The Rural Voice, 2001-03, Page 3ti
R.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
printed & mailed by: Signal -Star
Publishing, Goderich, Ontario
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Telephone: 519-523-4311 (fax 523-9140).
e-mail: norhuron@scsintemet.com
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Behind the Scenes
Water, above and below ground
Water — it's essential for the
production of food, indeed for life
itself. Farm families need it. Their
livestock needs it. Their crops need it.
Life can't continue without it. And
yet, though we've been dealing with
water since man stood upright, we
still understand so little about it —
particularly the outground deposits
that now are the source of water on
most rural properties.
This month we have two stories on
water themes. In our cover story, we
look at ways of enhancing both the
appearance of our properties and
capturing surface water for possible
needs like irrigation through creating
farm ponds. Also this month, we look
at what's known about underground
aquifers and their health.
In March thoughts turn to the first
crop of the year: maple syrup.
Though maple syrup producers now
tend to be larger and more
specialized, at one time tapping trees
and boiling down syrup was a way to
add some spring cashflow for many
farmers.
Freelance writer Larry Drew looks
at the history of maple syrup in
Ontario as told at the Maple Syrup
Museum of Ontario at St. Jacobs.
The annual Centralia Swine
Research Update day is a source of
information on the latest in
management techniques and swine
health discoveries for the industry.
We have some of the highlights from
this major event in our news section.
More news for pork producers
comes from the annual meetings of
the Huron and Perth county pork
producers' associations. We have
information both in our news section
and on the People page.
Do you have a few acres that
aren't being best utilized by regular
field crops? Woodlot management
columnist Andrew Grindlay says
there's money to be made in growing
red pine pruned to create utility poles.
The issue of genetically -altered
foods is examined is examined in a
new book Pandora's Picnic Basket.
We have a review in this issue.
Bonnie Gropp, in her recipe
collection offers solutions to those
who want to reduce the fat in their
diet.
In her decorating column, Patti
Robertson visits the spectacular
winter estate of Thomas Edison in
Florida and marvels at the home and
its acres of gardens.0
Update
Oxford Packers still seeking a home
In an age when most small towns are thrilled to see a new manufacturing
operation move to town, Oxford Packers Ltd. is still seeking a home.
In our December issue, the company, a partnership of Larry and Glenn Tulpin
of St. Williams, owners of Norfolk Packers, and Miriam Terpstra of Brussels,
co-owner with her husband Joe of Acre -T Farms, of Brussels, had announced
plans to build on a site southwest of Listowel. Sometime in late December that
plan was apparently killed at a closed meeting of the Town of North Perth.
Objections of other nearby industries were registered.
Though another potential Listowel -area site was identified, the immediate
hope for the company now seems to be a site in Mitchell, West Perth. About 75
people attended a public meeting late in January on the issue and West Perth
council was expected to vote on the issue at its February 5 meeting. There was so
much public interest in the issue, however, that a second public meeting was
scheduled for February 13. At the earliest, the decision may now come at the
February 19 council meeting.
The proposal, which had earlier been turned down in Tillsonburg, promises 50
jobs immediately in a $6.5 million, state-of-the-art, kill and chill plant that would
handle 150 hogs per hour. Plans are to move, within 15 months to a two -shift
operation employing 100 and to 200 employees within five years. Initially, half
the capacity of the plant has been contracted by Acre -T.0