The Rural Voice, 1979-05, Page 571
NEWSLETTER
Huron County Federation
of Agriculture
Area Office: Vanastra, Box 429, Clinton
ait
ALAN TURNBULL
REGIONAL DIRECTOR, HURON SOUTH
The new regional director for Huron
South is Alan Turnbull, of Fergus Turnbull
& Sons Ltd. He has held various positions
in the county federation and has assumed
the role of regional director since October
of last year.
His 1200 acre farm is incorporated and
includes 4 families and they maintain a
beef and cash crop operation. The amount
of machinery needed is cut back because of
the 4 families using the same equipment at
a great saving.
A new barn for 750 head of cattle built
last summer is one of the new inovations on
the farm. It has a slatted floor made out of
cement and he says it seems to be working
out well.
Erosion is one of Alan's major concerns -
he sees the muddy water in the creeks that
flow into Lake Huron. He is also concerned
with the economics of grassed waterways,
so he will be watching this problem in the
future.
PARTICIPATE ON OFA COMMITTEES
BY BRENDA MCINTOSH
There are 11 standing committees of the
Ontario Federation of Agriculture and
Huron County is well -represented on four
of them. Three of the committees have
Chairman from Huron County.
The Grains Committee is chaired by
John Hazlitt of Colborne Township. The
Grains Committee has been approached by
PG. 56 THE RURAL VOICE/MAY 1979,
some malting barley growers organization.
Further information will be forthcoming
when a report being prepared by Richard
Whetfield of OFA is released later in the
year.
The Chairman of the Pollution and
Pesticides Committee is Jim McIntosh,
Tuckersmith Twp. William Mann Pres. of
Grey Twp Federation is a member of this
committee. At present the committee is
attempting to monitor pesticide prices from
area dealers as a check on the federal
pesticide monitoring program. The com-
mittee has also looked at the problems
associated with the establishment of urban
or regional land fill sites on agricultural
land.
Merle Gunby, Ashfield Township.
Huron County President. is a member of
the Insurance and Farm Safety Committee
which last year developed the extended
health insurance plan which has been
offered this year to all I.S.M. members. It
is continuing to work to develop other
programs for members.
The Agri -Skills Abroad Committee is
chaired by Gordon Hill, Stanley Township.
Jane Davidson of Stanley Township is also
a member of this committee. A young man
from Ghana will be given the opportunity
of living and learning about farming in
Ontario this summer. A feasability study
will be made of a Children's Village in
Costa Rica which has some land. If it could
be shown to be practical, they wish to
produce food for themselves and others so
they can be self-sustaining. The Canadian
Hunger Foundation is being approached in
regard to helping with some of their
Caribbean projects.
ONTARIO FARMERS TO HOST
GHANIAN FARMER
A young man from Ghana, 24 year old
Wilfred Ntiamoh is to come to Canada for
six months to learn how various farms here
are operated. He will arrive in May or
June. A Canadian, Charles McGregor of
OMAF, who is on loan to the University of
Ghana has recommended Wilfred as a
person who would benefit from a farming
experience in Ontario.
Wilfred will go first to the farm of Tony
and Fran McQuail in West Wawanosh
Township. It is hoped that arrangements
can be made for Wilfred to spend some
time on a fruit or vegetable farm, a small
poultry farm, and a small mixed farm. The
farms will not be too highly mechanized, so
HURON COUNTY
FEDERATION
OF AGRICULTURE
CANDIDATES
MEETING
Thursday,
May 3, 1979
8:30 p.m. sharp
LONDESBORO SCHOOL
Be an informed elector. Come
and hear the views of the
candidates in the federal
election.
that the learning experience can be used
when he returns home. The Agri -Skills
Abroad Committee is looking for farm
families who would be interested in taking
part in this project, who would be willing to
let this young man come and live with them
and learn about farming in Ontario. If you
are interested, you are invited to phone
Gordon Hill, 482-3307.
HOG TRAINING PROGRAM
The Seaforth Vet Clinic was the scene of
a new type of training program for hog
farmers on March 22nd when a one day
course entitled "Practical Pig Care" was
sponsored by the Huron Federation of
Agriculture, Huron Pork Producers and
OMAF. The Seaforth vets demonstrated all
of the techniques a modern pig farmer
needs to know; they lectured on disease
control, herd health and answered many
questions from the participants. The vet
technicians set up microscope displays of
E.Coli, mange mites, lice and an excellent
slide presentation of all the worms which
can affect pigs. Richard Smelski described
how stress affects a pig's health. The final
speaker was Bev Brown who showed slides
and described how herd health is managed
at B & J Acres. The course was
over -subscribed and had to be repeated on
March 29th. Bill Pullen and Bev Brown
represented the Federation on the Commit-
tee which set up the course.