Loading...
The Rural Voice, 1979-05, Page 31 Inside this month Special features Working with the weather P. 3 Rural Voice takes on the almanac . P. 9 Accurate info needed P. 9 Who has seen the wind9 P. 12 Rural Voice asks the candidates . . P. 16 Saga of a farm wife in distress P. 19 Opinionated P. 20 Farm safety meeting P 34 Regular features Readers write P 2 A matter of principle P 14 Up and Coming P 22 Voice of A Farmer P. 23 Keith Roulston P. 25 Rural Voice Want Ads P. 27 Rural News in Brief P. 30 Advice on Farming P 37 The Rural Family P. 43 Gardening P. 47 Mailbox of the Month P 48 The Young Farmer P. 51 Bruce Federation News P. 50 Huron Federation News P 56 Cover Photo by Sheila Gunby the rural Voice Published monthly by McLean Bros. Publishers Ltd., Box 10, Blyth, Ontario, NOM 1HO. Telephone 523-9646 or 527-0240. Subscription rates: Canada $3; Single copy 50c. Editorial board: Bev Brown, Sheila Gunby, Alice Gibb, Rhea Hamilton, Adrian Vos and Susan White. Advertising representative: Barbara Consitt, Telephone 527-0240. Staff reporter: Debbie Ranney. Authorized as second class mail by Canada Post Office. Registration number 3560. Opinion The Atmospheric Environment Service department decision to re -install the line connecting the Exeter weather radar station directly with the London weather office is proof that public protests don't always fall on deaf ears. When the direct line between the weather stations was disconnected in November 1978 as part of the government cutback campaign, the protest sufaced almost immediately. The weather forecast service had been used by farmers, and also by the construction and canning industry, and by professional and amateur pilots who required detailed, short term weather forecasts. The cost of operating the weather radar machine hookup to the London airport was approximately $80 a month, which meant the savings to the government were minimal when compared with other more costly services they offer which are used by a smaller segment of the public. This time, people didn't simply complain about the cutback among themselves. Instead, they implemented an organized letter writing campaign. forwarding their complaints to the London weather office, to local MP's and MPP's as well as the press. This time, the public lobbying was successful and the London weather station will be hooked up to the Exeter radar service within the next few months. This means weather briefers can once again provide callers and area radio stations with detailed movements of weather systems for the next three to four hour period. The success of this public campaign should encourage) individuals and organizations in the future to remember that the public, who foots the bill for government expenditures and elects the men who make the financial decisions should have the final say in whether or not a service is necessary. The table of contents for Rural Voice this month (right next door) looks like most farm peoples' schedules this time of year. . . busy, really busy. We've tried to fill our May issue with stories about what's crucial this time of year. Writer Alice Gibb has tackled a big one, the weather, and discovered what some farmers have done to get accurate do it yourself weather reports on their own farms, as well as what some agricultural weather experts suggest farmers can do to minimize bad weather conditions and take advantage of good one5, Puny tarmers are thinking about hiring extra help for the summer and we've got two stories that should help with decision making there. One is a rundown on student employment projects in Bruce, Huron and Perth that farmers can use and the other describes the experience of an East Wawanosh farm family who've had a junior agriculturalist working for them for several summers. Keeping in mind that humour is essential at one of the busiest times on the farm calendar we've got the saga of a farm wife in distress by Gerry Fortune A 11 we hope now is that readers can steal the time to sit down and read this month's Rural Voice! ******** We've already gotten some entries in from children of Rural Voice readers for next month's magazine. a special kids' issue that will feature stories and art work of Western Ontario's future farmers. Pass the information on page 11 of this issue on to children in your family or young friends. They have a chance to win prizes and recognition in the June Rural Voice. Remember the deadline is May 14 and encourage your kids to send off their work right away to Rural Voice at Box 10, Blyth.