HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Rural Voice, 1993-10, Page 3R.V.
Editor: Keith Roulston
editorial advisory committee:
Bev Hill, farmer, Huron County
John Heard, soils and crop extension
and research, northwestern Ontario
Neil McCutcheon, farmer, Grey Cty.
Diane O'Shea, farmer, Middlesex Cty.
George Penfold, associate professor,
University of Guelph
Gerald Poechman, farmer, Bruce Cty.
contributing writers:
Adrian Vos, Gisele Ireland, Cathy
Laird, Wayne Kelly, Sarah Borowski,
Mary Lou Weiser -Hamilton, June
Flath, Ian Wylie-Toal, Susan Glover,
Bob Reid, Mervyn Erb, Darene
Yavorsky, Peter Baltenspergei, Sandra
Orr, Yvonne Reynolds, Carl L. Bedal
marketing & advertising sales manager:
Gerry Fortune
advertising representative:
Anna Vander Heyden
production co-ordinator:
Tracey Rising
advertising & editorial production:
Anne Harrison
Dianne Josling
laserset: with the Macintosh Classic
printed & mailed by: Signal -Star
Publishing, Goderich, Ontario
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Behind the Scenes
Thinking like an animal
There are probably some who are
tempted to call Prof. Frank Hurnik's
ideas bird -brained. After all, the
professor with University of Animal
and Poultry Science did try to think
like a chicken when he designed his
new group housing aviary for laying
hens. Not everybody, of course, is
ready for the professor's innovative
ideas.
You might call him pig headed in
his determination to come up with
new farrowing crates that will make
sows more comfortable while still
being as efficient in the space.taken
up as the old crates.
Professor Hurnik has used his
experience as an animal behaviorist
to come up with new uses of space in
barns that will make animals more
contented. Yet he's also down-to-
earth in his thinking that this new
housing must be just as efficient, or
more so, for the farmer. We had a
chance to talk with this remarkable
free thinker this month.
We take for granted the use of
electricity on the farm today, but it
was only 50 years ago when "Hydro"
was almost unheard of in the barns
and houses of rural Ontario. Wallace
Armstrong recalls the days when
Ontario Hydro had to convince
farmers of the benefits of this quiet,
uncomplaining electrical workman.
The majority of farmers in western
Ontario live in classic farm houses
built at the turn of the century or
before. These houses almost always
need repairs and farm families also
often want to provide comforts not
thought of when the houses were
originally being designed and built.
Some of the changes made just don't
suit the original buildings. How can
you stay true to the original design of
the house and still have modern
comforts? We talked to John
Rutledge, a Goderich architect who
specializes in restoring period
buildings, to get some tips on what to
do (and what not to do) when
renovating a Victorian farm home.
With the crispness in the air comes
the temptation of crisp Ontario
apples. They're a delight right off the
tree but they're also one of the most
versatile fruits when it comes to
cooking and baking. Bonnie Gropp's
recipes give some delicious choices.°
Looking ahead
Tell us about those who are making
a difference in agriculture
Usually we use this space to bring you up to date on stories we've run in the
past, but this month we want to look ahead instead ... and ask for your help.
In our February issue we would like to feature people who are making a
difference in shaping agriculture in western Ontario for the future. We could pick
people to feature but our thousands of readers across the region have a much
better idea than we do about all the innovative and hard-working people out
there. If you know someone who is making an outstanding contribution through
their work in the agricultural community, in farm organizations, or just in leading
through innovation on his or her own farm, please let us know. We'll be looking
for 10 men and 10 women involved in agriculture who are helping make a
difference. We need to have the names by December 1.
Also, here's a chance to give your thoughts on the future and be rewarded.
The Rural Voice would like to stimulate thinking on how we can turn around our
rural economy and improve the rural lifestyle.
With that in mind we're sponsoring an essay contest for our January issue on
the topic: Towards 2000: Building a better life in rural Ontario.
Prizes are 100 for first, $75 for second and $50 for third. Essays should be 500
to 1500 words in length. Deadline for entry is November 19. Entries will be
judged on originality of the ideas expressed rather than writing style or skills.°