Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2004-11-10, Page 21Wednesday, November 10, 2004 Itall startsonthe culture 21 TIMES -ADVOCATE Brussels Livestock report For the week ending Nov. 5. TOTAL RECEIPTS 3,003 head of cattle, 521 lambs and goats. SUMMARY: TUESDAY the fed steers and heifers sold on a steady market. Choice steers and heifers sold 75 to 80 sales to 91.25, 2nd cut steers and heifers sold 72 to 74.The cows also sold on a steady market. THURSDAY the veal sold on a good active trade at prices steady to last week. The lambs also traded at steady prices on a strong active trade. FRIDAY the calves sold at prices $2 to $3 higher while the year- lings traded steady to last week. STEERS there were 651 steers on offer. Don Mc Alpine, Ailsa Craig consigned three red steers averaging 1353 lbs which sold for 91.25. His overall offering of fifty-three steers averaged 1477 lbs selling for an average price of 79.64. Nine steers consigned by Schmidt Brook Farms, Woodstock averaged 1570 lbs selling for an average price of 72.77 with their top limo steer weighing 1425 lbs selling to Dominion Meat Packers for 90. Brian & Bill Danner, Atwood consigned one black steer weighing 1105 lbs which sold for 82.75. Their overall offering of three steers averaged 1087 lbs which sold for an average price of 80.08. HEIFERS there were 279 heifers on offer. Mapleridge Farms, Brussels consigned four black heifers averag- ing 1311 lbs which sold for an average price of 82.31 with sales up to 90. Nine heifers consigned by Tobias S. Bowman, Wallenstein aver- aged 1267 lbs selling for an average price of 76.86 with his top limo heifer weighing 1115 lbs selling for 85. Les Coleman, Kippen consigned three black heifers averaging 1230 lbs which sold for an average price of 79.32 with sales up to 80.25. COWS there were 279 cows on offer. D1 & D2: 20-25 sales to 28; D3: 15-20; D4: 10-15; Shell Cows: 5-8. One char cow consigned by Jerry Freiburger, Wingham weighed 1745 lbs which sold for 28. Val Brook Farms, Chepstow consigned four limo cows averaging 1314 lb which sold for an average price of 23.29 with sales to 27. Nine limo cows consigned by Murray Mills, Oil Springs averaged 1343 lbs selling for an average price of 22.58 with sales to 26.50. BULLS there were 26 bulls on offer selling 15-32 sales to 35.50. Craig Bros, Blyth consigned one char bull weighing 1715 lbs which sold to Dominion Meat Packers for 27.50. VEAL there were 169 head of veal on offer. Beef: 90-110 sales to 113; Good Holstein: 90- 95 sales to 110; Medium Holstein: 85-95; Plain & Heavy Holstein: 40-60. Aaron L.. Miller, Lucknow consigned three sim veal steers aver- aging 632 lbs which sold to Holly Park Meat Packers for 113. One grey veal steer consigned by Mark H. Frey, Holstein weighed 655 lbs which sold to New Market Meat Packers for 111. Gerald VanSickle, Thamesville consigned nine hol veal steers averaging 629 lbs which sold for 110. LAMBS under 50 lbs: n/a; 50-65 lbs: 125-168; 65-80 lbs: 103- 175; 80-95 lbs: 104-140; 95-110 lbs: 100-110; 110 lbs and over: 73-91. SHEEP 40-45 GOATS $20-$165 TOP QUALITY STOCKER STEERS under 400 lbs: 70-112; 400- 500 lbs: 102-116; 500-600: 88-108; 600-700: 78-98.25; 700-800: 77.50-94.75; 800-900: 70-97; 900-1000: 74-101; over 1000: 70- 85.50. TOP QUALITY STOCKER HEIFERS under 300 lbs: n/a; 300- 400: 70-87; 400-500: 70-94.50; 500-600: 70-83.50; 600-700: 71- 97; 700-800: 70-86; 800-900: 69.25-87.35; over 900 lbs: 70-83.25. Denfield livestock sales For Tues., Nov. 2, the market at Denfield traded on a good demand at steady prices on the good fed cattle with the fancy end trading sharply higher, plain cattle and cattle over age under pressure. 150 cows on offer traded at steady prices with Montreal orders active. Holstein bull calves traded strong at higher prices, sows and boars steady. Ross Barber, Listowel sold 14 heifers avg. wt. 1352, avg. price 89.04 with sales to 93.25 purchased by Norval Meat Packers. Maple Lane Farms sold 13 steers avg. wt. 1430 avg. price 83.02 with sales to 90.25 pur- chased by Norval Meats. Choice steers: 82-88 sales to 90.25; Good steers: 75-80; Plain steers: 55-65; Choice exotic cross heifers: 85-90 sales to 93.25; Good heifers: 72-78; Plain heifers: 50-65; Good fed cows: 25-30, sales to 35; D1 & D2 cows 20-25; D3 & D4 cows: 15-20; Shells: 5-12; Good butcher bulls: 25-35; Good Holstein bulls: 20-25; Good Holstein bull calves: $125-$210; Sows: 38-42. Writer is concerned with future water and sewage rates Dear Editor: A few weeks ago Dillon Consulting made a presen- tation to interested resi- dents of South Huron regarding future water and sewage rates. The meeting was not that well attended for such an important subject and they had no handouts that one could take home and peruse. Having managed the hydro and water system for 36 years there is a con- cern for customers with possibly one in a home on a fixed income paying the same rates as major industries. In 1958, the Morrison Dam was completed; how- ever, a major industry required a more reliable supply of water and a bet- ter quality than water directlr- from the river. The water was not used in product but for clean up. Meetings were held with Mr. E.A. Ladbrooks of the O.W.R.C. to discuss future water supply for Exeter. He advised the Commission that Exeter could not afford Lake Huron water. It was suggested that an industrial -type filtration plant be installed that would filter and chlorinate the water and pump it to an existing customer through an existing pipeline. This served the customer well into the late 1990s. The source of water was the Ausable River and the plant oper- ated from June until October. Prior to residential water meters, the Commission billed on a flat rate sys- tem. All residential and small commercial cus- tomers were billed at the same rate. There were approximately 50 large and some very large users of water and water meters were installed for these customers. The problem with flat rate billing