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The Rural Voice, 2006-03, Page 16(AL -MAR) (AL-PfAR) The world's largest supplier of grain bins, portable dryers, Top Dry® dryers, elevators, aeration and drying fans and... a company providing quality in design, sales, installation and service since 1976. A GREAT COMBINATION FOR YOUR GRAIN STORAGE, DRYING & HANDLING SYSTEMS GRAIN SYSTEMS LTD. 131 Thames Rd. W., Exeter, Ontario NOM 1S3 Tel: (519) 235-1919 • Fax: (519) 235-2562 VISIT OUR WEBSITE: www.almaron.ca NorthRidge Tractor JOHN DEERE Walkerton 519-881-2231 Chatsworth 519-794-2480 You're invited to attend our JOHN DEERE DAY and CUSTOMER OPEN HOUSE! Join in the celebration of the future of agriculture and its people at this year's John Deere Day. Stop in and take a look at the latest in agricultural equipment and technology. Get to know our friendly sales, parts and service staff, or just chat with your neighbours...they'll all be there. Don't miss this year's John Deere Day and Customer Open House! Date: MARCH 21, 2006 Time: 1:00 pm - 8:00 pm Location: Hwy. 6 & Grey Rd. 40, Chatsworth /4. 12 THE RURAL VOICE John Beardsley Been there — now we have the T-shirts John Beardsley is a freelance journalist and crop specialist with Huron Bay Cooperative. There was something vaguely familiar about the latest farm rally in Guelph on February 14. Anyone expecting a Valentine's Day present from the provincial government was disappointed. I couldn't help feeling that it was, as New York Yankee coach Yogi Berra used to say, "deja- vu all over again". I thought farmers got their message across last March when the largest farm rally in recent history was held at Queen's Park. Well now they have a catchy slogan: "Farmers Feed Cities". They even have bright yellow T-shirts, postcards and bumper stickers with the slogan. The big question is, whose farmers will continue to feed Canadian cities? Will it be U.S. farmers, Brazilian farmers or those in China? Obviously the provincial government hasn't been listening. Quebec has an insurance program that ensures their farmers can make a decent return on their investment. Why can't Ontario farmers be treated in the same way? The proposed Risk Management Program designed by farmers is a workable program that will correct the problem of fluctuating prices and unfair foreign subsidies. Farmers will share the cost of the program especially in years when prices are high. The big surprise for me was that Provincial Agriculture Minister Leona Dumbrowsky spoke to the rally. Ms. Dumbrowsky's big news was that she was meeting with new Federal Agriculture Minister Chuck Strahl. While this is actually an extremely significant event in the grand scheme of things, it was an