The Rural Voice - April 2021

April 2021

Rural Voice

The

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

THE CROP CRYSTAL BALL Stick to your rotation and don’t be seduced by soybean prices, urge crop experts.

EBY HONOURED Beef farmer Stan Eby is named to Agricultural Hall of Fame

PIGEONS TO PEKINS After losing money to the Pigeon King, Dale and Jocelyn Leifso see profit raising Pekin ducks

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Contents The

18

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

23

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

26 Columns Lisa B. Pot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Keith Roulston . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Kate Procter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Jeffrey Carter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Mabel’s Grill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Viewpoint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Recipes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37 Gardening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40 Markets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42 Woodlots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44 Agrilaw . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46

Departments Feedback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Ruralite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 People . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50 Business Centre . . . . . . . . . . . . .52 Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55 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

APRIL 2021 • Cover Photo Dale and Jocelyne Leifso Photo by Lisa Boonstoppel-Pot

• Deadlines: May Issue

Contributing writers: Keith Roulston, Kate Procter, Jeffrey Carter, Rhea Hamilton Seeger, Arnold Mathers, Donna Lacey, Melisa Luymes, Anne Mann, Nancy Fisher, Dorothy Henderson, Bonnie Sitter, Gary Kenny, Jeff Tribe, Amanda Brodhagen and Bob Reid.

Mailed by: McLaren Press Graphics Bracebridge, ON

– April 13

June Issue – May 11

18 Making Money with Pekin Ducks Pigeons lost money but Pekin ducks are profitable

23 Eby is a new Hall of Famer Beef farmer and political activist Stan Eby is inducted into Ontario Agricultural Hall of Fame

26 Flies are the new Superfood Company breeds flies to harvest protein-rich larvae for animal feed

30 Pigs, Cover Crops and Healthy Soil The Israel family of 3Gen Organics believes healthy pork starts with healthy soil

Sales representative: Shelley Kroes rvads@northhuron.on.ca Production co-ordinator & Telemarketing: Joan Caldwell Advertising & editorial production: Dianne Josling 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: $20 (12 issues) $35 (24 issues), includes HST Back copies $2.75 each,U.S. rates, $65.00

34 Entrepreneurial Wisdom Three young entrepreneurs share start-up tips

44 Planting for Survivability Coniferous trees have a better survival rate for mass plantings

All manuscripts submitted for consideration should be accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope. The publisher cannot accept responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts or photographs, although both are welcome. 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.

NH

ORTH URON

PUBLISHING COMPANY INC.

A division of North Huron Publishing Company Inc.

Feedback Letters to the Editor may be sent to The Rural Voice, P.O. Box 429, Blyth, On N0M 1H0

Funding needed to upgrade smaller, safer slaughter plants

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The Editor, Letter to the Honourable Ernie Hardeman, Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Dear Minister Hardeman, Livestock producers in Renfrew County have asked the Renfrew County National Farmers Union (NFU) Local 330 Beef Committee to write to you for support to remedy the lack of capacity in Ontario’s meat processing plants (abattoirs).

The COVID-19 pandemic has temporarily closed several large meat processing plants which depressed prices paid to farmers at livestock sales barns. At the same time local demand for meat has increased but here in Renfrew County there are so few abattoirs that farmers will wait up to five months to get cattle, pigs and other livestock slaughtered. On top of this, extreme heat and minimal rain last June have nearly doubled the price of hay in Renfrew County. Obviously, farmers are stressed.

Centralized meat processing by large companies has had a direct negative impact on our local meat processing capacity. Food Secure Canada reported in May 2020 that 95 per cent of all beef processing in Canada occurs in just three facilities, two of which are in Alberta.

Many farmers who usually take their animals to the local sales barn are seeing a dramatic fall in prices, while local demand has increased.

This has put more pressure on our local abattoirs, increasing wait times.

In Ontario, just in the last 21 years, the number of provincially inspected

abattoirs fell by 50 per cent, from 229 to 115 facilities (Source: OMAFRA).

In support of our local livestock producers, we outline the following: • Renfrew County has a large livestock producing industry – 450 beef farmers and a mixed farming base raising goats, sheep, hogs, chickens, etc. The county’s diverse landscape lends itself to this mixed farming and local production base.

• As recently as 25 years ago, our livestock producers had access to 12 local abattoirs. Currently, the county has one full -ime abattoir and a second abattoir that is processing hogs only.

Both facilities are doing an excellent job, however, they are so backlogged that the wait time for farmers to get their animals to slaughter can be a year or longer.

• During this pandemic, as stated earlier, the processing industry across Ontario, and the country, witnessed the closure of the larger meat processing facilities. The fall-out from the sudden shutdown of these facilities caused a 30 per cent drop in the price of livestock at sales barns.

Recently, (February 15) two new Covid outbreaks are being reported at meat plants; one in North York, Ontario and one in High River, Alberta.

The NFU Renfrew Local 330 Beef Committee strongly suggests that OMAFRA funding be used to assist with upgrading smaller, safer, slaughter plants in Renfrew County and across the province which would help to ensure local food security and the supply of local food. In fact, this is the same conclusion reached by the Simpson Centre for Agricultural and Food Innovation at University of Calgary: “creating a greater number of smaller-scale facilities scattered across the country would better insulate the food industry from a future pandemic.

Indeed, the COVID-19 pandemic has provided a case study in the risks associated with modern “megascale” processing facilities”.

The NFU Local 330 Renfrew County Beef Committee, seeing the need to rebuild the meat processing system, sincerely submits the following for your consideration: • That the Minister of Agriculture and the Minister of Finance review the

Feedback information provided above, and approve additional funds for a second funding allocation to support increased capacity for existing abattoirs • That the Government of Ontario negotiate with neighbouring provinces to bring about harmonization to improve the freer movement between provinces of animals for slaughter and carcasses for processing.

• In addition, that the Government of Ontario recognize the importance, dedication and value of abattoir staff and butchers by promoting and supporting training for this underappreciated profession.

Finally, now is the time to look at how we can rebuild a local meat processing system which will resolve these massive problems for livestock producers in Renfrew County, as well as many other parts of this country.

We are awaiting your reply to this very serious matter that is affecting meat producers.

Thank you for taking the time to read this letter and, in advance to responding, thank you.

– Yours in farming, Marshall Buchanan President, Renfrew County National Farmers Union, Local 330 Daniel Stermac-Stein Renfrew County Beef Committee, Renfrew County NFU, Local 330

March issue one of the best ever!

The March issue of The Rural Voice is one of the best ever from Lindsay Tribe “off the grid” to preserving history on Shelley Dorssers farm.

We are presently tearing down a 100+ year-old barn and from an architectural and engineering design, they are so well crafted with post and beam and pegs driven in to tie everything together. They are all hand-hewn logs. We have been trying to give as much of the wood away for free as people will take so they can repurpose it. Lorrie Armstrong is a talented neighbour and she made my

son a walnut harvest table from some of the lumber..

It was also nice to see Bob Reid’s writing on taking frugal to the next level as he always has interesting and captivating stories that opens your imagination. The life story of Agnes Macphail by Dorothy Henderson Brown was also very interesting.

As always Mel, Kate, Amanda and the others never disappoint.

I read the The Rural Voice for the first time around 1983 and always

enjoyed it. Of all the farm papers/magazines that come, The Rural Voice is my favorite read.

When we are finished with it, I take it over to my Mother who will soon be 92 as she enjoys it also.

Keep up the good work!

– Kevin Kimball, Leamington Deadline for the May issue of The Rural Voice is April 13

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4 The Rural Voice

Dave Bernard ~ CLINTON, ON 519-482-3976 ~ Established 1998

Ruralite

“

“

During those days, you grew

•

enough food for your family and would

Resiliency

sell the surplus and today it’s the opposite –

“As we see the greater impacts

”

you sell everything you grow and buy back what you need.

~ Stan Eby, Ontario Agricultural Hall of Fame winner, on the difference between farming now and farming when he was a boy

{

APRIL INSPIRATION "The way I see it, if you want the

}

rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain.” ~ Dolly Parton

of climate change, how are we going to manage those big rains?

What system has the most resiliency? Integrating cover crops that overwinter gives us the ability to manage the challenges that environment will throw our way.” ~Brett Israel, speaking about 3Gen Organic Farm’s cover cropping system~

Lexophile Lovers • I know a guy who is addicted to drinking brake fluid, but he says he can stop anytime.

• I got some batteries that were given out free of charge.

• When you get a bladder infection, urine trouble.

•

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

Reader Photo: By Elly Boonstoppel

• Smile! It takes a lot less

Fresh straw in the pig pen is about as good as bed sheets

muscles and people will

straight off the clothes line. For the porkers at Avidly Farms

like you better.

near Blyth, it also provides hours of chewing and rooting fun. This guy’s face says it all.

•

April 2021 5

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

Mission accomplished I got a card in the mail from a dear friend who said, “I miss your laugh.”

“Jeepers,” I thought, “I miss my laugh too!”

