HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1995-11-29, Page 200
Page 20
Times -Advocate, November 29, 1995
FARM IIPnATF.
Picked your free yet?
Milt Agate, left, with sister Kim and father Art by one of the more bushy tree picks of the
season.
Plowmans meeting held
CLINTON - The annual meeting
of the Huron County Plowmans As-
sociation was held November 23 at
the OMAFRA office in Clinton.
Following the business, President
Paul Bettles thanked the Pentland
family for the use of their farm for
their 1995 match. Queen of the Fur-
row Charlene Townsend was in at-
tendance and spoke briefly. O.P.A.
director Neil McGavin reported on
the successful match held at Ayr.
The 1996 local match will be held
on August 22,23 on the farm of
Neil and Marie McGavin near Wal-
ton.
Jerry Thiel was named bid chair-
man for the official presentation to
be made at the O.P.A. convention
in Waterloo on February 12. It was
agreed that the club should order
morg shirts, the same style as those
of last year. They will be available
before the convention.
The executive were returned for
another year: Past president Bob
Brussels livestock sales
BRUSSELS - Sales at Brussels Livestock for the week ending November 24,
1995.
Fed cattle 708 Cows 358
Veal calves 270 Lambs & Goats 158
Stockers 1918 Pigs 113
The market at Brussels Livestock saw fed steers and
heifers selling $2.00 higher. Cows and bulls sold steady.
On Thursday veal sold steady. Lambs sold on a very strong active trade. On Fri-
day stockers sold on a steady trade.
There were 406 steers on offer selling from 86.00 to 89.00 to the high of
102.00.
Nine steers consigned by James M. Martin, Holstein averaging 1481 lbs. sold
fen an average of 92.25 with sales to 102.00.
Two steers consigned by Laverne Martin, Mount Forest averaging 1400 lbs.
sold for an average of 94.75 with sales to Q6.50.
Foyrteen steers consigned by lint Howatt; Londesborough averaging 1298 lbs.
sold Tor an a'virige of 89.49 with sales to 96.00.
Twenty-six steers consigned by Murray Curran, Dungannon averaging 1313
lbs. sold for an average of 86.00 with sales to 94.50.
Thirty steers consigned by Johnston Farms, Bluevale averaging 1346 lbs. sold
for an average of 90.61 with sales to 93.75.
Fifty-six steers consigned by Cunningham farms, Lucan averaging 1431 lbs.
sold for an average of 88.13 with sales to 92.00.
Thirteen steers consigned by Schmidt Brook Farms Inc., Woodstock averaging
1338 lbs. sold for an average of 87.39 with sales to 91.50.
Fourteen steers consigned by Carlyle Thomson, Parkhill averaging 1463 lbs.
sold for an average of 87.48 with sales to 91.25.
Twelve steers consigned by Beetonia Farms Ltd., Beeton averaging 1397 lbs.
sold for an average of 86.31 with sales to 89.25.
There were 252 heifers on offer selling from 86.00 to 89.00 to the high of
93.00.
Eight heifers consigned by Ron Jackson, Stratford averaging 1176 lbs. sold for
an average of 84.56 with sales to 92.25.
Eight heifers consigned by Menno Hoover, Bluevale averaging 1061 lbs. sold
for an average of 79.04 with sales to 92.25.
Three heifers consigned by Oscar Bloch, Elmira averaging 1287 lbs. sold for an
average of 85.09 with sales to 88.50.
Nine heifers consigned by Don Fraser, Blyth averaging 1138 lbs. sold for an
average of 85.43 with sales to 88.50.
Two heifers consigned by Walter Lynn, Stayner averaging 1280 lbs. sold for an
average of 86.01 with sales to 88.50.
Two heifers consigned by Jeff Bloch. Elmira averaging 1225 lbs. sold for an
average of 86.64 with sales to 87.50.
Seven heifers consigned by 1 & B Laidlaw Farms, Atwood averaging 979 lbs.
sold for an average of 80.91 with sales to 86.75.
Nine heifers consigned by Terry Dalton, Lucknow averaging 1173 lbs. sold for
an average of 80.33 with sales to 86.75.
Six heifers consigned by Lloyd Weppler, Ayton averaging 1330 lbs. sold for an
avetage of 84.39 with sales to 86.75.
Ten heifers consigned by Gordon Dougherty, Z',oderich averaging 1214 lbs.
sold for an average of 83.01 with seals to 86.25.
There were 358 cows on offer selling from 30.00 to 48.00 to the high of 68.25.
