The Rural Voice - December 2023

Rural Voice December 2023

The

THE MAGAZINE OF AGRICULTURAL LIFE ... $2.50 PM 40037593

DEFENSIVE NOT AGGRESSIVE Built winter tough, bison live outdoors year round and produce nutrient-dense meat

SPRUCE, PINE and FIR Christmas tree farm is a labour of love for grower

PLANNING FOR AGRICULTURE Everyone should care about rural planning because saving farmland protects food production and security

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Contents

30

The

Rural Voice THE MAGAZINE OF AGRICULTURAL LIFE

Published monthly by: The Rural Voice, Box 429, Blyth, Ontario, N0M 1H0 Telephone: 519-523-4311 Fax: 519-523-9140 E-mail: info@northhuron.on.ca Website: ruralvoice.ca

16

Publisher: Deb Sholdice Editor: Lisa Boonstoppel-Pot rveditorlisa@northhuron.on.ca

21 Columns Lisa Boonstoppel-Pot . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Keith Roulston . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Kate Procter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Jeffrey Carter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Mabel’s Grill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Viewpoint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Recipes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32 Gardening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35 Markets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44 Woodlots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46 Agrilaw . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48

Departments Ruralite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37 People . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51 Business Centre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54 Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56 Advertisers Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63

Newsletters

National Farmers Union . . . . . . . . . .58 Perth County Pork . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59 Grey County Federation . . . . . . . . . .60 Bruce County Federation . . . . . . . .61 Perth County Federation . . . . . . . . . .62 Huron County Federation . . . . . . . . .64

DECEMBER 2023 • Cover Photo Shane and Amanda Stege, Moorefield Photo by Lisa Boonstoppel-Pot

• Deadlines: Jan. Issue – Dec. 5 February Issue – January 9

16 Northwind Bison

A chill of fear went down Shane Stege’s back the day the dominant bull escaped the pasture

21 Trees for Christmas The season is short and sweet but caring for trees is a long haul

25 Mammary Growth in Gilts Research to improve milk production in sows has begun at the new Ontario Swine Research Centre in Elora

30 Fundamentally Connected

Contributing writers: Keith Roulston, Kate Procter, Jeffrey Carter, Rhea Hamilton Seeger, Arnold Mathers, Donna Lacey, Melisa Luymes, Carolyn Crawford, Bonnie Sitter, Jeff Tribe Advertising Sales: Shelley Kroes rvads@northhuron.on.ca Production co-ordinator & Telemarketing: Joan Caldwell PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40037593 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO CIRCULATION DEPT. PO BOX 429, BLYTH ON N0M 1H0 email: info@northhuron.on.ca Subscriptions: $25 (12 issues) $45 (24 issues), includes HST Back copies $2.75 each.

Make cheques payable to: NORTH HURON PUBLISHING CO.

Government planning and saving farmland are intertwined says planner Dr. Wayne Caldwell

37 Outstanding Farmer

Gerry VandenHengel earns the Huron County Federation of Agriculture’s top award

51 Hall of Fame Winner

Robert James Scott is inducted into Ontario Agricultural Hall of Fame

All manuscripts submitted for consideration should be accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope. The publisher cannot accept responsibility for unsolicited submissions. The opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the publisher. Editorial content may be reproduced only by permission of the publisher. The Rural Voice makes every effort to see that advertising copy is correct. However, should an error occur, please notify The Rural Voice office within 30 days of invoicing in order to obtain a billing adjustment.

A division of North Huron Publishing Company Inc.

We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada.

2 The Rural Voice

Ruralite

“

Agriculture needs to be recognized

as an integral part of the community with a clear

”

strategy supported by land use plans, economic development and infrastructure.”

~ Dr. Wayne Caldwell on government planning to save farmland. See page 30

Christmas Humour

●What does Santa do when the reindeer drive too fast?

Hold on for deer life. ● Why do reindeer like Mrs. Claus so much?

She sleighs. ● What is it called when a snowman has a temper tantrum?

A meltdown

•

Big Bull Vibes “During the rut the breeder bull likes to let us know who is boss and that’s a good thing...he is taking ownership.” ~ Shane Stege on the behaviour of the dominant bull in his bison herd.

See page 16

December INSPIRATION

“It is a serious thing just to be alive on this fresh morning in this broken world.”

— Mary Oliver, Invitation

•

Neil’s One-Liners (Wisdom from McGavin Files)

Almost Sated

Piglets at the Ontario Swine Research Station fill their bellies in warm comfort. ~ Photo by Nicole Gregory

● One thing common to make success stories is the alarm clock ● A foot is a device for finding furniture in the dark

•

December 2023 3

Lisa Boonstoppel-Pot Lisa B. Pot is editor of The Rural Voice, and farms in Huron County

Addicted to the Hoof GP You sit down for a minute with a coffee and think, “I’ll just watch a few videos” and next thing you know, the coffee is cold and you’ve wasted an hour. It’s not just teenagers who can’t resist the lure and addictive qualities of reels.

It was on one of these nonscheduled squanderings that I happened upon a video by The Hoof GP (GP stands for Graeme Parker) who runs the largest agricultural YouTube channel in the world. He does this, unbelievably, by sharing videos of hoof trimming.

Yep. Manure covered hooves.

Abscesses. Fistulas. White line disease.

Toe necrosis. Digital dermatitis. You see it all in gory detail as he grinds, slices, and shaves dairy and beef cow hooves in his native country of Scotland. Honestly, I was hooked! And it’s not like I haven’t seen this before, growing up on a dairy farm.

When I think back, it was fascinating even then. A skilled hoof trimmer makes it look so simple…that knife slicing through the hoof likes it’s butter, carving off thick and thin slices of hoof until the two claws are balanced, allowing a cow to walk on her toes to prevent bruising and lameness.

Parker does all this with a running commentary in a Scottish accent. Since launching his YouTube channel and Facebook accounts, he has pulled in a combined total of three million subscribers and has had an incredible 2.1 billion views between the two sites.

He receives around 5,000 to 7,500 comments per day from his agricultural and non-agricultural fans which his wife Ashley monitors alongside the paperwork.

In the last 14 years, The Hoof GP has trimmed the feet of 200,000 dairy 4 The Rural Voice

and beef cows throughout Scotland and glue, a vivid green that matches the England. He now works in a 25-mile “crush” the cows stand in while getting radius from his home near Wigtown in trimmed. We’d call it a chute. But South West Scotland. hey…if I had his reach, I’d probably be Parker weaves an interesting trying to sell something too. commentary through each procedure He’s proud of his work, saying and he’s a skilled movie editor. He “Imagine going to work knowing you often starts with a quick reel of a pus- are going to make animals more filled, bloody, disgusting hoof, then comfortable at the end of the day; teases with a comment such as “this you’re going to help farmers run their might be the worst infection I’ve ever farms more efficiently and you’re seen” before the videos launches with going to earn a living wage to feed, views of the Scottish countryside. house and clothe your family. I truly Next, we’re in a barn and watching him love this job.” Now imagine that in a explain why hoof trimming is Scottish accent. important as he uncovers a tiny black We keep getting told to share hole in the hoof. It looks like nothing stories of our farm lives on social but anticipation rises as he says the media and this guy proves why it is so cow is lame and he wonders, out loud, valuable. He explains how the what he’s going to discover under the ulcers/injuries/diseases happen, credits hoof wall. Pretty soon you’re peering farmers for taking care of their animals, closely at the screen and there it is, a shows the grossest of the gross, and spray of pus. Then he finds the abscess gives the viewer a happy ending with and you almost want to cheer! the bandaged cow walking off with a Next you get totally grossed out as block on its hoof (to keep the hoof he keeps slicing and grinding to raised to reduce pressure and keep it remove any loose hoof material. cleaner) to join the herd. I’m a farmer Sometimes half the hoof is gone before myself yet I find myself with a he gets it all. It’s astonishing how heightened appreciation for farmers much he can carve away before he hits and trimmers after watching the videos. the sole corium. Corium is responsible Check it out. It’s as gross as the for making new sole horn, it is prone to Pimple Popper yet way more damage, leading to bruising, sole ulcers satisfying. And it’s making agriculture and white line haemorrhage. look good.

Sometimes he accidentally hits it and Awareness of the Hoof GP is my says, “there we have some claret gift to you this season as an showing”. Claret, I take it, is Scottish opportunity to share with your urban slang for blood. family members and initiate a The man’s Scottish accent is part of conversation. the appeal, I’m sure. He’s engaging, I wish all The Rural Voice readers attractive and you feel like you’re a Merry Christmas!◊ really learning about hoof health and care.

Graeme Parker, But nothing is The Hoof GP as gripping as wondering what he’s going to discover next as he cuts into those hooves.

The only thing really bothersome is his penchant for marketing his own hoof

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Keith Roulston Keith is former publisher of The Rural Voice.

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an honest living All around the world, in December each year, there’s a goodhearted example of fraud as we raise the fiction of Santa Claus again for the benefit of our own children and the children of our community.

As we celebrate Santa Claus with a happy sense of his fraudulent activities, there are, throughout the year and throughout the world, many unhappy examples of despicable people who set out to defraud innocent residents of their possessions.

Just prior to me sitting down to write this column, there was an instance of someone being cheated out of $70,000 by a fraudster in a nearby township, reported on CKNX radio.

It seems the man was contacted by a man who was supposed to be a lawyer in England. The “lawyer” claimed he represented people cheated in a 2009 investment scam and he was going to get that money back He promised a return of $100,000. The local man sent $250 as a retainer, and gave remote access to his computer.

During the next few months the local man sent more money through bank transfers that were converted into cryptocurrency accounts and disappeared. Eventually, the victim went to the police.

Earlier this year, Huron OPP Constable Craig Soldan spoke to the business community in Exeter and explained that fraudsters are cheating victims out of billions of dollars a year. Soldan said $263 million in losses were reported last year in Canada and it’s estimated that only five to 10 per cent of all frauds are reported, putting the total much

higher.

Soldan mentioned two cases in Huron County earlier in the year when women were defrauded out of $800,000 in one case and $500,000 in another.

Sadly, there are thousands of fraud schemes and fraudsters can be convincing. They use “burner” phones, fake names and frequently change email addresses. They often mask their phone numbers to make them look like real local numbers.

One of the scams often used is the grandparent emergency scam. The victim receives a call claiming to be from police or from someone claiming to be a grandchild who has been arrested and needs money for bail. In an example Soldan had, the perpetrator asked the grandparent to send $8,000 by Fedex to an address.

In this case, over a period of three days, the woman sent $40,000 – $20,000 borrowed from a bank and $12,000 borrowed from a sister.

One of the similarities among these cases is that most involve people of my vintage. Unfortunately, seniors like me are especially vulnerable.

Typical is the romance scam, Soldan says. Often lonely seniors, left behind by a partner who passes, seek companionship. Typically fraudsters may seek contacts with victims through fake romantic websites. Often a contact quickly professes his or her love, but they say they can’t come to visit because they are overseas and have no money. Too often the Canadian victim is only too happy to send money for them to travel to Canada..

My wife recently told me about a true story she saw on an investigative TV progam with a slightly different angle. In this case, her would-be lover sent her clothes to be delivered to him in an Asian country where they would meet. Except she was arrested on arrival when customs official investigated the clothing and found the buttons contained drugs.

Let’s not seem foolish in the long run. Let’s make the fraudsters make an honest living.

For more information you can contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at antifraudcentre.ca where frauds can also be reported.◊

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Kate Procter Kate farms, hikes, canoes, and plays guitar in Huron County.

Our science fair project I remember back to my elementary school days when the science fair was a big deal. I’ll admit it was stressful trying to come up with a new idea every year. But there was always the excitement around the possibility of making it on to the next stage. Maybe I liked it more than I realized at the time because it seems, upon reflection, that a lot of my life has been one big science fair experiment.

One of the good things about farming is that there is always something new to learn. Every year provides opportunities to figure things out, to try new things, and to

look at things in a way you hadn’t before. Even when I think I am replicating the experiment that was last year… things often turn out completely differently. And humble me if I ever get to thinking I may have it all figured out.

I will admit I am not the world’s biggest risk taker. Far from it. When I find something that works, I tend to try to stick with it. I will put up with things that aren’t perfect often longer than I should just in case the change ends up being worse. It is kind of a “better the devil you know than the devil you don’t” way of thinking.

We have been using a no-till cropping system for over 30 years and it has worked well for us. There are some challenges, but we have seen the organic matter in our soils hold steady, or improve slightly, while farm press headlines are screaming about its loss across farms in Ontario.

I have been a bit resistant to trying much in the way of cover crops largely because I haven’t been convinced that we need to do it and there are reasons I think it might not

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work well with our current system.

Excess residue at planting is one of the challenges of no-till and I was suspicious that adding cover crops may make that situation worse.

Planting crops then spraying them off also increases expense, as well as energy and chemical use.

On the other hand, proponents of cover crops explain that doing a little research ahead of time and going into it knowing why you are doing it makes a big difference. I am interested in learning more about managing fertilizer more effectively as well as improving compaction, which are two reasons to give cover crops a try.

Over the centuries, cover crops have played many roles – from improving soil health, compaction, and structure, to protecting crops from pests and improving water quality. Cover crops are defined in the Ontario Cover Crop Strategy as “plants that are seeded into agricultural fields, either within or outside of the regular growing season, with the primary purpose of improving or maintaining soil quality,” https://www.ontario soilcrop.org/wp-content/ uploads/2017/06/Ontario-CoverCrop-Strategy_May-3_Finalv3compressed.pdf.

We worked with the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority (MVCA) and participated in their cover crop program. We had a perfect place for the trial. A field that had winter wheat, but owing to the difficult fall conditions when it was planted, had a section that didn’t get planted and ended up growing soybeans. It worked out almost evenly to have roughly a third with cover crop, a third with wheat stubble, and a third with soybean stubble all planted to the same variety of corn this past spring. We used a cover crop mix of tillage radish, oats, and peas. The goal was to improve compaction and to see how yields were affected.

One of the challenges of on-farm experiments is that there are so many variables that we can’t control. Even a field that has the same soil type, similar topography, similar drainage, and the same rainfall and sunlight can have a lot of variation. Small plot

trials can be hard to replicate over a larger area. Experiments really need to be conducted over several years before strong conclusions can be made. Plus you need to keep meticulous records.

A few years ago, we planted two fields – across the road from each other – with the same corn variety on the same day. Come harvest, there was a substantial yield difference that we just were not able to explain. If we had been doing some sort of trial there it could have led to some very poor conclusions.

We were excited to harvest the field and see how it turned out. We already knew there were a couple of areas of the trial that had issues, possibly due to less than perfect drainage in one area, but the other area we could not figure out. All we knew was that right from emergence there was a noticeable difference that had definite visible boundaries.

At harvest, when everyone is going full tilt to bring the crops in, there is always a balance between getting things perfect and just getting done, especially in a year when two rain-free days in a row are scarce. So yes, we had a problem with equipment that made the results of part of the field questionable. I was reminded of some of my lessons from harvests past – if you think something is going wrong with the machine – stop and figure it out. Call the experts first rather than 25 struggling acres later.