The sun was shining, lockdown was over and winter’s blanket of isolation was receding. It was time to get out and visit! So I had a little get together with some close friends to sip on wine and nibble on chocolate.

One guest made Jalapeno poppers which were both pain and pleasure, all wrapped up in baked bacon. So good!

The open door made space for a lot of venting. It had been a long time since we’d all been together and there were so many stories to share.

It felt like a COVID-19 cleansing and I sat with the wine glass in my hand, so I could sip and listen to the stories pouring out.

I live in a bungalow with one son and two daughters and both girls have an extensive array of skin care products, none of which I used at their age and likely should have given the long hours I spent sitting on a tractor in the summer sun. Their faces, I’m sure, won’t bear the ravages of days baling hay with no sunscreen. Most of their products are tucked into drawers and shelves but a few sit on the corner of the vanity, neatly spaced and organized.

One of my friends at the party excused herself to use the facilities and came out with a pink, plastic tool, about six inches long with a vibrating head.

“And what’s this for?” she teased, waving the device about.

I almost blushed, given her mocking tone, even though the shape of the device clearly didn’t fit with it’s other, suggestive, characteristics.

It was enough to start the belly laughs and so we did, embracing the teasing that goes with friendships 6 The Rural Voice

that have survived babies, careers Calves are being born. Lambs too. and marriage ups and downs.

Farmers rub vaseline on their Mission accomplished. chapped hands at night because it’s On another day at another place, a still cold in the barns as dams and portly possum was seen trundling ewes heave while they pull. A across the snow-covered lawn. shepherdess yawns as she closes the “What’s that?” someone exclaimed barn door ... she can sleep once and all the work of demolishing lambing season is over. unneeded walls and old cupboards These four little stories have no was put on hold as everyone raced seeming connection except one thing: out to inspect the intruder. spring. It’s the season of waking up Peter Possum quickly found a tree and we see it in our friendships, the and secured himself to a little branch wildlife, the connection to the soil where he sat, unblinking, as everyone and yes, the work. Long days of inspected his cute, hairless ears and planting, calving and lambing are his not-so-cute rat-like tail. Possums here. We all need sunshine, laughter may spread diseases when they and hope after a COVID-19 winter. defecate on hay bales but this was in Spring = mission accomplished. ◊ cottage country where his penchant for cockroaches, mice, rats, slugs and snails is a welcome addition to the territory. He’s welcome to stay to keep pests away – a win/win for him and us.

Days later, a farmer walked the fields with his young son.

The receding snow unveiled the soil underneath. They checked for soil residue and erosion; cover crops perking up in spring sunshine; the survivability of winter wheat.

He pointed out the presence of an eagle perched on the tallest tree at the edge of the field as its keen eyes look for activity in mice tunnels revealed by the melting snow. It screeched as it flew away, defending its territory and warning of invaders.

His son might become a Not so great in a barn because they urinate farmer one day and these and defecate on hay bales, possums are an early lessons on caring for the ideal pest controller as they eat mice, rats, soil will grow deep roots. slugs and snails.

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P r i c i n g o n a l l o t h e r p o w e r to o l s a n d a c c e s s o r i e s w i l l r e m a i n i n e ff e c t u n t i l J u l y 3 0 , 2 0 2 1 . I l l u s t r a t i o n s a n d descriptions are as accurate as known at the time of publication and are subjec t to change without notice.

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April 2021 7

Keith Roulston Keith is former publisher of The Rural Voice.

He lives near Blyth, ON.

A spotlight needed for rural life Accurate portrayals of farm and rural life are few and far between in the media these days, so advertisements from some of end users of farm products and from some farm groups themselves, give a welcome glimpse of farm life.

Ads by Macdonald’s and A&W have sung the praises of farmers raising sustainable beef, featuring farmers in a positive light. So have ads by farm groups like Dairy Farmers of Canada. In a world where farmers and rural residents are either ignored in the national picture or inaccurately portrayed, anything more positive is welcome.

The national media seems quick to

find fault, such as the attention given to Dalhousie University food researcher Sylvain Charlebois’ “buttergate scandal” speculation that complaints about hard butter are due to dairy farmers including palm oil in feed rations to boost butterfat yield.

But such negative attention aside, farmers and rural residents are often just plain missing from the media landscape. I couldn’t help thinking of the importance of young rural children seeing positive role models when there was so much praise given to U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris providing validation that young Black and Asian girls could aspire to reach the top in their country.

One of the few places where farmers and rural people have been able to see their lives in the spotlight has been on the theatre stage. I’m old enough to remember the crowds that flocked into uncomfortable auction rings and church basements to see the lives of farmers like themselves reproduced by the actors of Theatre Passe Muraille in The Farm Show back in 1972. The Blyth Festival for more than four decades has also told

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8 The Rural Voice

stories of various aspects of farm and rural life. And Dan Needles’ many episodes of Letter from Wingfield Farm have delighted rural and urban audiences alike for decades.

I thought of a different aspect of seeing our lives recognized when I recently read Exeter author Dorothy Brown Henderson’s novel Happy Are They. The novel revisits the life of author’s village pastor Aleda Vastag from her earlier novel The Season for Strawberries.

I felt a special connection on seeing the names of Bruce and Grey County towns throughout the novel instead of New York, London or even Toronto.

Vastag’s church and problematic congregation are in the fictional village of Milburn Corners, somewhere near Owen Sound. From there, however, the story ranges north to Lions Head, south to a lessthan-idyllic vacation in a run down cottage at Boiler Beach near Kincardine, and to towns and villages throughout that area like Port Elgin, Wiarton, Clavering and Hepworth.

Unable to find Boiler Beach from downtown Kincardine, she is given instructions that take her right past where my grandparents once lived and the cemetery where they rest now. She dines with a friend at the Bruce Inn in downtown Kincardine, and takes part in the summertime Saturday evening ritual of following the Kincardine Pipe Band’s parade along main street. And a friend introduces her to the eclectic delights of the Keady market.

In books about famous cities (cities made famous by their inclusion in many books, movies and TV shows), this sort of description makes places seem important to visit.

One book isn’t likely to do that for rural Ontario. Nor are the odd play or a few TV ads likely to make farming seem glamorous.

Yet each brings a greater sense of recognition and importance to our rural lifestyle. Just as seeing a person who looks like them as U.S. VicePresident can give young girls a role model to follow, more attention can perhaps make people growing up in rural Canada want to take over the family farm or stay in their community.◊

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April 2021 9

Kate Procter blanket. I did not miss the freezethaw combo with every other week bringing a freezing rain storm as we have seen in some winters.

This year spring seems especially welcome as every day brings a little more optimism about the thought that COVID-19 might soon become a manageable illness that we are able to deal with more effectively. Like many of the illnesses we’ve battled with our livestock, the learning phase has led the way to better prevention techniques, better treatments, and eventually, effective vaccines.

Yes, there has been heartbreak and devastation caused by this virus.

I know people who have been sickened and some who have died.

We have watched in horror as our long-term care homes have been ravaged, putting a much needed spot light on how we have been failing our elders and care givers for years.

But there is also hope. And there have been wins. I recently read something explaining that one of the reasons we humans feel discouraged is because too often we define our “wins” using unrealistic and often

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

COVID-19 reminds us to do better by our elders and caregivers It doesn’t seem to take long after the winter solstice to start feeling the effects of more sunlight. Every day is a little brighter than the one before, and before we know it March is here with its maple syrup, snow drops, and the first hint of spring on the breeze.

Don’t get me wrong – I love winter. This winter has been especially great. We got a nice amount of snow that has been perfect for outdoor fun, keeping the mud and the wheat safely under a protective

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unattainable measures. We never get a win, or more correctly, we don’t see the wins we do have, which gets discouraging, and can cause a downward spiral instead of inspiring us to do better.

Through this pandemic, we have had some pretty big wins. ONE year ago, we were just awakening to the fact that this COVID-19 thing wasn’t an abstract concept affecting people in crammed high rises half a world away. It was on our doorstep and in our communities. One of the last “normal” things I remember doing was walking to my parents’ place for an evening of cards, cider, caramel popcorn, and a lot of laughs. We kind of jokingly called it our “End of Days Party”. Dark humour helps pull us through dark times.

We watched endless news reports and saw terrible things. We heard the only way out was an effective vaccine, and then speculation that the absolute soonest an effective vaccine would be developed would be two years down the road, IF they could even make an effective one. After that, would come the complicated roll out and delivery. The length of time for that to happen didn’t bear thinking about at that point.

Yet here we are – in Huron County – with vaccination happening as I write this. My daughter, a front line worker, had her first shot in January! I thought out here in rural areas where the spread has not been as severe, we would not have been a vaccination priority. I’m happy to acknowledge that I was wrong. My personal wake-up call happened when Libro Credit Union locked its doors to customers. My last bank stamp is dated March 10, 2020. I was booked for my first vaccine on March 17, 2021.

