The Citizen, 2012-04-05, Page 18PAGE 18. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 2012.
By Mark Wales, President
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
Ontario’s provincial government
made some difficult fiscal choices in
preparing its recent budget, but the
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
(OFA) supports its focus on more
effective government.
Despite the province’s tough eco-
nomic realities, OFA – along with
our partner organizations compris-
ing the Ontario Agriculture
Sustainability Coalition (OASC) – is
encouraged the Ontario government
has preserved the Risk Management
Program (RMP) for 2012. We look
forward to working with the govern-
ment on its proposal to revisit the
program design in subsequent years
to ensure they continue to support
productivity and innovation.
Also of note in the budget is the
proposal to cap the Clean Energy
Benefit at 3,000 kilowatt hours per
month. Most farms will be unaffect-
ed by this proposal, as many have
capitalized on farm energy conserva-
tion programs promoted by the OFA.
Large energy users however will not
receive the benefit (a payment to
users of 10 per cent of energy bills)
on usage over 3,000 kilowatt hours
per month.
The OFA also applauds the gov-
ernment’s intent to diversify
Ontario’s exports through improved
trade promotion activities of relevant
ministries. Ontario agriculture and
agri-food products form a significant
and growing part of Ontario’s
exports and our export potential. We
look forward to participating in the
Economic Development Councils
and in the multi-stakeholder Jobs
and Prosperity Council mandated to
advise the government on boosting
productivity and innovation. Ontario
agriculture has the potential to con-
tribute more to Ontario jobs and the
province’s overall prosperity.
There is still serious work to be
done: OFA continues to question the
validity of the OLG estimates on
improved slot revenue versus the
potential costs to the economy from
the termination of the Slots at
Racetracks program in 2013.
Trading away the horse racing
industry for the hope of higher rev-
enue from slots is not sound eco-
nomics and certainly not consistent
with a jobs and prosperity budget.
Clearly, Ontario faces tough
choices now and in the future to get
back on track. Agriculture and agri-
food offers the opportunity to help
Ontario get back on track through
food, fibre and fuel production,
through value adding at our food
processing centres and by sustaining
jobs across rural and urban Ontario.
Total receipts for BrusselsLivestock for the week ending
March 30 were 2,269 cattle, 2,172
lambs and goats. On Tuesday top
quality fed steers and heifers sold
steady while second cut sold $1 to $2
lower. Choice steers and heifers sold
$123 to $129 to $131. Second cut
sold $113 to $117. Cows sold steady.
On Thursday veal sold on a very
strong demand. Light lambs sold $5
to $10 higher and heavy lambs,
sheep and goats sold steady. On
Friday calves sold steady and year-
lings sold under pressure.
There were 135 fed steers on offer.
Jim Howatt of Londesborough, con-
signed 26 steers averaging 1,448 lbs.
selling for an average of $126.98
with one limousin steer weighing
1,430 lbs. selling to Horizon Meat
Packers for $130.75. Randy Diebold
of Cargill, consigned 20 steers aver-
aging 1,463 lbs. selling for an aver-
age of $123.50 with one limousin
steer weighing 1,490 lbs. selling to
Horizon Meat Packers for $127.75.
Norm Stewart of Mount Forest, con-
signed five steers averaging 1,375
lbs. selling for an average of $120.67
with two black steers averaging
1,483 lbs. selling to Ryding Regency
for $123.
Kevin Wagg of Mitchell, con-
signed 15 steers averaging 1,524 lbs.
selling for an average of $120.45
with seven black steers averaging
1,516 lbs. selling for $121. KimberlyWhite of Mount Forest, consigned
one charolais steer weighing 1,570
lbs. selling for $120.50. Brian and
Bill Dallner of Atwood, consigned
two steers averaging 1,367 lbs. sell-
ing for an average of $114.35 with
one red steers weighing 1,400 lbs.
selling for $118.50. Leroy Weppler
of Ayton, consigned one black steer
weighing 1,245 lbs. selling for
$117.75. Terry Murray of Clifford,
consigned two charolais steers aver-
aging 1,485 lbs. selling for $117.50.
Leonard and Andrew Black of
Proton Station, consigned 13 steers
averaging 1,311 lbs. selling for an
average of $116.91 with five black
steers averaging 1,399 lbs. selling for
$117.50.
There were 167 heifers on offer.
