The Rural Voice, 1982-02, Page 17bug with bug, is a step backwards.
Forty years ago Canada had greater
competence in biological pest control than
today. The Second World War was
responsible for accelerating the growth of
the chemical industry. As "modern"
pesticides became common, the biological
control approaches were neglected.
The biological approach involves the
use of natural enemies (parasites.
predators and natural diseases) to control
pests, also troublesome weeds. But
pesticides are relatively cheap, effective
and convenient and the farmer's first
choice.
Director of the new laboratory John
Laing, an environmental biology professor
and faculty member, cautions: "There is
nothing, even on the horizon, that
promises a completely non -chemical
method of pest control. But he thinks safer
chemicals will be found and the use of
pesticides will be drastically reduced."
The public is alarmed about the use of
toxic chemicals in food production yet
continues to demand cheap and blemish -
free food, says Laing.
Longer-term, serious consequences of
pesticide use are the development of
resistant strains, environmental
contamination and outbreaks of pest
problems.
"A minor pest may become a major pest
with the application of the wrong
chemical," says Laing.
Long-term economical control of
agricultural pests is the motivation behind
research at the new biological control lab.
Cost -benefits analysis of biological control
projects have shown annual savings are
about S20 for each SI invested in research,
and savings accrue from year to year with
little added effort since biological control
methods provide essentially permanent
solutions to pest problems.
The new building is funded by the
Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food,
Ontario Ministry of the Environment and
UofG.
Drache tells Cattlemen
wives are key to success
Over 300 people at the annual meeting
of Huron cattlemen listened to Dr. Hiram
Drache, an American feedlot operator,
and international lecturer, who told them
bad times breed good times. •
Drache said he didn't want to give an
opinion of developments in Canada but
said the marketing board concept falls
right in step with the cheap food policies of
the government. He claimed that all
governments, are committed to a cheap
food policy. The marketing board, he said,
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"I don't like the government to come in
and set a limit on my losses. If we had had
this in the USA I wouldn't be a
multi -millionaire today."
Governments, he claimed, create a
problem for every solution, and once they
get control they never give it back.
"What makes you and me able to
survive? I've been near bankrupt twice
and you can weather the business just like
me. But with government in, this won't
work."
Drache said the "portrait" of a
successful farm is the couple. The greatest
asset any farm business has is the 'mate.'
"Do young people have to have help to
get started? No. And interest rates are no
higher now than in 1932. Students
complain about high cost of learning, but
you can go to college for the same cost in
animals as could be done a hundred years
ago."
"Why do you farm?". he asked.
"Because you are positive and you like the
challenge and the risk," he answered.
The indications of success? When you
are successful you look for your peer
group, and the harder your peers are to
find, the more successful you are.
When you are successful you do things
differently and that is not always popular.
In a low income year, a banker asked
(cont. on page 30)
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111
THE RURAL VOICE/FEBRUARY 1982 PG 15