This is a huge win and we should focus on the enormity of that for at least a little while before going back to the constant criticism of how we should’ve done better. We should celebrate the fact that scientists from around the world cooperated with each other, in competition of course, building on past knowledge and techniques passed down from those before to develop this vaccine and get it delivered so quickly.

Kate Procter Equally as important, we should celebrate how we came together as a community to protect each other. The brilliant stars working on the vaccine should be celebrated, but so should all the other stars who took on the every day drudgery of cleaning, disinfecting, distancing, and taking all the little steps, each one making their jobs a little harder. All the people who work in grocery and other retail stores, trucking, food industry workers, nurses, doctors, personal support workers, teachers, janitors, I know I’m going to miss people on this list. But those millions of little actions every single day taken by people who knew they were putting their lives at risk, but showed up anyway, should be acknowledged.

We should remember to celebrate that. They kept, and continue to keep, this virus at bay.

We were affected and we have been hurt, but without all of those people pulling together, and putting up with overall grumpiness of the people they were trying to help, doing their thing every single day, things would’ve been much worse.

We had a family member go into hospital on Christmas Day. She deteriorated in hospital. The pressure cooker started when the hospital started filling up, and then came the news of two COVID-19 cases across the hall. But those workers kept her safe, and we were able to move her to a retirement home where I learned that not only have they stayed COVID-19 free, they have gone four years without a flu outbreak. As I write this, all of their residents have already been vaccinated. That kind of dedication and care needs to be celebrated.

I hope we are soon able to celebrate how we worked together and give our loved ones a long hug.

The day will come to take lessons from all of this – and do better. Do better for our elders and care givers.

Do better at recognizing what really matters in our lives. Do better at seeing how our actions in our everyday lives impact our environment, our community, and our future. But maybe, even if just for a day, celebrate the wins and feel the sunshine. ◊

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April 2021 11

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

The question of privilege Colander: A tool of transition.

That is what a colander is. And here we live in transitional times.

I didn’t know my maternal grandfather. He died before my time at a relatively young age.

He’s mentioned twice in The Early Days of Innerkip District, as the son of James Isbister who operated the area’s only Delco generator for a time and within the Richardson family section simply as being the fellow who married my grandmother, Estelle.

Grandma said he was “the biggest liar in Oxford County” which may have been a term of endearment, given that he certainly wasn’t a large man at about five feet in height.

There’s a photograph of them not long before his death, standing sideby-side in close embrace, a partiallyconsumed cigar between the first and second fingers of his right hand, the left curled round her ample waist.

She’s smiling.

They had six children together, the youngest of which was a finefeatured, curly-haired lass who died as a toddler.

My mother was the next oldest.

She was nine in 1937, the year she and her siblings were taken away.

Clifton was in Northern Ontario at the time. Estelle was in hospital for an extended stay after surgery.

Womanly troubles.

My mother was sent to an orphanage where she came to enjoy the regimen and learned the value of “cleaning” one’s plate at mealtimes.

She completed Grade 12, was cited for her comedic blackface role in Woodstock’s Little Theatre, and became a valued and trusted employee of a local bank despite the mark set against her by a high-school instructor.

12 The Rural Voice

She’d like to tell the story of when the bank manager called her into the office after having being employed in positions of responsibility for several months. He told of her high-school reference and said, “I guess we showed them.”

Two of her siblings, a girl and a boy, were adopted. The others were all guests of the state for an extended period. The third eldest maintained a list of her of 23 “mothers” – not including her real mother – and to this day carries the scars from her backside encounter with a stovetop and the hours she spent locked in an unlit cellar with rats.

Estelle worked as a housekeeper, kept track of all her children and lived well into her 90s with a great deal of enthusiasm despite it all. She told me once of distant lightning viewed from a window of her subsidized apartment, lightning without the sound of thunder.

On her death bed, she told my mom, “I don’t want to die.” The doctor in charge said her heart was the last thing to go.

I do understand the lesson of the grandmothers. Their strength lay in endurance. Something my father understood as well.

Automobiles were large back then. Father would drive, his two daughters beside him. As the youngest at that time, I’d be relegated to the back, squashed among three, plump little women whose voices, if not heard, certainly strived for that effect. Road trips were an excruciating experience, especially when my father lit a cigar, perhaps hoping to dampen the conversation.

My father’s sister (who lived to be 100 with good health and her wits largely intact) insisted our family could trace the Carter lineage to that of President Jimmy’s which, if true, would put our arrival to the shores of the New World at 1637.

In Ontario alone, there are now at least seven generations of Carters since the arrival in 1830 of William Carter from Pennsylvania. According to family lore, he was stolen and raised among an indigenous community before being granted by his adoptive people a farm of his choice in East Zorra Township.

My father was tied to the farm,

and in his last days wanted to return.

He read the local daily paper faithfully. He was kindly – reluctant to dispatch a pig that would neither flourish nor die. He never offered advice, at least not directly.

During the war in which father’s older brother was killed near Nijmegen, he made friends with a Jewish youth who had been placed at a nearby farm. He told me the story and said, with the look of renewed revelation lighting his face, “You know, he was no different than anyone else.”

He shared, as well, the depths of his frustration. I was in the aisleway that ran through the centre of the barn distributing hay and chop as he relieved the dozen-odd, milk cows of their burden. One slapped his face with her tail as was her habit. Father grasped that tail with both hands as I stood in silence watching. There were tears in his eyes, of rage, of shame, of guilt, of helplessness.

My youngest sister is one father never knew. He was a tall man, just shy of six feet. She is tiny. Yet the resemblance is striking.

I’ve carried my father’s lessons and those of my grandmothers too, during my interactions with “The People” of Northern Alberta.

Valerie was a short-order cook at a truck stop on the highway, Gina a server. I had a three-bedroom trailer rented under my name. They were looking for somewhere to stay in town; not an easy task in a place where the local motel refused to accept indigenous people, a policy that blew up one day when service was refused to a number of wellheeled visitors from Edmonton. I worked there as the night clerk briefly before finding employment in the oil patch with a little business operated by an indigenous man.

Valerie was born in a tent. She was the first of her people to complete Grade 12. She related that it was a difficult experience but something in which she took obvious pride. When I countered her story with a poorly phrased question, she said, “You don’t know what it was like.”

Gina rode horses bareback when she was 14 and pregnant, Valerie told me, and her mixed-race ancestry

Jeff Carter wasn’t viewed in a favourable light.

We’d play drinking games, the girls and I, they cheating with my tacit approval.

They said I was old-fashioned and once took my clothes as I showered.

In my nakedness, Valerie teased me for the shortness of my legs as compared to the length of my trunk – though her build seemed not all that different – and complimented me on the dignity in which I carried myself.

I met her people, or many of them at least, and while some encounters were decidedly unfriendly, I did feel accepted, embraced even, despite my odd and occasionally troubling southerly ways.

Once, a fellow of indeterminate age picked me up in his old truck almost immediately after I positioned myself at the edge of town to hitchhike to my oil-patch job, an occurrence which at the time seemed strangely convenient. With mug of whisky on the dash, we travelled at a sedate pace and at one point he asked if I would like to stay over, making special mention that his nieces would be there.

Later, the girls and I hosted several visitors for an overnight stay in the trailer. There was drinking and early the next morning white loaves, several racks of them, mysteriously appeared along with syrup and cartons of eggs. We broke bread.

In a world where, increasingly, more seems to divide than unite, there’s a question everyone might ask regardless of race, colour, creed or place along the gender continuum.

Am I privileged? ◊

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

Cliff Murray and George Mackenzie could hear shouting as they passed Dave Winston’s truck in the parking lot of Mabel’s Grill.

“Oh yeah!” Dave shouted into his cellphone. “Well if you’d like to try it come anytime. I’ll introduce you to my manure tank!”.

Dave disconnected and got out, slamming the door behind him.

“What was that all about?” asked George as they walked to the door of the restaurant.

“Oh it was one of those calls where they were claiming I owed taxes and I was going to be arrested unless I sent money immediately,” said Dave.

“I got one of those the other day,” said George. “I hung up. I just wrote a big fat cheque to the government for this year’s taxes. They’re not

getting another cent from me.”

“You’ve got to wonder how people can fall for that scam,” said Dave. “I mean who thinks the Canadian Revenue Agency calls people without at least sending something on paper before hand?”

“Are you guys talking about that CRA scam?” asked Molly Whiteside as she brought the coffee pot to their table to fill their cups. “I got one of those calls last week. At first I thought it was an early April Fool’s joke but then they talked about jail and it scared the heck out of me. I might have paid but they wanted the money in Bitcoin. I wouldn’t even know where to get Bitcoin.”

“That Bitcoin part should be the flashing red light for anybody,” said Dave. “You can bet the government would want good hard Canadian currency.”

“What’s this Bitcoin?” wondered George. “With this virus, I don’t want any coin that somebody’s bit.”

“No,” laughed Cliff, “Bitcoin is a cryptocurrency.”

“Huh! Anything that uses the word crypto in its name sounds suspicious to me,” growled George.

