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 -
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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
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parts staff is very eager to serve your needs.
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519-229-0700
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