Three cows consigned by Bill Weber, Walkerton averaging 1456 lbs. sold for
an average of 53.59 with sales to 68.25.
Two cows consigned by Don Dodds, Seaforth averaging 1240 lbs. sold for an
average of 53.31 with sales to 61.00.
Three cows consigned by George M. Miskie, Chesley averaging 993 lbs. sold
for an average of 40.07 with sales to 58.50.
There were 21 bulls on offer selling from 43.00 to 56.00 to the high of 67.00.
One Limo bull consigned by Glen Plantz, Ayton weighing 2035 lbs. sold for
67.00.
One Limo bull consigned by Robert Hill. Arthur weighing 1710 lbs. sold for
65.00.
There were 270 veal on offer selling Hol: 75.00 to 95.00. beef: 80.00 to 108.00.
Seven veal consigned by David Weber, Paisley averaging 619 lbs. sold for an
average of 89.43 with sales to 108.00.
Three veal consigned by Bill Devos Jr.. Bluevale averaging 622 lbs. sold fqr an
average of 92.97 with sales to 106.50.
Two veal consigned by Murray Clarke, Kincardine averaging 563 lbs. sold for
an average of 101.84 with sales to 103.50.
Lambs: 50.80 lbs. 132.00 to 231.00
80-94 lbs. 127.00 to 155.00
Over 95 lbs. 105.00 to 115.00
Sheep: 54.00 to 73.00
Goats: $32.50 to 5135.00
Stockers
Steers:
400 - 499 lbs. 71.50 to 116.00
500 - 599 66.50 to 114.50
600 - 699 69.00 to 97.00
700 - 799 68.50 to 91.75
800 - 899 60.00 to 99.00
900 and over 79.50 to 102.50
Heifers:
300 - 399 lbs. 63.50 to 100.00
400 - 499 67.50 to 95.00
500 - 599 61.00 to 107.00
600 - 699 62.50 to 93.50
700 - 799 66.50 to 77.50
800 and over 71.50 to 96.00
Bell; President Paul Betties; First
vice president George Townsend;
Second vice president Paul Pent-
land; O.P.A. director Neil McGa-
vin; Secretary treasurer Marie
Hicknell.
On January 17 at the OMAFRA
office in Clinton, a "Gearing Up"
meeting will be held for those inter-
ested in going to the convention, so
come out for more information.
Denfield
Livestock
The market
at Denfield trad-
ed on a very
sharp demand at
prices 3.00 to 5.00
higher on all classes
of slaughter cattle. Good cows
showed some improvement. Stock-
ers sold steady, veal stronger, pigs
fully steady.
400 cattle, 250 pigs on offer.
Don Eedy and Mark Vander
Ploeg, Denfield sold 10 heifers, avg.
wt. 1246 lbs. avg. price 99.26 with
sales to 1.05 for 2 heifers purchased
by Dendekker Meats and 1.03 75
purchased by Norwich Packers.
Mike Mortier, Thamesville sold
two heifers avg. wt. 1260 lbs. avg.
price 94.00.
Jim Scott, Lucan sold 10 mixed
heifers avg. wt. 1211 lbs. avg. price
89.85, sales to 94.50.
Gwen Coulter, Parkhill sold two
steers avg. wt. 1400 lbs. avg. price
99.00 purchased by MGI.
Charles and Stuart Eedy, Denfield
sold a steer 1160 lbs. at 95.75.
Morley Hodgins. Parkhill sold 26
heavy steers avg. wt. 1401 lbs. avg.
price 90.00 sales to 95.10 purchased
by MGI.
John Walls, Denfield sold 10
steers avg. wt. 1339 lbs. avg. price
88.11 sales to 91.00.
Wayne Watson, Denfield sold a
steer 1160 lbs. at 93.00.
Choice steers 90-95 sales to 1.00
Good steers 84-90.00
Plain and common steers 60-75
Choice exotic cross heifers 90-98
sales to 1.05 •
Good heifers 84-89
Common and medium 60-75
Good cows 40-48
Low yielding shelly type cows 30-40
Bulls 45-72
Choice veal 90-1.00
Good veal 80-90
Common and plain veal 50-75
Stock]
Yearling steers 85-92
Yearling heifers 85-90
Steer calves 90-1.09
Heifer calves 80-1.00
Pigs 40-60 lbs. 75-90
over 60 lbs. 65-75
Sows 38-44 Boars 35-40
Brenda Burke T -A staff
ILDERTON - When it comes to
choosing a real Christmas tree,
some prefer to do it the old fash-
ioned way by tromping through the
bush and laying claim to what will
become the focal point of their fam-
ily festivities.