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“Didn’t I hear that one Bitcoin is worth over $50,000?” said Molly.

“Well apparently there are smaller fractions you use when you’re spending them,” said Cliff.

“Well I hope people around here don’t start using this stuff,” said Molly before she headed back to the kitchen. “It would just be a new excuse not to tip.”

“I read somewhere that there were people who had a whole lot of money in Bitcoin accounts and couldn’t get it because they forgot their password?” said Dave.

“That would be like having locked your keys in the car and be able to look in and see them but not get to them,” laughed Cliff.

“Passwords are the curse of the century,” grumbled George. “Every time you turn around somebody’s asking you to set up a password before you can do something, then you forget what you used and the next time you can’t get in.”

“Just the same, if I had thousands of dollars in a Bitcoin account, I think I’d have written the password down somewhere,” said Dave.

“Speaking of scams,” said Molly as she delivered their breakfast orders, “did you hear about the lady down the street who got taken for a ride about a dog? She bought a dog from the Maritimes over the internet and paid a couple of thousands for it.

But then they wanted insurance for shipping and a special shipping container and this and that until it was thousands more. And then the dog never came.”

“Anybody who’d pay thousands for a dog has already been scammed,” growled George.

“What about Lady Gaga offering a half-million reward after her dogs were kidnapped?’ wondered Molly.

“Her name says it all,” George sneered.

“You’ll notice she didn’t offer anything for finding the people who shot the guy walking her dogs when they were stolen,” said Dave.

Cliff chuckled. “I’ve heard of U.S. Secret Service guys being willing to take a bullet to protect the President, but imagine doing it for a dog!”

“Hey, with some of the Presidents they’ve had taking a bullet to save a dog makes more sense,” said Dave.◊

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Viewpoint Ralph C. Martin is an author and a retired professor from the University

Solar Geoengineering is like pulling the goalie During the financial crisis of 2008, I first heard about the possibility of solar geoengineering i.e. planes spraying sulphate particles high in the atmosphere to reflect sunlight back to space. I had invited Gwynne Dyer, an author and historian, to speak in Truro, NS. He stunned many of us by saying that politicians would probably not make the tough decisions necessary to address climate change and would delay until solar geoengineering was

the only option left.

When I contemplate too long about what we might have done from 2008 until now to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs), contrasted with the paucity of political action in that time, I have to slap my forehead and utter “Ugh.” It’s like a highly rated hockey team frittering away their final series until they are down a goal in the last minute, of the last period, in the last game, and then pulling their goalie, to gain more offence. The desperate effort could backfire and seal their demise.

Carbon dioxide (CO2) levels were 385 parts per million (ppm) in 2008 but are now beyond 415 ppm, too far north of the 350 ppm needed to restore climate stability. We’re nearing the end of the third period.

Policies are urgently needed to reduce GHGs by at least seven per cent each year from now to 2030 and beyond. In 2020, it appeared that a seven per cent reduction could be attributed to COVID-19. Now that we know it is possible, we need global, national, provincial and municipal political will to decrease

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GHGs another seven per cent in 2021 and another seven per cent in 2022 and so on.

Regardless of lower emissions in 2020, it was the hottest year on record, along with 2016 (https://bit.ly/3sqJ0Fz). Think of GHGs going into an almost full bathtub. If the inflow (GHG emissions) declines by seven per cent there are still too many GHGs in the bathtub that is too slowly draining (e.g. sequestration of carbon by trees and forage crops). That is why more incentives are needed for farmers and foresters to sequester more carbon and for industries and citizens to emit fewer GHGs every year.

Our habit of pouring CO2 into the atmosphere, means that oceans will absorb some of that CO2, and keep acidifying. Reflecting light back into space from sulfur dioxide would still allow CO2 build-up and thus put marine life under stress. Sulfur dioxide also might delay ozone regeneration in the stratosphere.

“Blocking the sun could come with a host of other issues from negative impacts on crop productivity and shifts in rainfall” (https://bit.ly/3bE3DYZ).

Furthermore, having started solar geoengineering, we may be committed, because to stop would be to allow too much solar radiation through, too abruptly.

“Sulphate particles would not stay aloft for more than a couple of years.

Planes would have to keep flying and spraying ever-larger quantities essentially forever … Meanwhile, the suppression of solar radiation could well create massive changes in weather systems and rainfall patterns, which are mostly driven by solar energy. The Asian monsoon, on which 2 billion people depend for their food crops, might shut down” (https://bit.ly/39zEUCu). How will soils, crops, forests and water bodies respond to continuously descending sulphate?

There are serious ongoing scientific investigations into the possibilities and potential risks of solar geoengineering at institutions such as Cambridge, Oxford, Harvard, the Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, the National Academy of

Viewpoint Sciences etc. as well as others in China. Will this research tempt politicians to dither about reducing GHGs even more than they already are? Who should decide, and on what authority, if and when to start solar geoengineering, with given specifications?

Recent research is suggesting solar geoengineering may not have substantial negative consequences.

“It is therefore crucial to ask of any specific scenario of solar geoengineering deployment: what would have occurred if more, or less, cooling had been applied?” (http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/17489326/ab76de) This paper suggests some of the negative effects on rainfall in local regions could be mitigated with lower levels of solar geoengineering than originally proposed.

We only have one planet. Models, while helpful, are inexact. Do we want to risk this one planet, with a potentially dangerous ongoing global intervention, based on models? A well-known philosopher, Yogi Berra, said “In theory there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice there is.” In practice, our planet experiences increasing intensities of hurricanes, floods, droughts and fires. We also still have the practical option to reduce GHGs every year. Let’s get on with it, before the end of the third period. ◊

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Poultry

Pigeons to Pekins Breeding pigeons was a bust but Dale Leifso has been able to farm profitably raising Pekin ducks

Pekin ducks (above) are a Chinese staple and being part of a loop to supply the ducks has been an enjoyable and profitable way to farm for Dale and Jocelyne Leifso (left)

N

• By Lisa Boonstoppel-Pot • 18 The Rural Voice

ot everyone who lost their livelihood during the 1990s Pigeon King disaster gave up on birds. Dale Leifso found his way back to farming with Pekin

ducks.

Raising over 35,000 ducks a year, from eight hours old to market-ready at 41 days, Leifso farms with his wife Jocelyne on a pretty property near Walkerton on BrantElderslie Line. The house is framed by a picturesque pond that was once home to thousands of ducks when a summer storm cut off electricity and subsequently, the water supply to the barn.

“If you can get one duck to go, the rest will follow in a line,” says Leifso, who many will remember as a salesperson for CoverAll before it went bankrupt in 2010.

“There was a time when you couldn’t get out of bed without selling a CoverAll,” remembers Leifso who has had a varied career in agriculture involving direct-farming and agribusiness. The actual day-to-day farming might be

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ending, depending on whether he accepts an offer for the duck farm he has built up over the last 12 years.

With an option to sell and a wife that wants to retire from the daily work of raising ducks, Leifso thinks it’s a good time to share his farming story of adversity, tenacity and hope.

Leifso had a dairy farm which he sold in 1997 before moving to the Brant-Elderslie location while continuing working at the head office of CoverAll. Things were going well with CoverAll at the time but Leifso said he always wanted to farm. The Pigeon King seemed to give him an opportunity. The couple built a barn and began raising pigeons, trusting this was a legitimate industry.

However, Leifso and Jocelyn were the second-last investors and since they didn’t have time to sell any birds before the Ponzi scheme led by Arlan Galbraith collapsed, they were among many farmers duped out of their investments. Galbraith was charged and convicted but the Leifsos did not receive any settlement disbursements.

Admittedly, it was a hard time but Leifso says he and Jocelyne don’t dwell on it.

Instead, they focused on what they had – a great property with usable barns and CoverAlls. They tried raising heifers for a while and also got into artisanal chickens but neither was making enough money to make the workload worthwhile. When CoverAll went under, Leifso took a new job working for Conestogo Agri Systems.

“Between my connections with Conestogo and CoverAll, I know everybody,” laughs Leifso. One of those connections was Vernon Metzger, an Old Order Mennonite who ran a loop providing Pekin ducks for the Chinese market in Toronto. He got the Leifsos involved, along with partners Harvey and Pauline Metzger, also Mennonites but no relation. “I’ve been with them ever since,” says Leifso adding the partners have been excellent to work with in a market that has been sustainable and profitable (except for a short shut-down during the COVID-19 lockdown). The loop includes breeders, layers, growers

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Pekin ducks don’t require a lot of care and are remarkably disease free.

However, they need a lot of bedding. Dale and Jocelyne (below) spread straw and shavings twice a day to keep the birds clean and dry. They have a mutually beneficial arrangement with the neighbour, trading duck manure for wheat straw.

and a Chinese broker who purchases 99.9 per cent of the birds.

“The Chinese eat duck like we eat chicken,” says Leifso.

