The Citizen, 1995-11-22, Page 19CONVEVAIRTA,1
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TUESDAYS 9 a.m. Finished
Cattle & Cows
THURSDAYS 10:00 a.m. Dropped Calves
Veals followed
by Goats
Sheep & Lambs
FRIDAYS 10:00 a.m. Stocker Cattle
1:00 p.m. Pigs
BRUSSELS LIVESTOCK
Division of Gamble & Rogers Ltd.
PCOIYIING SALES
BRUSSELS 887-6461
THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1995. PAGE 19.
Brussels Livestock report
Fed steers, heifers sell on strong trade
Sales at Brussels Livestock lot
the week ending Nov. 17 were: fed
cattle, 931; cows, 288; veal calves,
190; lambs and goats, 144;
stockers, 1,546 and pigs, 132.
The market at Brussels Livestock
saw fed steers and heifers selling
on a good strong active trade. Cows
sold fully steady. On Thursday veal
sold steady. Lambs sold on a strong
trade. On Friday all weights of
stockers sold steady.
There were 637 steers on offer
selling from $84 to $88 to the high
of $97. Twelve steers consigned by
Jim Howatt, Londesborough,
averaging 1,275 lbs. sold for an
average of $90.27 with sales to
$97. One hundred and six steers
consigned by Norma Hamel',
Dobbinton, averaging 1,364 lbs.
They are smaller than the period
at the end of this sentence but in
many ways a farmer's prosperity
depends on tiny animals in the soil,
according to Dr. Val Behan-Pelleti-
er a researcher with the Biological
Resources Division of Agriculture
and Agri-Food Canada.
Speaking to the annual meeting
of the Ecological Farmers of
Ontario in Ethel, Saturday, Behan-
Pelletier said she devoted her
career to studying these animals
few people realize exist. Farmers
aren't alone in ignoring them, she
says. Because you can't see them
even scientists tend to ignore them
In her research division there are
only three scientists studying soil
insects, called microfauna, while 20
study larger insects found above
the soil's surface.
"We live on the rooftops of a
hidden world. It is teeming with
life." The soil has been called the
poor man's tropical rain forest for
the wide diversity of life it con-
tains, she said. In this under earth
environment the earthworms are
the whales of the world. Most of
the animals are much smaller,
many so small they must be viewed
under a microscope. The pores in
the soil are their houses, the roots
and root-hairs of plants are their
highways.
Yet much like earth worms,
these tiny insects help create the
rich soil that sustains life, Behan-
Pelletier explained. Combined
with fungus and bacteria, the tiny
creatures help turn plant material
BREAK AND ENTER
On Oct. 17 there was a break,
enter and theft at a residence on
Conc. 3, Colborne Twp. The
culprits entered the residence and
sold for an average of $85.53 with
sales to $93.25. Twenty-four steers
consigned by Laverne Martin,
Mount Forest, averaging 1,400 lbs.
sold for an average of $86.52 with
sales to $93.
Thirteen steers consigned by
Schmidt Brooks Farms Inc., Wood-
stock, averaging 1414 lbs. sold for
an average of $86.16 with sales to
$92.25. Ten steers consigned by
Mike Dalton, Goderich, averaging
1,364 lbs. sold for an average of
$87.26 with sales to $92. Twelve
steers consigned by Terry
McCarthy, Dublin, averaging 1,441
lbs. sold for an average of $84.92
with sales to $90. Forty steers
consigned by W. B. Pletch Co.
Ltd., Rockwood, averaging 1,365
lbs. sold to the high of $89.50.
into the enriching humus a healthy
soil needs.
When a leaf falls to the ground,
she explained, the first wave of
fungus and bacteria may attack
some of the plant material such as
the fleshy material between the
veins of the leaf. The fungus and
bacteria can't work on the woodier
portions of the leaf and stem. They
depend on the various undersoil
insects to munch on these areas of
the plant. The insects break the
material down and create feces on
which the next wave of fungus and
bacteria go to work.
The tiny insect also help to mix
organic and mineral materials
through the soil, much as an earth-
worm does. They also help move
the bacteria and fungus around so
that it can act on other plant materi-
al. The end result is the plant mate-
rial is broken down and
incorporated into the soil to be
available for the roots of growing
plants.
For farmers, creating an envi-
ronment that encourages soil
microfauna means providing decent
food, shelter and environmental
conditions, Behan-Pelletier said.
The population of arthropods might
be 250,000 to one million in a sam-
ple of soil from a woodland area. A
similar sample from a grassland or
no-till area would have 150,00-
250,000 arthropods while the popu-
lation drops to 75,000-150,000 in a
cultivated field.
removed a Panasonic TV and VCR,
a Denon CD player, Mission
speakers, a Chubb safe, US funds,
and other certificates and bonds.
BREAK AND ENTER
Six steers consigned by Dave
Bender, Palmerston, averaging
1,127 lbs. sold for an average of
$86.87 with sales to $89. Twelve
steers consigned by Beetonia Farms
Ltd., Beeton, averaging 1,451 lbs.
sold for an average of $82.93 with
sales to $88.75. Two steers
consigned by Barry Jacklin,
Bluevale, averaging 1,467 lbs. sold
for an average of $87.69 with sales
to $88.75.
