The Rural Voice, 1999-05, Page 14can-con
WNUM
HOG & SHEEP "THE COMPLETE HOG AND
SCALE �• CATTLE CONFINEMENT
AND FEEDING
EQUIP. CENTRE"
'Solid
rod Dry Sow
Stalls and
Siamese Stalls
iavailable
R.R.11 NEWTON,
ONTARIO
(519) 595-8025
Win 1s This
slan
He heard his mother-in-law is
coming for a visit.
Hurrying to file his late income tax.
Chasing a ground sprayer out of
his wheat field before any more
damage is done.
Running to Jim's Flying Service
to be first in booking his weed
spraying on his wheat & grain.
If you answered C & D you are
correct. You can also be the
second to book your wheat & grain
spraying by aircraft this year.
Prices comparable with ground
machines. Job satisfaction fully
guaranteed.
In Seaforth Contact
Jim's Flying Service Ltd.
or Milton J. Dietz Ltd.
522-0608 or 527-1606
We are still located three roads
North of Seaforth on Cty. Rd. #12.
10 THE RURAL VOICE
Robert Mercer
Fibre processing mill for small herd owners
Small herd owners of fibre -
bearing animals can now have, or
can be involved in. their own
community-based processing plant.
A company in PEI is manufacturing
the component
machinery for an
animal fibre
processing mill
that caters to the
niche markets
for home
spinners.
knitters, weavers
and small herd
owners.
Last month I
visited one of the
very first of
these mini -mills
to be sold by
International
Spinners Ltd. of Belfast, PEI. It was
on Salt Spring Island, BC. This mill
is small, compact and uniquely
designed and tailored to the small
scale niche market opportunities.
This is just the type of small
operation needed to keep industry
and added value local, as well as
keeping employment rural. There
may even be government funding or
the possiiblity of interest free loans
for this type of project.
John Fulker, one of the directors
of the new mini -mill Co-op, and a
fibre producer and home processor
himself, says, "For years we have
been having difficulty in getting
satisfactory small order fibre
processing at specified weights and
density with any consistency." This
gap in the processing chain has now
been filled for all animal fibres.
It is the intent of this mini -mill to
be able to process almost any sized
lot of animal fibres to rovings, batts,
yarns, and telt. They will be able to
produce the weight, blend and
density requested by the customer,'
For large lots it is hoped that
samples of the processing can be
returned to the customer before the
order is fully processed.
John Fulker says that the fibres
can be blended to customer
requirements because of the hands-
on approach where service to the
customer comes first. At this time
the mill can only spin from one to
four ply, if spun fibre is required. At
this co-op there is also the ability to
make felt.
The old farm machinery shed,
that has become the home for the
mill, has been renovated by
volunteers so that it is now warm.
has hydro. and a small office. The
total space is not much more than
800 sq. ft. and holds all the
equipment and supplies. The carding
machine can run at 20 lbs. per hour.
without the drawing frame attached.
But this rate is not available on a
sustained basis due to lot size.
change over time and setup
procedures. These adjustments and
settings are all currently in the
research and development stage as
the staff comes to terms with the
infinite setting, humidity and ratio
problems of the machinery.
This small mill has all the up-to-
date concepts of the full scale
modern mills. Its benefit is that it is
small, which, to a point, is also its
drawback. A family operation with
three or four could likely make a
good living. As a co-operative that
has yet to be proven. The mill does
not expect to make any money the
first year but has hopes for improved
second year income flow. Anyone
tempted to inquire about a similar
operation should expect to need
capital in excess of $ I00,000. The
community based mill in Salt Spring
estimates that it may be able to
generate $6,000 a month once it gets
up and running.
The co-operative is anxious to
hear from any small herd producers
of wool, mohair, (lama, alpaca or
qiviut fibres who wish to send their
production for processing. Phone
250-537-4342 or e-mail
spinningmill@saltspring.com for
more information about the services
or the mill. The mill guarantees that
the fibre you send them will be the
fibre they send back to you.0
Robert Mercer was editor of the
Broadwater Market Letter and a farm
commentator in Ontario for 25 years.