The good news is that it happened in a part of the field that was already sketchy. At the end of it all, the results looked like there was enough difference to give it another try.

Which is good, because in the world of cover crop trials, the next one is planted before the results of the last one are even close to harvest.

Always looking forward optimistically to next year, we have a new cover crop trial underway. We have the winter to look at the financials of our first trial, comparing all the variables and determine if it is a good fit for our farm. And dream up a new experiment we can get excited about that we might actually move on to the next stage with. ◊

We thank you for your support in 2023 and look forward to being of service to you for your agricultural, industrial and commercial electrical projects in 2024.

December 2023 9

Jeffrey Carter Jeffrey is a freelance journalist based in Dresden, Ontario.

I am North American but not totally impressed with the CBC

A

t a time when much of the world is at war, through proxy if not in actual combat, and when an obvious genocide is occurring in the Middle East, the news emerged that renowned indigenous celebrity Buffy Ste. Marie is in fact not indigenous at all. At least that is the verdict espoused through yet another example of “gotcha” journalism that has become so pervasive within Canadian society – the pursuit of controversy where in fact no controversy exists.

The matter did bring to mind a question I’ve been considering for some time. Am I indigenous?

I do know I am a person of place, feeling attached on a spiritual and cultural level to the North American landscape. On my mother’s side of the family, that dates back to the mid-19th century, a modest passage of time.

I remember being attacked for that heritage on-line; those members of my ancestral family being portrayed as having crawled out of some awful hole in Europe to further despoil the once pristine landscape on this side of the Atlantic.

These family members, certainly, were of modest means, middle class some and others whose ancestral home was a small plot of land and a collection of low stone structures in a remote corner of the British Isles.

The connection of my father’s side of the family to North America

10 The Rural Voice

goes back much further. Seven generations upon seven if my great aunt’s reckoning is indeed accurate.

To put it another way, there is a good chance, even a likelihood, of the existence of distant cousins who identify as being among the first peoples of this land, or as African American for that matter.

I am a North American, certainly, and if not indigenous as well, what then?

The Sainte Marie story – for a brief time – was given a good deal of prominence though it was not a true revelation, having been a matter of debate for decades. Discussed was the fact that Sainte Marie had been raised by a “white” family in Massachusetts and later adopted by an indigenous community in Canada.

Relatives were consulted, with an emphasis it seemed for those who disputed her story.

Are there not better leads for the staff at the Canadian Broadcast Corporation to pursue?

I would sooner see more in-depth coverage of the trial of Tamara Lich and Chris Barber and an analysis of what led to the Freedom Convoy that, for a time, occupied parts of downtown Ottawa.

Lich, incidentally, identifies as having indigenous family connections, though like Sainte Marie was raised by a white family.

That, so far, has not been challenged and as such would appear to be true.

I’ve been following the process of the trial which will likely have concluded by the time this column is published. I’ve read Lich’s book, Hold the Line. Her involvement, she said, began with the considerable organizational effort required to bring thousands of protestors to Ottawa but, once they arrived, there was little idea of what to do next, other than to meet with government representatives for a meaningful dialog – something that never happened.

I’ve also perused the Report of Public Inquiry into the Public Order Emergency written by the Honourable Paul S. Rouleau. It is a ponderous document which fails, by Rouleau’s own admission, to explain the motivations behind the Freedom

Convoy.

The media, in a general sense, also failed in this regard. Discussed at length was the course of events, the police response or lack thereof, the invoking of the Emergencies Act, the impact on Ottawa residents, the possible connection to extremists both domestic and from abroad, the hot tubs, the bouncy castles and so on and so forth.

Yet convoy participants were not asked to any great extent what would seem to be the obvious question: why are you here?

I look to the Canadian Broadcast Company on a daily basis for information. Seldom does a Sunday afternoon pass without having tuned into the Cross Country Checkup, call-in program.

This past summer, when the program’s host was asked about the CBC’s failure to provide insight into the motivation of Freedom Convoy protestors, he said that they wouldn’t speak with CBC reporters. Weeks later, I’m still shaking my head. ◊

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Mabel’s Grill The world’s problems are solved daily ’round the table at Mabel’s Grill.

“Heavens, it’s only December and I’m sick of winter already – and it’s not even officially winter yet!” Molly Whiteside complained as she delivered menus to the fellows’ table the half-light of one morning at Mabel’s Grill.

“It’s been a dreary Fall, all right,” said Cliff Murray as he opened the menu. “So much cloud and rain.

Hardly any of the colour in the leaves that picks up your spirit before winter sets in.”

“Too damned high propane bills to dry the corn down to where you can store it!” grumbled Dave Winston.

“Kind of makes me long for the days when my Father used to store corn on the cob in a crib to dry in the wind,” said George Mackenzie. “No propane bills back in those days.”

“And he grew what? Fifteen acres of corn?” Dave wondered. “I grew 350 acres this year.”

“My, even I can tell that’s enough for a heck of a lot of corn bread,” chuckled Molly as she pulled out her order pad. “Now, what can I get you fellas?”

After they studied their menus a bit more and Dave grouched about the prices, they ordered the exact same thing they have for the past week. Molly headed back to Mabel in the kitchen.

“So much night and so little day,” George sighed. “I can hardly wait for Christmas when you get to December.”

“That’s probably why some of those TV stations start showing Christmas movies right after Halloween,” Dave said.

“About two of those movies are all I can take before I have to make sure I’m near a toilet in case I have to barf!” George moaned.

“Christmas is supposed to cheer you up,” Cliff said. “The early church leaders put Christmas in December, just after the shortest day

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of the year, because the pagans had a celebration during the same season.

The Church assumed more people would embrace Christmas if it was seen as a replacement-option from their pagan holiday.”

“See even the church leaders were trying to pull a fast one on us!” Dave muttered.

“I’m not sure I can take December this year, what with the actors and writers being on strike for so long,” George sighed. “I’m sure they’ll pull out every soapy movie ever made to keep the schedule full.”

“Well I can take it if it saves me watching another 10 minutes of Donald Trump sounding off,” Cliff chuckled.

“Better be careful when Molly gets back, said Dave. “You know Mabel’s rule about not discussing politics over breakfast.”

“Besides, what’s wrong with Trump?” asked George. “At least he gives you something to talk about, not like boring old Joe Biden.”

“Yeah and Trump is a mere kid by comparison,” chuckled Dave.

“Since you’re talking about kids,” said Molly as she delivered their plates, “I can hardly wait for Christmas, as far as my kids go.

There’s no time of the year like it,.”

Dave laughed. “We weren’t talking about kids or about Christmas, we were talking about Donald Trump and Joe Biden, neither one of whom is exactly Santa Claus.”

“Oh, well I’ve been having fun going shopping to help out Santa,” Molly added as she set their plates down. “It’s the best time of the year to be a parent!”

“Yeah, I remember the fun involved,” said George. “Of course I remember the expense involved, too.”

“Yeah, I heard on the TV news that with the cost of groceries being up people won’t be spending as much on Christmas presents,” said Cliff.

“Gee, it would be terrible if the kids had to pay the price,” Molly said as she prepared to go back to the kitchen. “I hope my tips are high enough so the kids have a good Christmas!”

“That was a dirty trick,” said George. “Now we have to leave a good tip.”◊

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Gary Kenny Gary Kenny is retired from a career in international human rights, is a writer and resident of Grey County.

The earth community that is possible We will soon enter year five of what climate scientists tell us will be humanity’s decisive decade. Unless we navigate a global change of course before 2030, they warn, we risk doing such irreversible damage to Earth’s regenerative systems that the survival of our own species is doubtful.

The planet won’t die – it will continue to unfold as the universe is forever unfolding – but we might.

We deny or minimize the sober counsel of climate scientists at our peril. Yet deny and minimize we do.

Many governments, corporations, and institutions are attempting to greenwash their way through the crisis. Or denying there’s a crisis at all.

Many of us find all the catastrophic messaging overwhelming at times, and try to shut it out. Reports like that by the UN Environment Programme – that 150200 species of plants, insects, birds, and mammals become extinct every 24 hours – can do that to you.

It’s as if we, the global community of nations, our leaders have somehow rendered ourselves, or been rendered, incapable of rational, objective thought and action, at least on the climate breakdown front.

United Nations (UN) Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, puts it this way: “We are gridlocked in colossal global dysfunction.” The international community has not been ready or willing to tackle the major challenges of our age, even though they “threaten the very future of 14 The Rural Voice

humanity and the fate of our planet.”

Author and visionary David Korten puts a finer point on this seeming human and planetary death wish. “Our current society cannot be considered civilized by any objective standard,” he says. “We grow the fortunes of billionaires, even as we increase the numbers of homeless refugees and destroy Earth’s capacity to sustain life.”

To Korten’s list of wrongheaded, socially and environmentally destructive human behaviours, we could add 23rd century conflicts like the war in Ukraine, and the threat of war in the south China Sea. Both threaten nuclear conflagration. Also the war crimes and crimes against humanity taking place as I write among Israelis and Palestinians in Israel, Gaza and the occupied West Bank.

Grim as these various scenarios are, we mustn’t surrender hope.

David Korten certainly hasn’t. Last year, in yes! a magazine, the then 84year-old Korten reflected on a lifetime of engagement in conversations with some of the world’s most extraordinary minds. In recent years, the discussions have become especially exuberant and hopeful, Korten says.

A stirring vision of a life-serving civilization, an Earth community, has emerged. It has its genesis, Korten says, in an exciting convergence of Indigenous understanding of the world and observations at the leading edge of contemporary science.

At the core of the vision is the “foundational truth” that life is a “fundamentally cooperative enterprise.” Indeed, as science has been increasingly demonstrating, life depends on diverse and interconnected communities of all living beings (not just humans). They selforganize to establish and maintain the conditions essential to their (and our) individual and mutual existence.

It's a truth, Korten says, that calls us to transform how we structure and manage our relationships with one another and the Earth. Because as humans, we have the distinctive ability, the extraordinary power, to consciously shape the planet’s future, something we’ve demonstrated time

and again and in a multitude of ways.

But when we make wrong choices, Korten adds, we become “an existential threat to ourselves and to the whole of the living community.”

We are sorely mistaken, Korten adds, if we think these are short-lived problems we can put behind us just by electing new political leaders or reducing our use of plastic bags. “We are dealing with false assumptions about what and who we are that lead to deeply flawed collective choices…

We must publicly challenge those false assumptions and replace them with our deepening understanding of (the ecological way) life works.”

So what would a truly civilized, life-centered civilization look like? ● An ecological civilization will differ dramatically from our current world, Korten says, obsessed as it is with maximizing growth in individual and corporate financial assets. Korten and his colleagues have outlined some essential components: ● Conflicts will be resolved peacefully through energetic and engaging diplomacy. ● Power will be shared within and among bio-regionally self-reliant local communities, and most decisions will be made locally through radically democratic processes. ● Government and business will be accountable to the people they serve. ● Everyone will share in the ownership of and responsibility to care for the physical and intellectual assets on which their means of living depend. ● Each community will care for and seek to live within the capacities of its local ecosystems. Most material needs will be met with local, circular supply chains. ● Farms will be small-scale.

Farming methods will feature regenerative soil care. Diets will be mostly vegetarian. ● Cities will be designed to reconnect people and nature while meeting needs for personal transport

with walking, cycling, and public transit.

Such changes are not modest.

Sacrifice will be needed, especially for those of us who currently consume well beyond our share of Earth’s means.

Some may chafe at the thought of being stripped of their assumed right to exploit others for personal gain.

Perhaps with time, Korten thinks, they will come to cherish the restoration of their humanity.

Civilizational renewal of this order surely begins by learning to recognize the sacred in every person, and in every aspect of the created order – animals, plants, insects, even inanimate objects like rocks and water. “All my relations” as Indigenous peoples say.

Korten reminds us how diverse people and communities in different social, political, economic, and environmental contexts are investing hope, ingenuity, courage, and determination to live into Earth community. Its realization is ours, he would say – if we choose it.

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Bison

Bison are defensive, not aggressive When the dominant bull got out, it was a tense moment but bison prefer their own space and only act up in defence of the herd • By Lisa Boonstoppel-Pot •

W

hen the first bison came to Northwind Bison near Moorefield, Shane and Amanda Stege used to grab a couple of pails and sit in the field to watch them. The animals were young and kept their distance.

Now, with a bison bull in his prime and 11 new calves in the pasture, the bison keep to their side of the fence and the Steges to the other, though they will enter the pasture to check the fencing and grass, and observe the animals from a safe distance.

Shane and Amanda Stege keep the skulls of bisons they butcher for sale in their on‐farm store at Northwind Bison near Moorefield where over 30 bison roam a large pasture throughout the year.

16 The Rural Voice

“When you have a dominant bull, it’s a different dynamic,” admits Amanda. Though bison are not aggressive, they are defensive, especially with new calves in the mix. When Amanda and Shane walked me to the deck they built beside the high fence surrounding the pasture, I could see why. I was lucky enough to have the dominant bull walk surely and steadily toward me, with all the power and confidence a prairie bison contains in his enormous head and shoulders. The furry skull dwindles to a surprisingly lean and narrow hind end. He was a presence and his gaze was unwavering. The herd, honestly, was amazing to see and photograph.

The Steges understand the fascination so they have hosted a few open houses. The events draw crowds of 200 people to see these mammals, rich in history on our continent, graze the grass that transforms the calves into hulking cows and bulls.

It all began for the Steges when Shane was called to a bison farm for his work at Norwell Dairy. “He was raised on a dairy farm and he really missed four-legged creatures.

After seeing those bison, he couldn’t let the idea of them go.”

The pair were already busy enough with their own broiler barn, Shane’s off-farm job and Amanda’s work as a dental hygienist, while raising their three children. But Shane couldn’t stop thinking about bison. So the pair researched what it takes to become bison meat producers, visiting three different bison farms and chatting with members of the Ontario Bison Association. Shane was always keen – he likes a bit of adventure – but Amanda wasn’t sure until she learned about the nutritional component of bison meat. It’s low in fat while being high in protein and iron. “It’s similar to beef but not the same. It has a milder flavor with a hint of sweetness and is more nutrient dense,” she says. The meat is really more like elk, than traditional beef, she explains.

By 2019, they took the plunge, and purchased six, twoyear-old animals.

Amanda remembers being surprised how small they were at the time…something that changed quickly as the cattle aged.

“The females know us well and those matriarchs have a calm demeanor in the herd,” says Shane. “But the breeder bull during the rut likes to let us know who is boss and that’s a good thing. He is taking ownership.”

They’ve only really had one frightening incident and

that was on a day when Shane was bringing hay into the enclosure. He had done this many times without incident by driving in with a tractor, dumping the hay and driving out.

The bull always kept a respectable distance. This time, as Shane drove out, the bull made a run for it and was outside before the gate could be shut.

It was a tense and terrifying moment. The bull looked at Shane and Shane looked at the bull. The family dog started barking and fearing the bull would charge, Shane raised his arms in the air and started yelling. Thankfully, the bull decided to turn around and race back into the pasture with Shane quickly closing the gate behind him.

