The Rural Voice, 2006-02, Page 28BARN
RENOVATIONS
• Renovations to farm
buildings
• Concrete Work
• Manure Tanks
• Using a Bobcat Skid Steer
w/hydraulic hammer,
bucket, six -way blade &
backhoe
BEUERMANN
CONSTRUCTION
R.R. #5 BRUSSELS
519-887-9598
or 519-887-8447
tours of farms in 2005: in London,
Toronto and Ottawa with a total of
about 30 reporters, mostly food
writers, taking part.
When the media picked up on
claims of abuse of laying hens after
three break-ins at a Guelph -area egg -
producer's barn by animal activists
some reporters complained about the
lack of access to barns. Daynard said
she was able to say : "All of you
were invited (to take part in the tour).
Where were you?"
Newest weapon in OFAC's
arsenal is its virtual farm tours
expected to be up and running at any
moment. Visitors to the website can
get a virtual tour of a beef, sheep or
deer farm. They can click on the barn
andget to see the animals inside or
click on the house and meet the
family who have allowed their farm
to be used for the tour.
"We think this is a very exciting
project", Daynard said.
The $15,000 costs of getting each
virtual farm tour up and running is
being supported by different
commodity groups with hogs, veal
and goats to be added in 2007 and
other commodities as money is
available.
The recent election campaign
provided an opportunity to get
farmers' message to federal
politicians directly, Struthers said.
Agricultural groups managed to get a
question asked during the national
leaders debate and there was a
Toronto debate between the
agricultural critics of the major
parties. The Unified Voice coalition
will continue to try to keep
agriculture top of mind for politicians
but Struthers says he knows it will be
tougher when the election fades from
memory.
As a way to keep provincial
politicians informed. OCA has
created The Steakholder, a periodic
newsletter that goes to MPPs and
other decision makers. It contains
three pages of information on topics
of current interest plus a page with a
recipe, to ensure the newsletter will
get taken home.
The challenge of reaching the
urban consumers (and voter) with
very little help from the main stream
urban media remains daunting, but
the job is so important that the
struggle must continue.0
• RICULTURAL • COMMERCIAL
• RESIDENTIAL
Dave Haack Serving all your construction needs Peter vander Heide
Tel: 519-364-7878 Hanover, Ontario Fax: 519-364-5946
24 THE RURAL VOICE