HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2010-04-22, Page 7THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 2010. PAGE 7.From a banner year to half a crop,the maple syrup industry wentthrough a tough crop this season.
The quick wave of warm weather
that swept through the province in
early March had an adverse affect on
the production of sap.
“The second week of March, we
had warm weather,” Susanne
Robinson of Robinson’s Maple
Syrup said. “Our vacuumed trees didfine, but drip trees didn’t really show any sap until the end ofMarch.”Robinson said that drip trees, thattheir neighbours used, did eventually
start producing sap at the end of
March, but not as much as in
previous years.
“It was a crazy year, we haven’t
seen anything like it,” Robinson
said.
Robinson’s produced roughly two-
thirds of the crop they did last year,and other Ontario producers aresimilarly feeling the sting, havingbetween one-half and two-thirds oflast year’s bumper crop. “Last year was the best year for
both production and price,”
Robinson said. “The Federation [of
Quebec Maple Syrup Producers]
sets the price based on the forecasted
production.”
The Quebec federation sets prices
as approximately 90 per cent of
Canada’s syrup is produced
there.
Robinson explained that their
syrup, being certified organic, is in
demand, as people seeking for thatlicence will come to them, and itmay force them to buy from outsidesources. “We try to keep syrup all throughthe year, but this year could be
tight,” she said.
The unique products that
Robinson provides will still be
available, as the sap used for those
products is minimal compared to the
final output, but export may
tough.
For the second year in a row,
foreign markets may cause a
problem, but in the last few years, an
unlikely market has made up for
some of the poor economy.“We were astounded last year, butthe low economy didn’t stop peoplefrom buying,” Robinson said.“We’ve seen a market open up inJapan, and we’ve been exporting
there a lot.”
Robinson’s Maple Syrup store is
located in St. Augustine with sugar
camp nearby. Tours of the facilities
are available through calling 519-
529-7857, and the store is open 8
a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays, just be sure
to call ahead.
More information can be found
online at www.robinson-
maple.com.
At their April 6 meeting, Morris-
Turnberry councillors reversed an
earlier policy and decided to allow
Sunday hunting in the municipality.
The change of heart came about
after a Ross Baird presentation.
“Farming is very tough today,”
Baird said. “All of us work through
the week. We can only hunt on
Saturday when Sunday hunting is
not allowed.
“I have two kids who love to
hunt. I’d like to see you change (to
allow) Sunday hunting.”
Administrator clerk-treasurer
Nancy Michie said that in Huron
County, Ashfield-Colborne-
Wawanosh, Bluewater, Huron East
and North Huron all allow Sunday
hunting with Howick the only other
municipality to ban the practice.
Councillor Bill Thompson said he
had voted against Sunday hunting
when it was proposed in the past but
had changed his mind. Councillor
Paul Gowing noted Morris-
Turnberry is out of step with
surrounding municipalities on the
issue and made a motion, seconded
by Thompson, to allow hunting on
Sundays.
But Deputy-mayor Jim Nelemans
wondered if council shouldn’t
advertise the fact it was considering
the move and see if others with
opposing views might come
forward. He noted that only one
person had spoken to the issue.
He was the only councillor to
oppose the motion.
Baird also spoke to the problem of
a growing coyotes population. “If
we don’t keep this coyote population
in check we’re going to have big
problems,” he warned. “I’ve been
hunting coyotes for 35 years.
I’ve never seen so many coyotes.”
Continued from page 3
some hum and some of us whistle.
Our faith is like a song, it is in our
heart. Sometimes we sing out loud
and others sing very softly.
The Bible tells the story of the
Disciples being lost without their
leader and Peter decided to go
fishing and some of the disciples
went with him. They fished all night
and caught nothing. A stranger of the
beach yelled at them to fish the other
side. They caught so many they
couldn’t get them on the boat. One
of the disciples thought that the
stranger on the beach was Jesus. The
disciples sat and listened to Jesus.
We need people to come to church
and add their song. Jesus asked Peter
three times if he loved him. Then
Jesus told Peter to “Feed My Sheep.”
We must sing our song so it adds to
the rest of the world.
The next hymn was, “When I
Survey that Wondrous Cross.” The
offering was received followed by
the prayers of the people and the
singing of The Lord’s Prayer, the last
hymn, “God Who Touches Earth
with Beauty”. Richard sang the
commissioning and benediction,
“Go Now In Peace”.
M-T votes to allow
Sunday hunting
Blyth UC holds service
Maple syrup industry experiences a tough season
CLINTON
PUBLIC
HOSPITAL
ST. MARYS
MEMORIAL
HOSPITAL
SEAFORTH
COMMUNITY
HOSPITAL
STRATFORD
GENERAL
HOSPITAL
WE PAY A TRIBUTE TO HOSPITAL
VOLUNTEERS
National Volunteer Week
is celebrated
April 18th - 24th 2010
HPHA from April 27
th to 30th 2010
This is the time of year we acknowledge the enormous
contribution by the dedicated volunteers who give their
time and efforts to assist in the delivery of programs
and services that significantly enrich the culture of our
hospitals and the communities we serve.
We wish to recognize and express gratitude to all the
volunteers who make a difference to our patients, staff,
and our local healthcare system...
If you would like to join our great team of volunteers,
please refer to the information on our website,
www.hpha.ca, or contact your local hospital.
“Success is not built on what we accomplish for ourselves.
Its foundation lies on what we do for others.”
Hospital Volunteers, Hospital Board Members,
Local Advisory Committee Members,
Auxiliary Members, and Foundation Board Members
Buzz off
Buzz Off Cancer was held last Friday on the sidewalk in
front of Turning Heads and Making Waves in Brussels
where The Citizen’s Shawn Loughlin stopped in for a buzz.
The event raised money for the Relay For Life, buzzing
dozens of heads and raising hundreds of dollars that night.
60 years as Canucks
The Siertsema family celebrated the 60th anniversary of their arrival in Canada with a family
dinner at The Dinner Bell in Clinton. The Dutch immigrants arrived in Canada on April 12, 1950
at Pier 21 in Halifax, and, less than two weeks later, were working in Ilderton. Lined up oldest
to youngest, from right; Teresa Roetcisoender, Murray Siertsema, Hebo Siertsema, Greta
Greidanus, John Siertsema, Siebolt Siertsema, Tom Siertsema and Betty Baker. (Denny Scott
photo)
By Denny ScottThe Citizen
By Keith Roulston
The Citizen