“He came into the house white as a sheet and lay on the couch for a good hour,” remembers Amanda, after the event. Changes to the pasture were made soon after, with a double gate system to prevent an escape from happening again.

The cows aren’t as aggressive.

When they calve, they keep to the back corner of the pasture and it takes a week or more before they will come up to the fence with their calves. Bison heifers are bred when they reach 750 pounds, which is when they are about three years old.

Eleven of the 14 females calved this year. The cattle are pasture-raised, supplemented with hay and given salt and minerals as needed.

Shelter isn’t a necessity for animals raised to survive Canada’s harsh winters but many people are concerned they don’t have a barn to enter, admit the Steges. Thing is, the bison really don’t need it. Bison have a thick skin and wooly coat that protects them. On harsh cold days, they will gather in a group with their back ends facing the wind and ride out the storm. Or, they will lay down in the pasture and allow the snow to build on them as a layer of insulation, a position that also protects their belly and preserves body heat.

It’s actually the hot summer days that bother them more, says Amanda.

“In the summer they will graze in the morning and then lay flat out all day until nine or 10 at night when they will start grazing again.”

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Clockwise: ● The dominant bull is huge! But he and his herd will come to the fence out of curiosity and to eat sliced apples from Shane and Amanda Stege. ● Amanda in the on‐farm store. ● Cows with a summer‐born calf. ● A bison roast from the freezer.● At centre, a late born calf still brown in colour.

18 The Rural Voice

The bison are dewormed and vaccinated by a veterinarian who keeps his distance by using a dart gun. When it comes time to butcher a bison, the animals are dropped in the field before going to a processing plant. It’s not safe for the Steges, transporters or workers at the abattoir to deal with a live bison so this is the safest way. Plus, it’s less stressful on the animal. Peel Meat Packers in Drayton does the skinning and processing while J-Mar Custom Meats Inc. in Mount Forest does the butchering and wrapping.

The Steges are now at the point where they can sell all their own bison meat in the on-farm store they created at their Moorefield farm.

Bison meat is a niche market and “demand is increasing” says Amanda. They hope profits will continue to grow to the point they can hire an employee to manage their on-farm store in the future.

“Bison is a long-term investment because you have to grow your herd,” explains Shane. Eventually, they hope to sell breeding stock. The herd now stands at 36 animals which include the first four calves born in 2021 and seven calves in 2022, along with the 11 calves born this year.

As they look to the future, they plan to host more open-house events that include wagon rides around the outside of the pasture. The Steges often spend summer evenings on the fence-side deck watching their herd and they understand the appeal of these large, wooly animals. Their size almost matched their icon-status in Canadian history.

“We respect them and the power they have,” concludes Amanda. ◊

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Christmas

Growing trees for family holiday memories Christmas trees require year‐long care but the push really begins in November as customers arrive to walk the rows at Mike Vanderklooster’s You‐Cut operation searching for their perfectly imperfect Christmas tree. Right: Growing seven acres of Christmas trees on the family farm is more than a hobby for Mike Vanderklooster, who has become a director with the Christmas Tree Farmers of Ontario, contributing to its new growers program.

I

t was a grey, early-November day just south of Woodstock, what oldtimers might have referred to as a raw north-western breeze embedded with a miserable hint of chilly drizzle.

But with an evergreen tree shaker and bagger out and ready to go, a wooden boxful of “pots” to hold previously-cut options in a vertical position, a few smaller live, potted evergreens, and most importantly of all, a little imagination, it was beginning to look a lot more like Christmas around Vanderklooster’s Christmas Trees, a you-cut operation.

“It is, it’s stressful,” admitted Vanderklooster of the beginnings of his own advanced pre-Christmas rush. “But when it all comes together, it’s worth it.”

It would be another two-and-a-half weeks before the short yet intense Vanderklooster Christmas Tree season. Some larger operations began cutting trees in mid-October, destined for export to Qatar in refrigerated shipping containers. Vanderklooster dovetails with the Canadian market – Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. from the last weekend of November on through to Christmas. But knowing full well that weather can be an issue, Vanderklooster had started a couple of weeks ago.

A lot of work remained for the ensuing 17 days prior to opening, mounting local signage, website updating, a touch-up paint job for a decorative cutter, and clearing a weight-workout-machine out from the west end of the 40-by-12-foot customer-service area of the barn.

Finished in rustic pine boards sawn by members of the local Amish community, it housed hot cider and customer checkout stations decorated

• By Jeff Tribe •

Growing Christmas trees requires long-term vision and a handson commitment December 2023 21

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22 The Rural Voice

by metallic signs, the latter purchased as a gift by friends during a trip south of the border.

“It’s perfect,” smiled Vanderklooster, able to imagine the sweet smells of cider and evergreen boughs and trees against the aural backdrop of cheerful customer chatter and Christmas music played on indoor and outdoor speakers.

“And the walls will all be covered with wreaths.”

It took more than a little imagination and long-term vision to see viable agricultural potential in a nine-acre property the Vanderklooster family purchased along Substation Road in 1996.

Arguably too big to simply cut grass on, the property was also arguably smaller than enough to pencil out the purchase of a 150-HP tractor and combine with a four-row corn head.

Mike’s answer came via the industry exit of an area you-cut operation, both sparking interest and opening a door of opportunity. To be clear, while Vanderklooster’s heritage would suggest fiscallyresponsible choices with decent potential, Christmas trees are not a get-rich-quick scheme by any means.

Although the discussion risks opening debate between he and his spouse, a reasonable best-case scenario for return on investment through mature trees would be seven to eight years, a considerable period of sinking money into the ground without expectation of payback.

Once you get things rolling, it can be profitable, he says. However, the opportunity to combine yuletide dollars and cents also occurs in weather conditions defined by that season.

“My wife asked me if I couldn’t have picked something in the summer,” Vanderklooster laughed.

There is also the reality that adding too much assistance to a labour-intensive operation can have a gross effect on net returns, particularly for a small operation.

“If you want to do it, you have to love doing it,” he explained. “It’s a hobby.”

His initial 1997 plantation featured trees readily available from the St. Williams Nursery, a spruce

base which has been diversified to meet customer preference. His “system” featured a family member on a shovel followed up with an equally rudimentary planting and covering approach. Spaced five feet apart in rows six feet apart, he follows a 1,200-tree-per-acre grid, hand irrigated via a water tank and five-gallon pails. Fertilizer is a thing best applied gently and cautiously on soil tested and adjusted to pH-finicky evergreens. Weeding is accomplished through the combination of grasscutting and “rounding up” unwelcome interlopers in the rows with the help of a hand-held pump sprayer, which Vanderklooster prefers for precise application. He approaches disease and pest control as naturally as possible.

“It’s work,” Vanderklooster summed up succinctly of what is a shrinking industry for a variety of factors. Consider the price of land against Christmas tree farming’s delayed return, holiday-season commitment, customer service and insurance considerations, and the hands-on requirements ( manual labour in other words) and it’s understandable why subsequent generations may be reluctant to extend family traditions.

“Or just like everyone else, kids grow up in a lifestyle and go, “I’m not doing that.”

Vanderklooster is a director with the Christmas Tree Farmers of Ontario (CTFO), a non-profit association providing information for both tree growers and consumers. He contributed to its new growers program, promoting Christmas tree farming as a rewarding full or parttime occupation. The rationale of not only welcoming but educating potential competitors is maintaining a healthy industry based on quality trees, sustaining demand for natural versus artificial options.

The rotational nature of Christmas tree farming, replacing cut specimens with replacement seedlings throughout an age-diverse plantation is among its environmental benefits.

The practice consistently removes carbon-dioxide from the atmosphere while maintaining habitat which increases biodiversity among both

Even while out for a quick photo shoot, Mike Vanderklooster can’t resist pausing a moment to trim his trees Vanderklooster Christmas Trees near Burgessville.

Above: Signage is being hung in the retail area for the November/December market while, right, Mike Vanderklooster test drives pulling a tree out of the back end of the bagger.

December 2023 23

birds and animals.

The CTFO website (christmastrees.on.ca) offers information on Christmas tree care, along with widely-practiced ancient origins dating back to seasonal pagan celebrations held around the winter solstice. Those were converted to Christian-based celebrations 400 years ago in Germany, the first recorded Canadian Christmas tree courtesy of a German immigrant in Sorel, Quebec in 1781. The second was recorded in Halifax in 1846, and the tradition quickly spread.

In the comparative absence of druids, Vikings and 14th century “miracle plays”, Christmas trees today have become a valued and celebrated family tradition. The CTFO website helps the process along with a locator, identifying individual farms and providing directions to their operational locations.

Vanderklooster says people seem to enjoy the shared activity of selecting their own tree as a family, whether that be a pre-cut or you-cut alternative. His busiest years were through the COVID-19 pandemic, people looking to get out and find some sense of normalcy.

As in many things, Christmas tree beauty differs in the eyes of varying beholders. Initially, Vanderklooster’s hand trimming (begun in the third or fourth season of growth) strove for balanced perfection, ultimately he realized a majority of customers preferred a more natural approach.

There are different options for pre-cut trees but Vanderklooster takes a one price fits all sizes for you-cuts, simplifying operations at checkout. It’s rare, he says, for people to complain. The spirit of the season seems to percolate through the selection process.

In closing, Vanderklooster conceded natural Christmas trees aren’t for everyone, but as the saying goes, those who love them - perhaps combined with the tradition that goes with them - love them a lot.

“They seem to enjoy picking out their very own real Christmas tree.

And it’s been our pleasure to share that with a lot of people in this area over the past 25 years.” ◊ 24 The Rural Voice

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Pork

Increasing milk production in gilts Research has begun at the new, state-of-the-art Ontario Swine Research Centre in Elora with a focus geared on the young herd of gilts • By Lisa Boonstoppel-Pot •

R

esearch has begun at the new Elora Swine Research Facility with a study on improving mammary development in gilts in late gestation with the ultimate goal of increasing milk production in subsequent lactations.

Taking advantage of the new barn, new equipment and that the barn was recently stocked with all gilts, research is focusing on the nutrition of those “girls”, says researcher Lee-Anne Huber who is a professor at the University of Guelph (U of G) in the department of animal bioscience.

“I am doing quite a bit of research at the new barn.

In fact, I am the primary user so it is my own little playground right now, which is cool,” says Huber, who grew up in Wellington North and still helps on the family farm, a mix of pigs, farrow-to-finish, cow/calf herd and finishing cattle, along with 400 acres of crops and their own feedmill. She and her husband raise their own lambs for meat.

The new, $20 million, Ontario Swine Research Centre officially opened in August with a ribbon cutting and open house. It is the latest addition to a provincial network of research centres owned by the Agricultural Research Institute of Ontario (ARIO). It is managed by the University of Guelph through the Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance.

“The Ontario Swine Research Centre will allow U of G experts to advance research and knowledge, bring new livestock innovations to the farm and train the next generation of talent, in support of a thriving pork sector in Ontario and beyond,” states Dr. Charlotte Yates, U of G president at the opening.

Huber is living that vision as a professor, with a team of students, embarking on the very first research projects at the facility, building on decades of research that was being done at the Arkell Research Station outside of Guelph. She says the new centre is “amazing…that’s the best word I can use to describe it. “The design committee was determined to create a barn and research centre that

was relevant as long as possible. “Every single room and feeding system can be adapted to whatever study we need to do at the time.”

As a nutritionist, Huber was particularly pleased with the installation of state-of-the art, precision feeding technology that can track feed usage by individual animals on diets that can be altered daily. “With that flexibility, our options are endless and as a nutritionist, I get giddy about that capacity,” she says.

The large facility has room for over 300 sows, 700-900

Professor Lee‐Anne Huber (left) is leading the charge of research studies at the newly opened Ontario Swine Research Centre in Elora where University of Guelph students such as Nicole Gregory (above) are collecting and analyzing data (and enjoying the piglets!) ~Photos submitted by Nicole Gregory December 2023 25

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piglets in the nursery and 400 finishing pigs, all under one roof.

One of the major changes is that the Elora Centre is an open facility, versus the closed, “specificpathogen-free” approach at Arkell.

“It was stocked with all caesarian born piglets so they did not bring in disease from the mother. We could not bring any live animals into the building.”

It was the way things were done at the time, but the result was that genetics were falling behind in terms of productivity. Neither was it possible to compare different genetics to one another.

The new facility is an open herd but also has an isolation facility so researchers can bring in any animals they want, quarantine them in the isolation facility, then bring them into the main barn.

Despite being an “open” barn it is highly biosecure. Huber explained there is a 48-hour down time before entering the facility if you’ve been in another barn. It is a “full shower in/shower out” facility. Plus anything someone brings to the barn, such as a lunch bag, has to go through ultraviolet sterilization. Moreover, any scientific materials, buckets or bags go through aerosolization disinfecting.

Within these parameters, four studies have recently been launched in the barn with the first being the mammary development study. Huber explains that mammary development in female pigs happens in three phases: between day 90 of age to puberty; in the last third of gestation and during lactation “Being that gilts are pregnant for the first time and developing mammary tissue for the first time, targeting late gestation as a time to improve mammary growth is very promising,” believes Huber. She and her students will be feeding lysine to these gilts as a former study indicated lysine can improve mammary development by 40 per cent. “We got very excited by those results but we did not follow those gilts into lactation so we do not know if it carried into milk production.”

This study will feed different levels of lysine using soybeans meal as the supplier of lysine in the diet.

A current study at the newly‐launched Ontario Swine Research Centre in Elora focused on feeding different levels of lysine to encourage mammary development in gilts which leads to increased milk production.

“We have seven different levels we are testing and then we will take those females, let them farrow, and track how much milk they produce during the lactation period.” This will reveal which treatment produces the most milk production so Huber can teach pork producers how much lysine producers should feed their gilts in late lactation.

“Lysine is the part of the protein component of the pig’s diet, which is the second most expensive component,” says Huber. “That’s why this matters. Without knowing how much, producers could over feed and waste money.”

With pig prices fluctuating, anything researchers can do to reduce feed costs is important.

Huber says she is often the voice to the media but she says her students need so much credit for going to the barn at all hours, collecting samples and analyzing data. The research centre is, as Yates said, a training ground for students.

The other three studies currently being conducted at the new swine research center are: 1. Precise feeding in lactation: Researching the right combination of nutrients and energy on each day of lactation to maximize milk production

2. Novel feed ingredients: “New feed ingredients come up all the time and producers come to see and want to know if the ingredient will give them a competitive advantage,” says Huber. This study is looking at onfarm processed soybeans which can be frustrating for nutritionists as there are so many quality differences between farms in terms of how the beans are roasted.

3. Exploring the amino acid methionine: This amino acid is used for protein synthesis as are most amino acids, teaches Huber. “But this one does a whole bunch of other stuff in the body and we are exploring these other roles for feeding methionine in the diet.”

Being close to both the dairy and beef research barns in Elora, Huber says having a swine barn makes Elora a research hub for U of G students. Right now students drive from the university to Elora but she hopes a bus will soon be available to transport students because the hardest part of a student’s day is often “getting out of the city.”

