The Rural Voice, 2001-06, Page 3R.V.
Editor & Publisher: 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:
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
printed & mailed by: Signal -Star
Publishing, Goderich, Ontario
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Telephone: 519-523-4311 (fax 523-9140).
e-mail: norhuron@scsintemet.com
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Nu I
Behind the Scenes
Buying market share
Progressive Pork Producers co-
operative finally announced its move
into the processing business with the
purchase of Conestoga Meat Packers
in Breslau. Acre T Farms of Brussels
is a partner, and will be the major
supplier, in Oxford Packers which is
attempting to get approvals for a new
processing plant in Mitchell. With
more and more of the capacity of
major plants being tied up on
contracts, is there a danger there will
be no market for small pork
producers unallied with a packer? We
explore the issue this month in our
pork issue.
Farmers are always at the mercy
of nature, in fact the whole trend of
farming for a century is trying to find
ways not to be a victim of the whims
of the environment. But while too
much or too little rain may be a
problem for many, what do you do
when deer decide to devour the apple
trees that are the source of your
family's income? How do you deal
with the fact that more people are on
the deers' side than yours? Roberta
Avery deals with the issue Meaford-
area orchard owners, and Brian
Comly in particular, are dealing with
after a winter of the worst deer
damage in years.
Faced with increases in thefts of
everything from farm machinery to
cattle, the Ontario Provincial Police is
setting up a special rural crime unit.
Staff writer Mark Nonkes talked to
Detective Constable Bruce Angel
about the new unit and how it will
work.
It's been more than 120 years
since the Donnelly family massacre
near Lucan, the result of a long-
standing feud between the family and
their neighbours but still the
fascination continues. Among those
most obsessed by the story is theatre
creator Paul Thompson. The
Listowel -area native is taking his
third run at the story in a spectacular
new production this year at the Blyth
Festival. The Outdoor Donnellys, is
being staged outside in various
locations around the village,
complete with horses and stage
coaches and a cast of dozens of
professional and amateur actors.
So what is it about the Donnelly
story that intrigues people? Mark
Nonkes looks at the topic.
Our new columnist Jeffrey Carter
stirred up plenty of controversy with
his column on the Percy Schmeiser
judgement. Check out the Feedback
section for readers' response.0
Update
Of generous giving and service alternatives
In our December issue, we carried a story on Ontario Pork's Donate -a -Hog
program. The results for the December 2000 program are now in and the
generosity of Ontario's pork producers and industry supporters meant enough
money was collected to supply 15,000 pounds of pork to members of the Ontario
Association of Fod Banks.
"Without donations such as yours, food banks, often run primarily by
volunteers, would not be able to assist low income citizens through difficult
times," wrote Bob Spencer, executive director of the Daily Bread Food Bank in a
letter of thanks. Spencer noted that in March 2000 Ontario foodbanks served a
total of 283,110 individuals, 42 per cent of whom were children under 18 years
of age.
In January, a year after the announcement of the closing of OMAFRA offices,
we wrote about Grey County's efforts to replace the loss of its local OMAFRA
office with the Agricultural Services Centre. Late in April an official opening
was held for all the services housed in the Markdale complex which includes
offices for the Municipality of Grey Highlands, Grey County Social Services,
Women and Rural Economic Development, Home and Community Support
Services of Grey -Bruce as well as the Grey County Agricultural Services
Centre.0