The Rural Voice, 2001-04, Page 74BRUCE
Email: bran.ca 519-364-3050 or 1-800-275-9551
www.ofa.on.ca/bruce
www.ofofa.on.ca/bruce
446 10th St., Hanover, Ontario N4N 1P9
County Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER
The Rural Voice is provided to Bruce
County Farmers by the BCFA.
Meat sector has been lucky, so far
• My how things have changed in
the red meat sector over the last few
years. Not many of us could have
predicted the prices reached for both
stockers and fed cattle. Hogs have
made a remarkable recovery from the
total market collapse of just a short
time ago. The sheep industry
continues to enjoy strength in the
marketplace. Those of us in the
industry can be happy but we should
never be complacent.
Canada is in a strong position
relative to many other countries. We
have quality genetics in all major
livestock sectors and our animal
health is second to none. This health
status should be appreciated and
guarded with all the energy, care and
resources we can muster.
Catastrophe could be only a short
flight away if we let our guard down.
The present chaos in Britain, with
hoof and mouth disease, will further
cripple an already beleaguered
livestock producing and processing
industry. The sight of travellers from
Europe stepping onto disinfectant
mats, as they enter airport customs,
shows the seriousness of the
situation. But what about the extra
shoes or clothing in the luggage that
go undetected?
Protect your own bio -security.
Don't visit farms in regions of risk
and don't allow visitors from such
areas onto your farms for the
commended 30 days.
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
veterinarians have been sent over to
help Britain with this major outbreak.
Their presence serves the dual role of
helping with containment and gaining
experience with something not seen
in Canada since an outbreak in
Saskatchewan in 1952. The situation
in Canada then was completely
different from Britain now. The
density of livestock was far less and
movement limited. Containment was
effective and losses relatively small.
By contrast, hoof and mouth has
now been found in many areas of
England and Northern Ireland.
Several European countries are taking
immediate action to eradicate
potentially infected animals imported
from Britain.
Although hoof and mouth disease
poses no risk to humans it has the
potential to inflict huge economic
losses.
Recent changes requiring the
tagging of all cattle sold in Canada
will enable us to better protect our
industry should we be faced with the
need to track an individual or group
of animals.
The ability to do a physical audit
of Canadian livestock has been
important in the past and will be even
more critical now. In Alberta, in 1993
the former Agriculture Canada had a
suspected case of mad cow disease in
Self-propelled implements of husbandry
OFA is urgently requesting photos
showing different examples of
converted former trucks/buses for use
as bale bus, baggy trucks and liquid
manure trucks. Specific examples
are:
• Orchard trucks, or buggies
• Truck -mounted manure spreaders
• Truck -mounted sprayers
• Pig bus
• Truck -mounted gravity box, silage
box
• Truck -mounted feed mixer
We also need a brief description of
the use. This will be used in work
70 THE RURAL. VOICE
with the Ministry of Transportation
(MTO) regarding changes to
legislation.0
BRUCE COUNTY FEDERATION OF
AGRICULTURE
DIRECTORS' MEETING
Monday, April 30, 2001
8:00 p.m.
Sprucedale Agromart
RR 2, Walkerton - 25th slderoad Brant
(North off of former Hwy.#4, east of Walkerton)
(Across from Morry's Trailer Safes)
MEMBERS ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND
one animal. This animal and over 400
others that had contact with it were
tracked down and destroyed. Many at
the time felt that officials had over
reacted but looking back this may
have been a key to protecting our
industry. Bovine Spongiform
Encephalopathy (BSE) did not find
its way into cattle here and likewise
hoof and mouth must not be
introduced.
Nothing is more important to
livestock producers than their herds'
health. Price means nothing if you
don't have the product to se11.0
— Submitied by Ken Holtby
Kincardine Township Director
MEET THE MEMBERS
AND TOMMY COOPER
AWARD MEETING
Friday, April 6, 2001
Royal Canadian Legion,
Walkerton
Social: 6:30 p.m.
Dinner: 7:00 p.m.
Tickets: $12.50/person
Tickets available from our office
or from any Township Director
The New
Electricity Market
IF YOU DON'T
READ ANYTHING ELSE
ON ELECTRICITY:
READ THIS!
There is no rush! The market is
not open. When it opens, you
are automatically on Standard
Supply, unless you sign with a
reseller. Standard Supply is low
cost, but has no fixed term. If the
standard supply price is set too
low, you pay an adjustment. It is
low-cost learning. Use it until you
have a better offer. DO NOT BE
RUSHED!