At their peak, the Leifsos were fattening 12,000 ducks per flock but sit now between 8-9,000 which is what their barns can comfortably handle. Leifso still works full-time and drives a truck for the loop so his days are long and full.

It’s been a journey learning how to raise ducks and restructure the barns to best suit the birds. The ducks arrive when they are seven to eight hours old and are placed in warm brooder rooms. Just 41 days later, they are ready to be butchered at Schefter’s Poultry.

Ducks are incredibly diseaseresistant, explains Leifso. They are medicated when they first come in and then they thrive on water and feed. With ducks, the issue is manure. Their droppings are wet and dirty so keeping the birds dry is a huge part of the workload. Leifso beds twice daily, using straw choppers to keep a fine, absorbent level of wheat straw (combined with shavings) on the barn floor.

He has a mutually beneficial partnership with the neighbour trading manure for wheat and often, on Sundays, will go to church with a wagon behind the truck to load up shavings from the nearby furniture maker.

Part of the Leifso operation is also raising Pekin ducks to become egg layers, as part of another loop with Wayne Weber.

There are other loops selling Pekin ducks but Leifso has particularly enjoyed his relationship with the Mennonites. However, he is tired of working 16 hours days.

There is an offer on the table to see the farm and at the time of this interview, Dale and Jocelyn were seriously thinking about making a life change.

For a man who says he “just wanted to farm” it will be a hard decision. Leifso has made those before, experiencing both success and failure. The pigeons were definitely a setback but ducks allowed the Leifsos to rebound and become the farmers they always wanted to be. ◊

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22 The Rural Voice

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Beef

Stan Eby inducted into hall of fame The Bruce County beef farmer is known for being a leader in beef cattle politics, a family man, and running a successful feedlot operation • By Amanda Brodhagen •

A

Stan Eby is happy to work in both the barn and the boardroom and has spent much of his career advocating for beef farmers within Beef Farmers of Ontario as well during pivotal moments such as the Walkerton water crisis and the BSE crisis that crippled the beef industry in 2003. For his efforts, he has been inducted into the Ontario Agricultural Hall of Fame.

Kincardine area farmer known for being a leader in cattle politics at the helm of the Ontario Cattlemen’s Association (known today as Beef Farmers of Ontario) and the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association in the 1990s and 2000s during a time when the sector faced turbulent times will be inducted into the Ontario Agricultural Hall of Fame (OAHF) later this year.

Stan Eby, 77, will be the fifth person from Bruce County to receive the honour. Eby joins six other inductees – Roger George, Herbert Norry, Delbert O’Brien, the late Dr. Terry O’Connor, Dr. Peter Sikkema and the late Doug Williams – who were selected based on their contributions to Ontario’s agriculture and agri-food industry. They will officially join the hall of fame during a virtual ceremony. Eby was nominated by Beef Farmers of Ontario.

According to the OAHF news release, the organization received more submissions in 2020 than it has received in many years.

“The calibre of the nominations this year was exceptional. We appreciated the work that had been put into them by their nominating organizations. It was a tough decision to choose the seven but we’re confident that their contributions are worthy and they have all contributed greatly to the industry we’re all so proud of,” said Dr. Deb Stark, President of OAHF. During Eby’s tenure with the provincial and national beef industry associations he faced two notable events: the Walkerton water tragedy in 2000 (the worst E. coli event in Canadian history) and later when a single case of Bovine Spongiform Encephalitis (BSE) was discovered on an Alberta farm in 2003.

Eby had no idea he was nominated until he received a call from Rob Lipsett, president of Beef Farmers of Ontario and he recalls him saying on the other end of the phone, “I have some good news, you’re being inducted into the Ontario Agricultural Hall of Fame.” Eby remembers being surprised and touched to be recognized with the distinction. He later found out that his son Steve and wife Islay were in on it. They kept it secret that they were April 2021 23

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providing information for the nomination package.

During Walkerton, Eby participated in hundreds of meetings and interviews providing a farmer’s point of view on the environmental sustainability of the beef industry.

Never would he have predicted that only a handful of years later he would use his public relations and negotiation skills once again when the borders closed to Canadian beef during the BSE crisis that crippled the beef industry. Eby fought tirelessly making trips across the country, North America and internationally with his counterparts lobbying to reopen the borders to trade.

Eby was one of the visionary leaders who pushed for the creation of the country’s cattle identification program that allowed for traceability and also advocated for the expansion of domestic processing and the development of set-aside programs for farmers struggling during the BSE crisis.

“It wasn’t easy,” Eby recalled adding that there was some resistance from fellow beef producers to participate in a traceability program before BSE hit and move to traceability, but “once BSE hit, everyone saw the value,” he said, which has become a mandatory program.

Eby grew up on a mixed farm between Paisley and Port Elgin.

Farming looked different during that time period as horses were still used to cultivate the land and dairy cows were still being milked by hand.

Farming has sure changed over the years. “During those days, you grew enough food for your family and would sell the surplus and today it’s the opposite, you sell everything you grow and buy back what you need,” he said. In 1971, Stan and his wife Islay purchased a farm near Kincardine, located in the south end of Bruce County. Eby’s son Steve purchased the homestead – JSE Farms in 1994.

Today the Ebys run about 1,000 acres of owned and rented land and a feedlot bringing cattle in from Western Canada, with the majority of the cattle coming from Manitoba, finishing about 1,500 head of cattle

per year. The cattle are marketed through the Ontario Corn-Fed Beef Program, a provincial marketing initiative which requires cattle to be finished on an 80 per cent corn-based diet. It’s an identifiable Ontario brand associated locally and internationally with premium locallyraised beef. The Ebys are also certified with Verified Beef Production Plus, a voluntary program that helps producers prove to consumers and retailers that their farm adheres to the highest standards for food safety, animal care and environmental stewardship. To this day, Eby prefers black cattle with white faces, noting that they’ve always performed well on the farm.

He still enjoys checking on the cattle daily and helping put the crops in and take them off. At the time of the

interview, Eby was organizing his shed, getting ready for spring planting.

When asked to provide advice to agriculture leaders facing a crisis, this is what he had to say: “I don’t provide advice – only information – and that way I can’t get into any trouble,” he said with a chuckle.

He credits his family for keeping things running at the farm, which allowed him to enter into farm politics and fight for an industry that is near and dear to his heart. “I wouldn’t have been able to accomplish what I did without their support,” he said. “To accomplish much, requires a team effort.”

The virtual ceremony will be held on June 13, 2021. Tickets are free and are available on the OAHF’s website at www.oahf.on.ca. ◊

Stan Eby prefers black cattle with white faces, saying they’ve always done well on the family feedlot operation near Kincardine.

April 2021 25

Business

Flies are the new SUPERFOOD Oreka Solutions breeds soldier flies for their larvae which add protein to animal and fish feed • By Bonnie Sitter •

T

he statement on Oreka’s website reads “Revolutionizing Animal Nutrition.” It is a statement that makes you “sit up and take notice”. It had that effect on me. I read further and it said “The black soldier fly (BSF) is the superfood of the superfoods.” I discovered that the larvae of the BSF is naturally nutritious, protein-packed and high in calcium.

Since 2015, Oreka Solutions out of Cambridge has been learning how to farm black soldier fly larvae. The technology to properly cultivate fly colonies didn’t even exist 20 years ago which underscores how new the industry is.

Black soldier flies, also known as Hermetia illucens, are native to the tropics and have been hypothesized to exist for over 70 million years. Living in some of the most compromising conditions in nature, these flies scavenge and thrive on decomposing organic matter, including algae, carrion, compost heaps, manure, mold, plant refuse, and the waste products of beehives. As a result, they have developed the most amazing range of defenses towards a variety of diseases. Oreka saw this insect, especially in its larval stage, as having fantastic potential.

The flies are three-quarters of an inch long and look more like a wasp than a housefly. Concerns over flies escaping can be dispelled when one learns they have no functioning mouth parts. They cannot bite and they do not transmit disease.

Oreka farms the black soldier fly larvae primarily to be 26 The Rural Voice

James Alden, Chief Executive Officer for Oreka Solutions in Cambridge, cradles a handful of soldier fly larvae, bred as a protein additive to poultry and fish feeds.

used as a base for prebiotic feed supplements used in aquaculture and poultry explains James Alden, Chief Executive Officer for Oreka. The parent BSF stock, originally sourced from the southern United States, has acted as the genetic base for what is now a robust brood.

Oreka has a specialized brood room and a method of sexing the flies to include a specific percentage of males and females in breeding nets. Ovipositors are used to attract the females to lay eggs. After females mate and lay eggs, they die. Each oval-shaped egg is about one millimetre in length. The eggs, Alden describes, look like margarine. The eggs hatch into larvae in about four days.

The eggs are collected and incubated and neonates hatch. A one-quarter gram of neonates grow into about 9,000 larvae over a 15-day period at which time they are harvested because they are at their nutritional peak. The segmented, maggot-like larvae are then blanched and processed using a

unique approach to maximize their health and antimicrobial properties.

