The Citizen, 1995-03-01, Page 18arm
J
OMAFRA offers seminar
on marketing pork
PAGE 18. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1, 1995.
Brussels Livestock report
Beef veal ave. $95 to $ 117
Sales at Brussels Livestock for
the week ending Feb. 24 were: fed
cattle, 845; cows, 386; veal calves,
164; sheep and goats, 102;
stockers, 883; and pigs, light run.
The market at Brussels Livestock
saw fed steers and heifers selling
steady. Cows sold fully steady.
Thursday saw veal selling steady.
Lambs sold steady. Top quality
stockers sold steady with the poorer
quality selling barely steady.
There were 544 steers on offer
selling from $95 to $100 to the
high of $111.75. Thirty-eight steers
consigned by Cunningham Farms,
Lucan, averaging 1,482 lbs. sold
for an average of $97.71 with sales
to $111.75. Thirty-four steers
consigned by Don Culbert,
Dungannon, averaging 1,392 lbs.
sold for an average of $97.01 with
sales to $107.
Twenty-one steers consigned by
Bill Hayden, Goderich, averaging
1,498 lbs. sold for an average of
$96.48 with sales to $106.75.
Eleven steers consigned by Maple
Ridge Farms, Brussels, averaging
1,238 lbs. sold for an average of
$100.48 with sales to $105.25.
Forty-six steers consigned by Mac
Willits, Wingham, averaging 1,360
lbs. sold for an average of $96.81
with sales to $104.75. Three steers
consigned by Aaron Fischer,
Ayton, averaging 1,483 lbs. sold
for an average of $98.18 with sales
to $103.25.
Eight steers consigned by Darren
Johnson, Bluevale, averaging 1,423
lbs. sold for an average of $96.33
with sales to $102. Two steers
consigned by Gordon Daer,
Auburn, averaging 1,140 lbs. sold
for an average of $99.85 with sales
to $102. Five steers consigned by
Wayne Lembke, Chesley,
averaging 1, 396 lbs. sold for an
average of $89.92 with sales to
$101.75. Six steers consigned by
Paul Johnston, Bluevale, averaging
1,493 lbs. sold for an average of
$97.56 with sales to $100.75.
There were 288 heifers on offer
selling from $95 to $100 to the
high of $106.50. Thirty-four heifers
consigned by Wayne O'Brien,
Centralia, averaging 1,310 lbs. sold
for an average of $97.16 with sales
to $106.50. Two heifers consigned
by Robert Wanless Sr., Palmerston,
averaging 1,282 lbs. sold for an
average of $94.18 with sales to
$101.50. Fourteen heifers
consigned by Mux Lea Farms,
Woodstock, averaging 1,241 lbs.
sold for an average of $96.10 with
sales to $101.25. Two heifers
consigned by Jerry Cronin, Dublin,
averaging 1,190 lbs. sold for an
average of $97.38 with sales to
$99.75. Four heifers consigned by
Ken Johnston, Bluevale, averaging
1,148 lbs. sold for an average of,
$92.26 with sales to $99.25. Five
heifers consigned by Dwayne
Dickert, Ayton, averaging 1,161
lbs. sold for an average of $98.03
with sales to $99.20.
Three heifers consigned by Lloyd
Weppler, Ayton, averaging 1,262
lbs. sold for an average of $96.74
with sales to $99. One heifer
consigned by Kevin Pfeffer,
Palmerston, weighing 1,260 lbs.
sold for $99. Thirty heifers
consigned by Diane Osborne,
Monkton, averaging 1,172 lbs. sold
for an average of $94.50 with sales
to $98.75.
There were 386 cows on offer
selling from $45 to $65 to the high
of $81. Thirteen cows consigned by
Troy Nicoll, Chesley, averaging
1,190 lbs. sold for an average of
$68.42 with sales to $81. Two
Limo cows consigned by Val
Brook Farms, Chepstow, averaging
1,230 lbs. sold for an average of
$73.71 with sales to $79.75. Two
cows consigned by Hehn Farms,
Walkerton, averaging 1,312 lbs.
sold for an average of $66.86 viith
sales to $77.
