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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1994-9-7, Page 24Pax,' 24 September 7, 1994 FARM UPDATF One Foot in the Furrow By Bob Trotter Emergency services not good in rural areas Ontario's hospitals and physicians along with the health ministry took a giant step last month when a motion was passed to appoint an indepen- dent fact finder to study rural emergency crisis. The Ontario Hospital Association has been pushing for some changes which would help the 160 small hospitals in Ontario come to grips with the fact that emergency services in rural areas are not good. 1 suppose you cannot fault doctors for not want- ing to practice in the small towns and villages. They simply do not want to work 100 hours a week and do not want to work in hospitals with sub -standard facilities when bigger cities and bigger hospitals beckon. A recent survey conducted in May by the asso- ciation's small hospital division made some star- tling discoveries. For instance, 54 small hospitals were having difficulties in operating emergency services; 47 were subsidizing doctors to ensure on-call service and 46 faced the threat of with- drawal of services by medical staff. In addition, lack of funds forced 16 rural hospitals to curtail emergency services. Not that even the bigger hospitals aren't find- ing funding a big problem and that emergency services have been cut in some of the biggest hospitals but the problem in small hospitals is much more severe. The yet -to -be -named fact finder will review the problem, outline a range of solutions and make recommepdations within "eight to 12 weeks of being appointed." I don't know about you but I think that is one helluva big order. Getting the job done in three months may be impossible unless much of the re- search has already been done and the statistics for the recommendations are available. Emergency services are so desperately needed in rural areas. This corner has chronicled the many dangers inherent in farming these days. Farming has become just about the most dangerous occupa- tion in the country, more so than lumbering and mining, so the emergency services are a huge pri- ority. Not only that but a great many accidents oc- cur on the highways and biways of this province far from the major cities where the bigger hospi- tals are located. It is, therefore, in the best *crests of all the peo- ple that all hospitals be able to answer to emergen- cies in an efficient and professional manner. It is a thorny issue because the big cities have a big club when dealing with the health ministry. They have the clout in an election. The voters live in the cities and only about four percent of the population are farmers. This writer would like to see all kinds of rural services implemented. I have written several times about spousal abuse and how difficult it is for a woman in the country to get proper help. In the city, she can call a cab and get to shelter in a few minutes. It's different if you are 100 miles from any shelter. It's different, too, in the country be- cause many rural women -- or children or even men -- find it much more difficult to report inci- dents because rural communities are so closely - knit and the "stigma" of such incidents is greater. The last time I wrote about the lack of services for battered wives I got several very indignant let- ters saying titgt I talked as though the problem was chronic in the country. Not so. But it is there and ignoring it won't make it go away. I'll probably get a couple more letters for sug- gesting this time that emergency services are lack- ing in all rural or smaller hospitals. Remember: I didn't say that. The Ontario Hospital Association said it and took steps to solve the problem. Commitment given to crop protection Dealer education programs DORCHESTER - Over the past year, United Agri Products has been making a continuous commit- ment to the crop protection indus- try in Canada through a dealer ed- ucation program. As the largest distributor of crop protection products in Canada, United Agri Products has been em- phasizing and defining to all deal- ers of crop protection prodt!cts new and evolving business re- quirements. Over one hundred dealers have attended these train- ing seminars to date. Programs have been conducted at various lo- cations Canada -wide to educate and inform dealers on new ware- housing standards, workplace workcr safety standards (WHMIS) and transportation of dangerouF goods issues. Requirements of dealers to pre- serve their position in the changing crop protection industry are be- coming more and more important, and increasingly complex to un- derstand and interpret correctly. Since 1988, United Agri Prod- ucts has been involved in the de- velopment of these new standards for operating excellence; George Gamble heads up this effort along with Murray Pickcl. Dennis Gwil- liam and Ray Crowther are respon- sible for Western Canada. .These key people have been instrumental in developing and delivering key information to crop protection dealers. Dealer training packages leave the dealer informed on his business and legal requirements to his employees. Full documentation