lbs. sold for 87.25. Six heifers consigned by Dale Gammie, Lucknow averaging 1038 lbs. sold for an average of 82.70 with sales to 87.00. Three heifers consigned by Harvey Hoggart, Londesborough averaging 1078 lbs. sold for 86.50. There were 141 cows on offer selling from 40.00 to 58.00 to the high of 63.25. One cow consigned by Val Brook Farms, Chepstow weighing 1520 lbs. sold for 63.25. One cow consigned by Allan Martin. Listowel weighing 1205 lbs. sold for 61.75. One cow consigned by Jim D. Thompson, Seaforth weighing 1215 lbs. sold for 58.50. There were 14 bulls on offer selling from 53.50 to 67.50 to the high of 79.50. One Limo bull consigned by Mervyn Agar, Seaforth weighing 2050 lbs. sold for 72.00. One Limo bull consigned by Eliott Hackwell, Walton weighing 2130 lbs. sold for 71.50. There were 214 veal on offer selling - Hol: 60.00 to 85.00; Beef: 80.00 to 104.50 Three veal consigned by Beckie McKinnon, Shallow Lake averaging 718 lbs. sold for an average of 96.06 with sales to 104.50. Two veal consigned by Murray Clarke, Kincardine averaging 638 lbs. sold for an average of 89.14 with sales to 94.00. Eight veal consigned by Peter Walden, Ripley averaging 628 lbs. sold for an average of 70.21 with sales to 92.50. Lambs: under 50 lbs. 50 to 80 lbs. Over 80 lbs. Sheep: Goats: Stockers: 400.499 lbs. 500-599 600-699 700-799 800-899 900&over Heifers: 400-499 500-599 600-699 700-799 800-899 900&over 125.00 to 150.00 120.00 to 160.00 100.00 to 118.00 56.00 to 80.00 S30.00 to 150.00 104.50 to 129.50 87.00 to 120.50 72.00 to 111.00 101.00 to 106.00 91.00 to 111.00 88.00 to 106.50 85.00 to 105.00 85.00 to 107.00 85.50to99.00 79.00 to 95.00 86.00 to 98.25 65.00 to 105.00 many trade matters that we have won, maybe they will get the idea that we do not fight unless we have a damned good case. Several times since the inception of the free trade agreement, Canada has taken disagreements to the in- ternational trade tribunal and we have usually come back smelling of roses. The latest to my knowledge was the ruling in favor of B.C. ap- ple growers. The international trade body found Canada was justified in slap- ping import controls on some cheap U.S. apples flowing north of the border. Canada has won at least partial victories in other cases in- volving pork, lumber and even ice cream. I have said many times in this corner that, when it comes to a buck, those Yanks fight like crazy. They do, too, but logic and fair play and sticking to the letter of the law can win for us. The dairy dispute between the United States and Canada may be different in content but I would be willing to bet that when the interna- tional courts get around to dealing with the case, Canada's position will be upheld. Canadian dairy officials contend that GATT allows Canada to im- pose tariffs or import duties against U.S. dairy products. But Uncle Sam disagrees. Producers south of the border want to get a piece of the 15 billion pounds of milk produced in Canada. Some of those Yankee pro- ducers seem obsessed with the idea that the Canadian market is ripe for plucking. All the milk produced in Canada is less than one-tenth of U.S. out- put. So, what does that say to you? It should say that American producers could flood the Canadian market al- most overnight. They could in- crease production by 10 percent and put every producer in Canada out of business in less than it takes to say Damnyankee. Although voices across the bor- der are suggesting that Canada's milk supply system should be scrapped, a few more moderate voices arestarting to be heard. Hoard's Dairyman, for instance, considered the leading dairy maga- zine in the United States, had an ed- itorial recently which suggested that Canada and it's supply man - FARM E, MUNICIPAL DRAINAGE Specializing In: • Farm & Municipal Drainage • Clay & Plastic Tile Installations • Backhoe & Dozer Service • Septic System Installations For Quality, Experience, & Service calk Wayne Cook (519) 236-7390 R.R2 Zurich, Ont. NOM 2T0 ®PARKER It_I M ITER agement system should be left alone. "Time and again, we have proven that we neither can eat nor export ourselves out of the surplus," said the editorial about U.S. producers. "So, let's leave Canada alone. In- stead let's concentrate on agreeing on a dairy industry -controlled plan that will enable us to match milk production to demand." Well now, isn't that exactly what the Canadian dairy industry has been trying to do for more than 20 years. Isn't that what milk market- ing boards are all about: matching production to demand? All the milk markets in Canada would not make that much differ- ence to American producers. They might feel a slight surge in demand for a few weeks but the effect in Canada would be nothing short of disastrous. I can only repeat what Hoard's Dairyman says: Leave Canada alone. Dairy producers and govern- ments have worked hard and long to set up the supply management system here and it has proven itself time and again over the years. We have won most of our cases in the trade war up to now. We could win this one, too. Brussels Uvestock Division of Gamble & Rogers Ltd. Upcoming Sales Tues. 9 a.m. Finished cattle & cows Thurs. 10 a.m. Dropped calves, veal, goat, sheep and lambs Fri. 10 a.m. Stocker Cattle 1 p.m. Pigs Brussels 887-6461 I _ "Confidence, Trust & Service"j mu fa toie ii7n1 Hyde Brothers Farm Equipment Limited is pleased to announce the appointment of Steve Corbett to the Parts Department. Welcoming Steve, is Case Buffinga, Parts Manager. Our parts staff is very eager to serve your needs. HYDE BILO'FIIEIIS i>i\i• FARM EQUIPMENT LIMITED Hensall Store _ 19-2O2.200S Rannoch Store 519-229-0700 Do you know where your sepiic system is 1oca>ed? Neglect and misuse are the top reasons why septic systems fail. A failing system puts both your health and the environment at risk. And, you could be facing a big repair bill down the road. What can you do? / Have a contractor pump out your tank. / Locate your tile bed and ensure you have not done something to harm the bed. ✓ Call your local Heafth Unit or Conservation Authority for information on maintaining your septic tank and tile bed. A licenced contractor should remove the septic tank cover and inspect the system every two years, pumping out the solids when required. Grants are available to repair or replace septic systems that are impairing surface water quality! A message from your local environmental partner telephone 519-235-2610 fax 519-235-1963 WE CONTINUE TO RECEIVE FUNDULEA WHEAT * Red and White Wheat * Three Receiving Pits * Harvest Services available Hill AND Hill FARMS VARNA UMITID ONT. CUSTOM COMBINING AND TRUCKING AVAILABLE AC RON, ZAVITZ, HARUS AND FUNDULEA SEED WHEATS AVAILABLE • WINTER CANOLA SEED AVAILABLE CONTACT PETER ROWNTREE OR BEV HILL 233-7908Varna VARNA GRAINrn,233-3218