is a home with one resident pays the same as a home with a number of occupants. Many complaints were received however they were advised that when water meters were installed this inequality would be corrected. The Utility took over the operation of hydro and water in 1958 and both were in very poor condi- tion. In many cases, 15 or more customers were served for a one -inch gal- vanized pipe with little or at times no water. Fire protection was extremely poor. Customers had rusty water and pipes froze in the cold weather; howev- er, over the next 36 years an estimate would be that 90 per cent of the water system was replaced. During this period wells were installed, an elevated tank erected and nearly all of the fire hydrants replaced and new ones installed on new mains. The upgrading of small mains has continued up to the present time. When the Public Utilities was disbanded some staff retired and some linemen went to Hydro One and South Huron council was very fortunate to take two qualified staff to assist their workforce. Different types of cus- tomers affect a water sys- tem in different ways. A residential customer's use of water is basically the same for the year. In the summer, there were water restrictions to eliminate waste of water and con- sumption would be some- what higher in a dry sum- mer. Small commercial cus- tomers use water similar to a residential customer but with most consump- tion between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. A large commercial cus- tomer may use a large quantity of water, as an example, for four or five months of the year. Some may suggest that water is the prime cost, but others will suggest that providing a plant to pump and pipe to trans- port the water is the prime cost. As an example, if the pipeline is debentured you may allocate 50 per cent of its capacity to the resi- dential customer that will use that capacity approxi- mately 12 months of the year. If you allocate 30 per cent capacity to a high - consumption customer, it may use 30 per cent for four of five months and possibly 10 per cent capacity for the remaining year. While the high -use cus- tomer may have a high consumption the whole- sale cost of water must be deducted from the rev- enue as well as operating costs. The net revenue should be able to finance 30 per cent of the cost of a debenture. The reason, for example, although I expect some will not agree, is that there should be different rates for different classes of cus- tomers and each class should bear its portion of the cost. While customers on a fixed income should not expect others to subsi- dize their water, I believe they should have a rate more related to their use of water, nor should they subsidize other customers. Dillon Consulting has suggested the following rates for water. The sewage bill would buy 90 per cent of water. Residential: A flat rate charge per quarter of $51.90 and water at 57 cents/cubic metre - if a customer uses 50 cubic metres the total bill is $80.40. Large commer- cial: A flat rate per quarter of $51.90 and water at 57 cents/cubic metre - if a customer uses 50 cubic metres the total bill is $80.40. If either customer exceeds 50 cubic metres they will pay 57 cents/cubic metre. If approved by council this would be in place by 2005. An example: If customer A used 25 cubic metres, his total cost per cubic metre is $2.646. If customer B used 50 cubic metres, his total cost per cubic meter is $1.160. A large commercial cus- tomer with 250 cubic metres is approximately $0.777/cubic metre. In 1994 the residential flat rate for three months was $39.94. In 2004, a customer with a consumption of 50 cubic metres paid $43.75. A bill of $80.40 has 64 per cent of the bill calculated on flat rate and 36 per cent by the water meter. Water is a necessity of life for a residential cus- tomer and for commercial customers it is a necessity of business, although they are able to recover some costs similar to taxes and hydro. Some of the homes with one resident may only have his or her pen- sion cheque and these rates exceed the increases in a pension cheque or investment interest. Dillon Consulting pro- posed a water rate for $321.60 annually and a rate including the Lake Huron pipeline would be $449. This is based on a consumption of 50 cubic metres and the quarterly bill would be $112.40. The increase of $32 quarterly could be on either the flat portion of the bill or on the meter portion. In that case, where the $32 was added to the meter rate, the costs per cubic meter would move from 57 cents/cubic metre to $1.20/cubic metre. B.M. Ross's estimated rate in 2003 was $185 annually and the rate with Lake Huron pipeline would be $340 annually? The local government has a major problem meeting the requirements of the provincial govern- ment and we must all expect substantial increas- es with the cost of water. Today we all use our existing source of water. Kingsville and Essex are boiling water. I may be wrong but I was of the opinion they were on a pipeline. I would suggest that when council has its next meeting to discuss the future of rates, it would be well to attend as this is a major expense. Some resi- dents are of the opinion that Exeter should retain the existing system with some changes; however, council has made the deci- sion for the pipeline from Lake Huron and we must accept this. H.L. DAVIS. 0 0_ /FARM MUTUAL FINANCIALSERVICES INC. 5 YR.CIC 4150/0 RATEOUBJECT WITHOUT NOTICE. Don Thompson 235-4000 WEEK OF NOV. 8-14/04 HOME STANDBY GENERATORS 10 kw 12 kw NEW PRODUCT Fully Featured Home Standby Power. The Home Standby Generator systems quietly protect your home and family with an immediate, automatic, reliable response to power failure. �•7•1ElNM ;U I 0 I 1 HYDE BROTHERS FARM EQUIPMENTh997)LIMITED 7 kw Compact, Affordable Standby Power. The Home Standby Generator is designed to power essential loads automatically during a power outage. I•N11•1:E-'!_1[•3I:ELM HENSALL, ONTARIO 519-263-2605