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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2007-10-10, Page 19Wednesday, October 10, 2007 Agriculture New program for Huron farmers HURON — Applications from Huron County farmers are now being received by Maitland Valley and Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authorities for a pilot project that would provide payment to farmers for creating riparian corridors along rivers, streams and drains. The Payment for Ecological Goods and Services (PEGS) pilot project has been developed by the Huron Stewardship Council, the Maitland Valley and Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority and the Huron County Planning Department. The PEGS model is to pay farmers for the lost production value of land that has been taken out of produc- tion for stewardship projects. The program is offering $250 per acre per year for a five year period for land taken out of production. Farmers entering the program will be required to enter a five year agreement to commit to protecting the land. "The Payment for Ecological Goods and Services model recog- nizes that there is an expense for farmers for retiring land and putting it into stewardship projects, such as planting trees," said Huron County planner Susanna Reid. "Land that has been retired for eco- logical reasons doesn't create income for farmers. The PEGS pilot is exploring the possibility of con- necting society's ecological goals with farmers' economic interests by paying farmers for lost production costs." Land must be planted in trees in order to be eligible for the PEGS program. If the land is being pas- tured, a fence will also be required. As well as the grant dollars to cover the production value of the land, farmers are also eligible for grants through the Huron Clean Water Project to cover part of the cost of tree -planting and new fenc- ing. Funders for the Payment for Ecological Goods and Services pilot project include: the County of Huron, the Maitland Watershed Partnership Terrestrial Action Team, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Huron Stewardship Council. The deadline for applications is Oct. 15. For more information contact: Ross Wilson at the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority, 1-888-286- 2610; or Doug Hocking at the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority, (519) 335-3557. 19 TIMES–ADVOCATE Level 2 WaterAdvisory remains AUSABLE — The Ausable Bayfield Water Response Team (WRT) has advised a Level 2 Low Water Advisory for the entire Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) watershed remains in effect. After a promising return to near-normal rainfall amounts in August, September totals were only about half of the expected amounts for the month. The watershed experi- enced approximately 50 mm or two inches of rainfall watershed -wide, with the exception of the Clinton area which received about 75 mm or three inches. This rainfall, well below the normal 100 mm or four inch- es that is to be expected dur- ing September, has not helped to improve stream - flows and, consequently, most watercourses in the area are at the lowest they have been all year. Similarly, over the past three months the Ausable River watershed has received only about 50 per cent of the normal amount of precipitation, while the Bayfield River watershed has received only about 75 per cent of the normal amount of precipitation. For September, stream flows range anywhere from 10 to 30 per cent of the low- est average summer monthly flow in watercourses in the ABCA watershed, with many of the headwater streams completely dry. This is down from August values of 15 to 45 per cent of the lowest average summer month flows. It is hoped that conditions will improve as we head into fall, according to ABCA water and planning manager Alec Scott. "Provided that we begin to see more normal precipita- tion for this time of year, cooler temperatures and a reduction of