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The Rural Voice, 1992-09, Page 50Mutual Fire Insurance Company 264 HURON ROAD SEBRINGVILLE, ONTARIO 393-6402 DOWNIE MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY 1.�-i �41u - - FARM - RESIDENTIAL - AUTO — AGENTS Ken Hutchinson 273-2458 Robert Ready 393-6965 Doug Jacob 271-7894 R. Allan Fuller 271-6176 BROKERS McMaster Siemon Insurance Brokers 348-9150 F. A. Campbell & Son Insurance 348-8425 William Dietz Insurance 656-2585 Whitehead & Watkins Insurance 271-6940 Stonetown Insurance Brokers 284-3321 "Serving The Community For 108 Years. Let Us Serve You In 1992" to FOR CONVENIENCE AND SERVICE Deliver Your 1992 Corn & Soybeans LOWRY GRAIN FARMS LTD. Hwy. 21, 3 miles south of Kincardine licensed under the Financial Protection Plan Elliott Lowry: President 519-395-4404 or 519-395-4405 46 THE RURAL VOICE Oak Manor grows a number of crops including barley, using organic methods. herbicides and pesticides, the closed system allows the farmer greater efficiency and self reliance in utilizing his own on farm resources such as manure composting and empowering the soil's innate ability to balance itself. In addition Dave emphasizes the cost saving he has accomplished by buying and maintaining used machinery. "In the past I've been machinery poor — meaning machinery kept me poor because I had way too much money tied up in new equipment." Dave observes that many farmers get into farming thinking they're going to be their own boss living in the fresh air, wholesome, family farm lifestyle. Instead they find their debt loads increasing and their soil demanding increasing levels of fertilizers and chemicals. A mentality emerges whereby the symptoms of the problem are treated (poor soil nutrients, weeds, insects) without looking at why the problem exists. The result of this mentality has been a decline among farmers in developing an understanding and instinct for a healthy soil. As Dave laments, "We are not teaching the younger generation the art of farming it has become so technical and T