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The Citizen, 2003-07-09, Page 11THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 2003. PAGE 11. ____ Agriculture______ Brussels Livestock report 804 cattle hold steady to previous week Total receipts for Brussels Livestock for the week ending July 4 were 804 head of cattle, 639 lambs and goats. On Tuesday, the fed steers and heifers sold on a steady market to last week’s prices. The cows also sold steady to last week. On Thursday, the veal sold at prices steady to the week’s decline. The lambs traded on an active trade at prices steady to last week’s. On Friday the yearlings traded at prices $2 to $3 higher. There were 214 steers on offer selling from $50 to $58 with sales to $72. Larry Ryan, Crediton, consigned one limousin steer weighing 1,430 lbs. which sold to Holly Park Meat Packers for $72. His overall offering of forty-eight steers averaged 1,452 lbs. selling for an average of $61.32. Forty-one steers consigned by J.K. Gielen Farms, Crediton, averaged 1,474 lbs. selling for an average price of $58.82 with their top gold steer weighing 1,435 lbs. selling to Holly Park Meat Packers for $69.50. Ken Palen, Exeter, consigned ten red steers averaging 1,217 lbs. which sold for an average price of $62.11 with sales up to $63.25. B & T Farms, Ailsa Craig, consigned one black steer weighing 1,195 lbs. which was purchased by Norwich Packers for $62.50. Their overall offering of seven steers averaged 1,236 lbs. selling for an average price of $56.04. One black steer consigned by Fred Cowdrey, Lucan, weighed 1,435 lbs. selling to Holly Park Meat Packers for $58. His overall offering of twelve steers averaged 1,365 lbs. selling for an average price of BSE compensation not enough By Janice Becker Citizen staff Now moving into its eight week, the BSE crisis in the cattle industry continues to overflow into other sectors with the ramifications being felt across the country. In spite of the recent announcement by the federal and provincial governments, granting $480 million in relief, Huron County Beef Producers president Paul Coultes said, “The package is not going to do what it was meant to do.” “As soon as the funding was announced, packers dropped the price for live cattle,” he said. What was bringing 95 cents is expected to only see 45 cents on this week’s market. “This is a crisis situation now. Producers who were getting $1,400 for cattle are now getting just $450 to $500. There is not enough money in the (relief) package to cover that loss,” Coultes said. “It is devastating right now. No one (fore)saw the price dropping like it did.” Coultes doesn’t see any way out of the price crisis currently facing the. industry. “We can’t drop the retail price because it will pull down pork and chicken as well.” There is money being made somewhere, Coultes suggested, because there is a huge difference in the packers’ price and what the producers are receiving. Producers are maybe getting only enough to cover the feed bill, but that does not include the initial cost $56.08. Leonard Black, Proton Station, consigned eight steers averaging 1,326 lbs. which sold for an average price OF $55.59 with his top two red steers averaging 1,255 lbs. selling for $61.75. Twenty-three steers consigned by Terry Robinson, Ailsa Craig, averaged 1,424 lbs. selling for an average price of $55.47 with their top limousin steer weighing 1,350 lbs. selling for $59. Andy VanderVeen, Blyth, consigned five simmental steers averaging 1,482 lbs. which sold for an average price of $54.29 with sales to $55.75. Twelve steers consigned by Kobe Farms, Port Elgin, averaged 1,703 lbs. selling for an average price of $52.97 with their top red steer weighing 1,635 lbs. selling to St. Helen’s Meat Packers for $58. Russell Pietsch, Clifford, consigned six hereford steers averaging 1,235 lbs. which sold for an average price of $51.11 with his top two steers averaging 1,190 lbs. selling to St. Helens Meat Packers for $54. There were 186 heifers on offer selling from $50 to $58 with sales to $74. Roy McCulloch, Alienford, consigned two limousin heifers averaging 1,190 lbs. which sold to Holly Park Meat Packers for $74. His overall offering of twenty-five heifers averaged 1,249 lbs. selling for an average price of $60.08. Four heifers consigned by Herb Brown, St. Marys, averaged 1,120 lbs. selling for an average price of $62.73 with his top gold heifer weighing 1,140 lbs. selling for $67.50. Lauderlea Farms, Listowel, consigned eleven limousin heifers averaging 1,213 lbs. which sold for to purchase the animal, he said. The next three weeks could see dramatic losses as there is expected to be an influx of cattle to the market as producers just can wait no longer. Coultes also sees farmers in the Stocker or cow/calf business getting hit hard this fall as there is no equity in the repurchase. He sees no let up in the crisis in the near future as he said it is purely a political issue now as the government must convince the United States and Japan, in particular, to reopen the borders. “Even after the borders open, it will take a long time to recover,” he said. “Some U.S. markets have been lost and we will have to keep the prices low to get them buying again.” With prices expected to remain low for the foreseeable future, Coultes said the domino effect will continue as farmers do not have the cash flow to pay bills or make previously considered purchases. Brian McGavin of McGavin Farm Supply and Farm Equipment in Walton said there is a concern for the accounts receivable. “It could be really critical soon.” Though other farming sectors are keeping the business going, McGavin said the beef sector could brings things down if the situation carries on too long. “Farmers who were