The Rural Voice, 2006-05, Page 55RAINY RIVER
Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER
RALNY RIVER VAI LEY
RR 1, STRATTON, ON POW 1NO
807-487-2387
- The Rural Voice is provided to Rainy
River Federation members by the RRFA
Looking ahead in Rainy River District
A pair of magpies have been
busily building a stickball nest in a
spruce tree near our door. It will be
interesting to determine over the
summer if these birds are as
intelligent as reputed.
The board of directors of RRFA
met in Emo on the evening of April 6
with most members present, some
arriving late because of calving. Eric
Busch was on hand to present a
summary of his winter's work for the
RRFA in his report entitled.
Opportunities for Growth in the
Agricultural Sector in Rainy River
District. The report deals with natural
beef, natural pork and direct
marketing of vegetables. It is now
available online at www.rrfdc.on.ca
or from Eric at 482-2354. It is
recommended reading for anyone
interested in considering an
optimistic future in RRD.
Eric will be completing his
internship with the Rainy River Soil
and Crop Improvement Association
(RRSCIA) over the next few months.
The novel idea of splitting his
internship so that he could work for
the RRFA over the winter has
benefited everyone. Eric says he is
looking forward to some exciting
projects over the_summer, especially
tree planting demonstrations in
riparian areas and shelterbelts. Watch
for more on this.
The Rainy River Valley Food
Council, with funding from the North
Western Health Unit (NWHU), is
putting out a call for farmers who
wish to be included in the "Local
Flavours" brochure which will advise
consumers where and when they can
purchase local food. For more
information, contact Jarrod Gunn-
McQuillon at 482-3704.
Sioux Lookout is starting a
Farmers' Market. Ashley Korobanik,
Rainy River Regional Abattoir
holds first meeting
The newly elected Board of Directors of the Rainy River Regional Abattoir
(RRRA) held its inaugural meeting in Devlin on April 14, 2006. The nine
members spent the evening orienting themselves to the monumental task of
getting an abattoir erected and operational in the Rainy River District. Geoff
Gillon, Economic Development Officer for the Rainy River Future Development,
provided a background package and orientation to work that has already been
done on behalf of the project.
Key issues discussed at the meeting included the need to develop a planning
process with timelines, continued membership drive and incorporation.
Communications with members of the RRRA was seen as one of the more
important tasks facing the board.
An executive was formed with President, Steve Loshaw; Vice -President, Trish
Neilson; Secretary, Bit Darby; and Treasurer, Aarne Hahkala. Other members
of the board include Ken McKinnon, Peter Spuzak, Dennis Brown, Clayton
Teeple and Todd McLean. A fundraising sub -committee was formed of Ken
McKinnon, Clayton Teeple and Todd McLean to explore fund-raising strategies.
Meetings of the Board will be held every second and fourth Wednesday of the
month. Next meeting will be April 26, 2006.
The goal of the committee was to raise 5600,000 from the community in order
to receive matching grants from Northern Ontario Heritage Fund and FedNor.
100 members have pledged a $500 membership fee and $2,000 loan in support
of the project. Members who have not paid the $500 membership fee are
encouraged to do so as soon as possible. Cheques, payable to "Rainy River
Regional Abattoir", may be dropped off or mailed to Rainy River Future
Development Corporation, 608 Scott Street, Fort Frances, P9A 1H6.0
Health Educator with the NWHU. is
looking for interested producers. The
market will run once a month
throughout the summer. Call Ashley
at (807) 737-2292. The leaders of the
NWHU should be commended for
their vision in supporting food
localism as a means of promoting
community health.
Kiley Hanson, Assistant Co-
ordinator of the Rainy River
Watershed Program at Rainy River
First Nations (RRFN), reports that
she is still taking applications for the
Stream Rehabilitation Program,
which helps landowners to protect
rivers and streams. Kiley has been in
charge of this program for the last
three years. She can be reached at
(807) 482-2479 ext. 222.
The Rainy River Cattlemen's
Association has announced the sales
dates for the upcoming season. They
are: April 22, September 9 and
October 7 and 28. Sales Manager.
Russ Richards may be reached at
(807) 487-2472.
On April 10, another dozen RRD
farmers completed the two-day
Environmental Farm Plan workshop.
Instructor Stefan Szeder pointed out
that half of the money for the three-
year program has been allotted and if
producers are to avoid disappointment
they should get their applications for
funding in early. Other Workshops
will be conducted in the near future.
Contact Stefan at 482-2628 or
rainyriver@ontariosoilcrop.org
There has been discussion about
the abattoir in Beef Production on the
Rainy River Ag Forum at:
http://s14.invisionfree.com/Rainy_Ri
ver_Ag_Forum/index.php?act=idx
The forum is an excellent place to
present your views on the abattoir or
any other topic of interest related to
farming or living in RRD.
Mark your calendar:
• May 9 - 4H Training
• May 19 - RRFN. Fish Fry
• May 26. 27 - Emo Walleye
Tournament
— Submitted by Rick Neilson
MAY 2006 51