According to Milt Agate, who
helps his father, An, operate The
Agate Tree Farm, otherwise known
as The Christmas Tree Place, tree
picking is still largely family
oriented.
"People like to come out and cut
the tree and bring the kids," he
said.
Some people will take hours to
wade through the snow and choose
the perfect tree, sometimes leaving
hats or gloves to mark favorites
while others prefer to pick up an al-
ready pre-cut version that is some-
times cut to order. Milt said custom
cutting trees is challenging since he
tries to achieve "total perfection."
Although shapes of trees vary as
much as individual people do, ac-
cording to Art, "everybody wants a
tree two feet bigger than their ceil-
ing."
A six to seven -footer is a popular
choice, with many forgetting a star
and stand will add inches to their
tree's height.
The most popular species of tree
is Scotch Pine.
"According to the Christmas tree
growers, the market is 60 per cent
Scotch Pine and 40 per cent every-
thing else," said Art.
Among his 30 acres of trees,
White Spruce, Norway Spruce and
Blue Spruce are also ready for the
picking. And, Art is experimenting
with growing White Pine and Aus-
trian Pine, two species not normally
used as Christmas trees in the area.
During his first six years in busi-
ness, Art planted between 3,000
and 5,000 trees per year. Now that
his stock numbers 20,000 trees, he
doesn't need to plant as many. this
year he planted 1,700 trees.
The trees take an average of sev-
en to eight years to grow before
they're ready to be sold for Christ-
mas at $15 each, with the exception
of $40 Blue Spruce, which take
longer to mature. When Art began
selling Christmas trees in 1990, he
charged $18 per tree and the price
has varied since, according to sup=
ply and demand as well as competi-
tion.
Although he occasionally sells to
businesses, the major portion of his
sales consist of drawing individual
customers from Lucan, Parkhill,
London, Strathroy and surrounding
areas. At least half the people buy-
ing trees bring their own saws and
occasionally arrive equipped with a
toboggan.
"We have been mainly...a family-
oriented cut -your -own business,"
said his daughter, Kim, who also
works at the tree farrn.
People unable to cut and move
their own tree receive help from the
Agate family.
"We have some elderly folks that
like to do the walk," said Milt,
"but certainly can't cut the tree."
He recalled a young boy trying to
use his plastic saw to help his fa-
ther cut down a chosen tree one
year.
"I think there are more families
coming out," he added.
Although Art had already sold a
few trees in November, December
proves to be his busiest selling
time.
He advises tree buyers to check
the butt of the trunk on their chosen
tree, to make sure it's straight and
long. Also, if they're not taking the
tree home immediately, half an
inch should be cut off the trunk just
before putting it in water. Because
the tree will seal within 24 hours, a
new cut must be made in order to
allow in a flow of water.
"Don't let it run out of water," he
added.
Although a tree in water will
keep its needles for a month, he
said it's a "definite tire hazard if
(people) don't keep it wet."
Even while the trees are still
growing, they needs lots of rain, ex-
cept during planting season in
April, or the busy tree buying sea-
son.
"(Rain has) ruined a couple of
busy weekends," said Kim.
"The perfect condition," added
Art, "is a nice dry field, you plant
your trees and it rains for a week."
Although established trees handle
heat periods well, extended drought
may mean loss of young trees. Dur-
ing a two-year drought beginning
in 1987. Art lost 2,000 newly plant-
ed Scotch Pines.
"I brought in 12,000 gallons of
water and just couldn't save any-
thing," recalled Milt.
Lack of rain isn't the only chal-
Advance payment program
for corn and soybeans
CLINTON - The Advance Pay-
ment Program provides an oppor-
tunity for producers to manage
their operating costs and reduce in-
terest costs. Advances are availa-
ble on spring grains, canola, corn,
soy$, apples and spelt. Shelled
corn, high moisture corn and crib
corn stored at an elevator or on the
farm are eligible.
Advances are provided to farm-
ers who wish to store crop for fu-
ture sale or livestock feed. The ad-
vance is repaid as the crop is sold
or fed. The first $50,000.00 of the
advance is interest free, and the re-
maining amount up to a maximum
amount of $250,000 is at prime
plus I/4 per cent.
Advance payment rates are as
follows:
Spring Grains $55/60 per tonne
Canola $150 per tonne
Spelt (with chaff
removed) $145 per tonne
Corn $72 per tonne
Soybeans $150 per tonne
Apples (fresh commercial
sales) $70 per bin
Apples (Spy peeler
apples) $60. per bin.
