Feb. 10 - Closing Markets

(Click arrow to play O-C-A report)

-> ONTARIO PORK REPORTS:
TOTAL SALES = 19,325
FOR A = 3 DAY TOTAL OF = 66,029
THAT'S = DOWN 1,353 FROM LAST WEEK.
THE AVERAGE PRICE WAS = $1.27/kilogram
THAT'S down a cent
THE U-S NATIONAL COST PRICE = $66.94 U-S, DRESSED WEIGHT
That's up 67 cents
FORWARD CONTRACT PRICE FOR May-June DELIVERY IS $151.54
WHICH IS down $1.43
ESTIMATED SALES FOR Thursday = 28,500
AT = $1.29/kilogram

-> ON THE CHICAGO BOARD OF TRADE:

CORN FUTURES:
March up 3 and a quarter at 3.61 and a half
May up 3 at 3.73 and a quarter

SOYBEAN FUTURES:
March up 13 at 9.37 and a half
May up 11 and a half at 9.47

WHEAT FUTURES:
March up 14 and a half at 4.96 and a half
May up 14 and a half at 5.11 and a half

-> FROM DAUPHIN FEED AND SUPPLY, THE 48% SOYBEAN MEAL QUOTE, F-O-B HAMILTON = $359/tonne

-> CLOSING LOCAL GRAIN PRICES FROM SNOBELIN FARMS:

09 CROP CORN = up 3 at 3.62/BU
2010 CROP CORN = up 2 at 3.91/BU
2011 CROP CORN = up 2 at 4.08/BU

09 CROP SOYS = up 13 at 9.63/BU
2010 CROP SOYS = up 3 at 8.96/BU
2011 CROP SOYS = up 3 at 8.86/BU

09 CROP SOFT RED WINTER WHEAT = up 14 at 4.22/BU
2010 CROP SOFT RED WINTER WHEAT = up 14 at 4.49/BU
2011 CROP SOFT RED WINTER WHEAT = up 11 at 5.25/BU

Goderich Mayor Optimistic About the Future

The mayor of Goderich says they've faced no shortage of challenges in the past few years.
Speaking at the third annual Chamber of Commerce Mayor's Vision, Deb Shewfelt said no challenge was greater than when Volvo shut their doors, eliminating about five hundred jobs.
But Shewfelt is also optimistic about the next year.
He's seen a new entrepreneurial spirit in Goderich, which is something that he thinks will lead the town into the future.
Shewfelt believes the harbour is an asset the town has to capitalize on.
He says an expansion will cost about 48-million dollars but it will mean significant expansion and year-round job security for the Sifto Salt Mine.

New Hotel Coming To Goderich Area

A new hotel just outside Goderich will be open by the summer.
Kim and Hugh Burgsma have bought the former Saltford Community Hall.
Kim says the hotel is close to Goderich, overlooking the river for fly-fishermen, and right at the end of the snowmobile trail. Work has already started on renovating the Hall.
They'll start with thirteen rooms this summer and then expand to 28 rooms.
Kim Burgsma says each room with have its own personality, including custom furniture and original art.

Perth-Huron United Way Nears Campaign Goal

The United Way of Perth-Huron is planning a rooftop event as part of a final push to reach its 2009 Campaign Goal. On February 18th and 19th, Campaign Manager Benita Rooney, her Campaign co-chair, and the Executive Director will spend 12 hours on the roof of a downtown Stratford office building. Rooney says to "Send Your Boss to the Rooftop" you can collect pledges - with every 500 dollars earning an hour in the blustery conditions. To "Send Your Boss to the Rooftop" or help boost the United Way of Perth-Huron's fundraising efforts call 1-877-818-8867. The fundraising goal this year is just over 801 thousand dollars.

Sparling's In Top 50

The second largest propane company in Ontario is one of the country's best to work for. Sparling's Propane has been named one of the nation's top 50 employers among small and medium sized companies. They pulled down 35th spot in the Globe and Mail ranking for the second straight year. Sparling's was established in Blyth in 1951 and now employs 150 people. This national awards program recognizes top employers with between 50 and 400 employees.

Grey Sex Assault Charges

A Grey County man is facing several sex-assault charges. Police received a complaint late last week about an alleged sexual assault committed against a minor. A police investigation revealed evidence of an assault. The accused, a Grey Highlands man, was charged with Sexual Assault, Sexual Exploitation, and Sexual Interference with a Person Under 16 Years of Age. The accused is to appear in Owen Sound court March 4th.

Schedule for Wednesday, February 10th

National Hockey League
Philadelphia at New Jersey, 7 p.m.
Nashville at N.Y. Rangers, 7 p.m.
San Jose at Columbus, 7 p.m.
Washington at Montreal, 7:30 p.m.
N.Y. Islanders at Pittsburgh, 7:30 p.m.
Phoenix at Minnesota, 8 p.m.
Atlanta at Colorado, 9 p.m.
Edmonton at Anaheim, 10 p.m.

Ontario Hockey League
London at Owen Sound, 7 p.m.
Plymouth at Guelph, 7 p.m.
Sarnia at Sault Ste. Marie, 7 p.m.
Ottawa at Belleville, 7:05 p.m.

OMHA Playdowns
Quarter-Finals
Atom "D"
Norwich at Blyth, 8 p.m.

National Basketball Association
Philadelphia at Toronto, 7 p.m.
Miami at Atlanta, 7 p.m.
Sacramento at Detroit, 7:30 p.m.
Milwaukee at New Jersey, 7:30 p.m.
Orlando at Chicago, 8 p.m.
Charlotte at Minnesota, 8 p.m.
Boston at New Orleans, 8 p.m.
Portland at Phoenix, 9 p.m.
L.A. Lakers at Utah, 9 p.m.
L.A. Clippers at Golden State, 10:30 p.m.

