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The Times Advocate, 2004-01-07, Page 2020 Exeter Times -Advocate Wednesday, January 7, 2004 Farm news Ontario beef producers hopeful for a better 2004 GUELPH - Ontario's 21,000 beef producers are happy to bid farewell to 2003 and hope that 2004 will be a better year for their industry. For most beef farmers, 2003 can't end soon enough. "It's been an absolutely brutal year for the Canadian beef industry," said OCA president Ron Wooddisse, a farmer from Wellington County. "This is, without a doubt, the worst crisis ever to hit any sector of Canadian agriculture and it isn't over yet." Since the Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) crisis hit last May, Ontario farmers have lost more than $100 million as a result of the world closing borders to exports of Canadian beef. Add losses to other sectors of the industry including auction barn operators, livestock transporters and retailers and the losses are absolutely staggering. If there has been any- thing positive to come from the BSE situation, it's been in the response of the consumers who helped make Canada the only country in the world to see consumption rise after a case of BSE. Ian McKillop, a produc- er from Elgin County and OCA vice president, said farmers were over- whelmed with displays of support shown through- out the summer in the form of barbecues, fundraisers, restaurant promotions and other awareness events. "Disappearance of beef was up almost 50 per cent in July and August over the same period last year," McKillop said. Disappearance refers to the amount of beef pro- duced and no longer available in the supply chain. "Support like this really helped to bolster the morale of farmers during a very difficult time," McKillop said. While the U.S. has post- ed draft rules to allow Canadian cattle to begin crossing the border, there's no indication as to when those rules might become law. "The comment period on those rules is sched- uled to end Jan. 5," Wooddisse said. "Even if that deadline proceeds on schedule, we have to be prepared for the reality that borders may not open before spring." Once the comment peri- od ends, all submissions received through the process will be assessed and the date when live cattle will again be eligi- ble for export will be determined. The rules will also apply only apply to cattle under 30 months going directly to slaugh- ter. Breeding stock and older animals will likely have to wait several more years before being real - lowed into the U.S. Wooddisse said OCA has already learned of many producers that have sold their farms or been forced into bankruptcy by the ongoing crisis although exact numbers won't be known until the new year. Until the crisis hit, beef was Ontario's second largest commodity in terms of annual farm gate receipts with a value of approximately $1.2 billion in 2002. Canadian cattle facts • 90,000 beef farms in Canada. • Canada's beef industry is the largest single source of farm cash receipts at almost $8 bil- lion (21.2 per cent of farm cash receipts). • Beef production con- tributes almost $30 billion annually to the Canadian economy. • Canadian exports of beef and cattle commodi- ties were valued at $4 bil- lion in 2002 ($3.7 billion went to the U.S.) • The U.S. accounts for 87 per cent of Canadian beef trade, Mexico 6.7 per cent, Asia 4.5 per cent and other 1.8 per cent. • Canada exported 1,688,758 live animals in 2002. • Canada exports 1.09 billion pounds of beef annually to the U.S. This represents only five to seven per cent of total U.S. beef production. The U.S. exports 241 million pounds of beef to Canada annually. • The BSE crisis is cost- ing Canadian beef pro- ducers about $11 million per week. Ontario cattle facts • 21,000 beef farms in Ontario, 18,000 cow/calf, 3,000 feedlot. • 1,293,700 head of cat- tle on Ontario beef farms as of Jan.1, 2003. • Ontario cattle and calf farm cash receipts valued at $1.2 billion in 2002. • Ontario's beef industry is the second largest of any Canadian province. Ontario raises 17.5 per cent of Canada's fed cat- tle. Alberta is the largest with 71.3 per cent. • Ontario exports of beef and cattle commodities were valued at more than $700 million in 2002. $656 million went to the U.S. • Ontario exported 294,449 live animals in 2002. • The BSE crisis is cost- ing Ontario beef farmers about $4 million per week and the broader Ontario beef industry about $24 million per week. • Before May 20, cattle in Ontario were trading at about $1.10 per pound, live weight. At the lowest point in the crisis, cattle were trading at about 30 cents per pound. Where Canada fits in the world • Canada has 1.3 per cent of the world's cattle inventory, making it 12th in the world. The U.S. is fourth. • Canada produces three per cent of the world's beef supply, which ranks it 10th. The U.S. is the world's top beef producing country with about 25 per cent of total production. Worldwide beef produc- tion is estimated at 49.15 million tonnes. • Canada is the third largest beef exporter in the world, with exports of 14.8 per cent of the total. The U.S. is second behind Australia with 16.5 per cent. Canadian BSE safeguards • Creation of a national BSE surveillance system in 1992. • Random testing by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency of thousands of animals annually. • Ban of cattle and beef products from countries with BSE. • A ruminant to rumi- nant feed ban introduced in 1997. • The mandatory Canadian Cattle Identification Agency National Identification program was introduced in 2001 and is highly regarded globally as a proactive animal disease management system. • Introduction of the national Quality Starts Here Verified Beef Production program - an auditable food safety pro- gram launched in 2002. CCA reacts to announcement of possible