So what do the BSF larvae feed on to grow? Alden says the company utilizes 100 per cent food waste from local feed operations, much of which would otherwise be landfilled or composted. The feed mix can include fruit and vegetable pulp like kale and apples, and protein byproducts (considered waste) from local feed manufacturing operations.

The food is trucked to their operation near Cambridge and blended with spent grain from the brewing industry. The diet has proven to be optimal for the larvae and is 80 per cent organic. On average, a black soldier fly larvae will consume twice its body mass on a daily basis. Quite a feat! They do this because they're essentially fattening themselves up for that final stage in their life cycle.

The BSF larva has a life cycle of only six weeks, including egg, larva, pupa and fly stage. Once they become flies they only live for a few days in order to reproduce.

Part of Oreka’s goal is to create a circular local feed system. Oreka utilizes spent grain to feed larvae, which then feed fish at hatcheries such as Izumi Aquaculture in Guelph, which provides fish to local restaurants.

Sustainability is a word that is being used a lot these days and Oreka is proud of what they are accomplishing in this area. By using waste material as the feedstock for their larvae, Oreka is able to run a carbon-positive operation, reducing more greenhouse gases from the use of waste feed than they are creating in the production process.

Going forward Oreka has big plans. “Our goal is to build a 1,000 tonne facility in the Cambridge/Guelph area,” says Alden. “That would require the use of 450 tonnes of waste feed per month. We are also looking to partner with local feed mills, offering products for aquaculture and livestock which improve disease resistance with fewer antibiotics and increase animal growth rates and vitality.”

As for urban consumers, those not involved in agriculture on any large scale, Oreka has products that

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may be of interest. Their dried products for backyard ducks and chickens can be found via their online e-store at snackyard.ca. Ducks and chickens will benefit from BSF products as the snack will boost immunity, enhance feathers, and strengthen eggshells, says the company’s promotional literature.

Live larvae are sold to pet stores under the brand Extreme Worms in partnership with another Cambridge company, National Reptile.

Research continues in the labs at Oreka and products have also been developed for the Toronto Zoo. There, Oreka’s live product is not only being fed to endangered reptiles and amphibians but to insectivorous birds such as shrikes.

Edible insects have long been a part of the human diet and are commonly consumed as a food source in many regions of the world, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

It is estimated that two billion people currently consume edible insects as part of their diets.

Might soldier fly larvae be on the human menu soon? ◊

Clockwise from top: The Black Soldier fly larvae are dried for use as a base to create Oreka’s animal feed supplements. Oreka employee John Alexander inspects the progress in the breeding room where special light and humidity are used to encourage mating. The adult flies are seen clinging to the breeding nets and are ready to mate. The life span of the Black Soldier Fly is only six weeks long because after the adult flies mate and lay eggs, they die.

Oreka breeds the flies to harvest the larvae, which can consume twice their body mass on a daily basis. They are fed fruit and vegetable pulp like kale

and apples, and protein by-products (considered waste) from local feed manufacturing operations. The food is trucked to their operation near Cambridge and blended with spent grain from the brewing industry. The final photo shows a live larvae in the hand of an Oreka employee.

April 2021 29

Crops

Multigenerational cover cropping

G

rowing cover crops is good for the soil, good for pigs and ultimately good for people, believes Brett Israel. “Our motto is healthy soil, healthy food and healthy people and that comes from system integration.”

Israel believes to farm organically, livestock are a vital component of the system. “Our hog operation really assists us in being able to integrate cover crops and balance the ecology of our farm systems,” Israel told listeners at Ecological Day put on by Grey Bruce Farmers Week in January. The virtual event saw Israel online, with a big smile, keen to share the farming practices at 3Gen Organics which features the combined teamwork of three generations Brett and Riley, Jamie and Anna (parents) and Carl and Carolyn (grandparents).

Another big factor in the success of the farm is their “dynamic management” approach, said Israel. “We plant what we believe is bestsuited for the given area,” he said. Weed pressure, nutrient needs, manure availability and seasonal rains all play a role in those decisions. It means that when the malt market looked profitable, they planted winter barley as a cover and cash crop.

The first step in the whole process is feeding the soil. That involves manure and cover crops which feed the microbes to feed the crop. “We get a beautiful crop of corn when it follows our small grain cover crop,” says Israel. “Then we feed that corn to happy pigs!” The cycle benefits the entire farming operation. As crops are fed through animals, they provide manure, which is a great source of fertility to grow more crops for healthy pork.

Cover crops serve a variety of purposes at 3Gen including weed suppression and reduction, supplying nitrogen, building organic matter, managing pests and diseases and reducing compaction and erosion. They 30 The Rural Voice

The Israel family, who farm organically near Wallenstein, have doubled their hay acreage this year in order to feed more baleage to the sows which saves on purchased feed costs and improves gut health for the pigs, says Brett Israel. ~Photos supplied

Growing cover crops is good for the soil, for the pigs and ultimately good for people believe the Israel family • By Lisa Boonstoppel-Pot •

also protect fields from massive weather events to improve soil resilience.

Organic farmers traditionally rely on extensive tillage to control weeds but cover crops reduce passes on the field while covering exposed soil and improving it.

It does take some planning and the Israels approach cover crops with three key concepts: • Digestibility (for the next crop) is critical which means prior to planting there needs to be an establishment plan to seed it and an exit plan to utilize it.

• Treat cover crops like cash.

• Have fun growing them. “We want to enjoy farming and we love growing things so we want to have fun with what we grow.”

Small grains are the foundation of cover crops at 3Gen. “They can set up and follow virtually every crop,” said Brett. Small grains are edible for humans and the straw makes great bedding. They also provide excellent nitrogen for subsequent corn crops as they break down. “You want to feed corn like you would a milking sow and feed legume crops the way you feed a dry sow,” explains Israel.

When they plant cover crop species that overwinter, the Israels give the field a light tillage. “We don’t want the field totally bare but we don’t want problems in the spring either,” says Israel. “Light tillage is kind of our answer to set up adequate residue over winter without too much bulk in the spring.” The business invested in a John Deere high speed disc, running it only 2.5-3 inches deep. They really like the results.

Since the Isreals grow a lot of corn to feed the pigs, a fair amount of planning surrounds this particular crop. They interseed corn rows with cover crops and have come up with a system they find works very well in low-light situations as well as in both wet and dry conditions. “After a fair amount of experimentation with interseeding cover crops we now go with a four-seed blend between the corn which consists of crimson clover, berseem clover, hairy vetch and one brassica species,” says Israel.

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• Order the right hybrid. “We love interseeding into Pioneer 8034, which is a shorter stature hybrid that doesn’t push the heat units,” says Israel.

• Cover crops help with residue management. “The green mat helps decompose our corn residue faster which is a real benefit to the system.

I attribute that to increased biology in the soil,” says Israel.

• Beware of purple-topped turnips.

Turnips were included in the cover crop mixture one year but they were too enthusiastic and ended up plugging up the scuffler.

The right equipment helps. The Israels run with a Kongskilde Vibro Crop Intelli scuffler outfitted with an APV American air-seeder to drop the cover crop right behind the points of contact. A set of tines at the end of the row ensures seed-to-soil contact.

For soybeans fields, Israel says like all farmers, they love soybeans for the “big cheque” they provide but notes they also degrade the system. To make them pay their “carbon rent”, the Israels plant beans less often and integrate covers into the system. It doesn’t always work. In test plots one year, soybeans planted into a cover crop were noticeably behind their bare-soil counterparts but Israel says it was a learning year because the rye cover crop was too thick and the season was too dry. “The Top: Three generations farm 3Gen Organics near Wallenstein: Jamie, Carl and Brett Israel Middle: The Israels use a four-way cover crop mixture between corn rows which thrives in both wet and dry conditions and have seen the root systems on plants grow deeper and wider as soil biology improves.

Bottom: Hay harvested as baleage has been an excellent addition to the crop rotation for soil and pig health. ~Images supplied by 3Gen Organics

32 The Rural Voice

first year we had excellent success but last year, the soybeans were trapped under a forest of rye,” explains Israel. He believes the rye released an allelopathic herbicide as it decomposed, which further stunted the soybeans.

“The weed control was excellent,” says Israel. “We just need to find a way to increase soybean yields (in that system).”

The Israels are also experimenting growing hay to feed the gestation sows. “They love it!” says Israel.

They found over eight months of feeding baleage, they could decrease the sows’ purchased ration by 40 per cent with no impact on performance.

They also saw less bloating, less mastitis and fewer sows going off feed in the summer. “I attribute that to better gut health. They were also calmer,” notes Israel. The family felt baleage was advantageous enough to double hay fields to 50 acres this year.

Pig manure is a keystone of the farm. “You can never have enough manure,” laughs Israel. With not enough to cover their land base, the Israels also incorporate organic compost and purchase manure for spreading. Part of the routine process of spreading includes spreading a coat of liquid swine manure on all the cereal acres in the spring. Corn acres are managed with a side dressing of liquid manure into standing grain corn at the V6 stage.

