The Rural Voice, 2005-07, Page 58BRUCE
Email: bruce@ofa.on.ca
website: www.ofa.on.ca/bruce
446 10th St., Hanover, Ontario N4N 113
519-364-3050 or 1-800-275-955'
• County Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER The Rural BruceVoiis my byythed to OF,
Members m County the BCF,
Does agriculture really need government help?
Recently. I've been noticing that
some local hospitals are all but
deserted sometimes. More of us seem
to be using day clinics, home care, or
even alternative medicines and
therapies.
I've also noticed that limited
funding has caused us to be more
creative about education and busing.
As the pendulum swings toward a
more responsible, local, and
community-based approach, from a
provincial welfare trend, I wonder if
maybe we are trending toward a
better place.
The past experience of enjoying
the many comforts and conveniences
that an affluent economy can provide.
while leaving mundane duties to
government, has allowed us to
become lazy, selfish and
irresponsible.
Perhaps family care and
community support are even more
efficient than government services.
We seem to have forgotten the self-
fulfilling aspect of providing care for
loved ones and others.
Now I wonder, could the same
kind of critical thought be applied to
agriculture? Is it time to re -think how
we price food commodities? We do
need to produce an abundance of
food — so there is plenty to go around
— but why would we price all the food
according to the global cost of
disposing of surplus? I'm wondering
if receiving matching subsidies with
other countries is a real solution.
Perhaps, if the farm -gate price of
food was based on the full cost of
production, we might stop taking our
wonderful food supply for granted.
Canadians seem to value our beef
industry. Ironically, though our beef
is primarily processed and consumed
here in Canada, I wonder if the global
market seems to be setting the price.
again based on our need to export
some of the excess.
Recycling bale wrap program a success
Think Plastics Inc., the company
that has developed Ontario's first
successful recycling program for bale
wrap has collected over 100,000
pounds to date. Think Plastics Inc. is
very pleased with the co-operation
they have received from the farming
community and municipalities.
The company reminds farmers to
please do the following two things:
1. Shake the dirt off the wrap before
bundling. Plastic with excessive dirt
will be refused.
2. Roll the bale wrap into balls of
approximately five pounds. DO NOT
tie the plastic with twine or put into
bags.
If the company cannot make use
of the materials, the whole program
will be at risk of being discontinued.
This service is a tremendous help in
keeping a large volume of material
out of landfill sites and off farm
properties.
If you have any questions, please
contact your OFA Field Service
54 THE RURAL VOICE
Representative or call Think Plastics
Inc. at 1-800-295-7604.
Confirmed collection sites to date:
Bruce County: Arran Landfill,
Chesley Landfill, Eastnor Landfill,
Kincardine Landfill, Mildmay
Landfill, Teeswater Landfill.
Grey County: Bentinck Landfill,
Dundalk Landfill, Egremont Transfer
Station, Keppel Landfill.0
BRUCE COUNTY FEDERATION
OF AGRICULTURE
DIRECTORS' MEETING
MONDAY, JULY 25, 2005
8:00 P.M.
Bruce County Administrative Building
30 Park Street, Walkerton
MEMBERS ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND
Sometimes I wonder what the rola
of government ought to be — solvt
our problems or enable us to solvt
and prevent our own problems it
agriculture and food. Our market!
seem to be controlled by outsidt
interests and we become discouraged
Should we look at ourselves fot
solutions?
Maybe it is time to take a fresl-
grab at control. Does our hard labour
deliver a direct benefit to healthy
consumers? Are we receiving a fait
share for providing this benefit? Are
we in a business where we can
connect with real people? Can we use
this connection to further our cause'?
Sometimes even good government
moves too slowly. Perhaps farm
families should take the lead and find
or develop more rewarding
enterprises in agriculture. When the
pendulum changes direction, there is
usually pain. Without pain there can
be no change. I sense some real pain
in the farm community. Are we ready
to harness it for positive change?0
— Submitted by Gerald Poechman,
Brant Township Director
CONTACTS
Animal Care Helpline
(Ontario Farm Animal Council)
1-905-821-3880
Queen's Bush Rural Ministry
(collect calls accepted)
1-519-369-6774
The Farm Line
1-888-451-2903
Distress Line of Grey Bruce
(2:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. - daily)
1-888-371-8485
Crisis Team
(24 hours per day)
1-888-525-0552
Kids Help Phone
(24 hours per day up to age 21)
1-800-668-6868
Parent Help Line
1-888-603-9100
I