As for herself, Huber says “pigs are pretty cool” and she is thrilled to be working in the new centre to help meet the needs of the pork industry with research in terms of nutrition, economics and disease. ◊ December 2023 27

Elmwood Community Centre, 38 Queen St. W, Elmwood ON

January 3 – 9, 2024 G R E Y B R U C E F A R M E R S

Conference & Tradeshow Celebrating 58 Years!

Attend In-P Person or via the Livestream

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**Conference content & bonus content will be available to all ticket holders (in-person or livestream) for one month following the event.**

9:00am - registration & tradeshow Time of adjournment varies each day.

Visit www.gbfw.ca

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The featured commodities have changed as our agricultural focus evolved, but the mandate of producer education has remained firm. The agendas are jampacked with high impact presenters and the trade show is filled to capacity on most days.

• In-Person presentations will be delivered from the Elmwood Community Centre. Without a doubt the best way to experience GBFW, producers can pose questions directly to presenters, network with each other or with agribusiness, peruse the tradeshow, and of course - enjoy a hot roast beef lunch each day!

• Livestreaming will be available for those who are unable to travel to Elmwood during the conference. This option still allows for questions to be posed to presenters through a chat box, and no winter driving is required to take part!

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• On Demand presentations are a legacy of our two virtual GBFW years.

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This bonus content is included with any ticket purchase, whether in-person or livestreaming the rest of the conference.

December 2023 29

G R E Y B R U C E F A R M E R S W E E K

Planning

Without farmland there is no agriculture

Food production, economic prosperity and food security top reasons why planners need to have a rural lens, says Wayne Caldwell

W

hen planning is done well, it puts a priority on agriculture, says Dr. Wayne Caldwell who spoke at the Huron County Federation of Agriculture’s annual meeting held October 27 at the Clinton Legion.

“Planning and the future of agriculture are fundamentally connected,” said Caldwell, who congratulated Huron County on protecting its agricultural focus. “If every county was as supportive of agriculture as Huron County was, that would be great,” said Caldwell, who is a retired professor in Rural Planning and Development at the University of Guelph and member of the Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs Greenbelt Council.

He said agriculture in Huron is of “national importance” because it leads all counties and regions in Ontario in total value of production. It also exceeds the production totals of several provinces.

“Huron has the advantage of an informed and progressive farm community,” stated one of Caldwell’s slides, along with a supportive service sector, high capability soils, a diversified agricultural industry, a favourable climate and limited non-farm intrusion.

Before listing the “ten lessons” needed for agricultural 30 The Rural Voice

Dr.Wayne Caldwell, a planner and professor, stressed the importance of planning with a focus on agriculture at the annual meeting of the Huron County Federation of Agriculture held in October.

planning, he explained why everyone should be involved with and care about rural planning.

As cities spread and urbanization eats up farmland, Caldwell said future climate changes mean some of the world’s most productive areas will lose productivity due to higher temperatures. However, many areas of Canada will likely increase in production. “We have a moral obligation to think about the farmland we have,” said Caldwell, in terms of protecting it to feed the planet.

Planning has changed over the years to try and protect farmland. Caldwell shared a planning map revealing lot sizes in the 1970s were often 1-3 acres. In comparison, lot sizes decreased in size in the 2000s to a percentage of an acre to pack more homes onto a plot of land. “This was a remarkable transition to the benefit of agriculture,” said Caldwell.

Locally, policy needs to reflect an agricultural lens with protection in the official plan in terms of zoning by-laws, minor variances, land division and other regulatory approaches. Current rural planning issues include housing,

• By Lisa Boonstoppel-Pot •

severance policy, natural heritage, farmland conversation, aggregates and energy projects to name a few.

Caldwell listed six reasons why protecting farmland is critical: ● Without farmland there is no agriculture ● To maintain farmer livelihoods ● For food production ● For food security (domestically and globally) ● For agriculture’s economic contributions ● As a resource for future generations Zeroing in on the issue of nonfarm land uses on agricultural land, Caldwell says when farmland is used for other purposes it places potential restrictions on farmland while also fragmenting the land base.

It used to be that many farmers severed off a piece of land to build another home for their retired parents or siblings. Many times these houses turned into surplus housing once no longer needed for that purpose and planners soon realized this “was not a good use of farmland”. In 2005, severances for this kind of housing were eliminated. However, between 1990 - 2009, the allowance of these types of severance resulted in 2.3 lots per 1,000 acres in Huron County.

That is low when compared to other counties, such as Prince Edward County, which had 7.55 lots per 1,000 acres.

As Caldwell neared the end of his presentation, he wanted to leave the crowd with 10 lessons that municipalities, the province and farmers should consider when planning for agriculture: Ten Lessons 1. The importance of listening: Caldwell said when he was a young planner, he worked in East Wawanosh Township and he would often encounter a “big, burly farmer” who liked to heckle during public meetings. “At the end of these meetings, I would feel a little smaller,” remembers Caldwell. But when he really listened to the farmer’s concerns and kept a focus of protecting farmland, the heckling stopped and wouldn’t you know it, he even got a compliment from the burly farmer.

2. Have a commitment to agriculture: “Agriculture needs to be recognized as an integral part of the community with a clear strategy supported by land use plans, economic development and infrastructure.”

3. Land use policy needs to have an agricultural perspective and consider innovative approaches 4. Local and provincial policy needs to be linked to agriculture system components, such as agribusiness, nonprofits and the community sector, and natural systems in the land base 5. Manage conflict with use of minimum distance separation rules and documents 6. Minimize land fragmentation.

7. All development should be evaluated for its impacts on agriculture 8. Economic development strategies should have an agricultural component and a recognized connection to sound planning policy 9. Create (support) infrastructure in support of agriculture 10. Enhance towns and villages to create more housing opportunities by revitalizing downtowns, intensifying downtown and improving infrastructure About Dr. Caldwell Dr. Caldwell is a retired professor in Rural Planning and Development

and member of the Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs Greenbelt Council. He also has a career-long affiliation with the County of Huron Department of Planning and Development.

Dr. Caldwell has lectured across Canada on the future of rural communities and has published extensively in the areas of planning, community development and agricultural land preservation. He is an experienced facilitator with a primary focus on issues of change in rural and agricultural communities.

He is a Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Planners and Past President of the Ontario Professional Planners Institute. He has also served on Council for the Canadian Institute of Planners and is the past President of the Association of Canadian University Planning Programs. He is a founding member and Past Chair of the Ontario Rural Council and a founding member of the Huron Stewardship Council and the Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation. He was appointed by the Ontario government as Chair of the Provincial Nutrient Management Advisory Committee. He holds a PhD in Regional Planning and Resources Development from the University of Waterloo and is an active member in the planning profession.◊

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Recipes by Carolyn Crawford

For those of us who love fruitcake

F

ruitcake is one of those things where you either love it or hate it. If you are not a fan of dried fruits, there is not much to enjoy.

You may claim I am “nuttier than a fruitcake” when I tell you this, but I love the stuff—the fruitier and nuttier the better!

For many years, I have made fruitcake before Christmas. I have used different recipes along the way, but often come back to make my favourite. There are many different adaptations on fruitcake, but the traditional recipes are fine with me.

In northern England, fruitcake is served with cheese, typically Wensleydale cheese which is readily available at Christmas time.

Fruitcake is older than you may think. It has long been associated with the Victorians, who revived it by embellishing it with more fruits, nuts, by adding almond paste and icing, and by using brandy, wine, and other alcohols in the aging and storing processes. However, simpler versions of fruitcake are credited much earlier to the Egyptians and the Romans, the latter providing small stores of it as an easy-to-keep item

for soldiers to carry in their pockets for nourishment when on the battlefield.

Fruitcake provides nutrient energy without spoiling over time. In fact, fruitcake is known to keep for many decades provided it is replenished with alcohol to prevent drying out.

Russell Baker of PBS’ ‘Masterpiece Theater’ fame, once shared that he was the guardian of his family’s fruitcake which he claimed was over 200 years old. To top it off he never liked fruitcake!

Christmas Fruitcake This is my favourite “go to” recipe. I have made it the most at Christmas. I submit it in memory of Florence Moddison, to whom the recipe belonged. It was published in the Home United Church cookbook in 1995.

Ingredients: 1 lb dates, finely cut 2 lbs seeded raisins (large ones work best) 1 lb pecans chopped 1 lb mixed glazed fruit, cut 1 lb green maraschino or glazed cherries 1 lb red maraschino or glazed

cherries 1 cup fresh orange juice OR 1 cup brandy OR 1 cup apricot or cherry brandy 1 tsp baking soda 1 tsp almond flavouring 1 tsp vanilla 1 lb butter 3 cups dark brown sugar 12 eggs 4 ¾ cup cake and pastry flour ½ tsp mixed spices (nutmeg and cinnamon) Directions: Marinate the first seven ingredients for approximately 5-7 days in orange juice or brandy, to which you have previously added baking soda, almond and vanilla flavouring. Fruit is ready when raisins are plumped.

Cream butter, sugar, and eggs in a separate extra-large bowl.

In another separate bowl mix flour and spices.

Add one cup of flour mixture to the marinated fruit mixture.

Mix remaining flour mixture with creamed mixture.

Add fruit to the creamed mixture, stirring by hand thoroughly to evenly distribute fruit in the creamed

Love it or hate it, fruitcake is often served at Christmas feasts featuring a variety of dried fruits and nuts (far left) baked into a cake that is made flavourful with brandy and fruitcake icing.

32 The Rural Voice

mixture.

Spoon into greased, floured, lined with parchment paper fruitcake pans (cake release works well if you have it) that have removable bottoms. Any size will do—adjust baking time accordingly. Bake a large 9” square pan at 275°F for 3-4 hours.

To preserve fruitcake for many years, wrap generously with cheesecloth (or clean white linen tea towel) and tie it in place with butcher string. Set this on an oversized piece of aluminum foil. Pour brandy slowly over the top of the covered cake until cheesecloth is soaked. You can flip halfway to cover both top and bottom with brandy but make sure the bottom of the cake rests on the bottom so that the brandy soaks up into the cake. Gather foil tightly around the cake and seal. Store cake in a cookie tin or crock with a lid.

You can do this with any size of cake, but bigger pieces will stay moist longer.

I make mine smaller as they get eaten or I give them away as gifts.

Store in a cool, sun-free area of your home. Age at least three weeks before slicing and enjoying it. Repeat this process every time you open it and at minimum every 4-6 months depending on moistness.

Fruitcake Icing To ice a fruitcake, use a base of almond paste and a covering of royal icing. (See Royal Icing in last month’s Rural Voice.)

Wedding cakes were often a fruitcake with both of these icings on the cake. You can use either or both as a topping for your Christmas fruitcake. Here is an almond paste recipe from the 1915 edition of the Five Roses Cookbook.

Almond Paste Blanch and skin one pound of almonds. Dry them well and then grind to a smooth paste, which means putting them through the food chopper several times. (You can skip this step and use ready peeled almonds and process them in the food processor.)

Add three eggs slightly beaten and mix well. Then add a dash of salt, and gradually add enough icing sugar to make a stiff paste.

Turn out onto a board lightly dusted with icing sugar and knead until smooth. Place the paste in a bowl, cover tightly and store in a cool place overnight. Then roll out the paste to about 1/3-inch thickness on a board lightly dusted with icing sugar. Cut the paste in shapes to fit the sides and top of the cake.

To apply almond paste, first brush the surface of the cake with slightly beaten egg white. Then cover with the pieces of almond paste to the sides of the cake, pressing together well at the corners. Place the piece on top and join to the sides by pressing together. ince I have already made fruitcake this year, next I will make Grandma Breadner’s Carrot Pudding with Brown Sugar Sauce. Like fruitcake, it can be made ahead of time and stored.

I once had some in my basement fridge that I had forgotten about for almost a year. My mum’s friend would not let me throw it out. She took it home and as she said, “enjoyed every bite!” I have an original pudding bowl, with a lid that you tie down with string, to steam my pudding in but as the bowl is an antique, I am too afraid to use it. I do have other bowls that I use for steamed puddings that I cover with foil and use an elastic to secure it.

You can also use a Pyrex bowl or casserole dish.

Grandma B’s Christmas Carrot Pudding Ingredients: 3 cups seedless raisins 1 cup dried currants ½ cup finely chopped pitted dates or prunes 1 cup chopped mixed candied peels and citron ¾ cup blanched & halved almonds (optional) 1 ½ cups sifted pastry flour or 1 1/3 cups sifted all-purpose flour 1 ½ tsp baking powder ¾ tsp each of cinnamon and nutmeg 1/3 tsp each allspice, mace, ground cloves, & ginger 1 ½ tsp salt 1 ½ cup each ground suet, soft bread crumbs, shredded carrot, shredded apple & shredded potato

S

1 ½ cup lightly packed brown sugar 4 large eggs 1/3 cup fruit juice (I use apple or cranberry) Directions: In a large pastry bowl, mix raisins, currants, dates, peels, and almonds, if used. (I do not as my family is not nuts about nuts!)

Measure and sift together flour, baking powder, spices, and salt. Add to fruit and stir thoroughly. Add suet, bread crumbs, brown sugar, apple, carrot, and potato, stirring thoroughly.

Beat eggs in a separate bowl until light; add to mixture. Stir in fruit juice mixing well.

Turn mixture into well greased pudding bowls filling no more than ¾ full. Cover with foil and tie a string or put an elastic around the bowl to seal. Steam over rapidly boiling water, closely covered for 3 ½ hours.

Serve hot with Brown Sugar Sauce.

Note: Always check to see if water in the steamer needs to be replenished.

Brown Sugar Sauce Ingredients: 2 ½ cups brown sugar 3-5 tbsp cornstarch ½ tsp salt 4 cups boiling water 2 tbsp butter 2 tsp vanilla extract Directions: Combine sugar, salt, and cornstarch in a saucepan; add boiling water. Stir to dissolve.

Cook over medium-low heat until mixture boils for about 5-10 minutes.

Stir constantly or lower heat as necessary to avoid scorching.

Remove from heat; add butter and vanilla. (You may also add rum or brandy as flavouring—reduce the amount of boiling water to substitute in.)

Serve hot over steamed pudding.

You may vary the thickness of sauce by increasing or decreasing the amount of cornstarch as to your preference.

May you all enjoy the fellowship of the holiday season and the food you share at it.

All the best in 2024! ◊ December 2023 33

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Think about volunteering in 2024

W

ell that year swept through like a whirlwind. I was lamenting how fast time was slipping by and my younger brother had an interesting thought.

When we are young there is always something new to learn, absorb or wonder about and the days take their time for us. When we get older there is less wonder, we don’t take time to learn new things and time flies by us.

So we need to continue to embrace new ideas, and new adventures.

My new adventure besides trying to carve out time to learn to paint again is to make a difference in our town’s gardens via the local horticultural society. Garden groups have been around since we began organizing our plants. In early 1900s the Ontario government saw the value of an Agricultural and Horticultural Society. Promotion of new techniques, seed and plant development would bring prosperity to this largely rural economy.

Horticulture focused on ornamental plants. By 1905 this group was split into Ontario Agricultural Fairs Association and the Ontario Horticultural Association. We have been around a long time!

