The Rural Voice, 1987-05, Page 81RAINY RIVER Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER
Box 416, Emo, Ontario POW 1E0 807-482-2051
DISTRICT APPOINTMENTS, EVENTS, AND ISSUES
Early April brought warm sunny
weather to the Rainy River District,
following one of the mildest winters
on record.
During the winter months, many
of the local farm groups were active.
At a meeting on February 5, the
directors of the Rainy River Cattle-
men's Association acclaimed Gerald
Gouliquer to his fourth term as presi-
dent. Doug Carlson of Emo was
elected vice-president for 1987.
Bob LeBlanc will continue as sales
manager of the Stratton Sales Yard,
with Andy Carpenter once again the
assistant manager.
Other directors appointed to var-
ious boards included Tom Anderson to
the Rainy River Federation of Agri-
culture, Barry Hartry to the Com-
munity Pasture, and Tony Weir and
Keith Neilson to the Veterinary
Services Committee.
Gerald Gouliquer will start a two-
year term on the Northern Ontario
Policy Committee, on which George
Hyatt has one year remaining.
Ken McKinnon and Bob Locking
will represent the Cattlemen's Asso-
ciation on the Red Meat Committee.
At subsequent meetings during the
winter, the association decided to hold
the yearling sale on September 21,
1987 and the calf sale on October 19,
1987. Plans are to have both of these
sales televised in Southern Ontario via
satellite. To pay for the satellite TV
and other rising costs, commissions
will be raised for 1987. The Finance
Committee, chaired by Barry Hartry,
has drawn a budget for 1987 which
includes the cost of two satellite sales
plus $6,500 in maintenance costs to
the Stratton Sales Yard.
The directors of the Rainy River
Cattlemen's Association appear to be
continually striving to improve market-
ing and income for District cattlemen.
President Bob Radbourne of the
Rainy River Soil and Crop Improve-
ment Association reported that another
successful seed fair was held April 8.
Because of the beautiful weather, atten-
dance was not as high as usual, but
there were many high quality samples
80 THE RURAL VOICE
of both forage and grain on display.
Once again, John vandenBrand Jr.
took home the trophy for the top
quality hay exhibit. Several other of
the younger District farmers also
captured prizes for their entries.
During the winter months, the
Soil and Crop Association was busy
with plans for the 1987 season. Once
again they plan several experimental
plots throughout the District.
The experimental crop station,
Crop Check North, will continue
under the direction of Colin Neilson.
Plans for the expansion of Crop Check
North are slowly, but surely, moving
ahead under the direction of a com-
mittee chaired by Bob Radbourne.
Soil conservation and soil erosion
have been the subject of many dis-
cussions during soil and crop meetings
this past winter. Plans are progressing
for the purchase of a Brillion seeder to
encourage District farmers toward the
practice of no -till farming. There are
many signs of soil erosion in the Dis-
trict, and many farmers are becoming
more and more aware of the problem.
The Rainy River Soil and Crop
Improvement Association has decided
to present trophies to District farmers
judged to be practising good soil
conservation farming on their land.
On Friday, April 3, the Rainy
River Federation of Agriculture held
its annual spring banquet at Emo with
more than 200 in attendance. Pre-
sident Bill Gibson welcomed everyone
to a very enjoyable evening.
Carolyn Kreger of Rainy River,
now an executive of Rural Dignity of
Canada, spoke about the dangers that
rural Canada faces from the policies of
Canada Post.
Because most rural residents work
at home on the farm, they don't travel
past the post office every day, and
cannot afford a special trip just to pick
up bills. But an overdue bill or a de-
layed cheque can cause embarrassment
and unnecessary expense for a rural
resident. And to many rural residents,
the mailman is their link to the
outside, delivering newspapers, cata-
logues, and personal messages.
Carolyn and her associates at Rural
Dignity have found it difficult to
impess this view on city -dwelling
executives of Canada Post. Carolyn
urges everyone to contact his or her
MP to impress upon politicians the
importance of retaining rural mail
services.
In closing, Carolyn thanked the
Rainy River federation for being the
first local group to come to the aid of
the Rainy River and Pinewood resi-
dents when they lost their rural de-
livery. Since that time, most District
organizations have joined the cause,
and the fight against rural mail clos-
ings has spread across Canada through
the Rural Dignity organization.
Earl Saar, an executive director of
the OFA from Pembroke, spoke about
the difficulties in farming today and
the need to work together. A very
entertaining speaker, Earl presently has
a farming partnership with his sons.
He favours supply management
and said the Ontario Milk Marketing
Board has enabled him and his sons to
form a viable farming operation.
But he has also been involved with
the Ontario Cattlemen's Association,
and knows there are many conflicting
viewpoints among Ontario farmers.
It is hoped that most farmers will
be able to survive by augmenting their
income with off -farm work until this
worldwide food crisis subsides. In the
meantime, Earl says, farmers should
attempt to work together more, as in
days gone by, to cut costs and help
each other through this difficult period.
Jack Pierce, MPP, spoke briefly
about the agricultural crisis, saying
that all three parties in Ontario are
united in searching for solutions.
Don McCulloch, reeve of Chapple
and a former president of the RRFA,
presented an award to Tom Gimmell of
Stratton on behalf of the federation.
Tom Gimmell has been a dedicated
volunteer to District farm organiza-
tions through the years, and the fed-
eration directors felt he finally deserved
recognition for his selfless contribu-
tions of time and energy.0
Dean Hodgson