K/C McAlpine of Ailsa Craig, con-
signed three heifers averaging 1,392
lbs. selling for an average of $120.72
with one white heifer weighing
1,440 lbs. selling for $123.50. Neil
Rapien of Monkton, consigned six
heifers averaging 1,237 lbs. selling
for an average of $117.96 with one
limousin heifer weighing 1,245 lbs.
selling to Norwich Packers for
$121.50. Don Cormack of Mount
Forest, consigned 24 heifers averag-
ing 1,509 lbs. selling for an average
of $117.48 with one charolais heifer
weighing 1,505 lbs. selling for
$120.50. Lyle Kinsman of Kippen,
consigned four heifers averaging1,325 lbs. selling for an average of
$117.81 with one black heifer
weighing 1,435 lbs. selling to
Norwich Packers for $120.
Mathew Weber of Mount Forest,
consigned 25 heifers averaging
1,352 lbs. selling for an average of
$116.49 with four black heifers aver-
aging 1,286 lbs. selling to Paradise
Meats for $119.75. Larry Reinhart Jr.
of Mildmay, consigned nine heifers
averaging 1,141 lbs. selling for an
average of $116.18 with five black
heifers averaging 1,076 lbs. selling
for $119.50. Alan Hern of Woodham,
consigned three heifers averaging
1,323 lbs. selling for an average of
$119.08 with two red heifers averag-
ing 1,328 lbs. selling for $119.25.
Frank Foran of Lucknow, con-
signed five heifers averaging 1,290
lbs. selling for an average of $117.77
with one limousin heifer weighing
1,230 lbs. selling to Norwich
Packers for $118. Paul Murray of
Ripley, consigned five heifers aver-
aging 1,173 lbs. selling for an aver-
age of $113.10 with one red heifer
weighing 1,140 lbs. selling for $118.
Tom Hern of Woodham, consigned
seven heifers averaging 1,368 lbs.
selling for an average of $117.15
with four heifers averaging 1,400
lbs. selling for $117.25.
There were 239 cows on offer.
Export types sold $71 to $83 with
sales to $86.50; beef cows, $76 to$86 with sales to $87; D1 and D2,
$57 to $64; D3, $52 to $57; D4, $37
to $47. William Dickison of
Mildmay, consigned two cows aver-
aging 1,258 lbs. selling for an aver-
age of $79.16 with one black cow
weighing 1,355 lbs. selling for $87.
Michel Roy of Guigues, consigned
one simmental cow weighing 1,320
lbs. selling for $87. Crabb Creek
Holsteins of Gowanstown, con-
signed five cows averaging 1,544
lbs. selling for an average of $76.56
with one holstein cow weighing
1,375 lbs. selling for $86.50.
There were 10 bulls selling $81.50
to $88.50. Jeff Ditner of Formosa,
consigned two bulls averaging 2,088
lbs. selling for an average of $86.17
with one limousin bull weighing
1,960 lbs. selling for $87.50.
Groenberg Farms of Lucknow,
consigned one charolais bull
weighing 2,315 lbs. selling for
$86.50.
There were 145 head of veal on
offer. Beef sold $130 to $170 with
sale to $171.50; good holstein, $95
to $105 with sales to $108.50; medi-
um holstein, $85 to $95; heavy hol-
stein, $90 to $100 with sales to $104.
Lamar Frey of Listowel, consigned
15 veal averaging 766 lbs. selling for
an average of $153.88 with two
charolais steers averaging 795 lbs.
selling for $171.50. Dan Shetler of
Auburn, consigned four veal averag-ing 750 lbs. selling for an average of
$165.88 with one limousin steer
weighing 735 lbs. selling for $168.
Ray Hallahan of Blyth, consigned
nine veal averaging 781 lbs. selling
for an average of $152.71 with seven
limousin heifers averaging 787 lbs.
selling for $154.
Lambs under 50 lbs. sold $294 to
$370; 50 - 64 lbs., $282 to $344; 65
- 79 lbs., $256 to $301; 80 - 94 lbs.,
$223 to $265; 95 - 109 lbs., $213 to
$252; 110 lbs. and over, $193 to
$229.
Sheep sold $60 to $80 with sales to
$110.
Goats: kids sold $60 to $150 to
$165 per head; nannies, $50 to $90
to $110 per head; billies, $150 to
$250 with sales to $300 per head.
Top quality stocker steers under
400 lbs. sold $130 to $250; 400 - 499
lbs., $136 to $192; 500 - 599 lbs.,
$128 to $180; 600 - 699 lbs., $100 to
$171; 700 - 799 lbs., $100 to $161;
800 - 899 lbs., $100 to $143; 900 -
999 lbs., $121 to $140; 1,000 lbs.
and over, $108 to $129.