The province is divided into 19 districts with a wide number of societies within each district.

The program has grown and the focus now includes seed exchanges, promotion of bee nesting boxes, food gardening and more emphasis lately on the importance of native plants in our gardens. There are grants available for a wide variety of programs and there are nine awards presented at their annual convention

honoring both individuals and societies for outstanding work with an emphasis on community betterment, youth programs, and environment awareness and restoration.

I have been a member off and on over the years, and the people I meet always inspire me. Some have a great sense of colour and balance which you see right away in their garden, some find new ways to propagate a tricky plant or develop new breeds altogether (I am thinking of Michael Falconer and his lovely lilies on Orchard Line) and still others find new approaches to mulch materials, new tools to make life easier in the garden, and still others guide us in the simple joy of gardening with stories and working side by side.

The Auburn Society is very active in the community and aside from the popular spring plant sale they also do a pumpkin-decorating afternoon for the whole village and beyond that is overwhelming successful. November brings the community together again to create Christmas crafts, again free of charge and attended by the whole community not just Society members and families.

Goderich is a bigger community and has more activities that compete for a volunteer’s time. They too have a spring plant sale and also a fall one, which we all know is a fine time to move plants. But as so many organizations are finding, volunteers are a tough group to gather together.

Many sign up and enjoy the sales and speakers but getting out in the spring to plant and weed the gardens is a tricky piece of public relations.

Many hands make light work and I see that happen time again when everyone pulls together. While I plant annuals and think perennial, I observe how people do the same task and realize this is the time to be kind to each other. Not everyone is adept at some tasks but they are there working away and I have to smile.

The gardens get planted and then comes the hard, no nonsense part of the job. The weeding. This year we had a remarkable wife and husband team who realized the gardens needed a lot of amendments to beef up the hard soil. They went around to local businesses, who donated broken

bags of compost, soil, etc. and the hort. society bought some more. It was all worked into the gardens and voila! what a difference! The plants thrived and flourished. We even had a thoughtful pattern woven into the garden planting. While it entailed a lot of work, the volunteers rose to the challenge. Later in the summer those who were weeding were ever thankful as the weeds were few and pulled out easily.

Volunteerism is a personal commitment to your community. No matter where you spend a bit of time, it all goes into making our communities better places to live.

And there is so much out there!

I would encourage anyone, no matter your age, or your ability, to join a local Hort Society. No matter your level of knowledge there is always something new and exciting to learn.

And on that note I will close for 2023! Like all gardeners I am looking forward to another year in the garden with new projects and new plants to try out. Seed catalogues here I come! ◊

Thank you for your business in 2023 Best wishes for a safe, healthy holiday season. www.livelandscape.ca Lisa Van Bakel 519-949-3444 Email: lisa@livelandscape.ca OVER 25 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE

December 2023 35

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News

• By Lisa Boonstoppel-Pot •

VandenHengel named outstanding farmer Gerry VandenHengel honoured at Huron County Federation of Agriculture’s annual meeting

A

farmer known for his commitment to dairy farming, the former Seaforth Farmers Cooperative, Gay Lea and the Canadian Foodgrains Bank has been awarded the Huron County Federation of Agriculture’s Outstanding Contribution to Agriculture award.

The award was presented to Gerry VandenHengel at the annual meeting of the Huron County Federation of Agriculture held October 27 at the Clinton Legion.

“Thank you for thinking of me because I did not expect this at all,” said VandenHengel after accepting the trophy which bears the names of many of Huron County’s agricultural leaders over the years.

VandenHengel shared that he was involved in a lot of organizations after building his farm “from scratch” on Hydro Line Road. He recognized his wife and their 50-year marriage and credited her patience as the farm evolved over the years. “In winter, the drapes of our house did not hang too well. They would stick straight out!”

He also mentioned his commitment to the Knights of Columbus of which he has been a member since 1976.

OFA Update Zone director Ethan Wallace explained the Ontario Federation of Agricultures (OFA) proposal to restructure the Policy Advisory Committee (PAC) to streamline it and create more training for PAC members.

Under the proposal, a PAC representative will be a director of their county federation versus an elected position from the membership. The new structure will allow the participating member to represent the position views and opinions of the local federation.

Currently, PAC representatives do

Gerry VandenHengel received a trophy for being named the winner of Huron County Federation of Agriculture’s Outstanding Contribution to Agriculture award. Celebrating with Gerry was his family, (left to right) Rob and Jan VandenHengel; Danielle Kruse, Elaine and Gerry VandenHengel; Lindsay and Steve VandenHengel. Below, Gerry accepts the trophy from Huron County Federation of Agriculture President, Murray Workman. not always align with the views of the local federations, do not always attend local meetings and do not always sit as a director on their local board.

“The focus on the revamped structure is to discuss timely issues and priorities with a focused conversation and expected outcome,” read Wallace from his slides.

Other benefits of the proposed change will include: – reduce the number of members from 94 to 51 – increase representation from northern and eastern Ontario – improve accountability for twoway communication on issues Comments from Ben Lobb Ben Lobb has watched his Bill C234 to remove the carbon tax from

propane and natural gas used by farmers to dry their crops and heat their barns move through the house and into the senate.

“Then the games began,” said Lobb. Many amendments were made including removing the “heating barns” exemption. “At the end of the day it is so frustrating that three senate members – a professor from December 2023 37

Ethan Wallace Zone Director, Ontario Federation of Agriculture

Ben Lobb Member of Parliament for Huron/Bruce

Rob VandenHengel Vice‐President Huron County Federation of Agriculture

Vancouver, a journalist from Edmonton and a lawyer from Montreal – none of who are from rural Canada, have the power to make that many alterations.”

Lobb explained he will be able to reject the amendments before voting if he has support to do so. Or, the bill could be dragged into the next election.

“That is my update. I am always learning. But I see it as a real weakness when three people can change the direction of agriculture.”

Cost-Share Funding Now is the time to upgrade your Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) because cost-share dollars are now available and that is the way to get them, said Lois Sinclair, Regional Program Lead with the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA).

She explained the EFP is a “voluntary, self-assessment for your farm” and that it is always good to “examine ourselves.”

She encouraged everyone to have the fourth edition complete to take advantage of cost-share dollars via the Sustainable Canadian Agriculture Partnership which is offering $3.5 billion dollars between 2023-2028.

Sinclair said programs appear and are quickly over. It’s important to check the OSCIA website regularly so sign up for the e-mail list to keep on top of new programs being

released.

Battery Energy Storage Systems Rob VandenHengel presented a resolution asking the provincial government to develop rules and regulations to govern the planning of battery energy storage system sites.

“I live just outside of Seaforth and the proposed battery energy storage system site is just four miles from where I live,” said VandenHengel.

“The idea is to store power during the night and deplete the batteries when there is increased demand.” He said the proposed site is on prime farmland and there is uncertainty about the technology being used.

The proposal states, in part: “Whereas battery energy storage systems could improve the reliability of green energy. Whereas there are currently no rules and regulations with regards to noise, minimum distance, location of storage sites, especially the use of prime farmland….” Based on this, Huron Fed agreed to send the resolution to the OFA annual meeting for discussion.

Ethan Wallace said OFA has done a lot of research into the systems and is currently preparing a submission to the provincial government on behalf of agriculture.

Groceries and Taxes Fearing that producers are being blamed for high grocery costs and that in the end, producers will be

expected to earn less for their products to reduce those costs, a resolution on groceries and taxes was passed by HCFA members.

The resolution states: “Whereas groceries and taxes continue to put pressure on Canadian pocketbooks; Whereas the federal government has asked grocery heads to lower grocery costs Whereas the greatest impact of this task will be carried by farmers alone; Therefore, be it resolved that OFA lobby the provincial government and federal government in partnership with the Canadian Federation of Agriculture to be included in conversations with regards to the impact the food chain infrastructure has related to grocery prices.”

One member said there should be a calculation on food labels stating what the farmer actually receives from the product.

Another suggested that a new profit share study be conducted to highlight farmer’s share of food prices. Another commented how the price of fuel and the carbon tax are also playing a role in food prices.

Wallace said the OFA is involved in talks on the grocery store code of conduct and how “oligarchy powers” are pushing farmers and processors on price cuts. Also, there are just

38 The Rural Voice

some shady practices going on including the value of shelving space.

“Some stores make more money selling shelf space than products,” said Wallace.

Paul Klopp interjected that a discussion had already been had on saving farmland. Given cost pressures and grocery store issues, he said, ‘We talk about saving farmland but we need to talk about saving farmers!”

The motion passed. ◊

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News

• By Lisa Boonstoppel-Pot •

Canning housing proposal was a farmer win Stray voltage, housing and lyme disease were issues discussed at the annual meeting of the Grey County Federation of Agriculture

F

armers are not opposed to housing being built but housing needs to be intensified in towns and cities and built up, not spread out on farmland, said Sara Wood at the annual meeting of the Grey County Federation of Agriculture held November 1 in Markdale.

A director-at-large for the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, Wood discussed issues the OFA is working on and housing has been a hot topic.

When the provincial government came out with its planning proposal to allow three severances per farm parcel for housing, reaction was swift from the farming community concerned about the loss of farmland.

The furor over the proposal led to the government backing off from the proposal.

“We (farmers) are less than two per cent of the population, yet we worked together and pulled it off,” said Wood, explaining 39 county farm federations and 11 commodity

Sara Wood Director‐at‐large Ontario Federation of Agriculture 40 The Rural Voice

The Grey County Federation of Agriculture chose its new board members at their annual meeting held November 1 in Markdale. The new excecutive includes (left to right) Hugh Simpson, first vice‐president; Keith Reid, president; Dianne Booker, past‐president and Lindsay Coles, second vice‐president. groups united in opposition to the provincial housing proposal.

Other “wins” for farmers this year included the return of some fertilizer tariff dollars to producers, changes to the veterinary act to allow expanded roles for veterinary technicians and the launch of the Agriculture Soil Health and Conservation Strategy which will update soil maps across the province. “That hasn’t been done since the 1960s,” said Wood.

Issues the OFA is working on include inflation and grocery store pricing; Bill C234 on reducing carbon tax for farm use; the trespass act and stray voltage. These last two issues raised some heated commentary from the Grey County crowd.

“Stray voltage has never been addressed properly,” said Paul Wettlaufer.

Ethan Wallace of Huron County,

at the meeting as a zone director for OFA, said he’s been “screaming like a banshee” about the issue after dealing with it on his own dairy farm.

“But to fix the problem will cost billions of dollars.” He said that Ontario has a single-phase power supply but ideally should have a three-phase model to help eliminate the problem. Wallace said Hydro One engineers know there is a problem but they cannot admit it because “if they say it, they have to fix it and there is no money to fix it.”

When it happened on his farm, Wallace was persistent “and loud” about the problem and was able to get a stray voltage isolator (blocker) installed on his farm at no cost to himself. However, a neighbour with a similar issue had to install his own blocker at his own cost. “That is not fair,” said Wallace.

Wood said stray voltage is an

issue OFA is constantly working on.

The OFA website states: “OFA believes uncontrolled electricity situations should be addressed. OFA has been working in partnership with Hydro One to address and resolve ground current challenges impacting Ontario farm businesses since 2013.”

Trespassing on farms, especially during the hunting season, also raised the ire of a few farmers. Margaret Vincent, OFA’s member service representative for Grey, encouraged farmers to call the Ministry of Natural Resources when they encounter trespassers on their farm.

“The MNR can hand out more severe tickets than the police can,” she said.

“Conservation officers have more in their arsenal.” She said they are also diligent at paying attention to vehicles that have been reported in a trespassing complaint.

Another issue that created some discussion was lyme disease.

Wettlauffer believes this issue needs to stay in the forefront. Vincent uncovered a former resolution made in October 2011 encouraging the OFA to lobby the government to recognize lyme disease as a serious issue, adopt more modern techniques to diagnose and treat the disease, as well as improving public and physician education about the disease. Wettlfaufer was encouraged to update the resolution and have it approved by the board so it could be presented at the OFA’s annual meeting.

Proposed PAC Changes Wood also updated Grey Federation members on proposed changes to the Policy Advisory Council (PAC) structure so that it can move quicker to deal with agricultural issues.

“Bill 97 shows us that we need to be more nimble because government proposals come fast and furious,” said Wood. By streamlining PAC, having members with direct accountability and responsibility to the local federation and increasing training and development opportunities for PAC members, the OFA believes it will facilitate more engaged participation and discussion.

Mental Health Mental health was discussed as

well, with Wood explaining that the Farmer Wellness Initiative continues to offer mental health support 24/7 for farmers. However, it will no longer be administered and promoted by the OFA, as per provincial guidelines.

“With rising interest rates, this will be really needed,” commented a Grey federation member.

Wallace agreed, saying “when the tsunami hits in the next few years” from high interest rates and how it affects farmers, individual federations can apply for REVIVE fund grants from the OFA to enhance mental health services in their counties.

Other issues discussed include: ● the importance of succession planning within federation boards to ensure new members are ready to take over leadership positions ● the success of the road safety campaign which GCFA past president, Dianne Booker, said the federation has really taken on to educates Toronto and “cottage country” drivers ● Lois Sinclair, program leader with the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA) updated members on new costsharing programs available to anyone who has completed the fourth edition of the Environmental Farm Plan. She said new programs are being launched regularly and the best way to be aware of these opportunities is to check the OSCIA’s updated website or sign up for e-mails when new programs are announced.

Election The meeting concluded with elections for GCFA board members.

Keith Reid was elected as the new president, making Dianne Booker the past president. Hugh Simpson was elected first vice-president and Lindsay Coles second vice-president.

Since the new PAC restructuring hasn’t been voted in yet, Dianne Booker and Hugh Simpson were acclaimed as PAC representatives.

Also, seven delegates were chosen to attend the OFA convention: Keith Reid, Mark Nichols, Lindsay Coles, Paul McQueen, Paul Wettlaufer, Jackie Pennings and Emily Croft. ◊

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News

• Press Release •

Art Alblas is new sheep farmers’ chairperson Ontario Sheep Farmers hand out awards and learn about meeting the needs of the ethnic market at annual meeting

O

ntario Sheep Farmers (OSF) hosted the 2023 Annual General Meeting on October 28 where they welcomed several new board members to the OSF team.

Wesley Godden (District 9), Devon Wensink (District 10), and Grant Cowan (District 6). Art Alblas (District 1), is the new OSF Chair, joined by 1st Vice Ken Lamb (District 7) and 2nd Vice Chair Karen Davis (District 8).

The remaining board members include Keith Todd (District 3), Jay Lennox (District 2), Marusha Kostuk (District 4), Ryan Schill (District 5) and Jenna Wight (District 11). All new members were elected earlier this year at their district meetings.

“I am very pleased to be elected as chair of such a great organization with such a bright and prosperous future,” says Art Alblas OSF Chair.

“I look forward to the industry coming together and working hard to advance our strategic plan and the Ontario Sheep Sector.”