packages arc provided for each dealer at the semirNdr. Each partici- pant completes a test at the end of each course segment, and receives a certificate of course completion. Training seminars conducted by United Agri Products are partly supported by a minimum dealer fee to offset material costs; this popular program will be continued through the fall of 1994 in both Eastern and Western Canada to en- sure as many dealers as possible are in compliance with the re- quired industry standards that come in effect March 31, 1995. Emphasis in the dealer safety program is placed on the workplace hazards which is an important rea- son for the dealer to establish a due diligence program. Transportation of dangerous goods is also covered at length; from documentation to placarding to training certification to crisis management, this is an im- portant component in these training seminars. In addition, dealers are able to call United Agri Products for help in planning their physical ware- housing needs to meet the Phase III industry standards that are called for. For more details on this dealer educational program, George Gam- ble as well as Murray Pickel can be reached at 1-800-265-4624 - or write the company at: United Agri Products, 789 Donnybrook Drive, Dorchester, Ontario NOL IG5. In Western Canada, contact Dennis Gwillian at 1-800-561-5444 or Ray Crowther at 1-403-273-4355 or write to United Agri Products, 820 - 26th Street N.E., Calgary, Alta. T2A 2M4. Ontario dairy farmers respond to growing market MISSISSAUGA - Dairy farmers will 'move to increase industrial milk production four and a half percent, up from an earlier forecast of 2.5 percent, for the next 12 months in response to strong growth in demand for dairy prod- ucts. This rise in industrial milk pro- duction in Canada marks the sec- ond consecutive year of market growth. An earlier estimate ror a market increase of 2.5 percent, which was announced August I, proved to be too conservative and the industry is responding quickly to boost the increase to 4.5 per- cent. This increase follows a two per- cent increase last year. Industrial milk makes ub about half of the 2.2 billion litres of milk produced in Ontario annually and is used to snake dairy products such as but- ter, cheese, ice cream, yogurt and skim milk powder. In announcing details behind the move, the Canadian Dairy Com- mission said that a review of year- end milk production levels, butter stocks and projected Canadian do- mestic requirgments prompted the quota increase. The increase in quota is effective August I and will be included in Ontario producers' quota levels for the calculations of the new, single quota system which also went into effect August 1. The new system benefits consumers and farmers with a move to pay all dairy farm- ers one pritc province -wide under a simplified, market -responsive single -quota system. Got a News Tip? Call the Times - Advocate 235-1331 In the tradition of all White Workhorse tractors, the new 6124 has a heavy cast iron mainframe. A fuel efficient, dependable Cummins engine. And a formi- dable, lifelong powertrain. And now that we've added the all new Quadrashift trans- mission, this 124 PTO horsepower beauty is one you've just got to see. Because even in tractors with similar features, you won't find a match to this transmission. With 32 avail able speeds, you'll always have a speed ratio perfect for any task. In fact, there are 14 speeds in the 2.5 to 7.5 mph working range alone. And they're all right at hand. Literally, just to your right in the seat mount- ed console. So get on over to your White dealer today. And get aquainted with the new 6124. And the transmission that drives it. WHITE QUADRASHIFTN) THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND THE NEW 6124. • fJ • To s - . - .r .T WHITE ARY TOUGHNESS. JU! Sales & Service Phone (519) 236-4934 Fax (519) 236-7330 22 Main Street, E., Zurich NEW WORLD-CLASS BEAN PROCESSING FACILITY... IN HENSALL! THE BUSINESS OF BEANS Hensall District Co-op has been in the bean business since 1968 and now we are proud to announce the opening of our new $2 million white bean processing facility. This new plant will improve the quality of the beans supplied to our customers world-wide. Our new facility will benefit everyone involved - Ontario bean producers, the export and domestic consumer and the member/owners of Hensall District Co-op. Bean producers are welcome to tour this high-tech, completely computerized facility - see what can -be achieved by farmers working together. jfpeffect beans can be produced, we can produce them! Help support this new initiative by delivering your beans to your nearest Hensall District Co-op receiving elevator. We guarantee fast, efficient service, fair grades and honest weights. (New for 1994 and available in Hensall - UBLY hard -surfaced bean knives.) ENSALL (STRICT 0 -OPERATIVE Committed to serving rural communities! HENSALL CO-OP ELEVATORS Hensall Seaforth Londesboro Exeter • 262-3002 1-800-265-5190 522-1000 523-4470 235-1150 SATELLITE ELEVATORS . Mitchell Co-op Mitchell 348-8522 Monkton 347-2232 Stratford Co-op Rannoch 229-6290 Paul'lbohey Lucan 225-2710 ERtbrun Co-op Embrun 613-443-2196