The Rural Voice, 1998-09, Page 3Editor: Keith Roulston
editorial advisory committee:
Bev Hill, farmer, Huron County
John Heard, soils and crop extension
and research, northwestern Ontario
Diane O'Shea, farmer, Middlesex Cty.
George Penfold, associate professor,
University of Guelph
Gerald Poechman, farmer, Bruce d'ty.
contributing writers:
Gisele Ireland, Mary Lou
Weiser -Hamilton, Ralph
Pearce, Bonnie Gropp,
Bob Reid, Mervyn Erb, Darene
Yavorsky, Peter Baltensperger, Sandra
Orr, Carl L. Bedal, Janice Becker,
Allison Lawlor
marketing & advertising sales manager:
Gerry Fortune
advertising representative:
Merle Gunby
production co-ordinator:
Joan Caldwell
advertising & editorial production:
Dianne Josling
Anne Harrison
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Behind the Scenes
Big and small beef
Beef production is big business in
this part of Ontario.
A new group of Ontario feedlot
operators knows this. They recently
came together to improve and
maintain a competitive and viable
beef feeding industry in the province.
We learn more about the group this
month in the Profit$ in Beef
Production section.
In contrast to the big, commercial
cattle feedlots are the small beef
producers who raise what some might
call miniature cattle. Dexters are one
of the smallest breeds in Canada, but
that doesn't stop Dexter breeders
from believing they are worth the
effort to raise. We have a story on
this small end of beef production.
Liquid manure is a hot topic today.
Farmers are trying to find ways to
deal with large amounts of manure in
a way that is both friendly to your
neighbours and to the environment?
Ridgetown College at the University
of Guelph is working on a new
system that has the potential to turn
thousands of tonnes of liquid swine
manure into valuable compost.
Allison Lawlor visited Ridgetown to
learn more.
The Outdoor Farm Show is
expecting record crowds at this year's
show in Woodstock from September
8-10. We have information on this
largest outdoor display of agricultural
products in Canada.
A large part of this year's show
will focus on biotechnology. Faculty
from the University of Guelph will be
at the show to answer questions from
farmers about new biotechnology
products in agriculture.
It's also International Ploiwing
Match time. Although this year's
show is in the east of the province
near Kingston, Huron County
residents will be avid participants as
they plan for next year's International
Plowing Match to be held a mile
north of Dashwood in Hay Township.
Graeme Craig, chair of the '99
IPM says organization for next year's
plowing match is on track. Close to
30 committees, more than 1,000
volunteers and thousands of volunteer
hours are going into preparing for the
plowing match.
Huron's IPM will include more
field demonstrations, a Machines in
Motion exhibit, antique tractors and
in light of the approaching new
millennium, a look at changes in farm
machinery over the past 99 years.°
Update
Co-operative efforts, frustration
When a group of 40 chicken producers started Farm Fresh Poultry Co-
operative in Harriston last year (see our January 1998 issue) they dreamed of
someday processing all the chicken produced on thcir farms. Months later
they're frustrated about getting enough chicken to keep their plant going.
In July the co-op was embroiled with Chicken Farmers of Ontario and the
Association of Ontario Chicken Processors in hearings before thc Ontario Farm
Product Appeal Tribunal over its attempts to get more chicken a:.signed to the
plant. The co-op currently has an allocation of 450,000 kilograms per quota
period but wants to expand to two million kilograms per period within three
years (there are six quota periods per year). After being turned down for more
chicken in May, the company's request for 200,000 kilograms more was
approved by the chicken board in June, but the decision was overturned after the
processors' association protested. The board told thc co-op they will have to be
patient and grow at the same rate as the other 28 processing companies in
Ontario. The co-op argued it needs 200,000 extra kilograms to displace out -of -
province imports of cornish hens.
Meanwhile things are looking better for another producer -owned processing
operation. Quality Jersey Products (see our April 1998 issue) is planning its
official opening September 25 in Scaforth. The plant's Limburger cheese was
recently picked up by Zchr's markets.°