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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1991-12-18, Page 48(ALmAR) £AJj,M.IPDATF Avoiding exposure to rabies GUELPH - With the increasing encroachment of wildlife into ur- ban areas, people need to be better informed about the risks of rabies to human health, says Dr. Karen Acheson, director of Student Health Services at the University of Guelph. Sick or injured animals may be rabid and should not be handled under any circumstances, she warns. "Cute is a problem" Acheson says, referring to the often irresistible appeal of caring for a suffering animal. But wild animals that are sick or behaving strangely should be avoided, she says. "The index of suspicion should be very high. Don't pick up sick or injured animals. Call the Humane Society for assistance." The same caution should be used when a dead animal is found, she says. Rabies is a virus that cannot be treated once it is contracted. Invari- ably fatal, it is common in Ontario among wildlife, including rac- coons, wolves, foxes, skunks, bats, dogs, cats and coyotes. In Cana- da, the most common carriers of wildlife rabies are bats, raccoons and skunks. It rarely affects squirrels, chipmunks and mice. Dog or cat bites also pose risks for rabies infection, says Acheson. Biting incidents should be reported to police and local health offices. It's important to ensure that dogs, and cats involved in biting inci- dents have been effectively vaccinated against rabies and do not pose a danger to humans, she says. In Canada, confinement and ob- servation of such animals is carried out as a preventive measure against rabies. All bites and wounds from animals should be cleaned immediately and thoroughly with soap and water, and medical attention should be sought. People exposed to the rabies virus who have not been previously immunized must receive an injection of rabies immune globulin, which contains human antibodies to rabies. In addition, a series of five injections of human diploid cell rabies vaccine (HDCV) must be administered. This is an improvement on earlier treatment for rabies exposure, which consisted of a series of 14 or 21 vaccinations on consecutive days. People who might be at risk - such as veterinarians, park rangers, wildlife conservation personnel, and laboratory and field personnel working with rabies - are routinely immunized against the virus. Many staff, students and faculty at the University of Guelph, for ex- ample, are immunized, especially those associated with the Ontario Veterinary College. Pre -exposure immunization consists of three injections of HDCV to raise antibody levels. Annual tests are administered to ensure that the levels are adequate. If significant virus exposure occurs, two in- jections of the vaccine are required. Don't get stuck with a farm machinery lemon GUELPH - When you buy a new piece of farm machinery from a registered farm implement dealer, you are protected under the law from getting stuck with a "lemon." The relevant legislation is the Farm Implements Act, proclaimed in January 1990. The act applies to all farm implements, defined as 'any equipment or machinery de- signed and used for agricultural or horticultural use.' Exceptions are highway vehicles, tires, lawn and manufacturer's suggested list price less than $3,500. The act establishes a procedure for a farmer to return a new farm implement for replacement or re- fund, if it does not perform to the manufacturer's specifications. The procedure is as follows: When you purchase a new farm implement, you have 12 months to start using it. Once it's in use, you have 20 days,or 100 hours of opera- tion, according to the manufactur- er's specifications. For example, a tractor sold as a 90 (pto) hp tractor must put out at least 90 horsepower as the power take -off. A combine or baler or any other implement must meet the per- formance claimed in the manufac- turer's specifications. All this is on condition that the implement is properly operated and maintained and used under reasonable operat- ing conditions. If the implement is not meeting specifications, you must notify the selling dealer in writing. This should be done immediately or at most within 10 days of finding the problem. If the selling dealer is no longer in business, send the notice to the Farm Implements Board. The dealer or distributor has four working days after receiving this notice to get the implement work- ing to specifications. If this is not successful, the dealer then has to supply you with a satisfactory sub- stitute until the matter is resolved. The dealer or distributor has an additional 14 working days to re- pair the original implement to spec- ification. If this is still not success- ful, then at the end of this period the dealer has to replace the imple- ment with a satisfactory substitute, or refund the full amount you paid for it, including any trade-in (or equivalent value). Remember, if there is a problem, the selling dealer must be given written notice within 10 days or 100 operating hours of first using the implement. To simplify preparation of the written notice, the board has devel- oped a "Notice of Failure to Per- form" form, copies of which are available at any farm implement dealership or county or district OMAF office. They can also be ob- tained by calling the Ontario Farm Implements Board at (519) 767- 3549 (Guelph), (519) 881-3301 (Walkerton) or (416) 895-45'9 (New market). For further information: Finbar Desir, Ontario Farm Implements Board (519) 767-3549, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food. Farm aid details announced OTTAWA - Agriculture Minister Bill McKnight, Grains and Oil- seeds Minister Charlie Mayer and Environment Minister Jean Char - est, on behalf of Minister of State for Agriculture Pierre Blois, have released details for the distribution of the additional $800 million Farm Support and Adjustment Measures (FSAM II) announced by the federal government on October 10. An initial FSAM package of $640 million was