OSF will continue to build on the strategic plan Building Strength for a Better Future. The five key deliverables identified in the OSF strategic plan are designed to build greater public trust, more dynamic market relationships, more effective business support, a more robust system to identify leadership and support districts, and a more effective organization to support each member. A copy of the full OSF strategic plan is available at www.ontariosheep.org Speaker Yassir Al Qayem from Parkhill Meats spoke about meeting the needs of Ontario’s Ethnic Market.

His session shared the opportunities and challenges facing industry and consumers and provided advice for producers looking to target the ethnic markets with their production.

Speaker Steve Duff, Chief Economist with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture Food and Rural

Affairs, provided an update on the lamb market.

OSF Awards and Scholarship recipients are as follows: • Long Service Award(s) - John Hemsted and DVM John Hancock, • Outstanding Shepherd - Ted and Joanne Skinner • OSF Undergraduate Scholarship Rachel Gras • Emerging Leader Award - Courtney Vriens • Mapleseed Pasture Award - Mike Swidersky Genovis – Ontario Genetic Improvement Awards are as follows: • Prolific Breed Category - Ted and Joanne Skinner Cedar Creek Charollais – Rideau Arcot • Maternal Breed Category – Frank & Ned Cursio – Curiso Farms & Arkell

Valley Dorset • Terminal Breed Category - Ted and Joanne Skinner Cedar Creek Charollais – Rideau Arcot • Commercial Category - Earl Brubacher – Brubacher Ovine – Maternal composite • Hybridizer – Wayne Kreklewich – Australian White/Romanov, Australian White/Rideau Arcott, Dorset/ Romanov, Rideau Arcott/Romanov Ontario Sheep Farmers (OSF) is a producer-run organization which represents the province’s 3,000 sheep farmers who contribute over $530 million to Ontario’s economy.

Ontario is home to the country’s largest sheep flock and processes over 50 per cent of the sheep and lambs born in Canada. ◊

Lisa Thompson, MPP Huron-Bruce Merry Christmas and wishing you the very best in the coming New Year!

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Huron-Bruce Matters December 2023 43

Markets Scott Krakar is a Grain Merchandiser with LAC Inc., Hyde Park, 519‐473‐9333

St. Lawrence Seaway shipping stoppage creates backlog and loss of millions of dollars Marine vessels are essential for transporting bulk commodities both in our region and around the world.

The benefit of marine shipping to Ontario’s agricultural industry is substantial, as much of Ontario’s grain is brought to market by vessel shipment.

For growers in Ontario, these vessels sail within the Great Lakes through the St. Lawrence Seaway.

The St. Lawrence Seaway was opened in 1959 and has added significantly to the growth of agricultural exports, not only from our region, but also from Western Canada and the Northern United States. The Seaway has traditionally been seen as a reliable transportation method, with only one labor shutdown in the Seaway’s history, which occurred in 1968. The Seaway was once again closed due to a union strike, this shipping season, as the 361 workers involved in the operation of the 13 locks on the lower lakes system, walked off the job at midnight on October 22, 2023.

When the Seaway workers gave strike notice, obviously commodity shippers/receivers and vessel companies were very concerned.

Iron ore, road salt, aggregates, cement, fertilizer, fuels, grain and other products all rely heavily on vessel shipment. Because the Seaway is essential for the trade of these

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goods, ramifications of a Seaway system shutdown are extreme.

The Chamber of Marine Commerce gave estimates that collectively the Canadian and U.S economies lose upwards of $110 million per day while the Seaway is not navigational during the fall season. The fall is an extremely busy shipping season as product demands are transported prior to the Seaway shutdown during the winter.

The Seaway shutdown was especially concerning to grain shippers as there is a very limited window of opportunity to ship the volumes of grain necessary. Ships are required to enter our ports to clear storage space, in order to make room for continued harvest. If the ships do not arrive, the countryside can back up with product and without storage space crops remain in the field. This brings large risks straight back to the farm. The grower could miss ideal harvest windows and if conditions or crop quality deteriorates the crop could see downgraded quality.

Worst case scenario risk is the crop not being harvested at all.

There are also system capacity risks. Each day that ships are not sailing is a complete loss. When unexpected delays happen, ships may not be able to meet the cargo commitments that they expected to move. Any additional demand that may surface for further grain export would not be able to be captured by Ontario growers. If you have a willing buyer and a willing seller, but no freight, the opportunity for both buyer and seller is lost.

There are also risks to our customers. Buyers who purchase Ontario’s harvest, buy it for specific delivery windows. They buy our grain because they want our grain, specifically at the time that they buy it for. Delays in shipment can put our buyers into difficulty as they need timely shipments for grain processing and livestock feeding. A world buyer, having grain requirements that remain unmet due to shipping delays is a dissatisfied customer.

Fortunately, the strike did end after an eight-day duration.

Unionized workers wages are

Markets reported to see annual increases of five per cent, four per cent and four per cent, retroactive to April 1, 2023, along with a $2,000 signing bonus.

The majority of striking workers voted to ratify the three-year deal.

Maintenance, operations and clerical groups voted 85 per cent in favour of ratification, while 87 per cent of unionized supervisors voted in agreement to the contract.

With the dispute settled, navigation began at 7 a.m. on October 30. Upon the announcement of a deal, industry participants voiced their satisfaction that navigation would resume. The Chamber of Marine Commerce announced, “We are pleased that this interruption in vital Seaway traffic has come to an end, and we can focus once more on meeting the needs of consumers around the world.” Grain Farmers of Ontario (GFO) emphasized the importance of the Seaway to Ontario’s crop producers: “We thank all parties involved – from the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation to Unifor representing the workers to the Canadian government and the Ontario government for ensuring the strike ended as quickly as possible. The grain needs to keep moving, and the Seaway is vital to Ontario farmers and the grain industry to get our grain to our customers across the globe.”

And while the seaway reopened promptly upon a labour deal, the effects of the stoppage will be felt for a long time. A large backlog occurred at the seaway locks and this took significant time to work through.

Ships did lose a week of navigation, even without accounting for the backlog, resulting in less cargo volumes moved for the balance of the year.

Many industry players also voiced concerns over the Seaway’s reputation of being a reliable shipper damaged. The Chamber of Marine Commerce, along with many others voiced this concern: “It is deplorable that a service as vital as the seaway could be brought to a halt in this way – the seaway stoppage was extremely harmful to supply chains, the economy and our quality of life.” ◊

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Woodlots Donna Lacey is a forester with the Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority

It’s time to take stock and put a dollar amount and benefit analysis on our natural assets This past month I have been listening to lectures and learning about natural assets. I am aware that many jokes can be made about this statement, and I hope you find a chuckle as a result. Truly, there are many definitions of what a natural asset can be.

Given that this is a column under

the heading of “Woodlots” I think that all readers should expect that I will be writing about environmental natural assets. For my purpose, I like the definition from Green Analytics Corp that is: “Natural assets are the stock of natural resources or ecosystems typically characterized by common ecosystem land cover types such as water, forests, wetlands, and grasslands. Natural assets also include air, soil, and the assemblage of flora and fauna that make up ecosystems. The stock of natural assets in a location that produces a flow of valuable goods and services over time” which is commonly referred to as ecosystem services.

The forest worker in me has a hard time with this, thinking “who cares?”. We all know that nature is important, why do we need the newer concept of Natural Assets? Fact is, we should have been recording this information in this method for decades. Much of the world revolves around finances, and without a price on an object occasionally that object seems to have no value. But putting a dollar amount on our natural assets is

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46 The Rural Voice

not all that this is about. This is about recording and accounting for all of the benefits, conditions, and total areas that we rely on as humans so that we can plan for the continued benefits into the future.

I like to think that most of us value the natural resources that we have and appreciate them for many different reasons. This appreciation has been key for the success of saving, maintaining, conserving, preserving, and creating our natural areas for many decades. Now, in the 2000s, simply appreciating is not enough. We need to be able to financially account for the benefits of natural areas to ensure that the services offered are maintained. A simple example of this is the action of a wetland upstream of a town during a heavy rain event. The rains fall, the water flows into the wetland and slowly flows out towards the town. If there were no wetland present, the water would flow very quickly into the town, possibly causing some flooding. Once the flooding has occurred, the town would look for ways to stop this from happening again and engineer a solution to either divert the water or slow it. This engineered solution would then be listed in an asset management plan or capital project plan that would have it on a regular inspection, maintenance, or replacement schedule. These plans and related schedules ensure that budgets can be properly prepared year after year.

Over the past few years, the City of Burlington, City of Hamilton, The Royal Botanical Gardens, and Conservation Halton, got together to take a look at a smaller watershed that affects or benefits all of the partners. Working together on a project of this nature is necessary as watersheds do not follow governmental or landowner boundaries. Collaborative projects like this do not happen very frequently in a proactive manner, more often in a reactive manner. The importance of working together on this natural asset management project was founded in the understanding that what happens upstream of a watercourse drastically affects those

that are downstream. All of the water flowing through this watershed empties into the Hamilton Harbour.

As much of the water comes from wetland areas above the Niagara Escarpment and the elevation change can be extreme, keeping the flow of water slowed through natural processes is of significant importance to all area residents. Throughout the creation of the asset management plan calculations were completed to show the effects of the loss of these natural processes. These calculations gave costing for the replacement of the natural elements with engineered options.

In natural asset planning, our changing climate with increased occurrences of significant events, must be taken into account. Over the past number of years, I have noticed the increase in very heavy rainfalls repeatedly followed by periods of dryness. When walking through a wetland during a dry period, elevated roots and root mats are evident.

Walking through the same area following a heavy rain event can necessitate rubber boots and make the roots and root mats impossible to see under the water. As much as the wetland fills with water at a rapid pace, it drains very slowly before becoming dry again. To construct a feature that offers this slowing service could be completed with astronomical costs. This is an important way to view our natural assets, as it will aid in our recognizing the importance of certain ecological areas, as well as establishing a plan to positively improve areas that can reduce harm to other areas.

Creating a natural asset inventory and plan is a very large undertaking.

These documents should stay fluid and be updated regularly to ensure accuracy. When a plan is created and situations have been analyzed, budgets can be properly created to ensure that funds are used to benefit all. This is where I find value in the paperwork: effort, time, and money being spent where it most benefits all residents. Whether they reside in nature or are human, what a positive outcome. ◊

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December 2023 47

Agrilaw John D. Goudy is a partner in Scott Petrie LLP Law Firm, and also farms north of London.

Ontario Land Tribunal to consider 37-unit farm cooperative The Ontario Land Tribunal (“OLT”) is preparing to hear appeals by the proponents of a 37-unit residential farm co-operative. The proponents had applied to the local municipality and the County for a required Official Plan Amendment, Zoning By-law Amendment and Plan of Condominium approval pursuant to the Planning Act. Although the applications for approvals were

deemed complete, neither the Municipality nor the County made a decision on the applications within the time required by the Planning Act. The proponents are now looking to the OLT to make the necessary decisions.

The proposed project is unique, touted as “Ontario’s First Residential Co-operative”. Situated on about 150 acres of agricultural- and ruralzoned lands, the project would create a 37-unit residential farm cooperative through a Plan of Condominium to be imposed over the entire property. The development would contain separate lots, internal streets and a farm cooperative. The agricultural area of the development would include a fruit orchard, a food forest, a market garden, a herb and medicine garden, a butternut meadow, a bee apiary and a community food market. Residents would access their dwellings by way of a private road system and the property would also feature roughly 7 km of trails. Food would be produced primarily for consumption

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48 The Rural Voice

by the residents of the community, with excess production to be sold through the community food market.

The westerly 100-acre portion of the project property contains a woodlot that had previously been rezoned to permit development of a golf course. The easterly 50-acre portion of the lands contains an apple orchard, a cultivated area, and another area described as “rough pasture” or “stone fields”. The easterly portion of the property had been home at one time to a market barn that burned down. The foundation of the barn remains in place between the orchard plots.

According to the vision statement of the proponents, the property will be a “modern agro-eco-community” built upon three “pillars”: Recreation, Agriculture, and Sustainability. The legal and ownership structure of the development would be a vacant land condominium pursuant to Section 155(1) of the Condominium Act, 1998. The property would be divided into 37 “units” or “homesteads”, each being a 1.3 acre serviced lot accommodating a single family residence, and “common elements” consisting of the internal roads, farm land, orchards, woodlot, pond, trails, bike pavilion and open space areas.

In the sales documentation to be provided to prospective purchasers, the proponents will describe the “community farm” concept that is fundamental to the project.

As a condominium, the ownership and use of the units and the common elements will be governed by a Declaration, by-laws and rules as well as by the Condominium Act, 1998. Each unit owner will own its residential lot and all owners will jointly own the common elements.

Costs of owning, operating, maintaining, repairing and replacing the common elements will be “common expenses” apportioned to each unit owner according to their respective share of the ownership (probably 1/37th each based on 37 residential lots). A reserve fund will be built and maintained to cover the cost of future capital repairs and replacement of the common elements.

From the looks of the plan used by

the proponents in their presentation at the public meeting held by the Municipality and County as required by the Planning Act, the 37 “homesteads” will be interspersed throughout the forested areas of the property, with clearing of trees required in a similar way perhaps to the golf course that had previously been planned for the westerly portion of the property. Clearing will be required not only for the houses themselves, but also for septic beds – each residence will have a private septic system and a private water well.

Each homestead will participate in the Farm Co-operative through a Board of Directors with the assistance of a farm manager. Each homestead would have a dedicated plot with “core infrastructure” to enable the residents to grow their own vegetables for personal consumption. The barn, gardening tools and supplies will be made available to all residents. Presumably the Condominium Declaration, bylaws and/or rules would mandate how the residents are to operate within the co-operative structure and share the common elements.

Speaking in support of the project at the public meeting, the proponent’s land use planner noted that 40 percent of Canadian farmers will retire by 2033 and 60% of them do not have a succession plan. The trend has been to regenerate the farming community through consolidation of farm operations in large corporations. The proponents’ proposal takes a different approach by creating a residential farm cooperative with housing that is fiscally and legally bound to the farm. The land use planner assured the Municipality and the County that the proposed Official Plan Amendment, Zoning By-law Amendment and Plan of Condominium are intended to tie the project together so that it cannot be undone in the future – not a “trojan horse” seeking approval now of residential development within agricultural and rural lands with an ultimate goal of further residential development in the future.

The OLT scheduled a second Case Management Conference for earlyNovember.

The agricultural community should keep an eye on

this interesting proposal for use of a vacant land condominium to support small-scale co-operative farming within a residential community. ◊ ______________________________ John D. Goudy’s law practice includes real property and environmental litigation, expropriation law, energy regulation, and regulatory offences. Agrilaw provides information of interest to the farming community, not legal advice. Readers should consult a legal professional about their particular circumstance.

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December 2023 49

Merry Christmas

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Subtotal 5% GST on Subtotal Order Total

50 The Rural Voice

The Old Farmer’s 2024 Almanac This 232nd edition aims once again to fulfill your expectations with its fun facts and forecasts.

Also includes news, novelties and a little nonsense to carry you through another year. $9.99

Send cheque or money order for full amount to: Books: North Huron Publishing P.O. Box 429, Blyth, ON N0M 1H0 or call and pay by credit card 519-523-4311 MAIL BOOKS TO: Name:_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Address: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ______________________ Code _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Phone: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Prices subject to change with increases in wholesale prices, postage, taxes, etc.

