The Rural Voice, 2001-07, 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@scsinternet.com
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Behind the Scenes
Defending farmers' interests
Like many farmers who get
involved in farm politics on behalf of
their friends and neighbours, Paul
Verkley is no longer farming. He and
his brothers sold their dairy cows,
quota and much of their land in the
spring of 2000. Just in time for Paul,
it turns out, because the Walkerton
water tragedy hit soon after the cows
went down the lane and for the past
year Verkley has been devoting much
of his time to defending farmers'
positions while the hysteria mounted
almost daily as people began to fear
for the safety of their water.
Verkley was ideally positioned to
work for farmers on this issue
because he's been at the forefront of
environmental issues and farming for
most of a decade. We spoke with him
this month.
Another big issue that keeps
farmers worrying is animal welfare
and recent proposals for changes in
animal cruelty legislation has caused
concern for farmers. Mark Nonkes
talked to farm leaders about the issue.
Those big old two-storey bank
barns that once dominated the
countryside were usually home to
more than cattle, sheep, horses and
pigs. Upstairs the beams and open
spaces provided homes to many kinds
of birds, including barn owls.
But as the barns disappear,
replaced by bird -proof modern
buildings, where do the barn owls
turn for a home. A special project has
been undertaken to Lind a solution to
the problem. Larry Drew looks at the
efforts to provide habitat for these
useful birds.
In our Scrapbook section this
month, University of Guelph
researchers investigate what factor,
might prevent (or speed up) E. coli
from manure getting into the
groundwater system.
In her recipe selections, Bonnie
Gropp has collected recipes for
making home-made pizza.
In her decorating column, Patti
Robertson talks of helping kids
decorate their rooms.
And in our guest column this
month, Arnold Mathers remembers
the day his father, tired of getting wet
feet crossing the river to get the
cattle, decided to build a swinging
bridge.0
Update
Cattle Identification Program's next step
Beginning July I, packers will be recording the individual identification
numbers from Canadian Cattle Identification Agency (CCIA) approved tags and
maintaining them at the point of carcass inspection.
Cattle arriving at auction markets untagged will be monitored and the Canadian
Food Inspection Agency may send notifications to the owners of the cattle
reminding them of their responsibilities within the program. It's still a year away
from the point where CCIA will begin penalizing financially those who do not
comply with the tagging system.
As of July 1, all cattle moving from their present location are required to be
tagged under the CCIA plan (outlined most recently in our September 2000
issue) to be able to trace cattle from inspection right back to the farm of origin in
case any health problems are detected. All operators including cow -calf,
backgrounders and feedlots are responsible for tagging untagged cattle before
they move from their current location.
Canadian packing plants are reminding feedlots and others who ship cattle
directly, that packers expect cattle to arrive tagged.
When packers begin reading CCIA identification tags, there will be many
cattle in feedlots that were beyond the herd of origin at the time the ID program
started. These cattle must also he individually identified before they reach the
packing plants. Interim one piece tags are available to feedlots in order to
accommodate the July 1 requirement. These interim tags are available through
CCIA.O