The apples, spelt, canola and
spring grains programs are admin-
istered by the Agricultural Com-
modity Corporation (519) 766-
0544. The Ontario Corn Produc-
ers' Association (519) 837-9144
administers the Corn Advance Pro-
gram and the Ontario Soybean
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NOTICE
Township of Usborne
Usbome Township Council requests the co-operation of the
ratepayers regarding the parking of cars and other vehicles
on township' roads during the period in which snow clearing
operation is necessary.
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The township will not be held responsible for any damage
done to these vehicles. Also the residents are asked to co-
operate by not pushing or dumping snow or ice out of private
driveways onto public roads or road allowance as this
practice would lead to an accident, in the event of which
ratepayer concerned would be held liable. By-law 1128, 1992
Ken Parker
Road Superintendent
1
1
Growers' Marketing Board (519-
352-7730 looks after the Soybean
Program. Applications and infor-
mation are available at your local
Ontario Ministry of Agriculture,
Food and Rural Affairs office, the
organizations named above or the -
elevators.
lenge Christmas tree growers watch
for. They sometimes spray for Pine
Shoot Moth since eggs laid on the
tree develop into worms that eat
tree tops and cause branches to
grow deformed. Growers also spray
for Scale when necessary, an insect
who's home appears in the summer
as white lumps that eventually kill
trees.
Although Art used to spray
weeds surrounding the trees, he
now resorts to mowing the rows to
control weeds that could hinder
pruning and limit customer access
to the trees. Between mid-June and
mid-July, pines are pruned with
long narrow knives.
"You have to get your pines
pruned in that time frame," said
Art. "If you didn't cut that new
growth every year...Then you can't
cut it the following year...The buds
won't form on old growth."
Short -needled trees, on the other
hand, are pruned between October
and Christmas. Contrary to the
pines, spruce buds are not fully de-
veloped in the summer.
"We prune every tree every
year," said Art, adding he lets top
leader branches grow up to one foot
long per year. If the leaders are left
on too long, they harden and can't
be cut. This leaves gaps between
whorls, or layers of branches as the
tree grows.
Although the Christmas season is
the busiest for Art, easily providing
full-time work, the rest of the year
presents part-time duties -The
Agate family clearly prefers re-
sponsibilities the Christmas season
presents over other year-round tree
tasks.
"It's just such a happy time of
year," said Kim.
Usborne &
Hibbert Mutual
Fire Insurance
Company
Exeter, Ontario NOM 1S1
(Established in 1876)
Provides Full Insurance
Coverage
for Farm Properties
New Applications are
Welcomed
DIRECTORS & ADJUSTE
Larry Gardiner, RR2, Staffa 78
Monis Willows, RR2 St. Pauls 48
Lorne Feeney. Mitchell 348-8853
Jack Hodgert, RR1, Kirkton 2294152
Joe Chaffs, RR5 Mitchel 348-9705
Michael O'Shea RR3 Granton 225-2600
AGENTS
Wayne Mayer Exeter.... 235-1915
John Moore, Dublin .... 345-2512
Joseph Uniac, Mitchell 348-9012
Head Office, Exeter 235-0350
A refund from surplus was de-
clared for all policy holders
who qualify, are on record and
in good standing as at Decem-
ber 31, 1994.
Out 1M Riese Soda
4" x 6" Halogen
Flood $24.00
Trapezoid $17.00'
4" round Halogen
Flood $17.00
AGCO Allis
Super Premium
Motor OIIs
15W40 CD 1I, CD, SH
10 U.S. qt. jug $17.80
AGCO Allis
821 Hydraulic 011
Exceeds our
50 Manufacturers Spec's
S18 ■ 57
10 U.s. qt. Jug
Machinery Enamel
Touch up spray paint, any color
M stock 1203 cans
$5 92
■
1 Only
Gas Powered Pressure
Washer Soap Dispenser
4 HP 1600 PSI 30' Hose - on
cart
5895.00
Available in Hensel)
AGCO Allis
Dextron II/411
Superior antiwear Antifoam
$2121
10 U.S. qt. lug ■
Antifreeze
Diesel or Gas applications
$8 95
4 L jug ■
Chain Lube
Foam Lubricant, 12 oz. can
$4• 81 can
HYDE BRM7IERS
,7.- FARM EQUIPMENT LIMITED
Himmel! Store
519.2622605
Rannoch Store
519.2294700