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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1992-10-14, Page 17THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14,1992. PAGE 17. PAUL-LOR Jerseys win first prize at World Dairy Expo Paul Franken, who, along with his wife Lorraine Franken, own Paul-Lor Jerseys at RR 3, Clinton, holds Starbelle Tops Lassie, his four-year-old Jersey which won first place in her class at the prestigious World Dairy Expo Jersey show held in Madison, Wisconsin Oct. 1. The Frankens, who farmed at RR 1, Auburn for eight years, took three cattle and won four firsts, a sixth and a top production award. Photo by Patty Jones Speaking of Farming By Keith Roulston ---------------------------------------»—;---------j-----------\ ■ ------------L----------------i---------i____________________£_____________i________ Country touch lost on government? There were many skeptics when Elmer Buchanan was named Minis­ ter of Agriculture and Food for the new NDP government in Ontario after the Sept 1990 election. With no practical farm background and representing a primarily urban-based party, Ontario's farm leaders wor­ ried if he'd have the knowledge to pull off the job. Two years later, the report card for Mr. Buchanan sports remarkably good marks. The same can’t be said for the government he represents. Speaking in Londesboro recently, Carl Sulliman, Chief Executive Officer of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) said he thought Mr. Buchanan was doing a very good job. Cynics might claim that's because Mr. Buchanan finally brought in the stable funding legislation OFA has been pursuing for years. Still, in general the respect for Mr. Buchanan has grown among many farm leaders and farmers you talk to. You don't hear many nasty things being said. There are plenty of nasty things being said about the NDP govern­ ment, however. The OFA recently blasted the government for ignoring rural issues. The Ontario Com Producers Association has attacked cuts in the overall OMAF budget and in crop insurance in 1991. In a letter published in daily newspapers this week Com Producers' President Frank Anthony points out that other rural ministries like Natural Resources and Northern Development, along with OMAF, took the biggest budget cuts from this government. Perhaps the biggest indication that the government is very urban ori­ ented, however, comes from two major land-use issues: the Metro Toronto garbage issue and the huge London annexation issue. In both cases, although the government professes to want to protect farmland, good farms are to be sacrificed for more urban development The Metro dump issue is the most perplexing. Metro politicians felt they had an acceptable solution to their garbage problems before the Sept. 1990 election. The garbage was to be shipped to northern Ontario by rail to an abandoned mine. The new government quickly killed that idea and said Metro must look after its own garbage instead of shipping its problems elsewhere. Except that it will still be shipping its garbage elsewhere, to neighbouring rural areas north of the city. Here all the sites selected so far are on good farms. Drive along Highway 9 north of the city and you’ll see signs everywhere protesting that people don't want Metro's garbage. Yet Ruth Grier, Minister of Environment, does­ n't seem to have the same concern for farmland as she did for a northern mine. The amount of land to be lost over the dump pales by comparison to the losses in the London annexation, however. Land around London is some of the most productive land in the province, flat, well drained, with an excellent growing climate. Yet the government sided with the city against its rural neighbours in allowing the annexation of 42,000 acres, almost the equivalent of one of our local townships. There seems to be a plan here to turn London into a major growth centre in Ontario, but it's a growth centre right on our best foodlands. The government turned a deaf ear to the pleas of rural people to save the land. It's this kind of ignorance of rural concerns that has farmers worried about other bills on the government agenda, from the Environmental Bill of Rights, again spearheaded by Mrs. Grier, to the amendments to the Game and Fish Act which Tony Morris, OFA executive member from Bruce County, perhaps exaggerating, says could be used to do everything from preventing farmers from erecting fences which might get in the way of deer going where they pleased, to using pesticides to control com root worm. All these issues are beyond the scope of Mr. Buchanan. Farmers may agree he's doing a good job at OMAF but the overall government record is bad. By Lisa Boonstoppel-Pot Former Auburn-area farmers, Paul and Lorraine Franken, did Ontario proud at one of the top international dairy shows this month. The couple showed three Jersey cattle at the World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin Oct. 1 and came away with four firsts, a sixth and a top production award. Not bad when you consider they were judged against 202 other Jer­ seys at the show which attracts exhibitors and buyers from across the world. "It was a worthwhile trip," said Mrs. Franken. "It was an excellent opportunity to meet buyers and exhibitors from other countries and make contacts." The three cows exhibited at the show were Gusto MC Mickey, Starbelle Tops Lassie and HVF Generator Big K Beth. Mickey was the first-prize five- year-old and also won first-prize udder and the top production award for her class. This isn't the first time Mickey's walked away with top honors. In 1990, the Frankens won first-prize three-year-old and Reserve Grand Champion with her at Madison. As well, Mickey was chosen as the All Canadian three- year-old in 1990 and the All Cana­ dian four-year-old in 1991. She also placed first at the Seaforth Parish Show held at the Seaforth Fall Fair Friday. Lassie is a four-year-old who placed first in her class and also won first-prize udder. This cow was chosen Reserve Grand Cham­ pion at the Perth-Huron Spring Show at Clinton Fair this year. The third cow, Beth, placed sixth in the mature cow class. Taking top honors at a show like the World Dairy Expo attracts a lot of attention from buyers. "We had a German fellow take down our name who wants to look for us at the Royal Winter Agricul­ tural Fair in Toronto and our cows were videotaped by Brazilians," says Mrs. Franken. The Frankens hope their winning streak will continue. They're plan­ ning on showing Mickey at a big show in Louisville, Kentucky in November and then they're off to the Royal Winter Agricultural Fair with about 10 cattle. Exhibiting cattle and winning first prize is serving to get the cou­ ple's cattle, known as Paul-Lor Jer­ seys, well-known in the dairy industry. Currently, Mr. and Mrs. Franken milk 34 head at their RR 3, Clinton farm which they moved to in April. Before Clinton, the couple farmed at RR 1, Auburn for eight years. The World Dairy Expo is held yearly and features all breeds of cattle judging contests (Mr. Franken said 1581 cattle we're shown there) education forums and exhibits of all the latest technologi­ cal dairy equipment. This year, the Expo was from Sept. 29 to Oct. 4. LIVESTOCK MINERAL Cash discounts during Oct., Nov., Dec. Save $1.50 per bag * 430100 0-18-1 Dairy Mineral * 430200 Cattle Mineral * 430300 20-8-4 Dairy Mineral *430400 14-14-1 Dairy Mineral * 431000 16-16-2 Dairy Mineral N/S * 431200 14-12-2 Sheep Mineral * 431600 14-14-4 Dairy Mineral * 431800 25-10 Beef Mineral N/S * 432800 Beef Macro Premix * 435600 20-8-1 Swine Mineral Please order one week in advance to ensure it is in stock R & V SCHMIDT & SONS (formerly Bluevale Milling Co. Ltd.) 357-3719 We are now ready to receive your 1992 WHITE BEAN & SOYBEAN CROP •Fast Unloading •Accurate Probe System •Trucking Available Forward contracting of corn and soy­ beans. Come in and see us or give us a call and let us help you look after your crop. HOWSON & HOWSON LTD. Flour & Feed Millers, Complete Farm Supply, Grain Elevators, Fertilizers & Chemicals Blyth, Ontario 523-9624 Elevator 523-4241 Main Office Elevators 1 1/4 miles east of Blyth on County Rd. 25, then 1/2 mile north.