The Rural Voice, 2000-09, Page 70Cattle producers
`regret' Walkerton
link
The potential link of E. coli
0157:H7 to a Walkerton -area beef
farm highlights the need for
continued vigilance against this
natural pathogen. says the Ontario
Cattlemen's Association.
"Dave Biesenthal is a good
producer, has less than 100 cattle.
was among the first farmers in
Ontario to complete the
Environmental Farm Plan (EFP). and
has taken numerous steps to
responsibly manage the manure
produced by his animals," said OCA
President Stan Eby. Biesenthal stores
his manure on a cement pad to
prevent runoff, has fenced all
waterways on his farth to keep his
cattle out and used his EFP grant to
put eavestroughs on his barn which
direct rainwater away from his
manure pile. Biesenthal also avoids
spreading manure on snow or on
frozen ground and after spreading
manure in the spring, incorporates it
into the soil as soon as possible so as
to minimize the effect of runoff.
"This potential linkage could have
happened to anyone," Eby
emphasized. This is a pathogen that
naturally exists in all ruminants -
cattle, sheep, goats, deer - and that is
why many precautions, including
chlorination of municipal water
systems, are put in place."
"Yes, testing may eventually show
his cattle to carry the particular strain
of bacteria that hit the town with such
tragic results but so could tests on
many other farms in the area," Eby
continued. He cautioned that these
results be reviewed in context with
the whole investigation before any
further conclusions are drawn.
Manure from a percentage of all
cattle contains E. coli 0157:H7, as
does manure from a similar
percentage of other ruminants,
including deer, goats, and sheep.
Farmers know this and do everything
they can to reduce the risks through
clean operations, environmental farm
plans and nutrient management plans.
66 THE RURAL VOICE
News
Cattle producers and processors have,
for years. funded research efforts to
further understand E. coli 0157:H7
and to develop intervention
techniques to reduce the risk, on the
farm and elsewhere.
In light of the Walkerton situation,
the Ontario Cattlemen's Association
has set aside money for additional
research funding into E. coli
0157:H7. This is in addition to the
$250.000 committed to E. coli and
water quality projects in the last three
years. The Canadian Cattlemen's
Association has also promised further
research into the issue of E. coli
0157.H7 and is planning a national
conference to address ways of
managing the pathogen.0
Ontario invests in
youth and economy
in Waterloo, Huron,
Perth and Wellington
Ontario Minister of Agriculture.
Food and Rural Affairs Ernie
Hardeman and MPP for Kitchener
Centre Wayne Wettlaufer have
announced that the Ontario
government and private sector
partners are investing more than $4
million in a joint initiative to create
information technology training
programs and increase work
opportunities for youth.
This initiative will result in an
estimated 1,200 job opportunities for
young people in Waterloo region and
Huron, Perth and Wellington
counties.
"Through Ontario's Rural Youth
Job Strategy (RYJS), young people
will receive quality information
technology trainingpwhich will help
them find sustainable careers close to
home," Wettlaufer said. "This
program will also serve the needs of
the business sector in Waterloo
region, Wellington, Perth and Huron
Counties."
"These programs and courses will
increase work opportunities and
career advancement possibilities for
rural youth, allow rural businesses to
hire within their own communities,
and help them compete in the global
market." Hardeman said.
The "Building Information
Technology Skills for the Future"
project will see seven full-time
information technology
diploma/certificate training programs
and 10 other courses developed and
offered to students in the four
participating counties. The initiative
was developed by a partnership
including Conestoga College.
Canada's Technology Triangle and
the Doon Student Association, with
support and advice from
Communitech, an information
technology company. Contributing
partners also include many businesses
and organizations.
Training will take place using
classroom and web -based methods,
as well as co-operative work
experiences. Graduates of these high-
tech programs will bring new skills to
the workforce and contribute to rural
economic growth.
"The information technology
revolution allows businesses to
change and grow rapidly, spurring
economic growth," said Dr. John
Tibbits, President and CEO of
Conestoga College. "This is true of
all types of industries and services in
all settings - urban, suburban and
rural. The Rural Youth Job Strategy
funding allows Conestoga College to
move forward, too. We can expand
our excellent programming in
information technology, better serve
our constituents, and do so through
the primary communications tool of
the information technology
revolution: The Internet."0
Pork Congress
winners named
Showcase 2000 promised to show
everyone the very best Ontario's pork
industry had -and it did. With
beautiful weather, intriguing speakers
and an early summer celebration, the
27th Annual Ontario Pork Congress
was another shining testament to its
organizers, volunteers and industry
representatives.
It was the perfect launching point
for the new millennium, and plans are
already underway to make next