The Times Advocate, 2006-01-18, Page 27Wednesday, January 18, 2006
Exeter Times–Advocate
27
Huron County annual Corn,Wheat and
Guest speaker and regional manager of the Corn
Producers Association Brian Doidge explains the hot
buttons of the corn trade at the annual Huron
County Corn, Soybean and Wheat Producers meet-
ing. (photo/Nina Van Lieshout)
By Nina Van Lieshout
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF
HOLMESVILLE
Soybeans and
Holmesville Jan.
ple.
— The annual Huron County Corn,
Wheat Producers meeting in
12 was attended by about 60 peo-
The meeting focused on a variety of issues involv-
ing corn, soybeans and wheat.
It began with reviewing the minutes of last year's
meeting and the 2005 fmancial report.
A presentation was given by regional manager of
Agricorp David Connery from Stratford.
Connery shared graphs on crop yields throughout
several counties which were harvested last fall.
Connery also went into detail about Agricorp,
including information on production insurance
cumulative total claims by Peril between 1966-2004.
Drought was the front runner with 40 per cent, fol-
lowed by excessive rainfall at 27 per cent and other
at 12 per cent.
Connery then explained production insurance in
2006 to the crowd and presented information about
the Advanced Payment Program (APP) Agricorp is
administrating on behalf of the Ontario Soybean
Growers.
Details included interest free loans up to $50,000
and loan eligibility to a maximum of $250,000.
The application deadline is Feb. 28 and the repay-
ment deadline is Aug. 31.
Elections for the soy, wheat and corn committees
were addressed next.
Those elected to the Huron Soy Producers commit-
tee are Michael Becker, Keith Black, Bob Hallam,
John Stafford, Art Versteeg, Achim Stoecker and
Keith Strang.
The Wheat committee includes Bob Hallam, Mike
Ondrejicka, Achim Stoecker, John Baan, Mike
Strang, John Oke, Mike Becker, Chris Heinrich, Al
Hoggarth and Chris Weernink.
Soybeans meeting
Ten people fill the Corn Producers committee.
Larry Lynn is the director, and four delegates and
five alternates make up the rest of the group.
Delegates include Bob Hallam, Wayne Hamilton,
Michael Becker and Joe Vermunt.
Alternates are Peter Heinrich, Peter Postl, John
Moore, Cliff Hicks and Chris Weernink.
One resolution carried stated whatever legal mat-
ters necessary would be used to secure the Risk
Management Program which is a large focus on the
`Farmers Feed Cities' campaign.
The program is designed to support farmers from
debilitating debt when process decline below a
crop's cost of production.
Huron -Bruce Liberal Paul Steckle, Conservative
Ben Lobb, NDP Grant Robertson and Independent
candidate Dennis Valenta took turns sharing their
thoughts on the agriculture industry and how they
would improve it if elected.
A highlight of the meeting was guest speaker and
general manager of the Corn Producers Association
Brian Doidge who wrapped up the day.
Doidge presented graphs explaining the hot but-
tons of the corn trade.
They were a failure of Canadian agriculture policy,
trade actions, the risk management program and
how all of the above relate to each other.
Doidge went on to compare the difference of the
corn trade between Canada and the United States.
He explained Canada is doing far worse than the
United States and something has to be done.
Clandeboye resident unhappy with Denfield Road
By Scott Nixon
TIMES -ADVOCATE
STAFF
CLANDEBOYE
— Anil Misra
isn't happy.
T h e
Clandeboye resi-
dent says he has
been complain-
ing to the
Municipality of
North Middlesex
for three years
about the poor
condition of
Denfield Road in
front of his
home, but the
problem still
hasn't been
fixed.
North
Middlesex
administrator/cl
erk Shirley Scott
told the Times -
Advocate
Monday the
road is
Middlesex
County's respon-
sibility.
Misra, who has
lived in his home
on the west side
of Denfield Road
for 17 years,
says a dip in the
road causes a
deep puddle to
form in front of
his entire prop-
erty during rain-
falls or snow
thaws. The pud-
dle is six inches
deep at one spot.
