The Rural Voice, 1998-12, Page 32"In reality, if a cow eats
transgenic alfalfa or is given an rBST
injection while alive, you pay for it.
There is always a risk," he says. "We
have to maximize the benefit while
minimizing the risk."
For consumers, the most
important factor is food safety. "We
have to prove safety to the consumer
— do what we say, say what we do
and prove it."
On rBST, Fischer says he would
use it, if it was permitted in Canada,
on a selected few in his herd, mid -
lactation cows, maybe eight to 10 per
cent. "The whole problem is that
Health Canada is getting caught up in
the ethics of the issue instead of the
science."
Another concern for Fischer is
the biotechnology which
allows seed companies to
implant a terminator gene in seeds,
thereby stopping germination of the
next generation. "Farmers can't use
bin -run seeds, forcing them to buy
more."
Throughout his lectures, he
continually emphasizes teamwork
and partnerships. The name of the
game is to solve a problem. With
three or four people involved in a
discussion group there are totally
different angles looked at.
In describing the leadership, trust
and teamwork seminar, Fischcr
recalls how important it was to him
to find a mentor, someone to trust
when he entered university to study
microbiology. Having lost his father
20 years ago, Fischer says he was
"not very
knowledgeable
about a lot of farm
things".
As well
teaching
students, Fischer
had the opportunity
to reunite with that
mentor, as well as
exchange ideas with
informal basis.
The key lecture of the week-long
appointment was presented on the
Thursday night as an open forum,
simultaneously broadcast in a
teleconference to Ridgetown and
Kemptville Colleges.
Subjects discussed included the
rural -urban interface, water quality,
rural infrastructure, antibiotic
as
the
resistance, biotechnology, animal
welfare, food safety, pest control and
agriculture's voice in the future.
Of the teleconferencing
experience Fischer says he is very
proud of the university: the
technology was wonderful as it tied
the three locations together. "We
could each hear each other. It is an
important initiative to narrow the
gaps."
An important
component in his
being named
agrologist-in-
residence was his
involvement in
community and
provincial
organizations over
the years. His motivation has always
been to make food products better, in
some small way, through his
association and to leave his mark.
ocally, he and wife, Donna,
L
have served on the Walkerton
Agricultural Society, Fischer
as a past chair.
As past -chair of the Ontario Soil
and Crop Improvement Association,
which has a direct membership of
approximately 9,000 across the
province, he says there was a strong
focus on education, research and
building the farmer link to soil and
crop management. Though the
association is involved with all field
crops as well as some horticultural,
Fischer says these are all grown with
livestock in mind.
Also a member of the Ontario
Forage Council, he says forages are
very important crops which are not
given enough credibility and have
had fewer research dollars spent on
them in the past. "In many parts,
(forages) are the major crop."
Elected chair of AGCare
(Agricultural Groups Concerned
About Resources and the
Environment), in February, 1998, for
a three -to -five-year term, Fischer's
interests extend to the mandated
pesticide and biotechnology issues.
Representing 45,000 field and
horticultural producers, the target of
AGCare is "to influence the urban
media, to keep them up to speed on
modern farming techniques and the
use of crop protection methods."
A key component is letter -writing
to media outlets to point out and
"We have to prove
safety to the
consumer — do what
we say, say what we
do and prove it."
the dean on an
28 THE RURAL VOICE
Sincere Best Wishes
for 1999
Wishing you the Best for the
Christmas Season
and upcoming year!
ww Steve Stuempfle & Staff ,
.
. A
'
•
4. •fir.
• • . U • • IL,,,, r—lis
NW _ --r
Prestige
CONTRACTING
519-366-9986 Cargill, ON Fax 519-366-9930
Building For Your Future
• Agricultural • Commercial • Residential
28 THE RURAL VOICE