The Rural Voice, 2001-02, Page 3R.V.
Editor: Keith Roulston
editorial advisory committee:
Bev Hill, farmer, Huron County
Diane O'Shea, farmer, Middlesex Cty.
George Penfold, associate professor,
University of Guelph
Gerald Poechman, farmer, Bruce Cty.
contributing writers:
Gisele Ireland, Lisa Boonstoppel-
Pot, Bonnie Gropp, Ralph Pearce
Bob Reid, Mervyn Erb, Sandra
Orr, Janice Becker, Andrew Grindlay,
Mark Nonkes, Larry Drew
marketing & advertising sales manager:
Gerry Fortune
advertising representative:
Merle Gunby
production co-ordinator:
Joan Caldwell
advertising & editorial production:
Dianne Josling
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Behind the Scenes
Food a national security issue in U.S.
Canadians who complain about
high U.S. farm support levels just
don't understand how the American
system works, a U.S. professor of
agricultural finance told the
Ridgetown conference in January,
Mervyn Erb reports. In his story
looking ahead at the prospects for
crops this year, Erb explains the
Americans see food production as a
national security issue. Canada, of
course, hasn't been big on national
security issues in recent years — just
look at the state of our armed forces.
The point the American professor
was making was just don't expect the
Americans to cut farm subsidies
because they see farm surpluses as
weapons to force other countries to
fall in line with American policies.
It's just one of several interesting
points Erb makes in his article.
Unfortunately he doesn't have a lot of
good news, but he does make some
suggestions on how to make the best
of a bad situation.
In his article Erb says farmers are
under siege from all directions and
that's certainly the way cattlemen
attending the Beef Day at Grey -Bruce
Farmers' Week felt. Speaker after
speaker outlined new headaches for
producers: from the new Canadian
Cattle Identification program to the
new Agricultural Operations
Standards Act expected from the
province in March to the new federal
program requiring farmers manufact-
uring their own feeds to be licenced if
they want to use medications in that
feed. By the end of the session
farmers seemed to be suffering battle
fatigue. We have coverage in our
News section.
Given the income situation in
many commodities, the idea of
starting a sideline business from the
home is becoming more and more
attractive to many farm families. An
at-home business allows the family to
carry on the traditional family farm
livestyle of parents being at home
with their children while bringing in
extra income the farm just can't
supply these days.
Larry Drew, who runs an at-home
business himself, provides some tips
on how to start a successful home
business, including how to set up
your office and sources of
information.
Also this month, Greg Brown tells
the story of Jack and June Falls and
their 51 years farming near Rocklyn.0
Update
Those are dear deer, dear
Car -deer collisions in Huron County exceeded the level predicted by Ontario
Provincial Police in an article in our October 2000 issue. Final tabulation by the
county's OPP detachment shows there were 305 car -deer collisions in the past
year. This represented a quarter of all the accidents investigated by police. Since
deer -vehicle collisions often cause serious damage to vehicles, the problem has
been driving up insurance costs as well.
Police credit recent mild winters with assisting in a population boom in the
deer population and a resulting explosion of collisions with vehicles. In 1998
there were 160 collisions, expanding to 240 in 1999 and now 305 in 2000.
The most dangerous time of the year is during October, November and
December when the combination of mating season and migration to winter
yarding areas has deer on the move. Most of the collisions occur in evenings and
early mornings: from 6-12 p.m. and 5-8 a.m. Police advise being especially
vigilant during those hours.
They also advise travelling with high -beams on so you have as much chance as
possible to spot a deer and slow or stop to prevent a collision. Never, however,
attempt extreme maneuvers to avoid a collision because hitting a deer is safer
than hitting a roadside obstacle or another vehicle. If a deer crosses in front of
you, watch out because there are probably more coming.
Deer whistles help warn deer of your approach far in advance.0