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The Citizen, 1989-04-12, Page 17THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12, 1989. PAGE 17. Farm.Brussels Livestock Report Active demand met on Friday Environmental problems concern many Canadians As farmers prepare for spring planting, Canadians are being urg­ ed to appreciate the delicate en­ vironmental balance that keeps our land productive. Marking April 10 - 16 as the fifth annual National Soil Conservation Week, federal Agriculture Minister Don Mazankowski and Ontario Agriculture and Food Minister Jack Riddell stressed the theme, Soil Conservation is Everybody’s Busi­ ness. “Canadians are concerned about environmental problems like de­ clining soil quality and erosion, and how urban development and in­ dustrialization affect the produc­ tivity of our farmland,’’ Mr. Ma­ zankowski said. The Senate Agriculture Commit­ tee’s 1984 report, Soil at Risk, notes that erosion, degradation and loss of soil fertility cost Canadian farmers more than $1 billion each year. Winds and water carry off millions of tonnes of topsoil each year. Streams, lakes and ground­ water are in danger of contaminat- tion by nitrates and pesticides. “The stakes are particularly high in Ontario because this province contains some of Canada’s most fertile farmland with a favorable growing climate,’’ Mr. Riddell Bruce Shillinglaw elected SWEEP group head said. In Ontario, the Soil and Water Environmental Enhancement Pro­ gram (SWEEP) is designed to improve soil and water quality in southwestern Ontario. A media tour of several farms is being organized during Soil Conservation Week to show the perils of erosion and benefits of conservation. “The aim of the province’s soil conservation incentives is to reduce losses in farm productivity amount­ ing to a staggering $90 million each year from soil erosion and up to $100 million from soil compac­ tion,’’ Mr. Riddel said. Negotiations are underway with each of the provinces on federal- provincial soil conservation agree­ ments. At least one agreement has been signed and others are expect­ ed to be announced this spring. The federal and provincial governments co-operate on a wide range of soil conservation projects. Programs tailored for each pro­ vince are helping to build public awareness of the problem, and gain support for long-term solutions. “Today’s farmlands are our children’s heritage and we owe it to future generations to be wise stewards of this renewable re­ source,’’ Mr. Mazankowski said. The market at Brussels Livestock Inc. Friday met an active demand on all classes of slaughter cattle with choice steers and cattle selling one dollar higher. There were 610 slaughter cattle, 44 feeders and Stockers, 273 pigs and 48 sheep and lambs on offer. Choice steers were $90 to $94 per hunred weight with sales to $102.50. Good steers were $87 to $90. Twenty-eight steers consigned by Maple Emblem Farms of RR 1, Dungannon averaging 1251 pounds sold for an average price of $94.05 with one Limo cross steer weighing 1170 pounds selling $102.50. Four steers consigned by John Dorsch of RR 2, Bluevale averaging 1183 lbs., sold for an average price of $93.04. Six steers consigned by Glen McMichael of RR 1, Bluevale, averaging 1182 lbs., sold for an average price of $92.88. Twelve steers consigned by Bill Hayden of RR 6, Goderich averaging 1385 lbs., sold for an average price of $92.86. Nine steers consigned by Gordon Daer averaging 1138 lbs., for an average price of $92.80. Three steers consigned by Calvin Semple of RR 1, Ethel, averaging 1283 lbs., sold for an average price of $92.55. One steer consigned by Ham­ mond Bros, of RR 1, Monkton, weighing 1230 lbs., sold at a price of $92.50. Nine steers of Cecil and Karl Raszmann averaging 1346 lbs., sold for an average price of $92.34. Seven steers consigned by Greg Higgins of RR 5, Brussels averaging 1223 lbs., sold for an average price of $91.91. Twelve steers consigned by Glen Johnston of Rr 2, Bluevale averaging 1283 lbs., sold for an average price of $91.88. Six steers consigned by Nelson Hanna of Atwood averaging 1215 lbs., sold for an average price of $91.85. Eleven steers consigned by Stam Farms of RR 4, Kincardine averaging 1216 lbs., sold for an average price of $91.55. Eight steers consigned by Bluemont Farms of RR 1, Bright averaging 1114 lbs., sold for an average price of $91.55. Seven steers consigned by Allan Thornton of RR 1, Gorrie averaging 1260 lbs., sold for an average price of $91.42. Eight steers consigned by Jim Hayden of RR 3, Goderich averag­ ing 1409 lbs., sold for an average price of $91.14. Forty-three steers consigned by