HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2006-10-18, Page 8Page 8 October 18, 2006 • The Huron Expositor
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News.
Local farmers hoping for
support from snowmobilers
in lobby for RMP program
From Page 1
countries, such as the U.S. and European
countries have programs very similar to the
proposed risk management protection.
Bev Hill, a member of the Grassroots move-
ment, says Grassroots is also supporting the
closure of snowmobile trails across Ontario to
encourage those outside •of agriculture to get
involved in the farm protest.
"Both Grassroots and mainstream farm
organizations are very busy farming right
now and we haven't spent much time dis-
cussing strategy. So right now, our focus is
attempting to draw support from other sec-
tors," he says.
And, since the snowmobile industry con-
tributes $1 billion a year towards Ontario's
economy, Hill says the gas stations, dealers,
manufacturers, restaurants, Bed and
Breakfast owners and others affected could
really help farmers.
"If we get more people pulling on the rope,
it could go beyond .the Ministry of
Agriculture," he says, adding that one -day
protests both at Queens Park in Toronto and
The Seaforth Business Improvement Association
& The Huron Expositor present the 2006
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Parliament Hill in Ottawa have not been suc-
cessful so far.
"One of the _ obvious weaknesses of one -day
protests is they know we're going home the
next day. We feel there's no other alternative
than a protest that has lingering implica-
tions," says Hill.
Hill acknowledges that the farmers'
request, if successful, shuts down snowmobil-
ing for the season and is a difficult issue for
snowmobilers to support.
"They want to help but they're in an uncom-
fortable position. They acknowledgetheir
industry is dependent on access to farmland
but their mandate is to establish a trail sys-
tem for their members," he says.
Hill says he's hoping that because of the
widespread effects of a trail closure, the
protest would be effective and short-lived.
Hill says Ontario farmers are in the fourth
consecutive year of grain and oilseed prices
that are below the cost of production, adding
that soybean and wheat prices are lower than
last year's.
Local bean farmers harvest
most of crop before rain hits
Jeff 11euchert
Thanks to a dry Thanksgiving
weekend, edible bean farmers in the
area can breathe a sigh of relief.
According to Peter Johnson, crop
specialist with the Ministry of
Agriculture and Food, between 75
and 80 per cent of the crop has been
harvested, after it looked like the
crop might be severely damaged by
days of wet weather two weeks ago.
"It certainly had a lot of people
very concerned," says Johnson, not-
ing that two weeks ago only around
one-third of the edible bean crop
had been taken off.
"Farmers certainly had something
to give thanks for 'over the week-
end," he adds.
And while mould was a concern
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with the bean crops, due to the
amount of moisture in the ground,
Johnson says it is . no longer a con-
cern.
However, he does says farmers
should be aware of a pink mould,
called gibberella, in their corn crop,
which he says started back in July.
Gibberella raises the toxins in the
grains and is problematic to hog
producers, says Johnson.
"It likes modest temperatures and
frequent moisture," he adds, noting
that farmers should be checking for
the mould and "taking precaution-
ary measures."
Farmers with any questions can
call the Cropline at 1-888-449-0937.
Johnson also notes that because
farmers were late harvesting their
edible bean crops, winter wheat
planting started late and is only
about half in the ground.
"There was nothing you could do.
You go like crazy to get the wheat in
the ground and we get cold, wet
weather right off the start," says
Johnson, which he adds is the not
good weather conditions for winter
wheat.
"This is not as positive as it was
last year," he adds, noting last fall
the area saw perfect weather for
planting winter wheat.