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The Rural Voice, 2002-07, Page 24F HYDRA -SPREAD MANURE SPREADERS 285 BU. — 368 BU. — 421 BU. — 465 BU. — 550 BU. Eliminate some of life's problems pike chains, wom gears, shafts bearings) with HYDRA -SPREAD The Canadian alternative in spreaders. N. E. HAGEDORN & SONS LIMITED - Paisley, Ont. website www.manurespreader.com 1-800-707-7271 SMALL TOWN FEEL...BIG CITY DEALS! We'll Come To Your Door To Prove It! Matching cap, at a work ready price wek 4.1sr...'. 2002 E150 CARGO VAN 4.6 L, V8, auto, air, work ready priced at STK# B151126, 995. (Plus taxes) 1 16' van body, only 132,000 kms., V8, auto, certified $8,995. (Plus taxes) 2002 F550 Cab and Chassie, 7.31 diesel, auto, air, 201" WB, Work ready price. STKM 1489 $40,995. (Plus taxes) Peninsula Ford Lincoln Ltd. Sunset Strip, P.O. Box 894 Owen Sound, Ontario N4K 6H6 Tel (519) 376-3252 Fax: (519) 376-8030 Email: bp@peninsulaford.com 20 THE RURAL VOICE learning centre, and the McQuail farm. (See sidebar story on page 24). During the winter months kitchen table meetings are held where farmers discuss a selected topic and exchange information. This past winter kitchen table meetings included everything from apple orchard management to weed management in field crops to marketing produce at a farmers' market. It's not just what is learned at these events but the personal contacts farmers make that helps them during the difficult transition. The personal relationships introduce novices to people they can turn to for advice on how to lick the problems they will inevitably meet along the way during the three years it takes of no chemical use on the farm before an operation can be certified organic. Just as other organizations are moving to open the gates wider for those interested in organic agriculture, the EFAO has become more organized in its outreach program with the hiring of Anne Verhagen as extension co-ordinator. Formerly with OMAFRA in Harrow, it's her job to co-ordinate the efforts of the volunteer members who conduct workshops and tours. While at this point she doesn't get a lot of calls herself. many well-known EFAO 'members get approached directly, she says. The goal is to try to reduce the barriers farmers face in switching to organic production methods, she says. The aids available to organic farmers have always been few compared to mainstream agriculture where OMAF, even in its current cut- back state, and fieldmen for chemical companies are there to lend a hand, she says. .FAO has been building an infrastructure of help for years. A library has been collected including books, articles and videotapes on organic subjects and is housed at the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority headquarters in Wroxeter. It's available not just to EFAO members, Verhagen says, but to those interested in organic production. She can even lend items from the library by mail. Among Verhagen's goals is to create a speakers' bureau of organic