As well, pieces
of asphalt and
gravel from the
crumbling road
are constantly
kicked up by
passing traffic,
landing on his
lawn and drive-
way. Misra has
even had two
windshields on
his cars broken
from flying
rocks.
Misra said
township staff
have come out
to the site but it
hasn't been
fixed properly.
Misra said the
problem started
with a small hole
in the road.
Once water got
into it and froze,
the hole became
much larger and
there are several
cracks on the
road in front of
his house.
"Even a blind
person standing
in front of my
house could see
there's a prob-
lem with the
road," he says,
adding that
when he gives
people directions
to his home, he
just tells them to
look for the pud-
dle in front of his
house.
Misra said a
drain is needed
on his side of the
road.
"They have to
do something
about it ... I'm
paying my taxes.
Why do I have to
suffer?"
Misra says he
shouldn't have
to wait until the
road is recon-
structed.
Neighbour
Jeremy Busby,
17, agrees there
is a problem.
"It's ridicu-
lous," he says,
adding he has
seen "waves" of
water nearly hit
Misra's house as
a result of vehi-
cles hitting the
large puddle.
Scott, who said
the road falls
under county
jurisdiction, said
the municipali-
ty's drainage
staff have looked
at the problem,
but it's a county
issue.
"We've done
what we can."
Middlesex
County engineer
Chris Traini said
Misra's section
of Denfield Road
is on the coun-
ty's five-year
plan for recon -
Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Huron recently received a helping hand in the form of a $1,000
donation from Lebanon Forest Lodge 133 Exeter and the Order of the Eastern Star Exeter
Chapter 222. From left are Exeter Order of the Eastern StarWorthy Matron Prue Bonham,
Worthy Patron Ron Bonham, big brother Devon Elliott, little brother Alex Parsons, Exeter
Lebanon Forest Lodge Worshipful Master Bill Dinney and Big Brothers Big Sisters president
Drew Robertson, who said the donation will likely go towards the Big Brothers' school mentor-
ing program, which has 134 participants. He said Big Brothers Big Sisters provides an opportunity
for children to experience supportive, non -judgmental relationships fostering positive self -growth,
increased skill development and hope for bright futures. He encourages the public to support the
organization's upcoming Bowl For Kids' Sake events — Feb 26 in Lucan and March 5 in Zurich.
(photo/Scott Nixon)
struction, possi-
bly in 2007.
"It's on our list
... for rehabili-
tation. I would
expect it to be
one of the
rougher roads in
the county at
this stage, but
it's on our
radar."
In the mean-
time, Traini said
if Misra contacts
county staff they
will have a look
at the problem
and likely add
some gravel to
the shoulder.
Traini said he
hasn't been noti-
fied of Misra's
problems. He
said concerns
from Clandeboye
residents have
been raised in
the past and
county staff have
done work
there.
Traini said
there have been
problems with
soft shoulders on
Middlesex
County roads
this winter due
to the mild
weather.
"We haven't
had the deep
penetration of
the frost, so
we've got softer
shoulders, so
there are some
maintenance
concerns there.
I'm sure that's
typical across
the province.
Clandeboye resident Anil Misra is unhappy with prob-
lems on Denfield Road that result in a large puddle
forming in front of his property. Passing vehicles splash
water, rocks and gravel onto his lawn and he has even
had two windshields broken. Middlesex County says the
road is scheduled for reconstruction within the next
five years. (photo/Scott Nixon)
1e1
Fisheries and Oceans Peches et Oceans
Canada Canada
Species at Risk Act
Have Your Say...on protecting the threatened Black Redhorse
Fisheries and Oceans Canada is currently considering whether the
threatened Black Redhorse should be protected under the federal
Species at Risk Act. This fish has been found in tributaries to lakes Erie,
Huron, Ontario and St. Clair, with the two largest populations found
along the Grand and Thames rivers. Inclusion of the Black Redhorse
under the Species at Risk Act will help ensure its continued survival and
may affect land owners, sport fishers, local governments and others.
You are invited to comment on whether the Black Redhorse should be
protected by federal legislation. For more information, or to provide
comments, go to: www.sararegistry.gc.ca (click on "public consulta-
tions")
or contact:
Pooi-Leng Wong
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Email: fwisar@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Phone 204-984-0599
Cana/1a