The Rural Voice, 1998-05, Page 46SERVICE CENTRE INC.
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42 THE RURAL VOICE
the grain and supplements used in the
ration. "We found we could get better
production and labour saving —
again the lifestyle thing," Ken says.
The time that would be used in
milling home-grown grains can better
be used in other activities.
"Anything we can get done
custom work we pretty much get
done custom work," Jocelyn says.
They make their own hay and do
their planting, but things like
cultivation, silo filling and
combining are hired out. The choices
represent a change in philosophy
from the days soon after they started
farming in the mid-1980s, when they
felt they had to do everything
themselves. "You're chasing your
own tail sometimes," Ken says. "Life
is too short."
"We try to farm in a stewardly
manner," Jocelyn says though they
say they're far from perfect. "We try
to use our manure stewardly. We do
our best to protect waterways. We do
our best to plant trees. We do our
best not to use unnecessary
herbicides."
They use their own manure so
don't buy chemical fertilizers
but they do use herbicides
sparingly. They practice no -till to
improve the quality of their soil, she
says, but the system can't be worked
without use of herbicides.
Part of their lifestyle choice is that
the children (Rebecca, 16, James, 14
and Jeanette, 11) won't be tied to the
farm. Though they take part in the
farm operation, and are compensated
for their work, "our kids are not
going to be completely necessary and
required to work here," Jocelyn says.
"This is our work, not theirs. They
have yet to make their decisions
about what they want to do."
If one of the children should
decide to continue farming, they see
that the new barn could play a part.
They see a number of options from
expanding the barn for more tie -stalls
to building a freestall barn attached
to it and using this as the milking
arca.
They have plans to change the old
barn to make it work better for dry
cows and heifers but those will have
to wait until cashflow allows.
"When we stop looking for ways
to improve the place it will be time to
retire," Jocelyn says.0