The Rural Voice, 2004-06, Page 3About this issue
Where will the rural
professionals come from?
While farming may be the biggest single economic
influence in many rural areas, farmers in turn depend on
veterinarians, doctors, lawyers, accountants and other
professionals. We already know about the doctor and nurse
shortage but according to a recent article in The Globe and
Mail recently, law firms in rural areas are also having
problems recruiting young people to fill vacancies.
Veterinarians are having a hard time persuading young
graduates to get into large animal practices when they can
keep nine -to -five hours living in the city looking after dogs
and cats. There was even a prediction lately that with a
large number of firemen and police officers nearing
retirement there will be a shortage in these professions. Are
we facing a crisis in rural infrastructure?
Pork prices are better right now and the Country of
Origin Labeling issue in the U.S. has been pushed back.
Still, some major players have gone under, huge numbers
of weaner pigs are still heading south of the border and
uncertainty over the U.S. countervail threat remains. So
just what does the future hold in the industry? We checked
with some experts.
One thing that nutrient management concerns have done
is bring about a lot of research into manure and other
waste -related issues. We reviewed some of the results of
that research, including several presentations prepared for
the Centralia Swine Research Update for an article in this
issue. While some of the research is specific to the pork
industry, much of it applies equally to all livestock
operations.
The vast majority of consumers buy their food from
major food chain stores, but a growing minority of
shoppers like to look the food producer in the eye while
buying at a farmers' market. The number of markets has
been growing in recent years as various food scares make
people distrust the anonymity of the food chain. We look at
the phenomenon including the increasing number of
markets operating even in small towns.
Speaking of food, Bonnie Gropp's recipe collection this
month focuses on salads, now that it seems the wanner
weather may finally be here.
In her decorating column, Patti Robertson looks at
adding glamour to a small bathroom by turning it into a
luxurious "spa".0
Update
Energy interest growing
If the interest shown in a standing -room -only seminar on
alternative energy held in Stratford seemed surprising, (last
month's issue) the turnout of more than 200 at a similar
meeting in Holmesville near Clinton later in April confirms
there's a lot of interest among farmers wanting to take a
different route than depending on Hydro One.
Adding urgency to the issue in the Clinton-Goderich-
Bayfield area was the appearance at a Central Huron
council meeting of Chuck Edey of Kincardine, chief
operating officer for 22 Degree Energy Corp. along with
some land agents wanting to lease property in a 35,000
acre farming area and begin a feasibility study for
construction of a $300 -million wind farm project. Edey
told councillors the farm would, when completed, have 113
turbines generating 200 megawatts of electricity. After a
year-long feasibility study, Edey foresees the first turbine
in operation in 2006, part of a 27 -turbine initial phase.
While Edey supported the idea proposed by Paul Gipe of
the Ontario Sustainable Energy Association for an
Advanced Renewable Tariff, he predicted it won't happen
any time soon because of bureaucratic resistance.0
TheRural Voice
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Gerald Poechman, farmer, Bruce Cty.
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Pearce, Bob Reid, Mervyn Erb, Sandra
Orr, Janice Becker, Larry Drew
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