Please refer to current issue for correct figures. Incorrect payment will delay delivery.

People • By Lisa Boontoppel-Pot •

Robert J. Scott inducted into hall of fame

R

obert James (RJ) Scott was posthumously inducted into the Huron County Agricultural Hall of Fame at the annual meeting of the Huron County Federation of Agriculture (HCFA) in late October.

Mary Eccles, Robert’s daughter, accepted a plaque of her father that will be hung up in the Huron County Museum. Many family members were in attendance to honour their grandfather/great-grandfather.

RJ Scott was inducted into the Ontario Agricultural Hall of Fame earlier this year.

Joan Vincent read a history of RJ’s contributions to agriculture.

“Robert J Scott was from the Belgrave area. Robert James Scott (1900 – 1946) was one of Ontario’s greatest and most influential farm activists and was one of the most prominent men in Canadian agriculture during the 1930s-1940s.

He passionately worked to organize farmers into cooperatives where farmers would pool their resources.

By organizing farmers, they were then able to be more competitive, were no longer taken advantage of and had a strong, united voice to

influence change.

He led the United Farmers’ Co-operative of Ontario, advocated for many farm-related matters such as for fixed prices of commodities during the Second World War to guarantee an adequate food supply. He spoke up for fair railway freight rates for crops and was called upon Mary Eccles, daughter of the late Robert for advice by Ontario James Scott, accepts the framed photo and Premiers and Prime write‐up that will hang in the Huron County Minister Mackenzie King.

“At the time of his Museum recognizing his contributions to premature death, he was a agriculture from Joan Vincent of the Huron director for the Ontario County Federation of Agriculture (above). At Federation of Agriculture, top, Mary Eccles is surrounded by family Canadian Federation of members who came to honour their Agriculture, Dairy Farmers grandfather. of Canada, Ontario Stockyards Board and the was supported by a large contingent Ontario Beef Cattle Producers’ of grandchildren and greatAssociation.” grandchildren of RJ Scott. “To think She added that RJ Scott will also that all his grandchildren were able to be inducted into the Huron County be in Fergus in June (at the induction Federation of Agriculture’s Wall of ceremony even though they had Fame at the Huron County Museum. never met the man…they are still Vincent then presented RJ Scott’s very connected and I’m sure grandma daughter, Mary Eccles, with the and grandpa are looking down and plaque that will be hung up. Eccles very proud of you all.” ◊

December 2023 51

People • By Gary West •

Ontario Pork Congress updates technology

B

Retired Perth County hog farmer Murray Schlotzhauer (middle) receives the 2023 Ontario Pork Congress “Industry Leadership Award” from President Kirk McLean (left) and Past President Joe Dwyer (right), for his many years of dedicated volunteer work at the annual Ontario Pork Congress in Stratford.

Four trophies for four Bell riders

Dan and Brianne Bell farm north‐west of Shakespeare. Brianne and the kids are members of the Stratford and District Saddle Club where they all won awards at the club’s annual banquet. (Left to right) Ben received the champion trophy for the 12 and under class with his horse Comet and had top overall points in the saddle club’s summer competition; dad Dan supports the crew; Hailey was reserve champion on her mount Harley; Brianne won the club’s reserve champion trophy in the 18‐and‐over class; and Luke won the champion lead‐line trophy with his horse Calypso.

52 The Rural Voice

uilding on the success of the 50th anniversary of the Ontario Pork Congress held in Stratford in June, President-elect Kirk McLean says his vision is to build on past successes, and look forward to a positive future.

At the OPC’s recent annual meeting, McLean said the organization has completely transformed its internal processes with everything from communications to iCloud storage, This will allow committees to work remotely and collaborate together.

The new online mapping, exhibitor registration and online payment system allows OPC exhibitors and sponsors to easily update their information from year to year.

McLean says that their daily bookkeeping is now done with top of the line technology, utilizing remote invoicing, and reimbursements, making it quick and easy for volunteers to be reimbursed for any expenses related to the OPC. The upgrades will free up valuable time for planning the events instead of processing paperwork.

McLean went on to say that their volunteers put in countless hours each year to pull all the aspects of the show into a successful two-day event.

As life becomes more timeconsuming, it’s hard for people to find the extra time to volunteer. The new technology will help make the OPC relevant going into the next 50 years. They will try to keep finding new ways to keep attendees coming back yearly, as well as exhibitors showcasing their products and latest technology in pig production.

President McLean says the OPC is committed to continuing to make value for the exhibitors and sponsors, and the social, educational setting to research the latest innovations for years to come. ◊

Martin’s Nursery

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Kathy Bickle with daughter Laura Harold and (back row) Pam Zehr and Joanne Sauder pose with Bickle’s Apple Orchards greeter, “Morty” who welcomes visitors to Bickle’s Apple Orchards south of Tavistock.

Bickles donate apples for “Great Big Crunch Day”

H

undreds of apples were sourced from Bickles Apple Orchards south of Tavistock for “Great Big Crunch Day” held across school in Canada in October.

The business was started by Frank and Kaye Bickle who purchased the farm and orchards on Highway 59 in 1955. Their son Tom and his wife Kathy Bickle joined the business and have been running the operation for the last 42 years. They grow Macintosh, Empires, Red and Golden Delicious, Courtland, Gala, Ambrosia, Honey Crisp, Spy, Idared, Russet and Tolman Sweet apples.

Their farm store also offers jams and jellies, honey, pickles, cider, apple butter, maple syrup and coffee.

The Bickles supplied local schools with apples for the crunch event held in March. The Great Big Crunch is a Canada-wide movement and annual moment of anti-silence in which students, teachers, parents and others passionate about food join the food movement and crunch into apples (or other crunchy fruit or vegetable) to make noise for healthy school food. ◊

Season’s Greetings We just wanted to say “Merry Christmas”, and “thanks” for calling on us this past year.

We appreciate your kind patronage. from Ron, Betty, Chad & Crystal

Walton 519- 887-6428 (Shop) 519-955-1588 (Chad) • 519-524-3543 (Ron) December 2023 53

The

Rural Voice

Business Centre To place your ad call: 519-523-4311 or email: rvads@northhuron.on.ca

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54 The Rural Voice

Jonathan Zettler CCA-ON, 4R NMS 519-323-7505 jz@fieldwalker.ca fieldwalker.ca

REAL ESTATE

• Farm, residential, country, cottages, condominiums.

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December 2023 55

C E N T R E

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CLASSIFIED

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-------------------------------------------COMING EVENTS -------------------------------------------Christkindl Market and Messiah in the barn, December 8 and 9, Friday 4:00 to 9:00 pm and Saturday 2:00 to 9:00 pm at Glencolton Farm near Durham. For information and tickets: christkindlfarm.com -------------------------------------------South Western Ontario Dairy Symposium, Thursday, February 22, 2024, Woodstock Fairgrounds from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. www.dairysymposium.com -------------------------------------------CONSTRUCTION -------------------------------------------Liquid manure tanks, bunker silos, foundations and pads. All are 100% engineered. Serving Ontario since 1968. De Jong & Sons Ltd. 519-348-0523.

-------------------------------------------DAIRY -------------------------------------------Screened bedding sand, delivered.

Call 519-625-8242 or 519-2741490.

-------------------------------------------FOR SALE -------------------------------------------Rosco grain bins for sale - 19' and 14' diameter. Parts available. Used grain bins wanted for parts or reuse.

Closed Sundays, 519-338-3920.

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Also, coarse wood mulch for horse and cattle walkways, wet areas around water troughs and bush lanes. Also available is dairy pack starter bedding. 519-669-2456.

Sittler Grinding Inc. Rick Sittler.

-------------------------------------------LIVESTOCK FOR SALE -------------------------------------------Merry Christmas. Come and see us early in the new year to make your selections. Silver Springs Farms, James, Joan and Robert McKinlay.

519-599-6236 w -------------------------------------------LIMOUSIN breeding bulls, quiet, thick, semen tested, guaranteed breeders, delivery included. Posthaven Limousin, John Post, 519-766-7178 www.posthavenlimousin.com. 08-W -------------------------------------------Purebred ram lambs, ready to work.

Born in Feb/Mar. British blood lines, GenOvis tested, M-V Negative, closed flock. Florence Pullen, Clinton. 519-233-7896. w -------------------------------------------RESTORATION -------------------------------------------The Olde Tyme Radio Centre – antique radios, clocks, gramophones, telephones; sold/ restored. (vintage autoclock radio repairs). Golden Oldies Antiques For Sale. Belgrave 519357-4304, www.oldtymeradio.ca -------------------------------------------RETAIL AND GIFTS -------------------------------------------Experience one stop shopping, unique artisans/crafters, gourmet foods and custom gift baskets.

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Will make house calls in the North Huron, Perth and surround area.

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56 The Rural Voice

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Cash rent, share crop. Contact Paul at Hill & Hill Farms, 519-2333218 or 519-525-3137 or email: paul.hillhill@tcc.on.ca -------------------------------------------Scrap Cars Wanted – 20, 30, 40 yd. scrap metal bins available. We sell quality used auto parts. Wanted to buy – scrap cars, trucks, farm machinery, heavy equipment.

Kenilworth Auto Recyclers. 519323-1113.

Merry Christmas December 2023 57

National Farmers Union – Ontario NEWSLETTER ● Strong Communities ● Sound Policies ● Sustainable Farms

Phone: 1-888-832-9638 E-mail: office@nfuontario.ca Website: www.nfuontario.ca

The Greenbelt lands are back but why stop there?

The NFU-O Calls on Rural Voice readers to help advance Environmental Protection, Food Security, and Housing Affordability

T

he Ford Government’s decision to return 7,400 acres back into the Greenbelt is vindication for the National Farmers Union Ontario (NFU-O) and for all those who stood opposed to the idea that paving over farmland was necessary to create affordable housing and liveable communities.

In addition to the Greenbelt win, the announcement by Paul Calandra, the new Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, to reverse the forced expansion of urban boundaries in 12 Ontario municipalities is another welcomed result of an unprecedented mobilization of concerned citizens.

Ontarians said no to urban sprawl and the Province listened.

The NFU-O wishes to thank its members, allies, Indigenous peoples, environmental groups, affordable housing advocates, alternative media outlets, and every Ontarian who refused to let the Ford Government bulldoze over Greenbelt and urban boundary protections and gift a handful of developers some of the province’s most fertile farmland.

“This is a victory for all of us,” says N F U-O President, Max Hansgen. “Together, we stood united against corruption and the undermining of democratic processes.”

“Now,” asks Hansgen, “how might we build upon this unity to advocate for policy that will advance real affordable housing options AND broaden the province’s protection of our finite farmland and sensitive natural heritage?”

According to the agricultural census, we continue to lose upwards of 319 acres of farmland daily in the

West Duffins Creek is adjacent to the Duffins Rouge Agricultural Preserve and is where the largest section of Greenbelt land was to be removed. province. Threats still loom large, farmland ownership with a view to with proposed projects like the 60developing policy to restrict nonkilometre Highway 413 slated to farmer speculation on all of the cover 2,400 acres of prime province’s farmland. agricultural land in asphalt, a fifth of ● Make public farmland the which is within the Greenbelt. The incubator for the next generation of 16-kilometre Bradford bypass in the food producers. Request the Province Regional Municipality of York conduct an inventory of all publicly connecting Highway 400 and owned agricultural land and consult Highway 404 will also result in with Indigenous communities on the thousands of acres of prime and use of public land to ascertain specialty farmland being taken out of whether suitable infrastructure and production. Developers are still management of this public resource snapping up farmland on the could be implemented to support periphery of the Greenbelt for small-scale food production. Doing speculative purposes, even though so would help increase land access there is plenty of land within existing for new and young farmers, and urban boundaries to build affordable ensure that public lands are being housing where Ontarians work. used towards important public It is time to confront these threats initiatives like food security and with a positive vision where we put community development. environmental protection, food ● Affordable housing for all. Call on security, and housing affordability all levels of government to commit to above short-term, speculative gain. the construction of non-profit, public, To achieve these ends, the NFU-O and affordable housing projects and Farmland Committee seeks to work enhance public transportation with allies to advance the following services within pre-existing rural visionary policy directions: municipal boundaries. ● Why stop at the Greenbelt?

Want to join the discussion on how Advocate the protection of all to further farmland protection in the farmland in the province to ensure a province? Reach out to Briana at future with food security. briana@nfuontario.ca to find out ● Keep farmland for farmers. To more about how you can participate address the farmland affordability and/or support the N F U-O’s crisis, let’s collectively call on the Farmland Committee. We want to Province to release public data on hear from you. ◊

A subscription to The Rural Voice is one of the benefits of being an NFU-O member 58 The Rural Voice

Henry Groenestege, President

Perth County

* The Rural Voice is provided to Perth County Pork Producers by the PCPPA perthcountyporkproducers@gmail.com

Pork Producers NEWSLETTER

Senators rejects amendments to carbon tax Bill C-234

By John Nater, MP Perth-Wellington As Canadians, and especially Canadian farmers know, the Liberal Government’s Carbon Tax on different fuels used in the agriculture and agri-food industry never accurately reflected the environmental impact of those fuels.

Instead, the Carbon Tax was never about environmental policy; it was always a tax policy designed to serve the Liberal Government’s political interests.

Now, with the announcements made in recent weeks, the Liberal Government has managed to make the Carbon Tax even less fair, especially for farmers who use fuels to heat barns and dry their grain.

For four years, my Conservative colleagues and I have been trying to amend the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act (the legislation that created the Carbon Tax) to correct these blatantly unfair rules. Our latest attempt, Bill C-234 passed the House of Commons with the support of Conservative, Bloc Québécois, New Democratic, and Green Party MPs. If passed, this Bill will remove the carbon tax from all on-farm grain drying and for the heating and cooling of livestock barns. While we would have liked to have gone further and removed the carbon tax altogether, including from commercial grain drying, the realities of the current make-up of Parliament have meant we remain the only political party willing to do so.

In the Senate, Justin Trudeau’s unelected and unaccountable Senators amended Bill C-234 in the Senate Committee to remove the heating and cooling of barns, greenhouses, and other structures from the Bill. This amendment, supported by Senators with no experience in and very little understanding of agriculture, completely undermined the principles and goals of the Bill. At the time of writing, (November 7, 2023), the full

John Nater, MP for Perth‐Wellington, says the carbon tax has become even less fair for farmers using fuels to heat their barn and dry their grain.

Senate of Canada has rejected these amendments and the Bill awaits its third and final reading in the Senate. I am hopeful that it will finally and quickly become law and give farmers a break.

At the same time that this is happening, the Liberal Government has announced they are providing Carbon Tax relief on home heating oil. This announcement not only contradicts everything the Liberals have been saying for the past four years about their Carbon Tax, but it also expands the gap between how much we pay in rural Ontario when compared to other regions of the

country.

On Monday, November 6 a Conservative Opposition Day Motion calling on the Government to extend the temporary three-year pause (on the Carbon Tax) to all forms of home heating was defeated by Liberal and Bloc Quebecois Members of Parliament.

