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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.