The Rural Voice, 1994-04, Page 27options," says Foster. "It's like air
conditioning in a car. There may be
three or four days in a year when you
really wish you had it, and the rest of
the time it doesn't matter. With a lot
of this technology, if you don't have
it, you don't miss it. My dad got a
cellular phone for Christmas and he
insisted that I try it out one day. I
used it six times in just one morning!
But, if I didn't have it, I just would
have written notes, and called the
people when I got home. It was
handy, but not essential."
He adds, "The number of farmers
using computerized marketing is very
small. The grapevine has more
impact than any marketing service.
It's one thing to get the information
off the screen — it's another to
interpret it. You still need a human
brain, someone who is interested, to
translate it."
Whichever attitude is taken,
certain facts remain. In the short run
at least, the corporate gunning for
lower toll rates will mean the little
guy may end up stuck with the tab.
And if basic rate increases are
inevitable, many farmers feel that
they should at least insist upon free
calling areas being expanded. It is
also essential to speak up and ensure
that the rural area has a strong voice
in all matters dealing with the
information highway.
"We need a major co-ordinated
campaign, to be held in conjunction
with another CRTC hearing," says
the OFA's Blake.
Braeker stresses, "The individual
farmer can't do anything alone. If
you expect to have any success at all,
all segments of the local community
must work together. You need facts
and figures to prove why you need to
be competitive with urban areas. It is
all possible today but is cost -
prohibitive under our current system.
It's not a matter of fighting Bell.
Part of the problem is with local
municipal politics."
With our world in transformation,
we must accept that these high-
technology changes are inevitable
and be prepared to deal with them
before it's too late.
Writer Pearl S. Buck once said,
"Every great mistake has a halfway
moment, a split second when it can
be recalled and perhaps remedied."
Continued on Page 25
CIRCULAR MANURE TANKS
• Concrete Foundations • Circular Tanks • Bunker Silos
• Crane Rental • Excavation
• Insulated Concrete Wall Hog Bam Construction
GREY -BRUCE CONSTRUCTION LIMITED
R. R. 5, MILDMAY, ONTARIO
Phone (519) 367-2372 Fax (519) 367-2172
LARRY HOFFARTH JIM POECHMAN
(519) 364-4523 (519) 367-2910
GB
Let Cook's keep you
growing this spring.
with Cook's on your
spring planting team,
you can hit the ground
fast and stay right on schedule.
We can advise you on "least -
cost" fertilizer and weed control
programs in advance, so you
can plan your time and costs
effectively. Our custom
application services can help
reduce your time pressures,
too.
And Cook's can supply all
your seed, fertilizer and crop
protection products at
competitive prices.
Start your crop off right this
spring: Contact your local
Cook's branch. We're here to
help keep you growing.
,6471
Division of
Parrish & Heimbecker, Limited
Hensall (519) 262-2410
Centralia (519) 228-6661
Kirkton (519) 229-8986
Walton (519) 527-1540
Amberley (519) 395-3601
Atwood (519) 356-2292
Parkhill (519) 294-6256
Beechwood (519) 232-4281
"Where you can trade with confidence."
APRIL 1994 23