The Rural Voice, 1993-03, Page 3Editor: Keith Roulston
editorial advisory committee:
Bev Hill, farmer, Huron County
John Heard, soils and crop extension
'and research, northwestem Ontario
Neil McCutcheon, farmer, Grey Cty.
Diane O'Shea, farmer, Middlesex Cty.
George Penfold, associate professor,
University of Guelph
Gerald Poechman, farmer, Bruce Cty.
contributing writers:
Adrian Vos, Gisele Ireland, Cathy
Laird, Wayne Kelly, June Flath, Ian
Wylie-Toal, Susan Glover, Bob Reid,
Mervyn Erb, DareneYavorsky, Peter
Baltensperger, Sandra On, Yvonne
Reynolds, Bonnie Gropp, Rhea
Hamilton -Seeger, Kendra Krauter
marketing & advertising sales manager:
Gerry Fortune
advertising sales:
Merle Gunby
production co-ordinator:
Tracey Rising
advertising & editorial production:
Rhea Hamilton -Seeger
Anne Harrison
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Behind the Scenes
Environment: we all live in it
Last year, in the process of getting
a second mortgage on our country
property, we had to get the water in
our well tested. After having drunk
the water every day for 17 years, after
bragging to ourselves over how much
better our water tasted than many
nearby towns, we were in for a shock
when we learned our water tested
unfit for drinking. Not only was the
total coliform count too high, the
there was fecal coliform in the water.
The next several months were
spent working to overcome the
problem. We're still not sure we've
got the problem solved but it has
improved. It brought home, however,
that while we take for granted clean
air and clean water, even those of us
in the country cannot take our
environment for granted.
That message was brought home
more clearly again last fall when a
study by the Ontario Soil and Crop
Improvement Association showed a
high percentage of rural wells in
Ontario are similar to ours: unfit for
drinking.
Farmers, it is often said, are the
first to be worried about the
environment because they depend on
it for their living. Without good soil,
they have nothing to grow their
crops. Without pure air and water,
they can't live on their own farm.
Farmers indeed are dependent on
the environment but they have, like
everyone else, tended to take it for
granted. Now, through things like the
Environmental Agenda, and work of
groups like the Soil and Crop
Improvement Association, they've
taken a renewed interest. This month
we take a look at various aspects of
environment and the farm. Hopefully,
it makes you think.
Also, we take a look at the Line in
the Dirt campaign which is back in
action, dealing with the problems of
the 1992 crop disaster. — KR
Correction
In our last issue we misidentified a
person in the caption in the article
about Centralia College.
The person identified as Stuart
Spracklan was actually Rob Black,
Conference Co-ordinator at Centralia
College. The Rural Voice apologizes
for the error.°
Update
In late February last year, technicians from the Ministry of Natural Resources,
Wingham office, released 10 wild turkeys into a cornfield near the Maitland
River, part of a reintroduction of wild turkeys into the area after a 100 -year
absence. It was the second release of birds captured in the Cambridge District.
The hope was that the birds will proliferate as they have elsewhere in southern
Ontario where they have been introduced.
In the story last year we mentioned what wiey game the turkeys are and it is
being proved this winter. Backed by grants from the Ontario Federation of
Anglers and Hunters the staff at the Wingham MNR office has been trying to
capture more wild turkeys this winter near Fonthill. The birds have proved
elusive, however, said Mike Malhiot, area biologist, in charge of the MNR
program. As of early February, the weather in the area had been so nice, the birds
weren't tempted to the bait feeding areas where they could be caught.
Malhiot says he would like to get another 30-40 birds this winter to augment
the two releases last year and allow for a third release point. Report cards were
given out to people in the area and five broods were reported. One hen was killed
in a accident with haying equipment. It's possible there may be a further five
broods out there somewhere, he says. The birds were sighted up to five miles
from their original location.
Come April, Malhiot says, "gobbling" surveys may be carried out. Volunteers
will drive to likely locations and listen for the gobbling of male turkeys in the
breeding season. Malhiot encourages people to keep him informed of sightings.
If all goes well, the population will grow enough that in years to come they'll
even be trapped there for reintroduction into other areas of the province.°