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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1998-03-18, Page 26Page 10 - Farm Progress '98 rI1 rIr -` Q GROUP HEALTH BENEFITS NOW AVAILABLE TO... FARM OPERATORS & BUSINESS OWNERS WITH 0-3 EMPLOYEES! Now you can have Group Benefit Coverage similar to those offered to larger Corporations through the 1-2-3 Group Benefit program. Tax Free Benefits with Business Expensed Premium. Family Farm Operators, Independent Business Owners, Professionals, Retailers, Wholesalers, etc. are eligible. Group Benefit Coverage includes... •Dental Care Benefits *Life Insurance •Pay Direct (Drug Card) Prescription Drugs •Out -Of -Province Coverage 'Dependent Lite Insluance •Paramedical Benefits •Medical Supplies, etc. •Accidential Death & Dismemberment Coverage •Semi -Private Hospital Room FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL KIM DAGG, AT S.S.T. GROUP BENEFIT SYSTEMS (5f: 65 HIGHEST PRICES PAID . for Crippled, Disabled, Cattle (must be alive & drug free) Winch equipped truck J OFAC approved equipment Phone 519-356-2479 or 1-800-661-0078 Earl Lannin RR 2 Atwood As a farmer, you deserve year-round professional support A t BDO; we're with you for the long haul. Since 1956, our (.01 service has been a locally -based, year-round operation. We believe in long-term client relationships. On average, our farming,clients have been with us for over 20 years. And as one of our clients, you will see the same professional every year, so we really get to know you and to understand your unique needs. That's why we can identify issues before they become problems. This saves you time and money. Our fees are competitive. Our service is personal. Call us today. We're here to help you succeed. 13D0 Hanover 364-3790 BDO Dunwoody Chartered Accountants Walkerton Mount Forest Port Elgin 881-1211 323-2351 832-2049 Talk to us about our complimentary review of your operation and last year's financial records Paul Bennett shows a nut growing inside a protective bonnet. Nut grove venture is growing by Tracey Doerr /t's been 12 years in the works and one of these days, Paul and Barbara Bennett hope to have enough success with their nut grove, to branch out to commercial markets. Mill Creek Nut Company, located just ou, side of Paisley, was the brain child of Paul, a for- , mer mill wright. Before starting with the venture, Bennett had never seen a nut tree but was interested in knowing all he could about nut produc- tion. So when he spotted an advertisement for a nut tree auction in Toronto, it was something he just couldn't miss. "We bought this prop- erty with the intent of putting a nut grove on it. And it developed from there," said Bennett about his 1.00 acres in Bruce Township The Bennetts were the first to own a commercial nut grove this side of British Columbia. However, the couple won't be ready to take on commercial husiness until they have a couple suc- cessful seasons with 'their grove. Continuing research, experimenting with fertil- izers and watching the weather all contributes to the success of a nut grove. But it's the weather that has been hindering its suc- cess. "At minus 30 you start to lose pollen and at minus 35, all the male flowers are dead. The few degrees in temperature makes the difference between having pollen or no pollen. No pollen means no nuts," said Bennett. The problem is potassi- um. Bennett said the trees don't get enough of it before the, winter comes and so the male flower on the tree often freezes and dies. This winter, things are looking better. "It's been mild which is definitely good as long as it doesn't get too warm," said Bennett. Bennett said too high of temperatures could calrse the trees to bloom out of season. The orchard of 2.700 hazelnut trees, and the remaining. a mixture of other nut trees, produce a few hundred pounds of nuts a year. While this isn't enough for selling commercially, it is enough to open a pick -your -own business for this year, which the couple plans to do.. The nuts mature! between mid-September and late October. Trees are pruned in February and blossom in mid-March. And while nuts are not the couple's bread and butter, another self -owned busi- ness, Mill Creek Seed Company, is. The Bennetts make bird seed using a number of ingredients to best suit the birds of the season. The product is sold in towns from Calgary to Prince Edward Island. Checklist for' PTO's Do all PTO s have shields and guards in place? - Is there a master shield in place where your PTO meets the tractor? - Are shields on PTO s checked periodically to ensure that they rotate freely?(check only with power off) - Before leaving the trac- tor seat. is the PTO always disengaged. engine shut off and keys removed? - When working with PTO driven equipment, is clothing close -fitting, long hair covered, and no Iaces,etc.,exposed? - Do you always avoid stepping over a PTO shaft? - Are worn or defective parts replaced as soon w possible?