There were 164 veal on offer
selling Holstein, $85 to $100; Beef,
$95 to $117. Two veal consigned
by Linda MacKenzie, Paisley,
averaging 665 lbs. sold for an
average of $110.95 with sales to
$117. Nine veal consigned by Eric
Sxheurwater, Paisley, averaging
684 lbs. sold for an average of
$108.84 with sales to $115.50. One
veal consigned by Calvin C.
Aikens, Fullarton, weighing 620
lbs. sold for $115.
Lambs, 40 - 60 lbs., sold $170 to
$195; 80 lbs. and over, $100 to
$125.
Sheep, sold $50 to $76.
Goats sold $50 to $150.
Stockers: steers, 400 - 499 lbs.,
sold $106 to $126; 500 - 599 lbs.,
$112 to $127.50; 600 - 699 lbs.,
$105.50 to $120; 700 - 799 lbs.,
$101 to $115; 800 - 899 lbs., $95 to
$104.25; 900 - 999 lbs., $92.50 to
$110; and 1,000 lbs. and over, $87
to $110.
Heifers, 300 - 399 lbs., sold $94
to $112; 400 - 499 lbs., $81 to
$116.50; 500 - 599 lbs., $91 to
$110.50; 600 - 699 lbs., $87 to
$107; 700 - 799 lbs., $80.50 to
$104; 800 - 899 lbs., $82 to $102;
and 900 lbs. and over, $.1 to $98.
For pork producers, one .of the
challenges in today's industry is to
produce the type of pig the industry
wants and to effectively market the
product.
OMAFRA is offering a seminar,
"Producing and Marketing Tomor-
row's Pig", to assist producers as
they strive to meet demands.
Discussions included in the one
day event will be: the future of the
Ontario Marketing Board; the car-
cass we want; marketing pork; feed
costs, grids and slaughter weights;
genetic evaluation and progress;
marketing in the U.S. and plugged
Huron 4-H Agriculture will be
hosting an organizational and first
meeting for a new club on March 7.
Those interested in participating
in a machinery club are invited to
attend the meeting to be held at
Becker's Farm Equipment in Exeter
at 7:30 p.m.
The topic for discussion at the
hogs, trims, condemnations and
blemishes.
The seminar will be held on
March 8 at the Shakespeare Com-
munity Centre, Shakespeare, run-
ning from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Registration, including lunch, is
$45 ($40 if cheque and completed
questionnaire are received by
March 6), with a $20 charge for
each additional person from the
same farm.
Anyone wishing more informa-
tion may contact their local swine
advisor or the Fergus OMAFRA
office at 519-846-0965.
initial meeting will be 10 inch zone
tillage for corn, soyabeans and
white beans. It is one of the newest
forms of tillage.
Anyone wishing more informa-
tion may contact Allan Haugh at
519-522-0248. All parents and
friends are welcome to attend.
4-Hers start equipment club
Ont. 4-H celebrates 80th
Farm experience may draw tourists to Huron
The Ontario 4-H Council kicked Committee Chair Louise Harris, the
off the 80th Anniversary of 4-H in cornerstone of the 80th
Ontario during the organization's Anniversary year will be a special
annual meeting at Geneva Park on weekend of activities, ceremonies
Jan. 28-29. and other festivities for former and
According to Anniversary Continued on page 19
•
Tapping agrt-tourism
A panel from Perth County introduced the idea of agri-tourism to a group of Huron County
farmers at a workshop in Clinton Feb. 20. Telling how farmers can attract tourists for extra
income were: (left to right) Kelly Nicholson, Perth Agri-Tourism co-ordinator; Barbara
McQuarry, director of Tourism Stratford; Linda Knechtel of The Best Little Pork Shoppe; and
emu farmer John Hicknell.
Combining efforts of Huron that there had to be more ways of that urge tourists to "Get out of
County's two biggest job producing bringing income to farm families, town"). Similar programs in the
industries could help both agricul- caused her to call together a meet- U.S. have led to 500-600 farm tours
ture and tourism, participants in a ing of a number of farm families. a year.
