The Rural Voice, 2002-05, Page 63RAINY RIVER
Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER
R.R. 1, Devlin, Ontario POW 1C0
807-486-3622
Altm.Ab,
RAINY RIVER VALLEY The Rural Voice is.provided to Rainy
River Federation members by the RRFA.
April 15. 2002
Spring has arrived in all its glory.
The signs are here in the Rainy River
Valley. Robins are hack, the leaves are
in bud, the frogs were singing last
evening. fertilizer spreading is
underway, and Reg is back from the
Southern trails and frisky as ever.
The RRFA held their April meeting
at Emo with President Bernie
Zimmerman, Angela Halvorsen, Kelly
Teeple, Kimio Bliss/Calder, Ken
Fisher. Rudy Sinninghe, Jason Teeple,
Reg Kaus, Susan Boersma, Betty
Salchert, James Gibson, Shirley
Morrish. and guest speakers from the
Watershed Program at Manitou. Stuart
Clendenning and Martin Nantel.
Stuart and Martin presented an
update on the preservation of the
Ecology of the Rainy River through the
watershed program. There is assistance
available for fencing off waterways.
creeks and streams that flow into the
Rainy River. You may call 807-482-
2479 ext. 237 for information.
Betty for Member Services is
planning a Farm Tour in the District for
the guests gathering in Fort Frances
during the WHO (World Health
Conference) May 7-9. Because of the
foot and mouth epidemic last year in
Britain, it was suggested that the
travellers remain on the bus and a tour
guide will describe each farm as they
drive through the district. There will be
over 600 people visiting from all over
the world in our town of Fort Frances
and across the Rainy River District.
Congratulations to Philip
Nussbaumer and family on the grand
opening of their new machine shop.
south of Emo, on the river road.
Celebration day is April 27.
Spring Fever Days at Emo takes
place this weekend. It's a great chance
for all residents to get some spring
bargains and meet old friends during
the three days of activities.
OAFE (Ag Awareness) will be at
the Farmers' Market in Fort Frances on
Saturday, May 11, for Mother's Day
weekend. Schools are booking their
farm tours for classes and hands-on
learning at Willow -Mor Farms. Ag
Awareness also had a display at the Ag
Days, featuring chicken and the egg.
The children and some adults had fun
weighing brown. white and blue eggs
on the egg grading scale. There were
prizes and lots of information given
out.
A group of 4-1-1 leaders met with
Sandra Larsen of 4-H Ontario, at the
Emo Inn on Sunday. to discuss the
future of 4-H in our district. She now
realizes too. that our district is large
and we really need a representative fur
our area to save on mileage costs as
well as the availability of information.
that sometimes is delayed due to
distance across the province.
A breadmaking club, a horse Club.
and a quilting club. have alltheen
completed in the last couple of months:
a fishing club is underway, and the 4-H
Steer Clubs are just beginning: so. 4-H
is bigtime in the Rainy River District.
Volunteers are always needed. Call
Kimio at 482-2863 if you can offer
your time.
The Research Station at Emo is now
open and KimJo is busy as always with
preparations for spring seeding. Visit or
call her at 807-482-2354 for
information. She's always willing to
help you out.
Kimco did a terrific job organizing
Ag Days again this year. It was a huge
success with a full agenda of speakers
including Mike McMorris. General
Manger from Ontario Cattlemen's
Association: Tom Droppo, a Dairy
Specialist from Manitoba Agriculture:
Dr. Harlan Hughes, Professor from
North Dakota State University: Don
Green, Forage Specialist. Manitoba
Agriculture: Gordon Scheifele.
Research Co-ordinator for the Northern
Stations: Fred Taite, a woodlot operator
from McGregor Manitoba: Geoff
Gillon and Angela Halvorsen from
Rainy River Future Development
Corporation and a panel debate
featuring two hunters, two members
from the Sportsmans Club and two
landowners discussing leasing land for
hunting. Dr. Harlan Hughes was also
guest speaker for the annual Spring
Dinner put on by the RRFA.
The evening's big event was the
annual Bill Gibson Award. This year
the plaque was presented to Archie and
Eleanor Wiersema for "Outstanding
Voluntary Service to Agriculture in the
Rainy River District." This award
started in 1992 with Linda Armstrong
being the first recipient.
Many thanks to all the sponsor who
helped make Ag Days at BarwlLk
possible. The trade show this year was
excellent by all reports. and the seed
fair itself had a good numher of forage
entries. Some of the top prizes were
first -cut hay. first prize to Ross Staftord
and second prize to Wayne Flatt
second cut hay. first prize to Wayn-
Flatt and second to Bernie Zimmerman:
silage/haylage. first prize went to
Bernie Zimmerman. In the round hale
silage disrsnm. Elvin Taylor received
first prize. In the cereal category. first
prize went to Elvin Taylor and second
to Bernie Zimmerman: vegetable
display from harvest of 2001, top prize
went to DoraMae Stafford for her
delightful basket of very colourful
produce. We'll begin preparing for nett
year's event as all signs are pointing
towards a good year ahead. •
The bees know when there will be a
good group. That's when they swarm.
A swarm in May is worth a load of hay.
A swarm in June is worth a silver
spoon.
A swarm in July is not worth a fly.
— By Terry Fehr.
Gladstone. Manitoba
Southern Alberta farmers who
depend on irrigation for their crops are
worrying this year about the availability
of water. It looks like another drought
is looming. They may have to switch to
dry land cropping like barley for a
better insurance payout. Normally. they
grow sugar beets or potatoes in the
good years. Improving rural water
quality is in their environmental farm
plans. adopted from Ontario's
Environmental Plan. It shows farmers
their risks as well as opportunities for
improvement. The program should he
available in Alberta by October.
Farm Safety is reminding everyone
to use your SMV (Slow Moving Signs)
on your vehicles and not on your
gateposts as markers. Farmers are still
removing shields and guards from
machinery and forgetting to replace
them. Naughty — naughty. Keep safe.
Take the time to he careful. Remember
you can't do the job from "up there".
"Do not judge each day by the
harvest you reap. but by the seeds you
plant.
— Robert'Louis Stevenson (1850-1894).
— Submitted by Shirley Morris!'
MAY 2002 59
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