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The Rural Voice, 2001-06, Page 19(AL•mAR) A booming deer population pressures orchard owners. knew the orchard was close to a deer yard where hundreds of animals shelter through the winter when he purchased it. "He's always had a problem there," said McKee. But Comly thought he had solved the problem when he handed a three - hectare parcel over to the deer about 10 years ago. "We let it grow wild so they could eat whatever they wanted, but now it's not enough for them, they want the whole farm," he said. One recent evening when he climbed up on the roof of his house to get a bird's-eye view of the orchard he counted 80 head of deer chewing at his trees. "There is not one tree that remains untouched," he said. Fencing the orchard is far too costly to be a viable option and Comly doesn't have crop insurance and doubts he could get it. And even if the deer problem is solved, it will be at least three years before Comly's trees recover. Comly, who usually employs 30 to 35 people to help harvest the apples, is now out searching for work himself. "I've lost my livelihood," he said. In the meantime negotiations that could include compensation for Comly and the introduction of an extended deer hunt are now underway at "a high level" in the resources and agricultural ministries, said Wilson.° The world's largest supplier of grain bins, portable dryers, Top Dry® dryers, elevators, aeration and drying fans and... a company providing quality in design. (AL'mARsales, installation and service since 1976. A GREAT COMBINATION gri11110 FOR YOUR GRAIN STORAGE, DRYING & HANDLING SYSTEMS GRAIN SYSTEMS LTD. 131 Thames Rd. W., Exeter, Ontario NOM 1S3 Tel: (519) 235-1919 • Fax: (519) 235-2562 VISIT OUR WEBSITE: www.almar.on.ca ontr•1 Valve draulic 'um. Hoses Bearings Hydraulic Pumps Cylinders HYDRAULIC CYLINDERS REAR PORT ORIENTATION 12 Off The Shelf Custom Manufactured CROSS TUBE MARK ORIENTATION 0 Y❑6) • Any Bore • Any Length Welded Barrel Construction MALE TANG ORIENTATION HOLE THROUGH FEMALE CLEVIS ROD ORIENTATION ORIENTATION t2 9❑0) Theo.. ❑o»s- ❑ 030 0075 - Hole ole. • 1.01' w co u) CD CD BARFOOT'S BW M WELDING AND MACHINE INC. 517 Brown St.. Marton (519) 534-1200 1-800-265-6224 JUNE 2001 15