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The Times Advocate, 2005-07-20, Page 17Wednesday, July 20, 2005 Itall starts tthe a culture 17 TIMES -ADVOCATE A positive sign for Canada's beef industry? By Stephanie Mandziuk TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF LUCAN — "Change brings about change," says Lucan cattle farmer Philip Lynn. He's hoping last week's court ruling in the U.S. will bring positive change to the Canadian beef industry. An American federal Appeals Court unanimously overturned a Montana judge's ruling, blocking U.S. officials from reopening the border in March. The preliminary injunction was issued March 2, until a hearing into a perma- nent injunction could be heard. Canadian producers have lost an esti- mated $8 billion since the border was closed in May 2003. Ontario accounts for one fifth of Canada's beef industry. In a news release Andy Mitchell, feder- al Minister of Agriculture and Agri - Food, said, "The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Government of Canada have long argued there is no basis in science to keep the border closed. We will be working with the Canadian livestock industry and the USDA... to act on the decision." But the legal rambling isn't over just yet. Ian McKillop, president of the Ontario Cattleman's Association says, "The hearing into a permanent injuction will still go ahead on July 27. It's the outcome of that hearing which will determine if live cattle trade and the shipment of boxed beef will be stopped permanently." McKillop says last week's court deci- sion "certainly sends a strong message forward that the appeal court wants to see trade fully restored immediately." Philip Lynn would agree. "They had two weeks to make this decision and they made it in one day. It had to hap- pen this way or our industry would have been devastated." Lynn says, "For the last two years we've been running in an unknown market and for the next 60 days things will still be unknown. We need open, free and fair trade." Lynn offers some cautious words. "I don't think the cattle will inflate to a value where people think it will because of the value of the Canadian dollar and the built in optimism that they'll go much higher." Here's hoping prices will stay where they are for Canadian consumers. After all, we're the ones who have stood by our troubled beef industry from the get go. The Lynn farm in Lucan has 5,700 head of feeder cattle but no background cattle since 2003. Philip Lynn says everything they produce is sold directly to Better Beef in Guelph. (photo/Stephanie Mandziuk) Rain averts disaster for farmers By Stephanie Mandziuk TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF BRUCEFIELD — Here comes the rain again — about half an inch every week would be just right says Brucefield farmer Peter Postl. The ongoing drought has taken its toll on crops, par- ticularly corn. The wheat harvest start- ed last week. "Surprisingly some wheat yields are average or slightly above," says Postl. "Here's hoping our corn yield will be average this year. It's a critical time because corn is starting to tassle (flower)." Postl has been farming for 20 years. He has 290 acres of corn, 150 acres of wheat, 300 acres of soy- beans and 125 acres of white beans. As secretary of the Huron County Corn Producers' Association, Postl is well- connected to the farming community. "I'd say in 80 per cent of the cases corn has been under stress. The yields at harvest time (mid to late October) will be down." Then came what Postl calls, "the super rain on Saturday. It's a big relief!" Postl received 40 mm or 1.6 inches in his area. He suspects some dam- age will remain in corn fields, especially in areas with lighter soil. It could be anywhere between five and 25 per cent. In some cases a farmer may end up with a bumper crop. As for white beans, Postl says they too were flower- ing early because of dry conditions. Soybeans have also been struggling, but they will likely bounce back. "We're not out of the woods just yet," says Postl. "We still have the month of August left and we need more rain." Here's hoping nature complies. Peter Postl kneels beside his three-foot tall corn crop July 13. Postl says the crop should be almost double in height. Ongoing drought has created dam- age... and then came the rain. (photo/Stephanie Mandziuk) Market sees higher prices DENFIELD — The market at Denfield Livestock Sales traded on strong demand at prices $6-$8 higher on all classes of fed cattle with the fancy cattle selling at premi- um prices. John McLinchey, Parkhill sold 21 steers average weight 1355 average price 93.74 sales to 96. Glen and David Minielly, Wyoming sold six heifers average weight 1191 average price 95.29 sales to 102 pur- chased by Norwich Packers. Jim Scott, Lucan sold 11 heifers average weight 1289 average price 92.51 sales to 108.25 purchased by Norval Meats. Wayne Mellin, Parkhill sold seven steers average weight 1374 average price 90.92. Choice steers: 95-100 sales to 102; Good steers: 85-92; Plain steers: 75-80; Choice exotic cross heifers: 95-100 sales to 108.25; Good heifers: 85-90; Plain heifers: 70-75; Good fed cows: 40-50; D1 and D2 cows: 28-35; D3 and D4 cows: 20-25; Shells: 10- 20; Good beef bulls: 40-50; Good Holstein bull calves: $150-$255; Good sows: 45. Brussels Livestock Market has active trading week Brussels Livestock Market report for the week end- ing July 15. Total receipts 2,763 head of cattle, 976 lambs and goats. Summary Tuesday: The fed steers and heifers sold $1 to $2 higher. Choice steers and heifers sold 91 to 95 sales to 111.25, second cut steers and heifers sold 88 to 91. The cows sold on a good active trade. Thursday: The veal sold on an active trade while the lambs trad- ed on a steady market. Friday: All weights and classes of stockers sold on a strong active trade. Steers There were 748 steers on offer. Noah F. Bauman, Wallenstein consigned one limo steer weighing 1305 lbs which sold to Holly Park Meat Packers for 111.25. His overall offering of ten steers averaged 1302 lbs selling for an aver- age price of 94.07. Ten limo steers consigned by Owen B. Martin, Wellesley aver- aged 1321 lbs selling for an average price of 104.53 with sales to 109.50. Merkley Farms, Wroxeter consigned one limo steer weighing 1470 lbs which sold for 104.50. Heifers There were 405 heifers on offer. David M. B. Frey, Wallenstein consigned four limo heifers aver- aging 1203 lbs which sold for 102. His overall offering of eight heifers averaged 1219 lbs selling for an average price of 98.47. Three heifers consigned by M -R Farms, Exeter averaged 1223 lbs which sold for an average price of 97.58 with their top limo heifer weighing 1220 lbs selling to Dominion Meat Packers for 99. Mike Dalton, Goderich consigned seven red and blk heifers aver- aging 1304 lbs which sold for 98.25. Cows There were 134 cows on offer. D1 & D2: 30-37 sales to 40; D3: 25-30; D4: 15-20. Groenberg Farms, Lucknow consigned one hol cow weighing 1410 lbs which sold for 39.50. One sim cow consigned by Rod Perkins, Hepworth weighed 1735 lbs which sold for 37. Pine -Lane Farms, Cargill consigned one char cow weighing 1545 lbs which sold for 36. Bulls There were 16 bulls on offer selling 25 to 42.50 sales to 50. Dr. Keith Dunstan, Mildmay consigned one red bull weighing 1525 lbs which sold to Norval Meat Packers for 48. One gold bull consigned by Brian Grubb, Mildmay weighed 1690 lbs which sold to Holly Park Meat Packers for 43. Veal There were 157 head of veal on offer. Beef: not enough to estab- lish a market; Good Holstein: 80-85 with sales to 91; Medium Holstein: 70 to 80; Plain and Heavy Holstein: 50-60. John Martin, Lucknow consigned one black veal steer weighing 745 lbs which sold for 116. Henry M. Martin, Teeswater consigned one blk veal steer weigh- ing 710 lbs which sold for 103.