The Rural Voice, 2000-07, Page 49PERTH )fillk
County Pork Producers NEWSLETTER
Jim Van Herk, President
519-595-4863
• The Rural Voice Is provided to Perth
County Pork Producers by the PCPPA.
We need to build new bridges
Any opinions expressed herein mai'
not necessarily reflect the views of
the Perth County Pork Producers
•
Association.
Last week my wife and I and our
six year old were in Walkerton. We
had finished our business. It was the
middle of the afternoon and we were
a little hungry. The bowl of soup
from lunch was long gone, so we
stopped at a small diner. We looked
at each other and asked the silent
question, "Do we go in?" The answer
came quickly. "We need to support
these folks." Inside there were a few
people, some eating, some just
chatting, but what I will remember
most was the waitress. She was kind.
she was attentive to our every need.
but her eyes and the lines on her face,
spoke volumes about her pain.
The waitress in that business is
probably like many people in the
town. The heartache over the Toss of
human lite and. secondly. the loss of
business income has been
devastating. Those of us outside
Walkerton cannot begin to
understand their pain. I have been
absolutely appalled at the media
dissection of the town and its people
and how quickly they have stepped
over the tragedy in an effort to get to
the root of the problem. And how,
further, those people outside have
been quick to point fingers, mostly at
agriculture. "Experts" have come out
of the woodwork to give their views
on everything from intensive
agriculture to the use of antibiotics on
farm. It has been a modern day
lynching of agriculture without jury
or even a trial. The number of
editorials and newspaper stories on
the subject have been staggering.
But of all the scathing comments
from the media and those who have
analyzed, I am most distressed by the
remarks of farmers themselves. If
ever we needed to resist from
pointing fingers and blaming other
sectors of agriculture, it is here. If
ever we needed patience to let the
broad inquiry do its investigation, it
is at this time. We have given in to
the temptation to say. "Oh no. it is
not me, it is not my sector of
agriculture. Someone else has a
problem, not the". In the end we may
be vindicated or condemned by the
findings of the inquiry. but for now
we are losing the opportunity to
support each other and speak as one
voice.
Agriculture needs to talk about the
positive things it is doing. Over
18,000 farmers estimated to represent
70 per cent of the arable acres in
Ontario have voluntarily completed
Environmental Farm Plans. These are
not just pieces of paper. They cover
everything from soil type. topography
and the potential for nutrient runoff to
safe storage of chemicals and on-
farm fuels. They recommend regular
sampling of farm well water and
assess the potential for contamination
of those wells from septic systems.
Farmers are generally very concerned
about nutrient runoff. Many have
completed Nutrient Management
Plans. Many municipalities require
them for new building. I think it is
time we got on board and suggested
that everyone who applies nutrients
in any form complete a plan at
regular intervals. This would include
livestock farmers with manure to
spread, golf courses, municipalities
and anyone else applying commercial
fertilizer, sewage or other nutrients to
the soil. It is time we got serious
about nutrient management and dealt
with it in a more comprehensive way.
Agriculture has led the charge in this
area. but it can do more.
In closing. we need to build new
bridges from farmer to farmer and
farmer to non -farmer. It is certainly
true that we need to learn to live with
our rural and urban neighbours. but
first we must co-operate together as
producers of food and stewards of the
land. When it comes to the
environment. there is no ideal type or
size of farm. Big or small is not the
issue. We must all be vigilant! Let us
not give in to the temptation to say.
"It is not me causing the problem".
Rather. let us all look for ways to
improve our natural world. The
Ontario Farm Environmental
Coalition is good place to start.
Encourage your commodity group to
throw its weight behind these
representatives of agriculture. Then
we can have one strong voice on
environmental issues. Finally,
consider your own farm and ask
yourself, "How can I do better?"
You may be challenged, but the long-
term gain is well worth it.0
— Submitted by Larry Skinner
THE PERTH COUNTY PORK
PRODUCERS ASSOCIATION
Annual Golf
Tournament
Wednesday, August 16, 2000
Mitchell Golf & Country Club
Contact: Joanne Groenestege at
519-393-5532 for tee off times
PERTH COUNTY PORK PRODUCERS'
PORK PRODUCTS
• Smoked Pork Chops • Fresh Pork Chops • Stuffed Loin Chops Smoked Sausage
• Smoked Cheddar Sausage • Bacon Burgers • Teriyaki Pork Steaks
• Vittorio's BBQ Sauce
AVAILABLE FROM:
Steve Hulshof (Kinkora) 348-8167
Martin van Bakel (Dublin) 345-2666
Walter Bosch (Monkton) 356-9000
Ted Keller (Mitchell) 348-9836
JULY 2000 45