announced last April to encourage farmers to par- ticipate in two new safety net pro- grams, the Gross Revenue Insu- rance Plan (GRIP) and the Net Income Stabilization Account (PASA), while coping with short- term income difficulties. Together, FSAM I and FSAM II will make available $1.4 billion in federal transitional assistance for Canadian farmers until GRIP and NISA fully kick in, says the gov- ernment. "I have received the reports of the Grains and Oilseeds Third Line of Defence Committee and the Na- tional Horticulture Safety Net Committee recommending how this $800 -million emergency aid package to Canadian farmers could be distributed," said McKnight. "These government -farmer - industry advisory groups have pro- vided good options and recommen- dations to get this aid into the hands of farmers." Under FSAM II, grains and oil- seeds producers will receive $700 million in income assistance. Horticultural producers across Canada will receive $80.5 million of the $100 million in emergency assistance to non -grain sectors. The $100 -million package will also in- clude $10 million for the maple syrup industry, $6.5 million for mink and fox fur ranchers and $2 million for honey producers. Charest signalled that details of aid to the maple syrup industry would be announced within two weeks, after consultations with the main stokeholders. An additional $1 million will be put aside for the sugar beet industry pending a report from the Special Measures Committee for Sugar Beets. The report of the govern- ment -farmer -industry advisory group is expected in March. "Horticulture and special sectors like sugar beets, honey, maple syr- up and fur ranches are in a difficult situation," said Charest. "We have identified the extent of hurt and the assistance will be directed to prob- lem areas in each sector across the country." Money for grains and oilseeds producers will be provided in two installments. Most farmers will re- ceive the first installment beginning in late December and January and the final installment in April. As well, Mayer noted that $500 million in credit provided to the So- viet Union as part of the federal aid strategy has resulted in a four - million tonne sale by the Canadian Wheat Board. The grain will be shipped between now and the end of February and will provide a sig- nificant injection in farm income over the next few months. Mayer also said the Soviet Union was using its special $150 -million farm credit to purchase substantial quantities of Eastern Canadian corn. "It's important to continue this kind of aggressive marketing," said Mayer. "It keeps grain moving and puts cash into the hands of farm- ers." In the grains sector, an acreage formula will be used as the basis for payments on the Prairies and til Atlantic Canada, the data base of the Net Income Stabilization Ac- count (NISA) will be used in Onta- rio and British Columbia, and pay- ments will be delivered through the provincial stabilization program in Quebec. The National Horticulture Safety Net Committee recommended an allocation formula that has been ac- cepted by federal ministers. Agri- culture Canada will consult with growers and provincial govern- ments to decide on the allocation between longer-term developmen- tal programs and current income as- sistance, as well as on the basis for the allocation among crops. As is the case for the grains and oilseeds sector, money for horitcul- tural producers will be provided in two installments. The $800 -million second phase involving cash assistance is in addi- tion to the initial $640 -million FSAM package announced in April. the first phase of FSAM in- cluded incentives for producers to participate in NISA, GRIP premi- um reductions, cash advances and HRT STIVIA v BLEaSSINCS One of the Joys of Christmas is remembering. It's always nice for us to recall the pleas- ant association we have with our customers. Many thanks. Thank you for your patronage and we look forward to serving you in the New Year gleilk-7.71111111 dtog Jyijj.J` Russeldale Farm Equipment Ltd. 519-229-8975 RR 1 Mitchell land use adjustments. "These measures support our plan to protect and enhance agriculture and the communities it supports across the nation" said McKnight. "Coupled with our efforts at the GATT to eliminate trade subsidies and clarify and strengthen Article XI, we are making it clear that the federal government is committed to a strong and competitive agri-food sector in Canada. FSAM I and FSAM II, coupled with safety net program payments, will have put approximately $3.4 billion into the hands of grains and oilseeds producers between Sep- ' tember and June. Of this $3.4 bil- lion, producers will pay $550 mil- lion in premiums as their share of the program costs. This will pro- vide the equivalent of between $30 and $40 an acre, on average, to grains and oilseeds producers across the country. Page 32 Times -Advocate, December 18, 1991 "Bulljuice" - new drink ALBERTA - Transporting cattle can be costly. The stress the ani- mals endure in transport often re- sults in weight' loss, lowering mar- ket returns by up to $80 per animal. But experiments conducted by Ag- riculture Canada scientists show "Bulljuice" - a drink for cattle simi- lar in composition to Gatorade - re- duces weight loss and improves meat quality. Similar studies are now underway in pigs. To all our customers and friends, along with sincere thanks for your continued support. For all your livestock trucking needs call ROESZLER TRUCKING RR #1 Kirkton * Rob Miller 229.8748 * Bob Edwards 229.6143. We truly hope your stockings will be filled to the top with gits of joy, hope and love Our thanks. GRAM SYSTEMSLID 244 Wellington St. W., Exeter 235-1919 ,,,,JJ rouge) from the staff of W.G. Thompson & Sons Ltd. We would like to extend a special thank you to all our good friends and patron.; for your confidence, loyalty and support. Merry Christmas and all the best in 1992. s..torth tH.n.a)I 11910• 11 Allis Craig Branton Pt. Albert 345.2345 252-2127 3411.0453 293.3222 225-2150 129.7901 1