The Rural Voice, 2003-04, Page 64WEST WAWANOSH
MUTUAL
INSURANCE
COMPANY -
1879 (0 2003
'71(etgkdour helping Neighbour"
529-7921
Are you ready for spring?
Getting everything
6 ready in advance of the
j71`°' ,r; busy spring season
•
contributes to
efficiency and safety.
1. Equipment operators should read
machine manuals.
2. Make all necessary repairs and replace
worn or broken parts.
3. Clean, lubricate and adjust machinery.
Fill fuel tanks in the evening.
4. Sharpen all cutting edges.
5. All guards and shields should be in place.
6. Don't open doors or shields until all
rotating parts have stopped.
7. Place solid blocks under hydraulically -
raised equipment before making repairs
or adjustments.
YOUR LOCAL AGENTS/BROKERS
Frank Foran, Lucknow
Donald Simpson, Ripley
Omni Insurance, Clinton
Omni Insurance, Goderich
Omni Insurance, Auburn
Lyons & Mulhern Insurance,
Goderich
McMaster Siemon Insurance,
Mitchell
Miller Insurance, Kincardine
P.A. Roy Insurance, Clinton
P.A. Roy Insurance, Wingham
Banter, MacEwan, Feagan,
Goderich
John Moore Insurance, Dublin
Hemsworth Insurance, Listowel
Kleinknecht Insurance, Linwood
Miller Insurance, Southampton
Miller Insurance, Owen Sound
Gray Insurance, Seaforth
Craig, McDonald, Reddon,
Walkerton
Craig, McDonald, Reddon,
Hanover
Craig, McDonald, Reddon,
Mildmay
Craig, McDonald, Reddon,
Durham
Chatsworth Insurance,
Chatsworth
Davis & McLay Insurance,
Lions Head
Elliott Nixon Insurance, Blyth
Seaforth Insurance, Seaforth
Sholdice Insurance, Brussels
Moller Insurance, Owen Sound
Wiarton
528-3824
395-5362
482-3434
524-9899
529-7273
524-2664
348-9150
396-3465
482-9357
357-2851
524-8376
345-2512
291-3920
698-2215
797-3355
376-0590
522-0399
881-2701
364-3540
367-2297
369-2935
794-2870
793-3322
523-4481
527-1610
887-6100
371-8050
534-4962
"INSURANCE FOR FARM, RESIDENTIAL,
COMMERCIAL AND AUTO" •
A Member 0f The ,,,
Ontario Mutual Insurance Association
60 THE RURAL VOICE
AgriTech
How are you making use of technologg?
Janice
Becker is a
computer
enthusiast
and
journalist
living near
Walton, ON.
This column has appeared in The
Rural Voice monthly for almost four
and a half years. Technology has
changed, options have increased and
the world is going wireless.
But just how many of the latest
technological advances have been
adopted by farmers and rural
residents?
With spring upon us, I thought this
might be a good time to survey the
past and plan for the future, — take
an informal survey — ask Rural
Voice readers just what technology
they use and how it impacts their
operation.
For myself, access to the internet,
an e-mail service and fax, all via my
desktop computer has become
imperative. Much of my job,
particularly on those snow days,
could not have been accomplished
without those pieces of equipment.
However, I have not yet succumbed
to the call of the cell phone. I figure I
can remain somewhat unreachable at
times, though I do have both an
answering machine and caller ID at
home so I can usually track down
anyone who has tried to reach me.
Appropriate software for the
computer has become essential, both
for producing my work and balancing
the books. And yet, I do not run a
business.
So, I want all you farmers and
rural inhabitants to tell me just what
devices have become indispensable in
your life.
Is that cell phone a vital link when
working away from home or in the
fields or does a two-way radio
suffice?
How important are computer,
Internet, e-mail and fax capabilities
and what programs do you find
essential?
Aside from the communication
aspects; what technology do you use
in your actual farming operation to
make things run more smoothly? Are
there software packages that have
opened new doors for operation
management and have others been
too difficult or cumbersome to be
useful?
Do you use GPS to more efficient-
ly administer herbicides and fertiliz-
ers to the land? Does it impact what
crops you plant in which location?
What has created the biggest
change in your farm business in
recent years and what technologies
could still use some fine-tuning?
And lastly, how has technology
impacted the way you farm?
While it would be great to receive
stories about the change, I realize
everyone is extremely busy preparing
for spring planting and completing
other tasks that never end. A simple
letter, fax or e-mail saying, "yes, I
use a computer and the internet, or
no, we still run our operation using
more traditional methods", would be
equally appreciated.
If the over -reliance on technology
bugs you, tell me that too. I want to
hear all thoughts and opinions on
how computerization has altered the
farming world.
Also, please include what type of
business you are in.
Hopefully, if enough responses are
received, I can let you know how
your neighbours feel about
technology in a future column.
Contact me at jlbecker@wightman.ca
or through The Rural Voice office fax
519-523-9140 with feedback or topic
suggestions.
As a side note, the Drayton
Kinsmen's Farm Show runs from
April 3-4 and is, this year, celebrating
20 years in agriculture. Held at the
PMD Arena in Drayton, approxi-
mately 100 exhibitors, from dairy
companies and seed dealerships to
equipment, tractors and hardware
sellers, banks, construction
contractors and drainage installers,
will be on hand to discuss projects
with visitors.
Further information on the farm
show and the annual home show the
next week can be found at
www.draytonkinsmen.ca.0
i