Clinton workshop on agri-tourism "We started with a committee of "People are always looking for
heard Feb. 20. farmers. If you're going to do this interesting things to do," said Kelly
The workshop, sponsored by the (in Huron County) you (farmers)
Nicholson, Agri-Tourism co-ordi-
Ontario Agricultural Training Insti- have to be involved." nator, who chaired the workshop.
tute introduced the idea of selling Farms producing dairy, pork, Linda Knechtel, who with her
the farm experience to tourists to a sheep, emu and elk were included husband Gerry runs The Best Little
dozen Huron County residents. A in the tours for the first year. Under Pork Shoppe at Shakespeare, retail-
panel of farmers and tourist offi- the Perth plan, tour operators pay ing whole-hog sausage from their
cials from Perth County told of $5 per person, per farm for the own farm and other specialty pork
their experience last year in the first tours, with the money split between products, was one of the farmers
year of Perth's agri-tourism cam- Perth County Agri-Tourism and the taking part in the tours last year.
paign. farm operator. Eventually, she says, "The rewards are enormous. The
Barbara McQuarry, director of they hope to make the agri-tourism workload is enormous. It's like get-
Tourism Stratford, explained the self-supporting. ting ready for company coming."
goal was to find other things for Last year there were seven or she said. "Dusting the pens in your
tourists to do in the county when eight bus tours to Perth County pig barn sounds silly but we have
they came to Stratford Festival - farms but Ms McQuarry said that had people go straight from the
125,000 of them coming on bus will grow, with the real results not farm to the theatre." (She advises
tours. "It bugs my butt to send peo- being seen until the fourth or fifth them to take a walk in the park
ple off to St. Jacobs to spend their year of the program. The advertis- beside the Avon River to air out
money when they could be spend- ing for agri-tourism is just now before they go into the theatre.)
ing it in Perth County," she said. starting to get out to tour operators People, including their veterinari-
That need, along with a concern (Perth has created colourful posters an, warned the Knechtcls about
opening their barn for visitors but
when they asked what diseases the
pigs were likely to catch from
urban residents, they couldn't think
of any. "I can't think of another pig
farmer who's going to pay to go
into my barn," she said, so the like-
lihood of transmitting swine dis-
eases is small.
The enjoyment comes from intro-
ducing people to the real world of
agriculture, she says. "I can't tell
you how wonderful it is to see peo-
ple begin to understand," she said.
"The opportunity you give them to
come onto your farm opens up a
whole new world for them."
And getting more people to know
about agriculture is very important,
she said. "If we're going to survive
animals welfarists and everybody's
reasons for not farming, we have to
get the word out."
John Hicknell of Emusing Acres
said the tours were an opportunity
for him to "tell people why I'm
doing what I'm doing" in raising
emus. Not just city people, but
other farm people, are interested in
what he is doing, he said. The emu
industry needs publicity at this time
in its development, he said.
Mr. Hicknell told farmers present
that if they welcome visitors they
must remember they are representa-
tives of their commodity, even rep-
resentatives for all of agriculture.
When they're expecting a tour at
his farm, they cut the grass in the
morning or on the evening before.
Always take a shower and dress up
for the visitors, he said. "When you
have people coming in and they see
you looking neat and the place
looks well cared for it starts the
tour off well."
In setting up for tours, farmers
should keep in mind who their like-
ly customers are, he said. Figuring
that there would be many senior
citizens on the busses, he put up
shelters from the sun, park benches
and dressed up the farm pond. But
they also had a play area for their
own children and they found many
seniors would rather watch Mrs.
Hicknell playing with the children
than ask him about farming.
"We make emu meat available to
Continued on page 19
BRUSSELS LIVESTOCK
Division of Gamble & Rogers Ltd.
UPCOMING SALES
TUESDAYS 9 a.m. Finished
Cattle & Cows
THURSDAYS 9:00 a.m. Dropped Calves
Veals followed
by Goats
Sheep & Lambs
FRIDAYS 10:00 a.m. Stocker Cattle
1:00 p.m. Pigs
BRUSSELS 887-6461