The Rural Voice, 2006-01, Page 40both for the protection of the flock
and the people.
Though the risk of human
infection is currently low, the
OMAFRA info outlines precautions
for those working directly with birds.
Relatively new additions to the site
include biosecurity recommendations
for both the commercial and small
flock operators.
The basics include restricting
visitors to your sites and employing
proper hygiene similar to those used
by other sectors for many years.
You must also protect the flock from
outside threats such as co -mingling
with wild birds or through the
introduction of new birds to the
flock. Infection can also arrive via
equipment moving onto the farm or
through a contaminated water source.
Observation is also key to
Steve Bowers
is a forester
and forest
owner, a
member of
the Huron -
Perth
Chapter of
the Ontario
Woodlot
Association
and
Stewardship ,
Co-ordinator with the Huron
Stewardship Council.
I've recently had the opportunity
to work on a project developing case
studies of several woodlot owners
who have demonstrated long-term,
responsible management of their
forests. When asked what advice
they could provide to other woodlot
owners, a suggestion they all offered
was, "Join a local woodlot
association".
I've made the same suggestion
myself many times when talking to
woodlot owners. Local associations
usually plan several outings or
meetings per year that offer a unique
opportunity to hear presentations
from forestry professionals and visit
36 THE RURAL VOICE
AgriTech
safeguarding the birds. •
More material on Avian Influenza
can be found at the Canadian Food
Inspection Agency website,
www.inspection.gc.ca, then click on
the home page link.
The Canadian Co-operative
Wildlife Health Centre,
wildlife l .usask.ca/ccwhc2003/, from
the University of Saskatchewan, also
provides bird flu facts on their
website. Supported by the
Department of Veterinary Pathology
at the university, the site tells of a
survey undertaken to track viruses in
wild bird populations across the
country.
There is an extensive list of the
various agencies involved in the
survey as well as links to other sites,
including international organizations,
which can provide more information.
Woodlot Management
Praise to the volunteers
a variety of forest industries or other
related points of interest. Of
particular benefit is the opportunity
to meet other woodlot owners with
similar interests to your own, visit
their woodlots and learn from their
experiences.
Some local associations are
affiliated with the Ontario Woodlot
Association (www.ont-woodlot-
assoc.org) and, if so, members will
also receive their informative
quarterly newsletter. There is
another provincial organization, the
Ontario Forestry Association
(www.oforest.on.ca), which may also
be of interest to woodlot owners.
While they don't have local chapters,
they do support a number of
interesting initiatives and also
produce a newsletter for members.
Both provincial associations provide
a voice at that level for issues of
interest or concern to woodlot
owners.
As with most rural organizations,
the success of local woodlot
associations is totally dependent on
the energy and efforts of volunteers
who work, largely behind the scenes,
to provide a program of benefit to
members. The amount of time
For those with any health concerns
about poultry consumption, check
out Health Canada's information at
www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-
an/securit/animal/avia-
poul/index_e.html.
The material can also be found by
going to Health Canada's homepage
and clicking on Food and Nutrition in
the left column, then on Food Safety.
From that page, find Animal Health
and Veterinary Drugs in a box on the
right, then Avian flu.
A simple Google search for Avian
Flu brings more than 16 million
responses, so as always, be aware of
the source of information.
Contact me at
jlbecker@wightman.ca or through
The Rural Voice office.0
invested by these community leaders
would surprise many people and in a
time when it seems that volunteers
are becoming harder to find, the same
people are often involved in several
organizations.
An example is Victor Roland,
whose recent death is a significant
loss to Huron -Perth forestry and
agricultural communities.
Vic was a dairy farmer for many
years, first in the Niagara area, then
Perth County and most recently in
Huron County. He was an active
participant with many farm -related
organizations and initiatives
including a number of years on the
Huron Federation of Agriculture
executive, various roles with the
Ontario Soil and Crop Association
(he was provincial president in 1994)
and a member of a farm advisory
panel for CKNX radio.
Vic also had a farm woodlot that
he was quite interested in and proud
of. It was partly due to his interest
in forestry that I had the opportunity
to meet Vic 10 or 12 years ago and
I've worked with him since then in a
variety of capacities.
He was one of the founding
members of the Huron Perth Chapter