District economy gets bullish $4.2 million boost!

By Ken Johnston
Editor

The Rainy River Cattlemen’s Association wrapped up their sales Saturday with their fourth and final one for 2012.
“We are very pleased with the sales overall this year,” said Kim-Jo Bliss of RRCA Monday. And pleased they should be. The four sales grossed nearly $4.2 million dollars this year. A huge economic impact. “When you think of all the money spent locally on things like vets and fuel, we are doing our part to support the local economy,” said Bliss.
She feels the sales’ gross is probably up as prices were good. “The last two sales were really strong with our prices being equal to eastern and western sales! We were right there and we interpret that to mean they want our cattle!”
RRCA saw 4,652 animals sold this past season with 856 of those bought this past Saturday at the sales barn in Stratton. Saturday’s sale had about 500 calves and 72 breeding stock.
Bliss said, “This sale catches the guys who have moved their calving season back. Instead of Feb. and March they are calving in April and May.”
While Canadian prices slid a bit with the problems with a major processing plant out west, Bliss said that prices in the US stayed up. “With our Age Verification process, cattle that are in it can go to the US. One of our buyers from Steinbach wants this and more producers are doing it.”
Although the next sale won’t be until next April, Bliss said there is some interest in RRCA’s animals in the off season. “The board will have to look at it and see what they want to do.” The biggest obstacle is getting water to the cattle at the sales barn. It freezes in the winter.
At the Sept. sale the RRCA also tested out selling cattle via the internet. One of the buyers who bought cattle on the net did express interest in this last sale but did not buy anything. Bliss said the board will have to consider whether they will offer the net sale again as there are costs involved.