Canadian connection While emphasizing the information about a possi- ble Canadian origin for the BSE cow diagnosed in Washington state is preliminary and still in need of verification, the Canadian Cattlemen's Association (CCA) said it will work closely with both Canadian and U.S. investigators to get to the bottom of the issue. At a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) news conference Dec. 27, it was announced there are discrepancies between the cow's records in the U.S. and those of the herd in question that was exported from Canada to the U.S. in 2001. Canadian records indicate the animal in question, if part of that export, was 6.5 years old and not 4.5 years old as the U.S. records indicate. If the cow is the same animal exported from Canada, it would have been born before Canada's ban on ruminant meat and bone meal was put in place. Brussels Livestock report Brussels Livestock Market Report for the week ending December 31, 2003 Total Receipts 1015 head of cattle,174 I - 1lambs and goats Summary Tuesday: The fed steers and heifers sold under pressure. The good cows sold $2 to $3 higher with the balance trading fully steady. Thursday: The veal sold on a steady market. The lambs sold on a strong active trade at steady prices. Friday: No sale due to the holidays. Sales will resume Jan 9, 2004 Steers There were 596 steers on offer selling from 80 to 85 with sales to 96. Charles Ready, St Mary's consigned one limo steer weighing 1390 lbs which sold to Holly Park Meat Packers for 96.50. His overall offering of ten steers averaged 1383 lbs selling for an average price of 87.08. Nineteen steers consigned by Willard B. Martin, Drayton averaged 1512 lbs selling for an average price of 82.09 with his top two limo steers averaging 1393 lbs selling for an for 94.75. Walter Riddell, Granton consigned three limo steers averaging 1322 lbs which sold for 91.25. His overall offering of nine steers averaged 1381 lbs selling for an average price of 85.87. Heifers There were 173 heifers on offer selling from 80 to 85 with sales to 95.25 Merkley Farms, Wroxeter consigned six limo heifers averaging 1313 lbs which sold for 95.25. One limo heifer consigned by Bev Hamilton, Hensall weighed 1300 lbs selling to Norwich Packers for 94. His overall offering of twenty-one heifers averaged 1304 lbs selling for an average price of 76.40. Matthew Edgar, Wroxeter consigned one red heifer weighing 1105 lbs which sold to Dominion Meat Packers for 86.50. His overall offering of two heifers averaged 1085 lbs selling for an average price of 86.38. COWS There were 132 cows on offer. D1 & D2: 15-20 sales to 29.50; D3: 10- 15; D4: 5-10. Albert Borgijink, St Mary's consigned one hol cow weighing 1515 lbs which sold for 24.50. His overall offering of four hol cows averaged 1398 lbs selling for an average price of 12.95. One hol cow consigned by Kevel Farms, Tiverton weighed 1615 lbs selling to Levinoff Meat Products for 24. His overall offering of four hol cows averaged 1498 lbs selling for an average price of 17.98. Moyerdale Farms Ltd, Mildmay con- signed two hol cows averaging 1843 lbs which sold to Levinoff Meat Products for 22. Their overall offering of five hol cows averaged 1704 lbs selling for an average price of 20.79. Bulls There were 6 bull on offer selling for 6 to 13. Rick Portena, Monkton consigned one hol bull weighing 1460 lbs which sold to Levinoff Meat Products for 12. One hol bull consigned by Bennewies Farms Ltd, Dublin weighed 1290 lbs sell- ing to Levinoff Meat Products for 10. Veal There were 70 head of veal on offer. Beef: not enough to establish market. Holstein: 75-85 sales to 94. Plain Holstein: 50-70. Eric Nonkes, Auburn consigned one gold veal steer weighing 655 lbs which sold to Nature Farms Inc for 109. His overall offering of four veal calves averaged 691 lbs selling for an average price of 80.56. One hol veal steer consigned by Murray Gordner, Mitchell weighed 635 lbs selling to Millgrove Meat Packers for 94. His over- all offering of five hol veal steers averaged 655 lbs selling for an average price of 79.87. Mark Pfeffer, Clifford consigned seven hol veal steers averaging 611 lbs selling to Holly Park Meat Packers for 93.50. His overall offering of twenty hol veal calves averaged 626 lbs selling for an average of 90.53. Lambs Under 50 lbs: 164; 50-65 lbs: 169-172; 65-80 lbs: 100-144; 80-95 lbs: 110-128; 95-110 lbs: n/a; 110 lbs and over: 55-80. Goats 12-65 Sheep 30-77 Next stocker sale is January 9, 2004. The USDA came under criticism from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency Dec. 27, which felt it was too soon in the investigation for the USDA to be making a conclusion. DNA testing is being done on the remains of the BSE cow, semen from its supposed sire and its calves to definitively determine whether or not the suspected Canadian herd is in fact the birth herd of the cow. The DNA test results will be available within days. In a statement issued Dec. 27 the U.S. National Cattlemen's Beef Association called for an indefinite extension of the final comments on the proposed rule for importing live cattle from Canada until the inves- tigation is complete. During a USDA news conference Dec. 28 the chief veterinarian stated, "Clearly we'll be taking into account this new situation and the findings of our investigation when considering whether or not to publish a final rule." PUBLIC NOTICE Re: BY-LAW TO PROVIDE FOR THE CONTROL OF NUISANCE COYOTES The Draft Nuisance Coyotes By-law will be presented for deliberation and consideration at the January 20, 2004 Committee of the Whole meeting and County Council Session at 9:00 a.m. on February 5, 2004, Council Chambers, Court House, Goderich, Ontario. Barbara A. Leamen County Clerk The Corporation of the County of Huron 1 Court House Square Goderich, Ontario N7A 1M2 (519) 524-8394