moisture uptake from crops should help ensure that water is retained in the soils and subsequently delivered back into local streams." WRT chairman Jim Ginn said that, until that time, conservation of water remains important to pre- vent further reduction in water levels. "We continue to encourage a voluntary 20 per cent reduction in water use by everyone in the identified areas based on the current conditions," he said, adding, "We appreciate the role everyone plays in co-operat- ing to preserve our water supply and protect the envi- ronment." The WRT will initiate dis- cussions with different water use sectors during the fall and winter to review actions each sector feels appropriate for each Low Water Level Advisory condition. ABCA staff will continue to monitor rainfall and stream - flow data and keep the pub- lic informed of any changes in watershed conditions. A dynamic low-water advi- sory alert tool on the website of the ABCA at www.abca.on.ca alerts peo- ple to low-water advisories in effect in the watershed. Calves selling $5 lower at Brussels Livestock Brussels Livestock Market Report for the week ending Oct. 4. Email us at info@brus- selslivestock.ca. Total receipts 2940 head of cattle, 586 lambs and goats. Summary Tuesday: The fed steers and heifers sold on a steady market. Choice steers and heifers sold 82 - 84 sales to 90. Second cut sold 80 - 82. Cows sold on a steady market. Thursday: Veal sold on a strong active market. Lambs sold steady. Goats sold steady and Sheep sold on a strong active market. Friday: Calves sold $5 lower and Yearlings sold on a steady market. Steers There were 254 steers on offer. Joseph M. Bauman of Newton consigned 18 steer averaging 1459 lbs, selling for an average of 76.38, with one Limo steer weighing 1425 lbs selling to Holly Park Meat Packers for 88. Todd Edgar of Wingham consigned three steer averaging 1520 lbs selling for an average of 83.68 with one Limo steer weighing 1545 lbs selling for 85. Murray Forbes Farms Ltd of Clinton, consigned 21 steer averaging 1351 lbs, selling for an average of 82.78, with ten Blk steer averaging 1416 lbs, selling for 84.25. Geisel Cattle Company of Elmira consigned 28 steer averaging 1553 lbs, selling for an average of 81.18, with five Gold steer averaging 1556 lbs, sell- ing to St. Helen's Meat Packers for 84.35. Brian Vanosch of Lucknow consigned 22 steer averaging 1280 lbs, selling for an average of 83.41, with seven Blk steer averaging 1339 lbs, selling for 84.35. Delton M. Martin of Holstein consigned 15 steer averaging 1374 lbs, selling for an average of 83.13, with two Limo steer averaging 1358 lbs, selling to Holly Park Meat Packers for 84. Cunningham Noland Cattle Co of Lucan con- signed 28 steer averaging 1492 lbs, selling for an average of 82.60 with five Gold steer averaging 1428 lbs, selling for 84. Neil Edgar of Wingham consigned one RWF steer weighing 1520 lbs, selling to St Helen's Meat Packers for 83.50. Ervin B. Martin of Mount Forest consigned ten steer averaging 1399 lbs, selling for an average of 80.50, with three Char steer averaging 1360 lbs, selling to Dominion Meat Packers for 83.25. Brian Percy of Holyrood consigned four steer aver- aging 1553 lbs, selling for an average of 79.68, with one Limo steer weighing 1405 lbs, selling for 82. Heifers There were 174 heifers on offer. Maynard B. Martin of Drayton consigned seven heifers averaging 1398 lbs, selling for an average of 82.30, with one Blk heifer weighing 15101bs, selling to Norwich Packers for 90. Johnston Farms of Bluevale consigned 21 heifers averaging 1361 lbs, selling for an average of 83.19, with one Limo heifer weighing 1225 lbs, selling for 87. Richard Bolton of Kerwood consigned 11 heifers averaging 1346 lbs, selling for an average of 79.86 with one Limo heifer weighing 12251bs, selling to Norwich Packers for 87. Lorne Benedict of Kerwood consigned 13 heifers averaging 1326 lbs selling for an average of 83.92, with one Blk heifer weighing 1315 lbs, selling