The Rural Voice, 1983-03, Page 26L
Don't go through Blyth
without stopping at
Yvonne's for
Homemade
Hamburgers
Milkshakes
Ice Cream Cones
Take -Out Dinners
(Also tables inside)
Hours: 7:30 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Mon. to Fri.
8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. Sat.
Closed on Sunday
Yr,onne's Take -Out
At
the Sunoco Station,
in the centre of Blyth,
east side of Highway 4.
FAMILY PARADISE
CAMPGROUND
A cozy rural setting with all
facilities and a well-planned
activity calendar for your fa-
mily's enjoyment, whether for a
day or a season.
AND
BANQUET HALL
We can assist you with all your
needs for weddings, anniversa-
ries, private parties, group pic-
nics.
Our Hall is
available any day
except Saturdays.
JOHN & JUDY GEORGE
R.R. #4 WALTON
[519] 527-0629
PG. 26 THE RURAL VOICE, MARCH 1983
IN THE NEWS
PIGS HEALTHIER
THAN THE PRODUCER?
Huron pork producers are taking part
in a provincial study to determine the
health status of pork producers.
Initiated by the Ontario Pork Produ-
cers Marketing Board, St. Michael's
Hospital Department of Occupational
and Environmental Health and the Uni-
versity of Toronto have drawn up a
questionnaire to be filled out by as
many producers as possible.
Glenn Agnew, marketing board secre-
tary, distributed the questionnaires at
Huron's annual meeting held recently in
Clinton. The study is in three parts:
identify the hazards, determine to what
extent these hazards are found and look
at the problems caused by these ha-
zards.
The results of the survey will be
published through the marketing board
sometime next winter. Once the ques-
tionnaire has been analysed, a random
selection of barns will be monitored
and a specialized examination of produ-
cer and employees will be included.
The questionnaire itself concerns the
health status of the farmer, spouse,
even teens who work ten hours a week
in the barn. It also includes farm prac-
tises and conditions.
Awards for proficiency were an-
nounced for Jack and Henke Tiesman
who shipped 148 hogs with an average
index of 106.13; the winner of the 501
to 1,000 class, Don and Marian Eadie
who shipped 770 hogs with an index of
106.6 and Hank and Joanne Dorser
winning the 1,001 and up category with
a shipment of 1127 with an index of
106.8.
The guest speaker was Richard Smel-
ski, swine specialist with the Ministry
of Agriculture and Food.
Smelski zeroed in on the future of
pork producers and stressed that produ-
cers are now in the fast lane and are
are competing internationally as well as
locally.
Technology is moving fast and here
in Ontario, there are a number of
methane digesters in operation and
units where yeast is cultured and used
as a feed source. There are heat ex-
changers, being used to cut heating
costs by 15 to 20 percent and Smelski
said there is a case in Michigan where
computers regulate the ventilation sys-
tem as well as the feeding program.
Smelski cited three groups as making
decisions for producers: bureaucrats
making laws; environmentalists and hu-
mane groups, and well established
retired farmers. "You can't afford not to
get involved considering who is making
the decisions for you," said Smelski.
"Don't wait for the problems to hit
you" said Smelski. He encouraged
members to get involved and start
asking questions about the future, like
vaccine evaluations, water quality in the
barn, disease status of hogs through
reports from vets inspecting dressed
hogs, and the possibility of too many
additives in feed.
The resolutions passed by the mem-
bers reflected the remarks made by
Smelski.
The first resolution called for the
OPPMB to hire a public relations
person to deal with matters pertaining
to the industry. The resolution said the
growth in the industry is so great that it
leaves the board with little time to deal
with attacks on the producers by en-
vironmentalists and animal welfare
groups. It would be the task of this
person to project a better image to the
media and handle these attacks.
The second resolution called for the
OPPMB to take the matter of national
income insurance plan from the federal
Ministry of Agriculture and refer the
matter to the Ontario Minister of Agri-
culture, Dennis Timbrell, to make a
serious effort to have the program
implemented in Ontario.
The Huron producers also endorsed a
resolution offering support for the Fed -
ADOPT A FRENCH STUDENT
FOR THE SUMMER
The International Association of Agricultural Students is looking for the
names of farmers (or industries) who would be interested in hosting during
the summer months, a student from the national school of agriculture and
food engineering (ENSAIA) in Nancy, France. These students have passed a
highly academic competitive exam following a 2 -year course at the school
and are now required to spend one or two months in a foreign country
learning about rural life, the food industry and practising a foreign language.
The students are looking for room and board on a family farm plus a small
remuneration for any chores.
This might be a golden opportunity for your children to brush up their
French.
Interested farm families should contact the OFA Agri -Skills Committee,
c/o Gordon Hill, Varna, Ontario NOM 2R0, or telephone 482-3307.