The Rural Voice, 2004-12, Page 49News in Agriculture
Beardsley firing angers farm groups
Midwestern Ontario farm leaders
have reacted with concern to the
firing of John Beardsley, farm
director at CKNX-AM radio in
Wingham.
Beardsley was among a number of
personnel let go by station
management early in November.
While the station has not
acknowledged the moves (a phone
call to John Weese, marketing
director was not returned) it's
understood popular afternoon disc -
jockey Don Fraser was also among
those purged.
But it is Beardsley's firing, and
the shock and anger of their
membership, that has stirred farm
groups into action. Representatives
from the Bruce, Grey, Huron and
Perth Federations of Agriculture, the
Bruce local of the National Farmers
Union as well as the station's own
Farm Advisory Board met with
Weese and news director Ray
Baynton, November 17.
"Members of the farm community
have been contacting us about the
dismissal, and are not pleased," said
Nick Whyte, president of the Huron
County Federation of Agriculture.
"John was doing an excellent job.
I can't understand why management
wanted a change," said Bob Martin,
president of the Perth County
Federation of Agriculture.
The firing has created rumours
that the station intends to reduce its
farm coverage but during the meeting
CKNX officials assured the farm
leaders that is not the case.
"With John's dismissal, I asked if
this meant the demise of the farm
department. They assured us that is
not the intent, but I'm not sure," said
Paul Wettlaufer, OFA Regional
Director for Grey North.
"At a time when farm families in
midwestern Ontario have their back'
against the wall in so many sectors,
actions that seem to curtail the
strength of the voice of agriculture
are very worrying and demand a
public response from CKNX Radio,"
said Grant Robertson of the NFU.
That response had not been
forthcoming from CKNX, although
the station has commenced running
commercials promoting their
commitment for farm coverage.
Unofficial sources have said the
station is seeking a replacement for
Beardsley.
Beardsley came to the post with
no broadcasting experience, having
worked in agronomics for a farm
supply business. While he lacked the
polish of a professionally -trained
broadcaster, he impressed those in
the farm community with his tireless
work. He often attended several farm
meetings a week on top of his regular
hours on air and preparing
programming.
"His method of reporting, his
desire for being on the farmer's side
and ensuring our message was not
taken out of context is what we like
about John" said Whyte.
Praise also came from farther
afield on the part of British Columbia
agronomist, farm writer and trade
advocate Wendy Holm.
"This man could not be more
respected by his peers, and by the
farmers of Ontario and by those like
myself in other provinces who know
his work," said Holm, who was in
Huron County in October to speak at
the annual meeting of the Huron
County Federation of Agriculture.
"John is one of the finest farm
journalists in Canada, and the loss of
his voice on CKNX does not serve
the interests of farmers and their
communities."
Farm leaders are urging farmers to
contact station management to
express their dissatisfaction with the
move. Contact information can be
found on the Perth and Huron
Federation Newsletter pages.0
`Crucial' step taken to reopening
the U.S. border to
Canadian Cattlemen's Association
(CCA) President Stan Eby of
Kincardine said a crucial step has
been taken in the U.S. rule-making
process after the announcement that
President George W. Bush had
promised Prime Minister Paul Martin
new rules for the importation of beef
would move to the Office of
Management and Budget.
The rule to allow the importation
of live cattle and an expanded list of
beef products into the U.S. from
regions at minimal risk for BSE has
apparently moved from the United
States Department of Agriculture
(USDA) to the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB).
This is a significant step towards
recovery for the industry from the
BSE crisis, a step for which the cattle
industry has been lobbying for many
months.
OMB will now give the rule its
final legal review. It is not yet known
how long the reviev, period will be,
but can range from under 30 to up to
a maximum of 90 days. An
implementation period may also
follow.
beef, Eby says
This is a significant step for
Canadian beef cattle producers, said
Eby. "It's not the end of the road yet,
but it's a move we've been lobbying
for and awaiting anxiously for some
time. I'm very pleased to have this
next step in the administrative
process occur. The coming days will
give us more detail of what to expect
in terms of review and
.implementation and hopefully give
us a better idea of when we'll see
live cattle once again being exported
to the U.S."
Canada regained access to the
U.S. market for boneless beef from
cattle under 30 months of age in
August. 2003. The border has
remained closed, however, to live
cattle.
Lack of slaughter capacity in
Canada to slaughter all the cattle
being marketed is the major cause of
depressed cattle prices currently
being experienced by Canadian
producers. Reopening the border to
live cattle exports will help alleviate
downward pressure on cattle prices.0
DECEMBER 2004 45