Farmers deserve fairness and respect. Unfortunately, that is not what we are getting from Justin Trudeau and his Liberal Government.

As your Member of Parliament, I will continue to work to correct this unfair taxation for all farmers and farm families. ◊

LOCAL PORK PRODUCTS AVAILABLE Fill your freezer with local pork products Order today from: Tanya and Darryl Terpstra (519-291-7603) or visit Leis Feeds in Milverton – Open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon BBQ services for large groups are also available, contact: perthcountyporkproducers@gmail.com for more details.

Pork supplied by: Perth County Pork Producers December 2023 59

519-364-3050 or 1-800-275-9551 Grey County Federation Email: grey@ofa.on.ca Website: greyfederation.ca of Agriculture * The Rural Voice is provided to OFA Members in Grey County by the GCFA

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

The Grey County Federation of Agriculture would like to extend best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all OFA members and farm families in Grey County and thank you to everyone for their support this past year.

GCFA Annual Meeting

Keith Reid, GCFA President

GCFA recently held their Annual Meeting. Representing Grey Federation this year are: Past President – Dianne Booker President – Keith Reid 1st Vice President – Hugh Simpson 2nd Vice President – Lindsey Coles Directors: Allen Hughes Dianne Booker Karen Gorman Kevin Raszmann Mark Nicholls Paul McQueen Richard Suchow

To Build A Barn GCFA is undertaking a shared initiative with Saugeen Valley Childrens Safety Village to Build a Barn at their facility on the edge on Hanover. Thousands of students visit the village each year and receive safety training from professionals. The vision is to add more farm education to support the current safety shed that is located there. The initial steps were taken this past October with a comedy night with live and silent auctions. Grey Federation would like to thank everyone who bought tickets, attended and bid on items. A huge shout out to our very generous sponsors to date as listed below. If you would like to support us on our quest to bring more farm education to the village please contact our office.

Sponsors - Grey County Federation of Agriculture - Bruce County Federation of Agriculture - Robert’s Farm Equipment - Kubota Canada - Midwest Coop - Flato Developments - H Bye Construction - Maxwell Farm Service - Robert Porteous Real Estate - Sharpe Farm Supplies - Partner Ag Services - Drayton Entertainment

- Hanover Barons - Farm Credit Canada - Exceldor Foods - Northern Credit Union - New Life Mills - Osprey Bluffs Honey - John Calvert - Springhill Farms - Craig and Dianne Booker - Bill Westman - Telfer Wegg - Chris Mazzone

* The Rural Voice is provided to OFA Members in Grey County by the GCFA.

60 The Rural Voice

Email: bruce@ofa.on.ca website: brucefederation.ca

NEWSLETTER BCFA ANNUAL MEETING At the recent BCFA AGM, President Chris Cossitt shared successes and challenges over the past year, including our projects highlighting farm safety, working with all levels of government on agriculturally related issues, community and member outreach and the medical student tour. As always, we welcome new board members, so please contact us if you would like to join.

The board moving into the new year representing BCFA is as follows: Past President: John Rodgers President: Chris Cossitt 1st Vice President: John Gillespie 2nd Vice President: Tammy Young Directors: Joe Detzler Allan Smith Lorne Underwood Thomas Lennox Les Nichols Robert Rodgers

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

The Bruce County Federation of Agriculture Executive and Directors would like to wish a Merry Christmas and a healthy, prosperous and Happy New Year to all the farm families in Bruce County and thank you for your support this past year.

519-364-3050 or 1-800-275-9551 * The Rural Voice is provided to OFA Members in Bruce County by the BCFA

Come visit us at Grey/Bruce Farmers’ Week Grey Bruce Farmers’ Week has been a main stay for the agricultural industry in Grey and Bruce Counties since 1966. The featured commodities have changed as our agricultural focus evolved, but the mandate of producer education has remained firm. The agendas are jam-packed with high impact presenters and the trade show is filled to capacity on most days.

• In-Person presentations will be delivered from the Elmwood Community Centre. Without a doubt the best way to experience GBFW, producers can pose questions directly to presenters, network with each other or with agribusiness, peruse the tradeshow, and of course - enjoy a hot roast beef lunch each day!

• Livestreaming will be available for those who are unable to travel to Elmwood during the conference. This option still allows for questions to be posed to presenters through a chat box, and no winter driving is required to take part!

• The Encore Access gives ticket holders the ability to review conference proceedings for 30 days following GBFW. Whether it is a presentation that you missed, or information you would like to review in more detail, all presentations will be recorded and available here, and all audience members (whether you watch in-person or through the livestream) can access this.

• On-Demand presentations are a legacy of our two virtual GBFW years.

We have so many great topics booked, but not enough time to fit them all into our daily schedules! As a result, each day of GBFW has close to 30 presentations which are pre-recorded and only available online. This bonus content is included with any ticket purchase, whether in-person or livestreaming the rest of the conference.

Beef Day - Wednesday, Jan. 3rd 2024 Dairy Day - Thursday, Jan. 4th 2024 Goat Day - Friday, Jan. 5th 2024 Sheep Day - Saturday, Jan. 6th 2024 Horse Day - Sunday, Jan. 7th 2024 Ecological Day - Monday, Jan. 8th 2024 Crops Day - Tuesday, Jan. 9th 2024

* The Rural Voice is provided to OFA Members in Bruce County by the BCFA.

December 2023 61

Perth County Federation of Agriculture Email: perthcountyfedofag@gmail.com Website: www.perthcountyfarmers.ca Office: 1-833-229-6834 Julie Danen, President: 519-801-9200

Agriculture Recognition Award goes to Darryl and Tanya Terpstra

Darryl and Tanya Terpstra

A

On Thursday, November 16 the Perth County Federation of Agriculture hosted their 9th Annual Harvest Gala. This was an opportunity to bring together the industry to celebrate agriculture in the county.

This year we enjoyed the hospitality of the Arden Park Hotel in Stratford which featured a wonderful meal of stuffed chicken and pork tenderloin. We had over 200 people attend with strong support from local businesses, attendance from neighbouring Federations, and the friendly company of neighbours.

We also raised money to give out two $1,000 continuing education scholarships. This year’s scholarships were awarded to Lexi Johnston and Jillian Ohm. Lexi Johnston is from North Perth near Listowel. Growing up she has been active with the Listowel Agricultural Society and Listowel Fair, and through 4-H she represented her community at the World Dairy Expo, 4-H National Member’s Forum

as well as other leadership camps, dairy shows and competitions. She is in her fourth year at University of Guelph majoring in Animal Science.

She has been involved in College Royal and this year is their president, as well as serving on her class executive and the Dairy Science Club. She has a passion for the dairy industry as well as agriculture as a whole. She also is interested in agriculture finance and how it can serve the agricultural community.

Jillian Ohm is from North Perth near Monkton. She grew up on a farm where they grow corn, soybeans, wheat, dry beans, hay and more. She is currently in her third year at University of Guelph majoring in Crop Science. While at Guelph she is involved in her class executive, tractor tug for tots, OAC Soil and Crop Club and College Royal. She has a passion for agronomy and hopes to bring expertise to the Perth County area when she graduates, starting in either research or retail fields of agronomy and becoming a Certified Crop Advisor.

We are proud to support Lexi and Jillian in their education and look forward to them providing value to our rural community in the future.

Our Agriculture Recognition Award is presented at our gala. This award recognizes people and businesses that have contributed to Perth agriculture and community initiatives. We presented this year’s award to Darryl and Tanya Terpstra who were nominated by the Perth County Pork Producers. Darryl and Tanya have been very active in their community. Serving and leading in their church, Perth Plowmen’s Assoc., Perth County Pork Producers, Ontario Pork and the Pork Congress.

Darryl was a PCFA director for over 20 years, and President of the board from 2012 to 2014. Tanya is currently Zone 2 Director for Ontario

Pork. They have raised seven children who are also active in their community. Tanya also caters for weddings and family events. In 2015, they were one of the winners of the BMO Ontario Farm Family Award.

Tanya has also been an integral part of past galas serving on our planning committee. The PCPP describe Darryl and Tanya as excellent leaders who demonstrate exemplary resilience, never back down and tackle challenges as opportunities rather than setbacks. Their wealth of knowledge and drive to succeed has propelled industries forward as well as inspired others. Their optimism, teamwork and leadership have been an asset in not just the swine industry, but every organization they have dedicated their time to.

We are thankful for the time and effort Darryl and Tanya have contributed to their community, church, producer organizations and our own Perth County Federation Boards since first meeting through Junior Farmers and continuing to this day. ◊

Merry Christmas from the PCFA

Mark your calendar January 26 in St. Marys PCFA Annual Meeting Follow PCFA social media and website for more details

* The Rural Voice is provided to OFA Members in Perth County by the PCFA.

62 The Rural Voice

Index Agri-Solve ..........................Cover 5 Allied Associates ........................15 Axiom Mutual ..............................15 Bautec Industries Inc ..................49 Ben Lobb MP ................................9 Bernie McGlynn Lumber ............46 Bervie Supply ..............................13 Business Centre ............54, 55, 56 Canadian Co-operative Wool ......11 Chalmers Fuels ..............................5 CMHA Ontario ....................Cover 7 Cottrill Heavy Equipment ..............7 Courtney Grain & Seed ........45, 46 Crop Quest Inc ............................19 Cross County Eavestrough ..........7 CT Environmental..........................6 Dundalk Credit Union ..................11 Easy Lift Doors Ltd ......................12 Elma Steel ..................................39 Farm to Table ..............................17 Feeney DesignBuild ..........Cover 4 Ferguson Apiaries........................10 Gaffney Electrical..........................9 Goderich Ag Show ........................5 Green Valley Heating Inc ............47 Grey-Bruce Farmers’ Week..28, 29 Hanover Honda ..........................63 Hayden Water Wells....................57 Hayter & Associates......................8 Hearing Life Canada Ltd ..............11 Highland Fuels & Supply ............19 Hill & Hill/Varna Grain ........Cover 2 Holiday Shopping..........20, 26, 34, 36 Howick Mutual Insurance..................48 Huron Commodities ....................44 Kenpal Farm Products ................39 KMM Farm Drainage ..................53 LAC ..............................................63 Lakeside Shelving & Racking ....41 Leon Brubacher ..........................19 Lisa Thompson MPP ..................43 Live Landscape ..........................35 Maitland Valley Conservation ....47 Mapleview Agri Ltd........................2 Marquardt Farm Drainage Ltd ....13 Martin’s Nursery ..........................53 Matthew Rae MPP ......................19 McLeod Water Wells Ltd ............31 Millstone Crop Services ..............22 Morris Sachs Silo Construction ..63 Nature’s Wave Inc ......................22 Ontario Used Tractor Parts ........41 Parker & Parker ............................6 RT Bolton & Son ................Cover 4 RCS Forestry Mulching ................5 Rural Voice Books ......................50 Schmidt’s Farm Drainage ............41 Schweiss Doors ..........................57

Seed Directory ............................15 Silver Creek Nursery ..................49 South Easthope Mutual Ins. ......39 Stratford Crane Rental ..............53 Superior Barn Painting ......Cover 6 SWO Diesel Inc ..................Cover 5 Townsley Barn Painting ..............57 Trimit Field & Forest ..................47 Triple P Consulting......................44 Trouw Nutrition ............Back Cover Usborne & Hibbert ......................24 WD Hopper & Sons Ltd ..............24 Waddell Engineering Ltd ..............7

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December 2023 63

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County Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER

VandenHengel awarded the HCFA Outstanding Contribution to Agriculture Award Gerry VandenHengel was awarded the HCFA Outstanding Contribution to Agriculture Award for 2023 at the Huron County Federation of Agriculture Annual Meeting held October 27 in Clinton.

Pictured at left, are HCFA President Murray Workman and Gerry VandenHengel. Gerry has been involved in agriculture in numerous capacities including through the Seaforth Farmers Co-op, Gay Lea Dairy Foods Cooperative, Canadian Foodgrains Bank (Seaforth growing project), IPM 2017 (in Walton) signage committee co-chair and the Seaforth Community Development Trust. Thank you Gerry for your dedication to the community.

Website: www.hcfa.on.ca Email: ofahuron@tcc.on.ca

Upcoming Events December 7 Environmental Farm Plan 1 day Renewal Workshop in Clinton to register www.ontariosoilcrop.org or contact Lois Sinclair 519-955-3139 Huron County Federation of Agriculture

There is no Board meeting in December

NEXT BOARD MEETING Monday, January 22, 2024, 8:00 p.m.

Vanastra office

Room for Rent

The HCFA has a board room available for rent for $40 including HST. Call the HCFA office at 519-482-9642 ext 2 to book your meetings.

HCFA OFFICE The office is open on Mondays and alternate Fridays 9 a.m. to noon and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

At the Annual meeting of the Huron County Federation of Agriculture Meeting held on October 27 at the Clinton Legion, R.J. Scott was posthumously inducted into the Huron County Agricultural Hall of Fame. Numerous family members, pictured above, were in attendance and will arrange for the certificate to be hung in the Huron County Museum in Goderich.

Huron County Federation of Agriculture Annual Meeting Wayne Caldwell was the guest speaker and spoke on the importance of Rural Planning. The future of agriculture in Ontario is fundamentally connected to supportive planning policies and action.

There were two resolutions for the OFA Annual meeting. The first on Battery Energy Storage Systems and the second on Grocery Pricing.

Results of the elections for directors

Bluewater ~ Paul Klopp Huron East ~ Shawn O’Rourke North Huron ~ Anna Vincent Ashfield Colborne Wawanosh, South Huron, Morris Turnberry and Howick are vacant.

Directors at Large: Rob VandenHengel, Erica Murray, Joan Vincent, Murray Workman, Ian Scott

Current commodity representatives Beef, Harvey Hoggart Grain Farmers, Mike Colclough Chicken, Ralph DeWeerd Egg, Matt Denys Junior Farmers, William Ringenberg The HCFA President and Vice Presidents will be selected at the next HCFA board meeting.

The HCFA Board of Directors wish all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Thank You! to the following companies who donated door prizes to our Annual Meeting.

Midwest Cooperative Services-Belgrave The Whole Pig The Blyth Festival Theatre Ontario Federation of Agriculture

The Rural Voice is provided to all OFA members in Huron County by the Huron County Federation of Agriculture

64 The Rural Voice

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT CROP ADVISORY SERVICES NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT PLANNING Mervyn Erb CPCC-I, T.Ag, CCA, 4R NMS, Cert. NMPD Brucefield, ON 519-233-7100

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BRUCEFIELD, ON N0M 1J0 BUS: 519-233-7100 FAX: 519-233-3444 MOBILE: 519-274-2929 EMAIL: erb@cropadvisory.com www.CropAdvisory.com MEMBERS: NATIONAL ALLIANCE OF INDEPENDENT CROP CONSULTANTS ONTARIO INSTITUTE OF AGROLOGISTS

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Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year Wishing all our valued readers a very Merry Christmas and all the very best for 2024.

From the staff of

The Rural Voice Magazine

Join the Guardian Network today!

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