Geo. Underwood Farms, RR 1, Wingham averaging 1376 lbs., sold for an average price of $90.53. Choice heifers sold from $90 to $92. Good heifers were $87 to $90. Two heifers consigned by Gary Alton, RR 7, Lucknow averaging 1010 lbs., sold for an average price of $92.60. Six heifers consigned by Barry Jacklin, RR 2, Bluevale averaging 1077 lbs., sold for an average price of $91.14. Six heifers consigned by Glen Johnston, RR 2, Bluevale averaging 985 lbs., sold for an average price of $91.02. Two heifers consigned by Wallace Harrison, RR 4, Durham averaging 1095 lbs., sold for an average price of $90.54. Seven heifers consigned by John Glencross, RR 1, Durham averaging 1097 lbs., sold for an average price of $90.03. Slaughter cows: DI and D2 cows, $53 to $56; D3 and D4 cows, $47 to $53; Canners and Cutters, $43 to $47; Bologna Bulls over 1600 lbs., $60 to $68.50; under 1600 lbs. $64.25 to $79. Weaner pigs under 40 lbs. sold from $45.65 to $55.15 with an average of $49.45; 41 to 50 lbs., $30 to $43.25 with an average $37.10; 70 lbs. and over, $32.50 to $44.50, average $39.85. Thirty to 60 lbs. lambs sold from $1.20 to $1.60 per lb.; 60 lbs., 90 cents to $1.20; Sheep, 25 to 35 cents per lb. HFA wants redefining of rules for slow moving vehicle signs A motion calling for a clearer definition of the use of slow moving vehicle signs was passed by the Huron County Federation of Agri­ culture at its meeting in Clinton April 5. The motion, proposed by Presi­ dent Chris Palmer noted that the interpretation of what vehicles should and shouldn’t have the sign is often left to individual Ministry of Transportation officers. It called for the Ontario Federation of Agriculture and the MTC to come to an agreement that is understood by both parties on the use of the signs. Mr. Palmer gave the exam­ ple of a farmer with a slow moving vehicle sign on his truck that had a grain box on it who was charged when he stopped to buy a cup of coffee because the officer said that buying the coffee was not a farm use. BRUCE SHILLINGLAW HEADS PANEL A Londesboro man has been elected chairman of the Technology Assessment Panel (TAP) of the Soil and Water Environmental En­ hancement Program (SWEEP). Bruce Shilhnglaw, well known for his pioneering conservation work, replaced Arthur Bennett who had served since 1986. Mr. Shill­ inglaw is a graduate of Ontario Agricultural College and had been a practitioner and promoter of soil conservation for years. He uses both No-Till and Ridge-Till techniques on his land and conducts numerous trials and experiments in his search for better ways to both save soil and produce more profits from cash crops. SWEEP is a $30 million federal- provincial agreement designed to improve soil and water quality in southwestern Ontario. The pro­ gram has two inter-related pur­ poses: to reduce phosphorous load­ ings in Lake Erie from cropland runoff; and to improve the agricul­ tural productivity of southwestern Ontario by controlling solid degra­ dation which contributes to water pollution. Several sub-programs have been established with SWEEP, one of which is the TAP panel and another the Technologi­ cal Evaluation and Development (TED) program. The TED component is centered on the federal research station at Harrow. Riddell announces 3 year grain plan A new three-year Ontario Grain Stabilization Plan for 1988-90 was announced recently by Agriculture and Food Minister Jack Riddell. A major change from previous programs is that there will be no fees payable for enrollment in the new plan, which covers corn (inclu­ ding seed corn and popping corn), soybeans, winter wheat, spring wheat, barley, oats and canola. Enrollment in the new grain stabi­ lization plan is required only once for the full three-year term. Under the plan, the Farm Income Stabilization Commission provides support payments to enrolled grain growers when market prices fall below 95 per .cent of the previous five-year average market price, with adjustments made for cash costs. As in the past, the commis­ sion will cover two-thirds of the amount of any calculated support payment. Enrollment in the plan is volun­ tary, but the number of producers involved increased steadily over the three years of the previous program. In 1987, some 14,000 Ontario grain producers were en­ rolled. “We hope to draw even more Ontario producers into the pro­ gram,” said Riddell, “since there are no costs to the grower up­ front.” In 1986, the most recent year for which final figures have been compiled, $20 million was paid out to growers in stabilization pay­ ments under this plan. NEW! At C.A. 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