Top quality stocker heifers under
300 lbs. sold $150 to $194; 300 - 399
lbs., $140 to $185; 400 - 499 lbs.,
$131 to $171; 500 - 599 lbs., $100 to
$163; 600 - 699 lbs., $103 to $155;
700 - 799 lbs., $100 to $140.75; 800
- 899 lbs., $122 to $141; 900 lbs. and
over, $118 to $129.50.
By Jenny Denhartog
The Christian Farmers Federation
of Ontario (CFFO) is pleased that a
number of its requests were included
in today’s Ontario Budget announce-
ment.
The organization is satisfied with
the government’s message today that
the made-in-Ontario Risk
Management Program will be con-
tinued and is looking forward to
working with agriculture Minister
McMeekin and his staff to improve
the effectiveness and value of the
program. According to Nathan
Stevens, Director of Policy
Development, “Ontario’s farm
organizations and government have
worked hard to develop this program
and the CFFO is willing to work
equally hard at making the necessary
changes. We believe that the pro-
gram should meet both the needs of
farmers and the new reality of the
province’s financial situation.”
As outlined in its pre-budget sub-
mission, the CFFO urged the gov-
ernment to get its financial house in
order and believes that today’s budg-
et is a step towards accomplishing
that goal.
“Many of our members pay close
attention to the economic realities in
other jurisdictions and are concerned
that Ontario has arrived at a point of
having unsustainable debt and
deficit levels. They believe strong
action is needed to steer the econo-
my in a new direction towards fiscal
responsibility,” said Lorne Small,
CFFO President. “The tough choices
that were made by the Canadian and
Ontario governments a decade ago
have allowed us to experience a rela-
tively healthy economy and low
interest rates. Our membership
asked the current Ontario leadership
to work towards the same goals. This
budget appears to steer the Province
in the direction of accomplishing
those goals.”
The CFFO is encouraged that this
budget plans to use spending
restraint rather than tax increases to
reach the goal of a balanced budget.
There is also a commitment to deliv-
er services in a smarter and more
efficient way and work towards pro-
ductivity improvements in the public
sector. Encouraging productivity
improvements in all businesses
including farm business should, if
unrolled effectively, be welcomed by
farm families.
The CFFO’s leadership offered
several other comments about the
budget:
The commitment to use an evi-
dence-based approach to provide an
effective and efficient form of deliv-
ery should also be applied to the reg-
ulatory framework.
The request that the federal gov-
ernment participate in Ontario Risk
Management is a welcome request.
On the surface, the planned
restructuring at the Ministry of
Natural Resource should make it
easier for farmers to interface with
their regulatory responsibility in
such areas as the Green Belt,
Niagara Escarpment and
Endangered Species.
We have a concern with the con-
cept of user pay for environmental
compliance. The concept is accept-
able in principle but will it be used to
pay for an inefficient and ineffective
delivery system.
Our members are nervous about
the impact of reductions proposed in
business support programs when the
programs affected are not yet identi-
fied.
“The CFFO is committed to con-
tinuing its consultations with its
members and to work with Ontario’s
government on the issues that impact
agriculture in this province,” com-
ments Small. “We are pleased with
the direction this budget provides
and are looking forward to playing a
role in providing leadership and
solutions to the challenges Ontario
faces.”
CFFO pleased with provincial budget
TUESDAYS
9:00 a.m.
Fed Cattle, Bulls & Cows
THURSDAYS
8:00 a.m.Drop Calves
10:00 a.m.Veal
11:30 a.m. Lambs, Goats & Sheep
FRIDAYS
10:00 a.m. Stockers
Call us 519-887-6461
Visit our webpage at:
www.brusselslivestock.ca
email us at:
info@brusselslivestock.ca
BRUSSELS LIVESTOCK
Division of Gamble & Rogers Ltd.
UPCOMING SALES
2012 Special Spring Sales
Stocker Sale in lieu of Good Friday
Sat., April 7
Sale starting at 10:00 a.m.
Vaccinated Calves & Yearlings
Mon., April 2 & 23
Sale starting at 10:00 a.m.
AgricultureBrussels Livestock reportFed steers, heifers sell steady at sale
OFA supports Ontario budget
Get breaking farm news
on the Rural Voice sec-
tion of our
website at
www.northhuron.on.ca