The Rural Voice, 2001-09, Page 31
Editor & Publisher: 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:
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
It's show time!
It's the time of the year when
farmers like to take a day away from
the barn or fields to go to a show and
see what's the latest available
technology in their field. This year
with the International Plowing Match
in eastern Ontario, the show of choice
for many Western Ontario farmers
will be Canada's Outdoor Farm Show
at Woodstock.
This year's show is welcoming
several new features, from those
appealing to farmers of traditional
commodities like the Swine Expo to
new areas like corn grown for plastic
or tobacco grown for "plantibodes".
Other alternatives like goats and
sheep will also be represented this
year. We've got details in our story
on the outdoor farm show.
Among the most interested
observers at this year's International
Plowing Match will be members of
the organizing committee for the
2002 match at Glencoe in Middlesex
County. Mark Nonkes talked to
committee members about their plans
for next year.
Speaking of shows, the practical
art of using horses to cut cattle from a
herd is becoming a popular sport for
some rural residents. Mark Nonkes
talked to several people involved in
the rodeo sport of team penning,
using two horses and riders to cut
selected cattle from a group and put
them in pens.
A sport far from normal farming
experience is dragon -boat racing yet
this activity has been bringing some
Perth County farmers together for fun
and exercise. Pork farmers from the
Monkton area have put together their
own dragon -boat team, competing in
various races, culminating in a big
race in Stratford in September.
A whole different game is trying
to find new ways of making money
on the farm by experimenting with
new commodities. This month Sandra
Forster talks to two Kincardine -area
farmers who have been trying new
crops: kiwi, in the case of Ken Holtby
and Cheryl Draper, and hazel nuts in
the case of Ron Farrell.
An alternative crop with a long
history in the region is rutabagas and
in our cover story this month we talk
to one long-time producer, George
Hubbard.0
Update
Sheep milk producers start co-op
Another new generation co-operative has been formed, this time to process
milk from dairy sheep. A group including Elisabeth and Eric Bzikot, Stephanie
Diamant, Axel Meister and Larry Kupecz has been working with George Alkalay
of Northfield Ventures, well known as a facilitator of new generation co-
operatives including Farm Fresh Poultry of Harriston, Quality Jersey Products of
Seaforth and Mornington Heritage Cheese and Dairy Co-operative Inc. They call
their venture: "Ewenity Dairy Sheep Co-operative".
A concern for this new industry (featured in Meister's pioneering efforts in our
January 2000 issue) is the consistency of supply of milk and matching that
supply to processors. Sheep are seasonal producers and having a co-ordinated
marketplace where processors and producers can match supply and demand is
essential to both parties making plans for successful operations.
A co-operative effort of several producers working together can offer more
consistent quantities of product and should be of interest to processors, says
Meister, who now farms near Markdale after relocating from Wellington County.
Ewenity is looking for new members as well as good markets. A meeting will
be held in the near future for interested parties.
A new generation co-op differs from a traditional co-op in that members
purchase supply "shares" or agreements to produce product of a set quantity and
quality. Dividends are paid to members based on the amount of product supplied.
More information on the new co-operative can be obtained from Eric and
Elisabeth Bzikot at 519-848-5694 or ww.bzikot@sympatico.ca