Acres destined for corn are coated with straw manure the summer before as they grow small grains. ‘ A listener was curious if the Israels composted their solid manure and Brett said it’s a long-term goal for the farm. Right now, they believe in “sheet composting” by applying a thin sheet of manure in the summer, allowing it to break down over the season and feed the cover crop.

As the years have passed, the Israels have noticed expanded root systems on the crops they grow along with larger soil aggregates. Also, more moths, butterflies and birds!

“We’ve noticed a dramatic increase in the population of birds on the farm,” says Israel. “We see this as a general increase in the factors of biology.” ◊

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Entrepreneurs

Rural liqeuers, soaps and bicycles

Three young entrepreneurs shared the successes and trials of starting a small business in rural Canada on a panel about entrepreneurship during the Rural Talks to Rural Conference held in January. Sean Mitchell (left) of Walton is the creator of 5th Bean, a soybean-based cream liquor. Jason Lamont (centre) runs a bicycle repair business in Seaforth and Bernice Clarke (right) ships her Ussau soaps around the world.

F

armers are the original environmentalists, said Sean Mitchell, creator and co-owner of the 5th Bean adding that his soybean liqueur business is committed to becoming carbon neutral within the first 10 years of production.

Mitchell was one of three speakers on a panel discussing entrepreneurship during the Rural Talks to Rural conference organized by the Canadian Centre for Rural Creativity in late 2020. He was joined by Bernice Clarke, a soapmaker from Nunavut and Jason Lamont, who runs J’s Bicycle Repair in Seaforth.

The panel touched on all sorts of subjects from agriculture to community to environmentalism to the challenges of running a business during a pandemic.

Mitchell said having an agriculture background has been influential when developing the 5th Bean. Mitchell, in partnership with fellow Guelph University students Timothy Shuh and Mitchell Rice, has created a soybeanbased cream liqueur which is lactose and gluten free. Their goal is to create a new market for Ontario soybeans, reduce waste in the tofu industry and source local materials.

Each 750 millilitre bottle of 5th Bean is produced with 28 kilograms of soybeans, from which soymilk is derived.

The liqueur also includes tofu whey, a byproduct of tofu creation which has naturally high sugars making it ideal for 34 The Rural Voice

Community is everything when starting a small business, say three entrepreneurs fermentation. In terms of taste, the first flavour the partners have made is Irish Cream.

Very conscious of the environment including water usage, Mitchell says each bottle uses 75 per cent less water than competing brands.

Having won a Project Soy competition at the university, the trio was set to start production in May of 2020 but the facility they were going to use switched to making hand sanitizer all summer. “If there was an opportunity during the COVID-19 pandemic, it gave us more time to refine the product,” says Mitchell. “But no doubt the pandemic has been a huge challenge for us.”

Lamont, however, said profits for his small business increased over the summer as more people turned to physical pursuits for entertainment during the pandemic.

“I’ve had three summers in this business and this was a record year,” says Lamont. “We did 165 bikes this year and that number included 16 tandem bicycles from the W. Ross Macdonald School for the Blind.” Lamont himself is blind and relies on touch, not sight, to do the repairs.

There was some confusion during the summer as to where bicycle repairs stood on the list of which businesses

• By Lisa Boonstoppel-Pot •

Lamont advised new entrepreneurs to have a solid support system of family and friends.

“Don’t give up,” he said. “A lot of people with disabilities say they want to start a business and they won’t know they can until they try.”

Lamont said he was raised to believe he could do whatever he put his mind to. “Except drive, of course!” he laughs.

Reflecting on rural life, Mitchell said when he compares growing up on a farm to living in a city, he is struck by how similar they are. “Our

values aren’t always as different as we think,” he said. Both rural and urban business owners have to focus on their primary audience. Both have to decide how and where they operate. And with online learning and improved broadband, more urban businesses and employees are moving to rural areas to take advantage of the joys of country life.

“The housing market is crazy right now and urban people are moving into rural – this will be a defining feature of rural Ontario as a result of the pandemic.” ◊

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could stay open and which had to close. Lamont took advantage of that lack of clarity to stay low on the radar in terms of advertising and practise social distancing while repairing bikes in the Seaforth community and beyond.

Community is everything when starting a small business says Lamont. “The bulk of my business comes from word of mouth and I find everyone is so thankful. My customers are very enthusiastic that there is someone local who can fix their bikes.”

The pandemic forced Bernice Clarke to go online, a move that immediately increased the customer base of Uasau Soap company.

“Before the pandemic, we were just serving the craft stores here and in other communities. The pandemic made us go online and clearly share the story of who we are,” says Clarke. “We did lose one store and shipping from Nunavut takes a lot of planning and organization but my husband is really organized so in that way our partnership works very well.” Since going online, Clarke has received orders from around the world including Hawaii, Spain and Tokyo.

As she delves more into the online world, Clarke is learning she needs to develop her marketing skills including sharing information about the business awards she won in 2016 and 2019. “Once I received the award, I realized I did deserve recognition for the work I am doing.

My neck started to go around to look at what else I could apply for and what else I could do. It opened my heart to be vulnerable and try to make the business grow.”

When asked to ponder what rural looks like to them and offer advice to future entrepreneurs, Clarke said as a female Inuit entrepreneur she would like to speak at high schools and reach young Inuit students to plant a seed of entrepreneurship. “I would like to show them the ropes and what it takes to be an entrepreneur. Maybe be a role model as well,” she said. “I feel there are not enough role models out there to show others how to succeed and provide a group of people they can reach out to for support.”

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April 2021 35

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Recipes by Nancy Fisher

Food ideas from the Internet

A

fter a year in this weird pandemic world I think we are all a bit weary of our own cooking. Therefore I have been scrolling around the internet for new ideas. I’m sure many of you will have seen people making the cherry tomato and feta pasta that is all the rage, so I’m not featuring that one.

But an Instagram friend of mine was raving about a veggie casserole she tried so I thought I’d give it a go. It is remarkably simple yet has great flavour and is a dish you can throw together in a fancy way, arranging all the sliced vegetables in a pretty spiral, or just chuck them all in. It will taste great either way. This recipe is also very adaptable to the size of your family. As it was just two of us, I used a very small can of good Italian tomatoes. But if you wanted to scale up to a big family meal just increase the ingredients proportionally.

Greek Briam (roasted vegetables) Ingredients: 1 tin of good quality tomatoes mine was 398 ml of italian plum tomatoes but use what you have. If you have a larger can of tomatoes you can put half the tomatoes on the bottom and half over the top if you want.

2 medium potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced 2 zucchini thinly sliced 1 red onion, thinly sliced 1 or 2 cloves garlic thinly sliced or finely chopped if you prefer Dried oregano (fresh if you have it) Chopped fresh parsley - optional Salt and pepper Good quality olive oil Directions: As you thinly slice the vegetables, put them all in a big bowl and season with a good amount of salt, and pepper to taste. Zucchini and potatoes benefit from lots of seasoning so add in about a heaping tablespoon of dried oregano, or even a mixed Italian blend. If you like a little heat, you could certainly add a few dried chili flakes here as well.

Clockwise: Combine frozen trout and spinach for a winning combination in a skillet. Greek Briam is a roasted vegetable dish combining potatoes, tomatoes, onions and zucchini. To finish a meal with something sweet, try this simple coffee-flavoured cake from Russia.

April 2021 37

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38 The Rural Voice

Top with a few good glugs of olive oil and toss to coat In a shallow casserole dish that will accommodate the amount of vegetables you have, pour the can of tomatoes. I only put tomatoes on the bottom, but you can reserve half the can to spread over the top.

Arrange the sliced vegetables in a pleasing spiral pattern, or just spread them out in a slightly overlapped fashion. It was a Monday night, I felt no need to get all fancy.

Pour the remaining olive oil from the bowl over top and toss a little chopped parsley if you have it.

Top with the rest of the tomatoes if you are using a larger can.

Now here is where I looked at the dish and thought, wow some feta cheese would be a good idea, but I did not have any. You could certainly crumble some over the top and I think it would be fabulous. I’m doing that next time.

Cover with a loose foil and bake at 400 degrees for about 45 minutes to really roast the vegetables nice and tender. Then remove the foil and bake an additional 20 - 30 minutes to evaporate the liquid and get a nice colour to the edges of the vegetables.

Remove from the oven and serve with a lovely crusty loaf as a great meal on its own or as a side dish. If you don’t add the feta it is a great vegan option.

Creamed Spinach and Trout I have been attempting to use up some items in my freezer. I love the challenge of finding a new way to use up what you have and this was a winner of a meal that used frozen items.

Ingredients: 2 fillets frozen skinless trout (could work well with frozen salmon fillet as well) 2 cups frozen chopped spinach - I had the loose bagged type, but you can also use frozen block or pellets, or fresh.

1 chopped shallot (green onion would work here too) 2 tablespoons butter 2 tablespoons flour 1 - 2 cups milk ¼ teaspoon nutmeg - a traditional seasoning for creamed spinach.

