The Rural Voice, 2001-04, Page 3R.V.
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Editor: Keith Roulston
editorial advisory committee:
Bev Hill, farmer, Huron County
Diane O'Shea, farmer, Middlesex Cty.
George Penfold, associate professor,
University of Guelph
Gerald Poechman, farmer, Bruce Cty.
contributing writers:
Gisele Ireland, Lisa Boonstoppel-
Pot, Bonnie Gropp, Ralph Pearce
Bob Reid, Mervyn Erb, Sandra
Orr, Janice Becker, Andrew Grindlay,
Mark Nonkes, Larry Drew
marketing & advertising sales manager:
Gerry Fortune
advertising representative:
Merle Gunby
production co-ordinator:
Joan Caldwell
advertising & editorial production:
Dianne Josling
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Behind the Scenes
Looking at alternatives
Whether it's concern over water
safety following the Walkerton water
tragedy or smell because of livestock
facilities that are getting bigger, the
public is putting farmers on the hot -
seat these days. Many are wondering
where they turn for relief from the
constant bombardment from critics.
Is the answer some new
technology or is it one that's as old as
nature itself? Many farmers are
realizing that if they are going to
apply liquid manure they had better
start looking at direct injection. But
that old "technology", composting,
also holds promise in turning manure
into an odourless soil improver in
which dangerous pathogens have
been killed.
For years composting has been
confined mostly to the organic
farming niche but what are the
advantages for farmers of all kinds to
adopt the technology? We look at the
situation in this issue.
Good public relations is becoming
increasingly essential for farming (as
evidenced by the above topic) and
more and more counties are starting
the public information program with
children at a young age. We take a
look at some of the programs like
"Roots of Bruce" and "A Slice of
Huron".
With prices dropping for
producing traditional commodities
while costs rise, making money on
the farm is becoming ever more
difficult. Farmers are getting a
smaller and smaller piece of the
consumer dollar. How can they get
more? The question was raised at a
recent meeting in Formosa where the
idea of new generation co-operatives
to further process farmers' products
was discussed by a number of
speakers. We have a report.
One of the oldest of the traditional
ways of farming, farm -separated
cream production, is extinct for all
but 135 farmers in Ontario. Those
producers, many of them Old Order
Amish and Mennonites, are hanging
on in an industry that's generally
indifferent to their survival. But the
idea of exporting cream without
having to buy quota was dangled
recently as a tempting opportunity to
break out of the industry's trap.
Usually in the April issue each
year we bring you stories of new
developments in farm building but
there aren't a lot of new
developments right now. Instead we
decided to go back and talk to some
innovators we've featured in the past
and see how their experiments have
panned out.0
Update
Cattle ID tags proving popular
When you tell a cattleman he has to do something you never know what the
reaction will be. So officials with the Canadian Cattle Identification Agency
(CCIA) are generally delighted with the acceptance of the new identification
system (outlined in our September 2000 issue) that came into effect January 1.
Compliance has been far beyond expectation, Julie Stitt, CCIA general manager
said recently. Seven and a half million tags had been order by late February.
Meanwhile the number of approved tags and tag colours continues to grow.
Fourteen of 17 approved tags of various sizes are available, including the BIO
tag and the Angus CACP lime green tag.
Some people have been concerned that many herd owners do not have suitable
facilities to restrain cattle for tagging. In response a provision has been made to
allow establishment of approved tagging sites which must meet specific
requirements of CCIA before being approved. Auction markets could be among
those applying for that privilege.
July 1, 2001 is the deadline for packing plants to start reading the tags. For the
next year there will not be penalties for cattle arriving without tags but starting
July 1, 2002 at the latest, those who do not comply will be penalized. The penalty
will generally be $500 per violation, $250 if paid within 15 days.0
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