The Rural Voice, 1995-08, Page 56GREY
County Federation ofAgticulture NEWSLETTER
446 10th St., Hanover, Ontario N4N 1 P9
519-364-3050
• The Rural Voice is provided to all Grey
County Farmers by the GCFA.
Wow!!! was that ever short — that
newsletter in the June issue by Grey
County 1st Vice President Brian
Milne was indeed short and sweet,
but to my mind the message was loud
and clear.
Maybe we do take this farming
business too seriously, but without a
doubt life is short, and a moment in
time never returns, so yes enjoy the
heck out of it. Your children will be
grown up and left home before you
know it.
For - What is life if full of care,
We have no time to stand
and stare,
No time to stand beneath the
boughs,
And stare as long as sheep
and cows.
No business from Grey County
this month. No facts and figures on
this business of farming. No gripes
about input costs. No gripes about
the cost of fertilizer OR about the
increase in the cost of baler twine.
Crops in this part of the county
look good. Canola is doing well, and
the price is not too bad either. Wheat
and most grains look good and it
won't be long before the combines
are rolling again. Beans look very
good, if only we can keep those
pesky groundhogs from taking more
out of the bin than Chretien does,
Story was short, but sweet
yields should not be too bad. Of
course the combine will tell the real
story, and then it will be time to
reflect on past effort — did we do
everything right, what did we do
wrong, did we seed at the right time,
— a day or two too early or maybe a
day late. There are always lessons to
learn every year.
At time of writing the weather has
taken a dramatic turn from the heat
and humidity that we had in June.
That was just too hot for hay making.
But the rains now will do more good
than harm, and if not, there is not too
much that we mortal souls can do
about it.
Whilst we can't be haying,
because of rain, take a break. Take a
stroll around your fields, and see how
your crops are doing. Just see how
much things have grown since last
you took the time to walk around. If
you haven't walked around since you
pulled the seed drill out of the field
maybe you should check to see how
good, or otherwise your weed control
was. Check for insects. Maybe we
should be on the lookout for army
worms this year. Who knows what
you might find.
This might be a good time to write
things down. Put it on paper as Jim
Van Herk from Perth suggested in
the June issue. If you don't write it
NOTICE TO OUR GREY AND BRUCE READERS
The Rural Voice, in co-operation with your Federation
office, is currently updating its subscription lists, to
ensure that all Federation members receive their copy of
The Rural Voice. Inevitably, there will be errors. If you
are receiving more than one copy of The Rural Voice,
perhaps one in your name and one in the farm name,
please let us know. We can be reached by mail at Box
429, Blyth, ON NOM 1H0, by fax at 519-523-9140, or by
phone at 519-523-4311. Thank you for your help.
52 THE RURAL VOICE
down you will forget and invariably
once you have written it down you
will remember without even looking
at that piece of paper.
The countryside looks good right
now, with thanks in the most part to
the farmers, for it is the farmers of
the world who are the custodians of
the land. That brings me to another
topic, that of care. Care for our
fellow farmers, our neighbours and
our friends.
Gone are the days when a deal was
done on a handshake, when you
could trust a man's word. Now it
seems too many will gouge you if
they can. Too many will take your
goods and not pay for them if they
can get away with it, and that is sad.
Oh, there are many deeds still done
on a handshake and I trust there
always will be, but it is the few who
sour the day. Neighbours, friendship
and trust are great assets. Let's keep
it that way. Live and let live and we
will all live better lives.
Remember -
Live as if you are going to die
tomorrow
But farm as if you are going to live
for ever.0
Submitted by Bob Brassington
Artemesia Director Grey County
OFA REGIONAL
MEETING
Tuesday,
September 12, 1995
GCFA Directors' Meeting
Thursday, August 24, 1995
OMAFRA Boardroom, Markdale
8:00 p.m.
MEMBERS ARE
WELCOME TO ATTEND