The Rural Voice, 1991-06, Page 28FACING THE CHALLENGE OF TWO CAREERS:
MURRAY BETTS COMBINES
FARMING AND POLITICS
by Cathy Laird
Murray Betts pursues two of the
most challenging careers in the world
—farming and politics — but despite
all the problems, has managed to be
sucessful in both.
Murray and Phyllis Betts and their
family have operated the 350 acre
Phylmur Farms near Shelburne. They
began farming in 1958. As well,
Murray has devoted himself to public
service over the past three decades.
Elected to Artemesia township council
28 years ago, he served as deputy
reeve in 1966, reeve since 1970, and
became Grey County Warden in 1975.
There are 100 acres on the home
farm, and 50 acres adjoining the
family farm. "We own another 100
acres of vacant land, and we rent
another 100 acres besides," he says.
"We have 80 acres in small grains, 40
acres of corn for silage and picking,
and the balance is hay and pasture."
The Betts family is milking 32
Holstein cows on a pipe -line system.
"We veal our bull calves and sell them
to a Shelburne arca butcher," says
Murray, "and keep our heifers for
replacements." The vealers are fed
pure shell corn and concentrate.
"We feed our cows our own grain,
corn silage, hay, and a concentrate
premix," adds Betts. "We have our
own roller mill for grain and we get
the feed tested every fall."
Phyllis and Murray Betts came
from farm backgrounds, so when they
married, they continued farming while
raising five children. "We are a
working farm family," says Phyllis.
"The children all helped out when
they were growing up. They still help
out whcn they come home."
So far, one son, Brian, is heavily
involved in the operation. He received
his two year diploma in agriculture
from the University of Guelph in
1984, and works for the Dairy Herd
Improvement Association, testing
Alurray and Phyllis Betts and son Brian milk 32 cows at their 350 acre farm.
milk. Brian and his wife live next
door on an adjoining 50 acres, and he
is in charge of the feeding program.
Another son, Scott, has completed
two years of a surveyors' course at the
University of Toronto. He is home for
the summer. Besides helping with the
farm work, he is a disc jockey for
parties and dances in the area. Their
daughter, Mary Jean, is studying
physical education and mathematics at
Wilfrid Laurier University.
The oldest son, Gary, drives a
transport, while another son, Leonard
works for a landscaping business.
The Betts feed corn silage from a
pit silo, and high moisture corn from
an upright silo. "We avoid the high
costs of drying," says Murray.
The cows are bred artificially by
United Breeders. "Our goal is a 12 to
13 month calving interval,"says Brian.
"We are upgrading our herd to
purebred. Currently, the herd is 40 per
cent purebred, with the rest percentage
cattle. We use a mix of young sires
and proven bulls."
They are getting into Belgian Blue
beef cattle, after Murray saw them at
the International Plowing Match in
Meaford in 1987. "We've tried out
this breed with a few cows," he says.
"The calves are well -muscled, and so
far we've had good luck calving
them."
Phyllis Betts is a busy farm wife,
helping with the milking, and in her
spare time, quilting "just for myself."
It all started when the nieces and
nephews started getting married.
"There were 12 in my family, and
with three in Murray's family, there's
a lot of nieces and nephews," she says.
As well as township council,
Murray is also serving his second
term as one of 17 commissioners on
the Niagara Escarpment Commission
(NEC). "Each region and c aunty have
one member," says Betts. "Three
names are submitted by county
council and out of these names, the
24 THE RURAL VOICE