Feb. 4 - Closing Markets

(Click arrow to play OCA report)

-> ONTARIO PORK REPORTS:
TOTAL SALES = 28,643
FOR A = 4 DAY TOTAL OF = 95,659
THAT'S = down 5,666 FROM LAST WEEK.
THE AVERAGE PRICE WAS = $1.25/kilogram
THAT'S down 5 cents
THE U-S NATIONAL COST PRICE = $65.96 U-S, DRESSED WEIGHT
That's dwon 31 cents
FORWARD CONTRACT PRICE FOR May-June DELIVERY IS $148.35
WHICH IS up $1.62
THE ESTIMATED HISTORICAL BASIS FOR May-June IS minus 10 dollars to plus 6 dollars.

-> ON THE CHICAGO BOARD OF TRADE:

CORN FUTURES:
March up 1 at 3.54
May up a half at 3.65 and a quarter

SOYBEAN FUTURES:
March up 6 at 9.14
May up 5 and a half at 9.24 and a half

WHEAT FUTURES:
March up 6 and a half at 4.75 and a half
May up 6 and a half at 4.90

-> FROM DAUPHIN FEED AND SUPPLY, THE 48% SOYBEAN MEAL QUOTE, F-O-B HAMILTON = $351/tonne

-> CLOSING LOCAL GRAIN PRICES FROM SNOBELIN FARMS:

Note there's a basis change for old and new soys.

09 CROP CORN = up 1 at 3.44/BU
2010 CROP CORN = 3.85/BU
2011 CROP CORN = 4.02/BU

09 CROP SOYS = up 21 at 9.29/BU
2010 CROP SOYS = up 13 at 8.85/BU
2011 CROP SOYS = up 19 at 8.78/BU

09 CROP SOFT RED WINTER WHEAT = up 7 at 3.91/BU
2010 CROP SOFT RED WINTER WHEAT = up 6 at 4.22/BU
2011 CROP SOFT RED WINTER WHEAT = up 8 at 5.02/BU

Coyotes Causing Problems in Perth

A thriving coyote population is causing a lot of concern in Perth County.

There have been several reports that the animals are getting bigger and bolder with the number of livestock attacks on the rise.

That's according to County and North Perth Councillor Terry Seiler who says something needs to be done to keep the public and livestock safe.

Seiler says a few groups of hunters have indicated that about 100 coyotes have been taken down in the Atwood area, close to 60 near Rostock and countless more near St. Marys in a short period of time.

He adds some municipalities including neighbouring Huron County are offering a bounty for coyotes so that is one option that could be considered.

Perth County Council has directed staff to bring a report on potential coyote population control measures back to Council in a few weeks.

Employee Says Steelback Closing Its Tiverton Plant

Steelback Brewery is in the process of shutting its Tiverton plant. That's according to a worker at the plant who didn't want to be identified. Apparantly only four workers remain at Steelback. The lot is unplowed, the retail store has a sign on it saying closed for the winter and only about four cars are in the parking lot. The worker says there was still bottling going on today but for the express purpose of getting rid of inventory. The employee did not know when the plant would be officially shuttered.

Archaeological Study Concludes In Wingham

An archeological study has wrapped up in Wingham that determined if a piece of land is actually the former site of an ancient burial ground. North Huron Reeve Neil Vincent says there is a proposal for 5 new housing developments to be built between the WOAA Office and Libro Finanacial in Wingham. He says the study has indicated the land is free of any grave sites.

MCC Collects Items for Haiti Relief Kits

Relief kits are now the focus of one group collecting donations for Haiti relief and can be dropped at spots in Listowel and Milverton.
Dan Driedger is the resource development director for Ontario's arm of the Mennonite Central Committee.
He says relief kits are important for hygiene and protection.
The kits will include soap, toothpaste, bandages and even bed sheets that can be used as mosquito netting.
The Haiti relief kits can be dropped off at Scotia Bank in Listowel and Mennonite Savings and Credit Unions in Milverton, Elmira and New Hamburg until February 28th.
They're aiming collect 20,000 kits across MCC system and ship them to earthquake ravaged Haiti.

Here is what is in a relief kit:
4 large bars of bath soap
1 plastic bottle (380 to 780 ml) of shampoo in sealed plastic bag
4 bars of laundry soap
1 tube of toothpaste in box
4 adult toothbrushes in package
4 new bath towels
2 wide tooth combs
1 finger nail clipper
1 box adhesive bandages assorted sizes
1 package sanitary pads 18 to 24 thin maxi
new double or queen flat sheets (300 count, cotton and light coloured) to be used for mosquito netting

Blyth Firefighter Pay Issue

It was a rough 2009 for former Blyth and District Firefighters. North Huron Reeve Neil Vincent confirms the board ran a deficit of between 25 and 30 thousand dollars last year and was unable to pay its fire crew. He says things may have fallen through the cracks near the end of the year given all the changes that took place. The Blyth and District Fire Department ceased to exist and the North Huron Fire Department was formed. Vincent hopes the firefighters will be paid sometime this week.

Schedule for Thursday, February 4th

National Hockey League
Montreal at Boston, 7 p.m.
Washington at N.Y. Rangers, 7 p.m.
Dallas at Columbus, 7 p.m.
Vancouver at Ottawa, 7:30 p.m.
N.Y. Islanders at Tampa Bay, 7:30 p.m.
San Jose at St. Louis, 8 p.m.
Colorado at Nashville, 8 p.m.
Edmonton at Minnesota, 8 p.m.
Anaheim at Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m.

Ontario Hockey League
Owen Sound at Windsor, 7:05 p.m.
London at Niagara, 7:30 p.m.
Erie at Brampton, 7 p.m.
Kingston at Peterborough, 7 p.m.
Mississauga at Barrie, 7:30 p.m.

Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League
Midwest
Stratford at Brantford, 7:30 p.m.
West
St. Marys at Leamington, 7:10 p.m.

National Basketball Association
Miami at Cleveland, 8 p.m.
San Antonio at Portland, 10:30 p.m.

Kincardine Mayor Unaware Of Reported Steelback Closure

A story in Canadian Beer News quotes a Great Canadian Pubs and Beer blog which says that "they closed the doors officially yesterday". Steelback staff were apparantly told late-day Thursday Kincardine Mayor Larry Kraemer said this morning he was unaware the Steelback plant may have closed. He has recieved a number of calls from media trying to confirm the story. An e-mail sent to owner Jonathon Sherman bounced back today. As did calls to the plant manager.

Perth Beef Producer To Push Marketing Strategy At OCA

The former President of the Perth County Beef Producers is seeking a role at the Provincial level.
Bill Jeffrey plans to put his name forward for a Director's position at the Ontario Cattlemen's Association annual meeting at the end of the month.
He says he wants to see if producers are interested in a new marketing strategy.

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Jeffrey says immediate changes are necessary to save the industry.

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Jeffrey says he wants to see if producers are interested in moving forward with a "single desk selling mechanism" to make the beef industry profitable again in Ontario.
He adds he hopes to be in the running for a Director's position at the annual meeting of the Ontario Cattlemen's Association later this month.

Coalition Urges Fed-Prov Ministers To Push RMP's

The Ontario Agriculture Sustainability Coalition wants immediate investment in agriculture and new business risk management program implementation.
That's part of a letter from the coalition to Ontario Agriculture Minister Carol Mitchell leading up to this week's meeting of federal, provincial and territorial agriculture ministers in Toronto.
The coalition includes representatives from the livestock, grains and oilseeds and edible horticulture sectors.
It says it's Business Risk Management Program package adheres to the same basic principles and precepts of the RMP pilot project for grains and oilseeds producers in Ontario.
The coalition wants the immediate implementation of the grains and oilseeds RMP for the coming crop year.
It recommends the other sectors come on stream as development and testing of the programs is completed.
Coalition spokesperson Bette Jean Crews says farmers don't feel the current AgriStability program is serving their needs.
And she says farmers can't wait another three years for the next version of Growing Forward to get predictable and bankable farm programs in place.

OFAH Lens Support To Coyote Compensation Push

The Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters is lending it's support to efforts by some municipalities to deal with coyote predation.
The Federation says livestock kills by coyotes and other wildlife cost taxpayers over a million dollars in compensation in 2008.
They point out Bruce County recently doubled it's payment to licensed hunters in response to a big increase in the number of claims in 2008.
Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters spokesman Terry Quinney says licensed hunters and trappers can be a big help to farmers and communities dealing with the issue.
Quinney says they support the efforts of municipalities taking action through coyote harvesting incentive programs.
The OFAH boasts 100 thousand members in the province.

Consumer Survey Gives Bacon High Marks

Here's a little good news for the struggling pork sector.
A recent national survey suggests that 43 per cent of Canadians would choose bacon over sex.
The survey was done by Angus Reid for Maple Leaf Foods.
It also found that nearly one in five Canadian men agreed that on some days they just can't survive without bacon.
Maple Leaf had the survey done as part of the marketing push for it's new reclosable bacon packaging.

NFU Concerned About Impact Of Post-Listeriosis Regs

One Ontario farm leader says some of the new regulations following the 2008 Listeriosis outbreak are hitting small, local processors the hardest.
The N-F-U Ontario's Grant Robertson says he's not against regulations - as long as they're smart ones that protest the processor, the farm and the consumer.

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Robertson says recent stories in newspapers in St. Marys and Stratford cite specific cases where those regulations could drive long-standing slaughter operations with good reputations out of business.
He says the regulations are hitting operators who he describes as the lynch pin in making local food available.

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Robertson agrees that good and smart regulations not only protect the processor - they also protect the farmer and the consumer.
But he says in many cases they are meant to give the appearance of doing something instead of actually dealing with the issues.

(Click arrow to play N-F-U commentary)

Listowel Standoff Ends Without Incident

An unidentified man is being treated for injuries in the Listowel hospital following a standoff with police early this morning.
Officers were called to a family disturbance in an apartment on Queen Street in Listowel around 3:30 this morning.
The 24 year old man inside refused to cooperate with police and barricaded himself in the apartment. He was alone at the time.
Police blocked off the area and tried to convince the man to surrender.
Shortly before 8:00, when police became concerned for his safety, they entered the apartment and removed the man.
He was taken to the Listowel Memorial hospital for treatment of apparent self inflicted injuries.

Final Weeks in Western Junior C

There are just 11 games left in the Western Junior C hockey season and there are some key games.
While Walkerton has already clinched first the Hawks can still affect the standings.
Walkerton will play two games against the Mitchell Hawks over the next two weeks.
Mitchell's locked in a battle for second with Hanover.
Mitchell and Hanover also meet.
Kincardine and Wingham are currently tied for 4th but Kincardine has 4 games left to play, Wingham just two so the Bulldogs are looking to win out to clinch that home ice for the first round of playoffs in which they would play Wingham if the playoffs started this weekend.
Walkerton gets the first round bye.
2nd will play 7th, 3rd will play 6th and 4th will play 5th in a best of 5 first round.
Then the semi-finals and finals will be a best of 7 in the Western Junior C playoffs.
The regular season ends on February 13th, the Western Junior C banquet is February 14th and the playoff schedule will be hammered out then.