There were 218 heifers on offer
selling from $84 to $88 to the high
of $94.75. Thirty heifers consigned
by Johnston Farms, Bluevale,
averaging 1,129 lbs. sold for an
average of $84.07 with sales to
$94.75. One heifer consigned by
Ron Gordon, Blyth, weighing
1,285 lbs. sold for $91.
Fifteen heifers consigned by
Wayne Rowe, Woodham, averag-
ing 1,258 lbs. sold foi an average
of $83.95 with sales to $90. Two
heifers consigned by Emil
Weidner, Grand Valley, averaging
1,180 lbs. sold for an average of
$83.77 with sales to $86.75. Three
heifers consigned by Ron Pentland,
Goderich, averaging 1,181 lbs. sold
In a minimum tillage situation
there is a greater concentration of
crop residues to provide food, and
more soil surface organic material
to prevent soil erosion and damage
to the insect from heavy rains. Less
travel over the field also means less
damage to the subterranean insect
activity.
While organic materials can
increase the diversity of soil micro-
fauna, chemical fertilizers and pes-
ticides can reduce the number of
species, though perhaps not overall
numbers. Pesticides react different-
ly on different soil insects. Some
insects may be killed off entirely
while others, because of the food
they exist on, will not be affected.
Because it is a complex ecologi-i
cal system, some insects that prey'
on others or that compete with
other species for food, may be !
killed off and that may lead to a
population boom for another
species. That is why, Behan-Pelleti-
er said, some research has shown
the total numbers of soil insects
actually increased after pesticide
application on crops. The numbers
may have increased but the number
of species declined, she said.
Farmers who want to increase
this sub-soil activity should avoid
mono-culture, excessive tillage and
bare soil and use of chemical fertil-
izers and pesticides, she said. To
encourage soil microfauna diversity
they should maintain fence rows
and woodlots, use mulching and
add organic material, use crop rota-
tions and a diversity of crops.
The Kenpal Farm Products at
Conc. 1 Stephen Twp. was broken
into on Oct. 17 between the hours
of 12 and 5:30 a.m. A microwave
oven and four 286 computers were
stolen.
for an average of $83.90 with sales
to $86.75.
Five heifers consigned by
Charles Ready, St. Marys,
averaging 1,166 lbs. sold for an
average of $84.05 with sales to
$86.35. Eight heifers consigned by
William Alderson, Clifford,
averaging 1,268 lbs. sold for an
average of $82.43 with sales to
$85.75. Four heifers consigned by
Hank Versteeg, Wingham,
averaging 1,314 lbs. sold for an
average of $80.83 with sales to
$85.25. Nineteen heifers consigned
by Barry Kocher, Listowel,
averaging 1,262 lbs. sold for an
average of $83.08.
There were 288 cows on offer
selling from $30 to $48 to the high
of $58. Five cows consigned by
Allan and Dorothy Martin,
Listowel, averaging 1,277 lbs. sold
for an average of $53.21 with sales
to $58. Three cows consigned by
John Semjanous, Orangeville,
averaging 1,740 lbs. sold for an
average of $48.95 with sales to
$56. Three cows consigned by
Frank Nigh, Seaforth, averaging
1,395 lbs. sold for an average of
$51.62 with sales to $53.
There were 28 bulls on offer
selling from $41.50 to $54 to the
high of $64.50. One Limousin bull
consigned by Harvey Becker,
Ayton, weighing 2,020 lbs. sold for
$64.50. One Limousin bull
consigned by Cliff Campbell,
Stratford, weighing 1,685 lbs. sold
for $64.
There were 190 veal on offer
selling - Holstein, $75 to $90; Beef,
$80 to $109.50. Five veal
consigned by Allan McKinnon,
Shallow Lake, averaging 616 lbs.
sold for an average of $96.51 with
sales to $109.50. Six veal
consigned by Ducharme Farms
Ltd., Zurich, averaging 612 lbs.
sold for an average of $102.25 with
sales to $108. Three veal consigned
by William Ten Hove, Monkton,
averaging 683 lbs. sold for an
average of $86.70 with sales to
$93.
Lambs, 50 - 80 lbs., sold $128 to
$153; 80 - 94 lbs., $125 to $134.
Sheep sold $51 to $67.
Goats sold $42.50 to $125.
Steers, 400 - 499 lbs., sold $80 to
$118.50; 500 - 599 lbs., $71 to
$102; 600 - 699 lbs., $85 to $95.50;
700 - 799 lbs., $55.50 to $98; 800 -
899 lbs., $79.50 to $100 and 900
lbs. and over, $57.75 to $91.
Heifers, 300 - 399 lbs., sold $70
to $108; 400 - 499 lbs., $82 to
$105; 500 - 599 lbs., $63 to $93.75;
600 - 699 lbs., $63.50 to $81; 700 -
799 lbs., $65 to $86; and 800 lbs.
and over, $71 to $82.50.
arm
Eco. Farmers hear speaker
Crime of the Week