GM Wheat Opponents Speaking Out

A number of consumer and farmer groups in 26 countries have signed a statement against the commercialization of genetically modified wheat.
The rejection statement was launched by 15 Australian, Canadian and U-S farmer and consumer groups in 2009.
The number of groups who've signed on so far has hit 233 in 26 countries.
National Farmers Union Canada president Terry Boehm says Canadian farmers have lost their export sales to Europe and other markets because of GM flax contamination from a variety deregistered a decade ago and never even sold.
He argues that's another warning that once a GM crop is introduced contamination is inevitable.
Dena Hoff from the National Family Farm Coalition in the U-S says farmers there have already rejected GM wheat.
Hoff says Monsanto is sorely mistaken if they think American farmers will ever accept GM wheat.
Last summer Monsanto announced new research into GM wheat and some industry groups kicked their promotion of GM wheat into high gear.

Ag Coalition Disappointed With Ministers Meeting

The Ontario Agriculture Sustainability Coalition isn't happy with the perceived lack of action at the recent Federal/Provincial/Territorial Ag Minister's meeting.
Spokesperson Wilma Jeffray says the coalition has already done the technical work and come up with viable solutions for the problems plaguing the agriculture industry.

(Click arrow to play audio)

Jeffray says they already put together Business Risk Management Program solutions for the ministers to consider before last week's meeting.
She says the coalition doesn't understand the call by the ministers for more farmer consultation.

(Click arrow to play audio)

Jeffray says the call for more consultation leading up to the ministers next meeting in July shows a lack of understanding of the urgency of the situation on the farm.

(Click arrow to play audio)

Jeffray argues the solutions are available and must be implemented now.

Huron Ag-Related Event Wins Provincial Honours

A Huron County event focussing on agriculture products is the "Best New Event of 2009" according to the Ontario Economic Development Awards.
Huron County's Tourism marketer Jenna Ujiye says one of the things that separates "Taste of Huron" from other culinary fesitivals is the local angle.

(Click arrow to play audio)

The food festival is also up for a Premiers Award for Agri-Food Innovation of Excellence.
Ujiye says that carries a 50-thousand dollar top prize and regional prizes but it's a tough category.

(Click arrow to play audio)

Organizers are gearing up for the 2010 "Taste of Huron" August 20th to 29th with details expected soon.

OSCIA President Says Perception Of Farmers Changing

The new president of the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association says society's perception of farmers is changing.
Barry Hill says farmers used to be known as the producers of food, feed and fibre.
But he says that's changing.

(Click arrow to play audio)

Hill says the challenge now is dealing with the increased scrutiny that changed perception is attracting.
He says farmers now have to cope with viewpoints and attitudes that aren't always friendly to agriculture.

(Click arrow to play audio)

Hill says those expectations sometimes don't match with technology, production methods or the reality of farm life.

(Click arrow to play audio)

Hill expects those expectations to continue to cause issues between farmers and society in general.
He says his organisation and it's members need to be prepared to deal with those issues and defend their industry.

Huron Warden Vouches for Small Urban Schools

The warden of Huron County has asked the Avon Maitland District School Board to consider keeping as many small urban schools open as possible.
Bert Dykstra addressed members of the board last night and said county councillors value all of the schools in the county.
But he said if it was necessary to close some small schools the focus should be on keeping small urban schools open.
Dykstra says the urban schools are the heart of their community.
He also says most of those students can walk to school so it doesn't make sense to spend extra money on busing them.
Because they don't rely on busing they're able to get involved in more extra-curricular activities.
Dykstra also asked that if a rural school has to be closed, the students from that school are directed to the urban area that those students and their parents use most frequently.

Strickland Toyota Dealing With Recall

The general manager for Strickland Toyota in Goderich says they're currently replacing Toyota parts that are involved in the recall.
Colin Andrews says it takes about thirty minutes to put the new parts in but he says most people are just having it done along with regular maintenance.

(Click arrow for audio or right click to download)

Andrews also says the recall has not been a factor in new car sales.
He says Toyota halted shipments of new cars at eight plants in North America as soon as the problem developed so that the parts could be replaced on the cars on the dealers lots before they were sold.

Tasty Award for Huron County

A Huron County idea goes beyond a normal food festival and is the "Best New Event of 2009" according to the Ontario Economic Development Awards.
Huron County's Tourism marketer Jenna Ujiye says one of the things that separates "Taste of Huron" with other culinary festivals is the local angle.

(Click arrow for audio or right click to download)

"Taste of Huron" is also up for a Premiers Award for Agri-Food Innovation Excellence.
That has a grand prize of $50,000 and regional prizes of $5,000.
Winners of those awards will be announced in a few months.

Sewage Plant Plan On Hold in Sauble Beach

South Bruce Peninsula council is holding off on re-zoning a piece of land for a sewage plant in Sauble Beach.
Council decided to defer voting after about 40 residents opposed to the plant packed the council chambers in Wiarton last night.
Residents are concerned about declining property value, possible odours produced by the plant, as well as potential water quality problems that they believe could occur in the Sauble River.
Tim Cosstick, who owns a campground which would be adjacent to the sewage plant says the plant would be in clear view of his campground.
Council will address the issue at next week's Committee of the Whole meeting in hopes of providing answers for the residents concerns.
The treatment plant, which is part of the $10 million sewer project in Sauble Beach, would be located just off Fedy Drive.