The Rural Voice, 1985-11, Page 38FARM NEWS
500 cattle bought via
At the first such venture
originating in Ontario, more than 500
head of cattle were bought via
satellite communication between
Stratton in the Rainy River District
and the Kitchener arena.
The sale on September 23 attracted
13 buyers in Kitchener, who watched
the Stratton Sale in progress on a
large screen. Bids were flashed to
Stratton and picked up by auctioneer
Hugh Filson, who found the bright
TV lights took some time to get used
to.
In total, more than 1,600 cattle,
mostly yearlings, were sold at steady
prices during the day. Competition
came from three buyers from
Manitoba, who purchased over 300
head while bidding in Stratton. E.
Bauman of Elmira was once again the
largest single buyer at the Stratton
Sales yard. He and other buyers in at-
tendance from Mooretown, Denfield,
and Tara took more than 700 head of
cattle back to southern Ontario.
More than 60 head were purchased by
a buyer from Dryden.
District farmers were generally
pleased with the prices received, con-
sidering the depressed cattle markets
in Canada caused by all the imported
beef. Rainy River cattlemen report
that the TV buyers were happy with
the quality of cattle received.
Although prices didn't go as high
as the 1984 sale, the overall average
of prices was better. The steadier
prices eliminated the tremendous
gaps between pens of equally match-
ed cattle which had often occurred in
other years. The directors of the cat-
tlemen's association say that the
greater number of buyers kept the
bids steadier on all lots of good cattle.
The plans to implement a satellite
sale began this spring. Because the
past few years had seen only two or
three buyers purchasing practically all
the yearling cattle at the Stratton
Sale, the directors had become con-
cerned that producers were suffering
from a lack of competitive bidders.
After pondering through most of the
winter, president Gerald Gouliquer
and sales manager Bob LeBlanc
struck on the idea of a satellite sale to
attract more buyers. But first they
had to sell the daring idea to the other
14 directors — no mean task when
dealing with cattlemen. Cost was
another factor. The directors
36 THE RURAL VOICE
satellite
unanimously agreed to proceed if
funding could be provided through
the new Agri -North Program. With
the financial uncertainty in
agriculture, the directors were not
eager to saddle district producers with
even more costs.
A commitee of five directors led
by president Gouliquer was establish-
ed to approach Agri -North for full
funding of this experimental
marketing plan.
Two primary reasons were put
forth. One, unless district cattlemen
could improve their market with
more competitive bidding, the entire
beef industry in the district could be
jeopardized. Two, by reaching the
feedlot farmers in southern Ontario,
the satellite sale could cut their costs
by direct buying.
The application was successful and
the project will be funded through the
Agri -North Program. Agri -North is a
joint venture of the Ministry of
Agriculture and the Ministry of Nor-
thern Affairs to advance agriculture
in northern Ontario.
The directors of the Rainy River
Is stabilization really
If farmers had a dollar for every
time a politician has said that the Na-
tional Tripartite Stabilization Plan
for red meat producers would soon
be paying out money, farmers pro-
bably wouldn't need the stabilization.
But it looks as though the stabiliza-
tion plan is really coming this time,
according to Jack Riddell, Minister
of Agriculture and Food, who was
speaking at the annual Pork Congress
meeting in Stratford, October 7.
"I want to reassure you that what I
have to say to you today is not your
usual stabilization speech full of
bromides and promises that never
seem to come true. I'm here to give
you a progress report. And I can
honestly say there does seem to be
progress on this issue — at long last."
A few months ago, against his
"better judgement and wisdom;' Rid-
dell was contemplating putting a
bipartite plan into action in Ontario.
But he decided to hold back and set
his energies toward getting the na-
tional stabilization plan instead. A
national plan, he said, is a much bet-
ter solution.
Before federal Minister of
Agriculture John Wise left for the
Cattlemen's Association believe that
the satellite sale is probably the trend
of the future. It will provide more
buyers for isolated cow -calf pro-
ducers, while also providing direct
buying for feedlot farmers and
eliminating the expense of time and
travel. Another satellite sale may be
held next year, which will allow direc-
tors to compare results.
The directors of the Rainy River
Cattlemen's Association were pleased
with the smoothness of the entire
satellite sale procedure. Much of this
credit goes to Jim Wideman of
OLEX, who co-ordinated all the dif-
ferent factors. Credit also goes to
sales manager Bob LeBlanc, auc-
tioneer Hugh Filson, and all the
workers at the Stratton Sale. The suc-
cessful completion of the sale brought
a sigh of relief and a proud feeling of
accomplishment to Rainy River Cat-
tlemen's president Gerald Gouliquer
in particular, and the directors in
general. ❑
Submitted by Dean Hodgson
Rainy River Cattlemen's Association
coming?
Soviet Union seeking co-operative
agricultural projects between the
USSR and Canada, Riddell was urg-
ing him to act on tripartite stabiliza-
tion.
Riddell promised producers that as
soon as Wise's plane from Russia
touched the tarmac, he'd be on the
phone to Ottawa trying to get the deal
finalized as quickly as possible.
"I feel that we are on the brink of
an historic agreement ... and I assure
you that Ontario is ready to sign this
agreement as soon as we can get Mr.
Wise off his ... plane."
Riddell also reassured producers
that Wise has shown a willingness to
bring forward some of the change
Ontario red meat producers feel are
necessary.
Toploading is one of those pro-
blem areas. Allowing provincial sup-
port programs in addition to the basic
stabilization program would destroy
the intent of the national program.
Riddell said. "A national program
that provinces are free to supplement
as they see fit is really no different
than the present fragmented situa-
tion, and certainly is no solution."
The issue of toploading can be
resolved by phasing out provincial