The Rural Voice, 1981-09, Page 38THE YOUNG FARMER
Junior Farmer visits Welsh countryside
Matt Crowley, 23, R.R. 2, Gadhill was
one of the fourteen Perth, Huron and
Bruce Junior Farmers who travelled to
Wales for two weeks this spring.
"Bill Armstrong co-ordinated the trip
after a visit to the four countries of
England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales.
Wales seemed the most friendly and were
Matt Crowley
interested in an exchange." said Matt.
The weather in Wales is not as extreme
as in Canada, but mild and moist weather
like in England. With no harsh winters
insulation is not needed and most of the
animals are left in the fields all year
round.
The weather was not the only diffe-
rence Matt noticed. The Junior Farmers
visited mid -Wales where most fertile land
is on steep hills. Ploughing is done down
hill, then the plough is raised out of the
soil and the tractor drives up the hill and
procedure is repeated. The hills are
simply too steep to plough uphill.
Less than ten per cent of the land in
Wales is under cultivation and about forty
per cent is in grazing land. Sheep are
grazed on the unworkable land, and are
raised on most farms in mid -Wales.
Mutton and sheep's wool manufactured
into Welsh tweed are main exports.
Much to Matt's surprise, the dairy
industry is as automated there as it is
locally. Pipelines and milking parlors are
found on most dairy farms. Both farms
Matt visited were dairy and were average
size farms of 200 acres. The Welsh quota
system is nation-wide and milk is
exported. When there's an overproduc-
tion of milk all dairy farmers are taxed.
"The farmers do not work with large
machinery as we do in Perth County. A
big tractor in mid -Wales is a seventy
horsepower." said Matt. "The growing
season is from April to September when
harvesting begins."
Because of the weather the storage of
hay is in a frame structure consisting of a
roof and posts, called a Dutch barn. Most
buildings are made of steel since wood is
not abundant.
There are no poured silos in mid -
Wales. Steel "Crop Store" silos were
built to store grass silage or grain silage.
The silos were built when Wales joined
the European Common Market.
"Their fences are not what you would
expect; they are made from hedges which
are trimmed each fall in the south and
mid -Wales. Stone fences are found in
northern Wales. The roads are very
windy and hilly and all the roads are
paved, and hedges line the road sides. It
takes fifteen minutes to travel three
miles," explained Matt.
The most feared farming -related di-
sease in Wales is foot and mouth. When
it is suspected in a region, no travelling is
done, stock yards become increasingly
disease -conscious, and all new animals
are checked.
Each day, the fourteen junior farmers
and their hosts took bus tours throughout
the area. A hydro plant which took five
years to build, a power plant, slate mines
and the factdry where handmade Wedg. -
wood china is produced were some of the
sites visited.
The hectic pace of the visit was
unfamiliar to the Welsh, whose attitude is
relaxed and simple. Their friendliness
and hospitality, said Matt, leaves him
fond memories.
Back home in Ontario, now Matt is
helping organize the visit by Welsh
Young Farmers, which will take place
September 27 to October 8 $
First meeting by Veterinary Club
The first meeting of the Huron County
Vet Club was held April 23, 1980. 12
members rushed to the basement of the
O.M.A.F. office to get a front row seat.
New and past members were warmly
welcomed by Len MacGregor, who was
glad so many made an appearance. We
refrained from Len's traditional intro-
duction ceremonies and made ourselves
acquainted with each other. For the new
members Len described what 4-1-1 was in
general and also about the veterinary
club.
The next item on the agenda was to
elect the officers of the club. When this
was mentioned, everyone was eager to
nominate someone else for the job but
hoping they themselves would not be
elected. As the last vote was counted the
finalists waited nervously for the final
results. They were as follows: proud
leader of the pack. President - Stephen
Caldwell; second in command, Don
Nicholson; ready with pencil and pad,
David Marshall; and yours truly as Press
Reporter, Cheryl Fraser.
Next we were to discuss topics for the
upcoming meetings. instead of "talking
it up" we sat there and listened to each
other breathe. Finally, our proud leader,
Stephen Caldwell, suggested that we go
to Centralia College and view the
veterinary facilities. This is to be the
location of our next meeting on Tuesday,
May 19. Time was running short and Len
was sorry to say that the meeting was
adjourned.
With scalpel and scissors in hand the
members of the Huron County Vet Club
entered the laboratory at Centralia
College. The temporary veterinarians
were about to perform a post mortem on a
pig. Everyone held his stomach as the
first incision was made.
The second meeting of the 4-H Vet
Club commenced at 8:00 p.m. on Mayd
25, 1981. The topic for the meeting was
that of Swine Health. The post mortem
was the first item on the agenda. There
were some faces that turned a little
green as they observed the incisions
being made on the pig.
Some people were becoming a little
nervous about the pig so they took a tour
of the laboratory. The members viewed
some of the different types of diseases.
We then departed to deal with the
business of the meeting. Everyone's
stomach had calmed down enough to get
through the 4-H pledge. Secretary David
Marshall reported the minutes of the last
meeting and took the roll call. The
meeting was then adjourned.
Cheryl Fraser
Huron 4-11 Nem sletter
THE RURAL VOICE/SEPTEMBER 1981 PG. 37