The Rural Voice, 2000-09, Page 31
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, Carl L. Bedal, Janice Becker,
Andrew Grindlay, Sarah Caldwell
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
Examples of working together
At a time when most farmers are
working more and more on their own,
or are dealing in a direct business
relationship with a specific buyer,
Georgian Bay's apple growers have
developed a unique way of pooling
resources for the benefit of all.
Georgian Bay Fruit Growers Inc.
is a unique partnership of many of the
growers in this region that produces
25 per cent of Ontario's apple crop.
With the provincial government
cutbacks, growers have taken on
more responsibility for their industry
through the company. The organiz-
ation includes, for instance, a
Research and Development Com-
mittee which undertakes Integrated
Pest Management research and
provides information for growers.
Even as growers face a disastrous
harvest and low prices this year, their
unity provides strength.
When Bob and Tineke Vander
Neut were trying to start farming
back in 1984, they didn't have a lot
of money to invest. High capital
farming practices were definitely out
for the young couple who came to
Canada with nothing but their talents.
But they found a niche in milk -fed
veal that has supported their family
on their Mount Forest -area farm for
years. We met with them for a story
this month.
Our cover this month is a scene
from the successful Flavours of Perth
food show at Stratford in July.
Despite this summer's regular rains,
the outdoor event was sun -filled and
drew huge crowds to learn more
about local food production and
manufacturing. We have more
pictures and information.
September brings showtime for
farmers with the two biggest outdoor
shows of the year: the International
Plowing Match, this year near Elora
in Wellington County; and Canada's
Outdoor Farm Show, at its permanent
location near Woodstock. We have
several stories with information about
what's coming up.
In our continuing series on
communities that work together to
stay alive and lively, we look at
Belgrave and its phenomenal annual
turkey supper.0
Update
Symposium explores sheep milk industry
As Canada's ethnic makeup shifts, areas of farming once thought foreign are
making their way into the main stream. Back in January, Bob Reid looked at the
growing industry of milking sheep and particularly at the couple who almost
single-handedly started the industry, Axel Meister and Dr. Chris Buschbeck.
Those interested in this developing segment of agriculture can find out more at a
symposium in Guelph in November.
Meister, as head of the Ontario Dairy Sheep Association, has announced the
sixth annual International Great Lakes Dairy Sheep Symposium in Guelph from
November 2-4. Two speakers from Europe will be brought in to address
producers and would-be producers. Dr. Pirisi, from Italy, will talk about the
relationship between milk and cheese quality and about the effect of somatic cell
counts on cheese processing. Dr. Gerardo Caja of the University of Barcelona in
Spain will talk about udder development and morphology.
As well, Dr. John Cant and Christoph Wand of the University of Guelph and
OMAFRA will give an update on their ongoing research on nutrition for heavy
milking ewes. Dr. Bill Lachausky from the Laboratory Services Division is
scheduled to give an update on the milk quality study in Ontario. Other speakers
include Dr. Dave Thomas and Yves Berger from the University of Wisconsin.
There'll also be a tour of a dairy with a rotary milking parlour and a dairy on a
farm with cheese processing as well as a trade show and banquet.
Anyone seeking information can call Meister at 519-856-2482 or e-mail him at
wooldrif@sentex.net or can contact the association's secretary Stephanie
Diamant at 519-925-9420 or e-mail at brebis@hurontario.net.0