considering purchases two to three months ago are now holding off.” He also said the company has an average price of $63.31 with their top four limousin heifers averaging 1,224 lbs. selling to Dominion Meats for $64.75. Eight heifers consigned by David Bowles, Brussels, averaged 1,163 lbs. selling for an average price of $60.33 with his top limousin heifer weighing 1,175 lbs. selling to Norwich Packers for $63.50. Hugh Love, Atwood, consigned one limousin heifer weighing 1,250 lbs. which sold to Norwich Packers for $63.50. His overall offering of thirteen heifers averaged 1,302 lbs. selling for an average price of $58.70. Seven heifers consigned by Merkley Farms, Wroxeter, averaged 1,181 lbs. selling for an average price of $57.67 with their top limousin heifer weighing 1,055 lbs. selling to Dominion Meats for $66. Johnston Farms, Bluevale, consigned one simmental heifer weighing 1,250 lbs. which sold to Holly Park Meat Packers for $61. Their overall offering of eighteen heifers averaged 1,248 lbs. selling for an average price of $56.07. Six heifers consigned by Alan Hem, Woodham, averaged 1,117 lbs. selling for an average price of $54.38 with his top limousin heifer weighing 1,100 lbs. selling to Norwich Packers for $60. Gerald Rathwell, Brucefield, consigned one red heifer weighing 1,210 lbs. which sold to Dominion Meats for $60.50. His overall offering of twelve heifers averaged 1,323 lbs. selling for an average price of $49.81. There were 49 cows on offer. DI and D2 cows sold $25 to $38. Mac Breadner, Meaford, consigned one eased off on the sales pushes as it would be “like rubbing sand in the wound”. The equipment companies have already begun offering special deals, he said, but a long-term crisis in the farm industry will eventually move to manufacturers as well. In speaking with clients, McGavin noted it is not just beef farmers who are holding off on purchases, but dairy farmers as well. Builders of farm structures are feeling the fallout too as projects are being cancelled or put on hold. Though funding was announced for producers of beef and other ruminants and deadstock companies have received funding through the Healthy Futures for Agriculture program, secondary industries which are affected have not yet heard if they will be included in compensation pay-outs. For cattle producers, the BSE Recovery program will compensate for cattle in inventory on May 20, sold after that date and slaughtered in Canada within 14 days of sale. The compensation wdl be based on the weekly U.S. cash spot market and the differential. The program will run until tfe ban is lifted for live cattle or muscle cuts of cattle, whichever is first. For sheep, cull cows, veal and other ruminants, the program ends Aug. 31. Information on the compensation package and application kits can be found on the OMAF website at www.gov.on.ca/omaf or by calling 1-87-838-5144. limousin cow weighing 1,700 lbs. which sold to Levinoff Meat Products for $32.50. One gold wf cow consigned by Dan Brickman, Sebringville, weighed 1,125 lbs. selling to Levinoff Meat Products for $30. Hans Sturzenegger, Auburn, consigned one holstein cow weighing 1,515 lbs. which sold to Levinoff Meat Products for $28. There were three bulls on offer selling from $28.50 to $31 with sales to $50. Lawrence Hogan, Lucknow, consigned one limousin bull weighing 2,065 lbs. which sold for $50. One charolais bull consigned by Martin Thomet, Brussels, weighed 1,435 lbs. selling for $31. There were 105 head of veal on offer. Holstein sold $50 to $63 with sales to $69. Plain Holstein sold $30 to $40. George Ducharme, Dashwood, consigned one red wf veal steer weighing 785 lbs. which Beef club tours market By Sara Baker On June 25 the Brussels Belgrave Beef 4-H Club went on a tour of Green’s Meat Market, Wingham. Before the tour the group met at the home of Paul Coultes where they talked about their favourite kinds of beef. At Green’s Meat Market, they learned how to cut beef and saw a demonstration of a beef being cut Sheep club talks judging By Laura Snell The Huron 4-H Sheep Club held its third meeting at the home of leader Florence Pullen. They played a game of flags, then Tonya Drost and Nicole Moore talked about pointers for apple judging. Each member was given judging cards and started judging the apples. They gave reasons for their placings. TUESDAYS THURSDAYS FRIDAYS sold to Millgrove Meat Packers for $81. Plovan Farms, Harriston, consigned one black veal steer weighing 635 lbs. which sold for $72.50. Lambs, under 50 lbs. sold $110 to $125; 50 - 64 lbs., $117 to $158; 65 - 79 lbs., $124 to $162; 80 - 94 lbs., $134 to $145; 95 - 109 lbs., $131 to $145; 110 lbs. and over, $133 to $141. Goats sold $30 to $109. Sheep sold $29 to $67.50. Stocker steers, 400 - 499 lbs., sold $125 to $132; 500 - 599 lbs., $124 to $130; 600 - 699 lbs. , $105 - $125; 700 - 799 lbs., sold to $86; 800 - 899 lbs., $73.50 to $95; 900 - 999 lbs., $84.25 to $95; 1,000 lbs. and over, $84 to $92. Heifers, 400 - 499 lbs, sold to $127; 500 - 599 lbs., $120 to $129; 800 - 899 lbs., $79 to $88.25; 900 lbs. and over, $57 to $88.50. up. It can take up to one hour to do this. The butcher never knows if or when an inspector is coming. The inspector sees the animal alive first because of a sickness or high fever. The 4-Hers also learned that the remains (anything that is not cut up into meat) goes to plants and are put into animal food (cat and dog food). Members then got the chance to head down to the bam to judge a class of four yearling Suffolk ewes, provided by leader Florence and hei husband Don. She also gave pcinters for judging these sheep. The members ther repeated the judging steps and gave reasons. Go for the Gold is July 29 at Wesley Willis United Church, Clinton at 7 p.m.