The Rural Voice, 1999-04, Page 71RAINY RIVER.�h
R.R. 1, Devlin. Ontario POW 1C0
807-486-3622
' The Rural Voice is provocd to Rainy
Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER RIVER VALLEY River Federation members by the RRr 4
March 9, 1999
When we were kids in school. so
many years ago, reporting to the
teacher on who heard the first crow
cawing in the Springtime was a big
thing; to the adults as well. It meant
that Spring was just around the corner.
But now, we hear the crow cawing
and flapping his wings as early as
February. It makes me wonder if they
hang around all winter and it's just too
cold to make a noise. Anyway, the
crows are back!
At the March 2 RRFA meeting at
EMO OMAFRA, attending were
Linda Armstrong, . Dianne
Vandenbrand, James Gibson. Rudy
Sinninghe, KimJo Calder, Archie
Wiersema, Kristine Carpenter. Betty
Salchert and Shirley Morrish.
Linda reported on her recent
president's meeting where some
restructuring went on. Heavy
discussion over the postal rates for
Farm & Country magazine may end
up with members paying the cost
themselves. It could be the end of the
magazine. Members are still asking
where their $150 membership goes.
Kristine reported on ;he terrific
response from the Friday displays at
two Fort Frances schools. promoting
Agriculture Awareness and what there
is available. The school teachers were
impressed with the material, and we
will be hearing more from them in the
future. Ten interested people attended
the workshop on the Saturday at
OMAFRA. Everyone left with
positive enthusiasm. A presentation
will happen in the year 2000.
It just has to be Spring. Have you
seem Amos Brielman lately? With
that new look, he better watch out!
The ladies will think that Bert
Reynolds has arrived in the District.
The next time you're out Stratton way
looking at the cattle herds and you see
Heidi — well, that fellow with her IS
Amos.
A large crowd showed up at open
house at the Rainy River bull -test
Station at Ken Fisher's farm on
Saturday, March 6. The bulls looked
good, the prizes were great and the
lunch was super. Out of 31 bulls on
test, around 20 will have passed test to
be offered on the auction block for
March 20 sale day, at Stratton Sales
Barn. The breeds on display are
Charolais, Hereford, Simmental,
Angus and Gelbvieh.
BIO is working with OCA and
CCIA to implement the National
Identification system in Ontario. This
will allow full traceback of any animal
when it goes to slaughter. It may
become a future requirement for us. to
export beef cattle and products to
International markets. National ID
systems will address food safety
issues and provide access to carcass
data. It's already used in Holland.
France, Austria and Britain.
Implementing the system now, are
USA, Japan, Australia and Argentina.
I personally think it's a great thing.
but I'm wondering just how easy it
will be after the hide and head comes
off and the tag is no longer with the
carcass. but maybe they have that
figured out too.
Congratulations to Ken Ploegman,
Herman Krohn and Leonard G.
Stafford on receiving General
Certificates for Superb Milk Quality
Recognition in 1998. The awards were
presented recently.
4-H Beef clubs are now organizing,
and held a Beef Club meeting at Deb
Zimmerman's March 8. A number of
other clubs are also running. The
membership cost is $I5 which goes -to
the Ontario 4-H council. Our local 4-
H Association is going to pay $5 of
the cost for each member to assist
them. The next regular leaders'
meeting will take place at Barwick
Municipal office (upstairs) on April
12 at 7:30 p.m. Gary from OMAFRA
will be in attendance to explain
marking procedures.
The annual meeting for Rainy
River Feeder Finance will be Monday,
March 15 at Morley.
Ag Days – Seed Fair and Trade
show is April 16-17 at Barwick
Community Centre. Two good days
with action -packed speakers and lots
of displays. Bring your kids along too.
Shirley will have an activity corner to
keep them occupied. Tickets for the
annual RRFA Spring Dinner & Dance
can be obtained from any one of the
directors. This takes place on the •
Friday evening this year, so some of
us will he a bit more cLcentriL than
usual come Saturday 's program. It
promises to he a good show .
Rainy Riper Rural Safety held .t
meeting at KimJo Calder's on March
10 with a good turnout. The cake was
delicious too. National Farm S,tfet‘
week is March 10 - 17. and s:ttct\
placemats will he dropped off at sante
of our local restaurants to remind
people to he aware of Safety at all
times and in all places. The annual
meeting is March 22 at Niagara Falls
and Rick Neilson will he attending 14%
represent our local Association.
Rainy Rii,er District Cattlemen's
first sale of the season is Saturday,
April 24 at the Stratton Salesyard
Contact Russ Richards for information
at 807-487-2472. \lanager. Russ
expects ar6und 500.
If you are in the need of any of the
following. without hak int_ to go nut
and purchase one, call OMAFRA for
free rental of the branding irons or the
Burditto. The hoot trimmers and
trimming chute are mailable from
Ken Fisher with a charge of 525 for
use of the chute. You can.. use the
electric dehorner from Jack
Vandenbrand for tree. The
Cattlemen's portable scale is at Russ
Richards for 52(1 per day and other
Cattlemen's portable scales can he
rented from Toni ilorrtsh for 5211 per
day. Everything must be returned.
cleaned and any breaks or malfunction
must be reported upon return. Gary
from OMAFRA says that the transit,
hay probe, forage probe. soil sampler
and land wheel are also available.
Linda had a meeting with Bell
Canada. She is still waiting for a
private line as man- others in the
District are. She reports that N1orson
gets new cable this year and the rest of
Stratton is scheduled for next year.
Things keep moving along, slow hut
sure.
"It's good to have money and the
things money can buy: but it's good
too, to check up once in aw hile to
make sure that you haven't lost the
things that money can't buy."
See you at the Rainy River Ag.
Days, Seed Fair & Trade Show, April
16-17.1999.0
–Submitted by Shirley ,tin,, J,
APRIL 1999 67