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The Rural Voice, 2002-05, Page 3About this issue A different, hopeful message For years the message in farming has been the same — "you've got to get bigger". But at a recent meeting of the Independent Hog Producers Association the message was entirely different. In hog production, various speakers said, there's no real economy of scale if you're running an efficient operation. The per -sow returns are the same whether you have a well-run 50 -sow farrow -to -finish farm or a 5,000 -sow loop, so how big you are depends on how much money you want to make. We have a report on the views of three speakers at the meeting who brought hope to smaller independent producers that they, indeed, have a viable future. Still, there's no doubt farms are increasing in size. In Huron County a study was recently done which looks at the evolution of farm sizes in the period from 1996 to 2000, based on building permits issued during the period. In hogs, for instance, the study showed the number of hogs marketed per producer rose by 80 per cent. During that period, a new livestock barn was started every 10 days. Beekeeping is a much smaller scale of farming but it's essential to many kinds of agriculture since the bees perform the pollination required for reproduction. Yet there are fewer and fewer people involved in beekeeping and wild bee populations have been decimated by invasions of mites. There's hope for the future, however when people like John Storey get involved. Just 18 years of age, Storey is already something of a veteran in the bee business having taken up beekeeping in grade 9 when he received instruction from Ernst Bayer of Mitchell. We have a story on this young entrepreneur. Poultry producers have long known the power of light in affecting egg production but the role of Tight in increasing milk production is a newer area of research. The findings of two Oregon State researchers into the gains that can be made by optimizing the amount of light dairy cows receive is included in a story in this issue. Also this month, Grey and Bruce farm groups presented their concerns to local members of parliament, including Helen Johns, MPP for Huron -Bruce who has since been named minister of agriculture and food. KR Update Legend still packing them in The legend of the Lucan-area's Donnelly family, outlined in Mark Nonkes's article in our June issue of last year, still continues to fascinate people. The article was prompted by Paul Thompson's production of The Outdoor Donnellys at the Blyth Festival. That production was sold out before it opened and is to be remounted again this June. By April, more than half the tickets had already been sold, including all the tickets for a special all -day weekend performances. These all -day performances allow die-hard Donnelly addicts to see eight hours of the legend. Those attending regular performances get to see only some of the vignettes about the Donnellys which are performed by community actors as well as the professionals at various locations around the village. Those taking in the all -day performances get to see all the stories. There's a strong farming theme to Blyth's playbill this year with a return of The Drawer Boy, based on the lives of two fictional bachelor farmers interviewed by Thompson's actors for the 1972 play The Farm Show. The award- winning The Drawer Boy was sold out for its run in 2000. Also returning is Ted Johns and his Aylmer Clark character who has fascinated audience for more than 20 years in various productions of He Won't Come in From the Barn. His new play, Barnboozled is a sequel to the original taking on issues from nutrient management planning to GMOs.O "`Rural Voice Published monthly by: The Rural Voice, Box 429, Blyth, Ontario, NOM 1 HO Telephone: 519-523-4311 (fax 523-9140). e-mail: norhuron@scsinternet.com Subscriptions: $17.12 (12 issues) (includes 7% GST) Back copies $2.75 each For U.S. rates, add $5 per year Changes of address, orders for subscriptions and undeliverable copies (return postage guaranteed) are to be sent to The Rural Voice at the address listed above. A division of North Huron Publishing Company Inc. I Norrm14,0t1 Editor & Publisher: Keith Roulston Editorial advisory committee: Bev Hill, farmer, Huron Cty; Diane O'Shea, farmer, Middlesex Cty.; Gerald Poechman, farmer, Bruce Cty. Contributing writers: Bonnie Gropp, Carol Riemer, Ralph Pearce, Bob Reid, Mervyn Erb, Sandra Orr, Janice Becker, 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 Canadian Publication Mail Agreement Number 1375016 held by North Huron Publishing Co. Inc. at Blyth, Ontario. All manuscripts submitted for consideration should be accompanied by a stamped, self- addressed envelope. The publisher cannot accept responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts or photographs, although both are welcome. The opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the publisher. Editorial content may be reproduced only by permission of the publisher. The Rural Voice makes every effort to see that advertising copy is correct. 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