The Rural Voice, 1991-04, Page 44CAN NORTHERN ONTARIO SAVE
OUR AILING BEEF INDUSTRY?
story and photo
by Jim Patrick
Northern Ontario cattle and sheep
producers are attempting to corral a
market for feeder cattle and lambs in
southern Ontario.
Producers in Southern Ontario cite
an unfavourable currency rate between
Canada and the U.S., high freight rates
from West to East, and abundant grain
reserves for diverting western feeders
to Alberta or mid -west U.S. feedlots.
Western cattle imports into Ontario
have dropped to 200,000 from
650,000 in recent years and northern
Ontario producers see an opportunity
here.
By utilizing their vast forage
reserves to expand cow herds, a steady
supply of feeder stock could satisfy
increased demands from southern
Ontario feedlots.
Facts and figures about moving
into these southern markets have been
outlined in a beef cow herd and sheep
flock enhancement program prepared
by cow producer Brian Schubert and
sheep producer Randy Praeter, both of
Kems Township near New Liskeard,
Ontario.
Together, the Temiscaming Cattle
Association and District 11 Ontario
Sheep Marketing Agency are applying
for provincial interest rate reduction
assistance in purchasing breeding
stock for flock and herd expansion.
The application will go before the
Ontario cabinet this year, notes Neil
Tarlton, Temiscaming district
agricultural representative.
Praeter said Temiscaming district
markets for lamb are in the north as
well as in the large ethnic areas in
southern Ontario.
But the key to both marketing
plans is to get interest rates down to
eight per cent. The program is in the
Northern Ontario producers would like to
supply feeder cattle and lambs to southern
Ontario in an attempt to revive the province's
fast declining livestock packing industry
Auctioneer Verdun Shepherdson takes bids on cattle moved about the ring by handler
Rod Loach at Temiskaming Livestock Exchange in New Liskeard.
40 THE RURAL VOICE