to Norwich Packers for 84.75 David Bowles of Brussels consigned five heifers aver- aging 1238 lbs, selling for an average of 81.41, with one RWF weighing 1185 lbs selling to Norwich Packers for 84.75. James Wright of Kippen consigned one Limo heifer weighing 1325 lbs, selling to Holly Park Meat Packers for 84.25 Ducharme Farms of Zurich consigned 20 heifers averaging 1319 lbs, selling for an average of 80.16, with one Red heifer weigh- ing 1360 lbs selling to Holly Park Meat Packers for 84. Tom Wylie of Durham consigned 12 heifers aver- aging 1328 lbs, selling for an average of 83.31 with seven Blk heifers averaging 1381 lbs, selling for 84. Bruce Robinson of Freelton consigned four heifers averaging 1378 lbs, selling for an average of 78.38, with one Sim heifer weighing 1405 lbs, selling to St. Helen's Meat Packers for 83.50. Wayne S. Martin of Mount Forest consigned five heifers averaging 1269 lbs, selling for an average of 80.55, with three Char heifers averaging 1330 lbs, selling to Norwich Packers for 82.50. Cows There were 214 cows on offer. Beef Cows 40-46 sales to 47.50 D1 & D2 37-45 D3 30-35 D4 20-28 Case Vanstuyvenberg of Teeswater consigned four cows averaging 1120 lbs, selling for an average of 45.40, with sales to 60.50. Sandra Dewar of Walkerton consigned three cows averaging 1765 lbs, selling for an average of 44.04, with sales to 47.50. Glen Haney of Seaforth consigned two Char cows averaging 1593 lbs, selling for an average of 43.27 with sales to 43.50. Bulls There were 46 bulls on offer. 37 - 70 sales to 74.25. Harvey Forbes Livestock of Wiarton consigned two bulls averaging 2150 lbs, selling for an average of 39.37 with sales to 41.50. Bruce Eskrick of Tiverton consigned one Limo bull weighing 2,225 lbs selling for 39.50. Veal There were 198 head of veal on offer. Beef 85-100 sales to 115 Good Holstein 80-85sales to 92 Medium Holstein 60 - 70 Plain & Heavy Holstein 65-75 Plain: N/A Good Heavy: 70-75 Mosie J. Miller of Norwich, consigned five veal averaging 693 lbs, sell- ing for an average of 101.21, with one Char steer weighing 730 lbs, selling for 110. Mark and Paul Pennington of Mildmay, consigned five veal averag- ing 743 lbs, selling for an average of 87, with one Belgian Blue steer weighing 743 lbs selling for 109. M -R Farms of Exeter con- signed two veal averaging 890 lbs, selling for an aver- age of 99.70, with one Blonde heifer weighing 830 lbs, selling for 104.50. Lambs under 50 lbs 150-172 50 - 65 lbs 136-217 65 - 80 lbs 127-160 80 - 951bs 132-155 95 - 1101bs 135-146 110 lbs and over 89-113 Sheep 60-88 sales to 89 Goats Kids - $35 - $75 Nannies - $80 - $100 Billies - $200 - $245 Top quality stocker steers under 400 lbs 108-142 400 - 500 lbs.116-137.50 500 - 600 lbs 108-127 600 - 700 lbs 98-122.25 700 - 800 lbs 96-107.50 800 - 900 lbs 81-100 900 - 1000 lbs 87.50-99 over 1000 lbs 84-114 Top quality stocker heifers under 300 lbs N/A 300 - 400 lbs 107-120 400 - 500 lbs 91-127 500 - 600 lbs 88-140 600 - 700 lbs 89-107.25 700 - 800 lbs 78-110 800 - 900 lbs 81-95.50 Over 900 lbs 82.50-93 Denfield Livestock Sales Denfield Livestock Market Report for Tues., Oct. 2. The market at Denfield Livestock Sales traded on an even demand at steady prices on all classes of fed cattle with American orders showing some interest on the right kind. A good offering of cows sold at steady prices. A large offering of holstein bull calves sold actively at steady prices according to quality. Fancy steers 84-88, Good fed steers 80-84, Plain steers 70- 80, Fancy exotic cross heifers 84-90, Good heifers 80-84, Plain Heifers 60-70, Good fed cows 40-50, D1 and D2 cows 35-40, D3 and D4 cows 25-30, Shells 15-24, Good beef bulls 40-50, Good Holstein bulls 38- 43, A good offering of stockers at Saturday sale sold on a good demand. Steers 850-950 lbs 95-100, Steers 750-850 lbs 95-105, Steers 650-750 lbs 95- 110, Heifers 800-900 lbs 90- 95, Heifers 700-800 lbs 90- 100, Heifers 600-700 lbs 95- 105, Good Holstein bull calves 75-165