The Rural Voice, 1998-09, Page 59style or verticals in one of the stylish
new patterns in a PVC material. Also
a sheer drapery fabric can be made
into a pretty blouson style which can
be versatile and easy to care for.
Because your windows are long, I
would suggest a valance incorporating
sidetails (jabots), which would add
interest, dimension and a general
lowering effect. Make sure the fabric
you select is washable.
For the front window, I would like
to see you keep the stained glass area
open and on display. Also I'd like to
suggest you incorporate a layered
effect on the picture window area. Use
either semi -sheer drapery with an
interesting semi -sheer valance or
semi -sheers with a lovely patterned
valance.
When planning your window
treatments it's always smart to do
your homework first. Think about
your needs and desires, then proceed
with what works best for your
situation. Have some fun while
exploring your possibilities.0
'Till next month, Paui.
Patti Robertson operates Classic
Interiors in Wingham.
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Advice
Farming means
taking risks so
manage them wisely
By Dael Itierworth
Business Management Advisor
Revenue Canada states one of the
conditions determining whether a
person is a farmer is whether they are
exposed to risk. For individuals in
the Grey -Bruce area that have had
inadequate rain, this rings true. In
fact, some could ,probably write a
book as they anticipate what the final
effect of the drought will be.
From a management view point,
risk is something that a business must
learn to accept and deal with, if
success is to be achieved. The
manager must learn to recognize two
types of risks. The first is risk over
which they have no control, such as
lightning. A good manager looks at
these risks and decides which ones
would have major effects on the
business and attempts to have
someone else assume these risks.
In the past, governments were
approached, and at times assumed
some of this risk. The trend has been
for governments to move away from
this approach and provide
alternatives such as crop insurance.
The private sector has an entire
industry founded on understanding
risk, spreading risk over a number of
potential risk bearers, and charging a
premium that covers calamities and
provides risk takers with profits. The
insurance sectors have become
experts in this. For risks a manager
cannot control, and which would be
devastating to the business, this
option should be explored.
The second area is risk which a
manager has at least some control
over. Every producer takes a risk
when they plant seeds, not knowing
whether the harvest will cover the
input costs. The good producer uses
everything in his power to influence
this outcome. Soil testing, application
of fertilizer, pesticide use and
modern harvest equipment are some
of the steps to fix the results in our
favour.
In a drought situation, producers
need to consider what actions they
can take to minimize the negative
effect of a situation over which they
have no control, and try to turn the
event to their advantage.
If you observe successful
producers in your area, you will see
they are reacting differently than
those who will be hurt the worst by
the• lack of rain. Observe the
following areas and sec if my
observations are correct.
• Do they cut second cut forage
during the drought?
• How do they deal with weed out
breaks that occur because of the
lack of rain, and the apparent lack
of response by weeds to herbicide
applications?
• How do they deal with the
abundance of insects that have
multiplied abnormally because of
the heat and lack of rain?
• Are they buying hay or reducing
herd size?
• Where are they looking for hay if
buying, locally or in areas that have
received more rain?
• Do they co-operate with fellow
producers to reduce the cost of
transporting hay if bought outside
the area?
• What is the criteria they use if
reducing herd size?
• Are they early weaning calves to
save on pasture requirements?
• Do they creep feed calves as cows
cope with a shortage of good
pasture?
• When are they making the
decision to sell, if they are going to
downsize the herd?
• tkre they supplementing hay to
cows on pasture now, or are they
keeping forages for this winter?
• How do they manage their
pastures in a drought so it will be
most productive for early spring?
Your local OMAFRA office has a
number of articles dealing with
adverse weather, and some of the
articles are interesting reading as you
decide whether you should be
watching or acting. Who knows -
someone may be watching you.
There is no doubt that the drought
is having some major effects on
farms in the arca. The challenge is to
concentrate on the things you can
SEPTEMBER 1998 55