Recipes Salt and pepper Directions: Start by making your white sauce.

I made it right in an ovenproof skillet so it was a one pan meal!

Saute the shallot in two tablespoons of butter then add the flour stirring to coat and cook for about one minute over a medium heat. Slowly add in the milk stirring constantly incorporating the milk into a smooth-ish sauce. Use as much milk as you need to get a soup consistency. It does not need to be perfectly smooth as you will never notice once the spinach is added.

Season to taste with salt, pepper and ¼ teaspoon of nutmeg.

I had frozen chopped spinach in a bag. I love both this and frozen chopped kale that is now available at many grocery stores. I grab a handful of either to add to many dishes. But you could certainly add a couple of big handfuls of fresh spinach. Or if you have a block of frozen spinach, thaw it, squeeze out the excess liquid and add it to the sauce.

Stir the sauce and spinach to heat through. If you are using fresh spinach, let the leaves wilt down for a few minutes.

Place your frozen trout fillets on top, season with salt and pepper and add a little drizzle of olive oil. Bake in a 380 degree oven for about 20 30 minutes. The total time will depend on how thawed your fillets are and how thick. Trout tends to be thinner and can cook through very quickly, but a salmon fillet may take longer. Keep an eye on it and test before serving.

Coffee-flavoured cake (as opposed to a coffee cake….)

On my further adventures on the internet, I saw this cake on Youtube.

It was one of those suggested videos and I think it was in Russian. I watched it on silent with roughly translated subtitles as the ingredients were poured and mixed and baked and thought I’ll give that a try. It is not a fancy layer cake, more of something to have a quick slice of with your coffee...

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F Ingredients: 1 cup plain yogurt

2 tablespoons instant espresso powder 1 cup white sugar 2 eggs ⅓ cup vegetable oil ⅓ cup milk 2 teaspoons baking powder 1 ½ cups flour Directions: Grease and flour a 9-inch cake pan. I used a round springform pan but you could also try a 9 X 9 square.

Mix the two tablespoons of espresso powder into the cup of yogurt until blended, set aside.

In a large bowl beat two eggs with sugar until light and fluffy. Add the coffee/yogurt and mix well. Add the oil, milk and baking powder. Mix to combine before adding the flour and beat until smooth. Pour into the prepared pan and bake for 25 - 30 minutes, testing with a toothpick to make sure it is completely cooked.

Remove from the oven and leave to cool before popping out of the pan (or you could just leave it in the pan) and ice. In the video they combined whipping cream with icing sugar and

beat until it was thick and spread that on top. I’m sure that would be delicious. But I made a half batch of brown sugar icing (below) and topped with some walnut halves.This is a super sweet icing and helps out the less sweet cake.

It is a dense rich cake that is something different from my usual bakes. I could see adding chocolate chips to the batter to get a more mocha flavour.

Brown Sugar Icing I made a half batch of this recipe to just cover the top of a 9-inch cake.

Ingredients: ½ cup butter 1 cup brown sugar ¼ cup milk 2 cups sifted icing sugar Directions: In a saucepan melt butter and add the brown sugar. Bring to a gentle boil, lower heat and continue to boil for two minutes, stirring constantly.

Add the milk, bring back to a boil and remove from heat. Allow to cool slightly and mix in icing sugar beating until smooth. ◊

April 2021 39

Gardening Rhea HamiltonSeeger is a skilled cook and gardener who lives near Auburn.

Tips for growing essential perennial

vegetables

I

t is amazing what we take for granted in and around our yards.

Now that I have a new garden to play in, I realize we had a lot of lovely edibles tucked into corners of our old yard.

When you are planning your garden set aside space for perennial edibles and you can’t go wrong. For all of the following, work the ground to a good depth, a foot at least, and add a generous amount of well-rotted compost. Perennials prosper with a rich base and another dose of compost or bone meal later in the summer ensures a strong plant going into winter. Continue to add compost late in the fall to give an early boost in the spring. Mulch keeps the weeds down and ensures cool consistent moisture levels. Water when it becomes too dry.

The first on my list of an essential edible perennial is of course rhubarb.

These plants sport wonderful mammoth green leaves and are a feature anywhere in the sunny part of the yard. I had them in front of the garage and a few clumps integrated into the perennial border. And there was still some coming up from under a stone pile where we found the original plant. It had dark ruby stems and tasted wonderful. We brought several shoots from there to town.

Like all perennials rhubarb needs to have a well-prepared spot with a healthy dose of well-rotted manure.

You can buy plants early in the spring or divide established clumps by simply taking a sharp spade and making a clean cut through a portion of the crown. Check for rot, insects, and ensure you have at least one or 40 The Rural Voice

you can harvest everything until first two healthy knobs or sets of leaves. of June and then let the plant reach Set your plants with the crown even maturity. If you don’t like leaving the with the surface or a touch above. great fronds for the winter, cut them Water well and have your mulch to about 8 or 12 inches high so you handy. Midway through the summer can see where the new shoots will apply a good handful of bone meal to come up in the spring and it will also make strong stems, as that is the best catch valuable snow cover. part, right? I know you won’t want to Another welcome early spring hear this but I recommend you leave edible is the walking or Egyptian the clump for at least two growing onion. What an amazing plant. Green seasons without harvesting. The plant onions plucked early in the spring needs to establish a sturdy root from the garden enhance most meals. system and since you will have it for And they can be harvested all at least the next twenty years you summer. I would keep a few aside to could spare a season for it to get well produce clusters of bulblets at the established. top. Those bulblets can be eased For an early boost of energy in the apart and planted individually for spring, look to asparagus. It has a more plants. thick wide spreading root system.

After you have amended the soil with compost dig a trench with a hill down the centre for the crown to sit on and place the fragile roots flowing down from there. Back fill with soil and more compost. Plant about 18 inches apart.

Gardeners estimate you need 50 plants to feed a family of four. Grow what works for you.

Adding even a handful of asparagus to a dish makes it sing.

I think the biggest complaint about growing this vegetable is the weeding. I don't know of anyone who does not struggle with this in the beginning. The crowns are near the surface and using any tools to weed will disturb them too much, so hand weeding is the ticket until June when the plants are big enough to shade their spot and with mulch will manage well with your weed maintenance. Jerusalem artichokes are a perennial vegetable The nice thing about that grow tubers in the soil and also offer asparagus is that you cheerful yellow blooms in summer! cannot have too much We also had fiddleheads in a mulch, as the spring shoots will find their way to the surface. shady spot. I have to admit I only harvested twice in all the years we Don’t harvest for one season and had them. There is a slim 18-hour when you do harvest don’t take more than half the spears. Once established window for harvesting. They grow so

Gardening fast and unfurl quickly in the spring.

If you miss them at the critical, perfect stage then you have to wait another season. There are quite a number of fern varieties but the one you want for eating is the Ostrich Fern. We moved ours up from our swampy bush to plant along the shady west side of the porch. They did surprisingly well. I would not recommend that you go digging in someone’s bush! There are Ostrich ferns available from friends or garden centres. Ours grew to a wonderful height of two to three feet in our dry garden and survived due to the runoff from the roof. These ferns like a slightly acidic soil, a bit on the moist side, and when happy they will spread quite rapidly by their spores.

If not so happy, ostrich ferns will clone offspring from the mother plant via long rhizomes.

When harvesting fiddleheads only take half of the showing heads from the vertical knob. You don’t want to cause the plant any stress.

The last perennial edible I want to share with you is the rather exotic looking Jerusalem artichoke. It is a native to North America and a relative to the sunflower. We had a wonderful patch in a south-facing garden. When it bloomed the patch was a magnificent six feet tall! I got a few small tubers from a friend and after one year we harvested quite a basket full of potato-like tubers. Plant like you would potatoes, looking for two or three eyes per tuber. But unlike potatoes, you can get them into the ground as soon as you can work it up. They like a neutral soil, which most gardens have, not too acidic and not too alkaline and you can add a balanced all-purpose fertilizer worked in around them.

Once the shoots appear you can weed around them.

They bloom in August and once the plants start to brown, die off, you can harvest your “chokes”. Any left in the ground will come up next year.

We lost our whole patch one winter due to hungry voles or rodents of some sort. They tunneled around and ate everything! I guess it doesn’t hurt to share a bit when ‘others’ need it more than you. ◊

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April 2021 41

Woodlots seedlings, not only will there be less wildlife damage, but there will also be better spacing of these trees as they grow older. Typically, hardwood trees will outlast coniferous trees by many decades.

While most of the funding that is available for planting programs only includes tree species, our ecosystems would also benefit from the planting of shrubs. While shrubs do not afford us the images of grand trees towering overhead, rope swings, tree forts, or timber products, they offer a great expanse of habitat opportunities.

Non-native shrubs often provide some of the same habitat For me, spring means tree opportunities as their native planting season. The build-up to this companions, but many come with a season is full of excitement and cost that future generations may be planning for future forests. Listening paying for. Planting a non-native to people’s dreams for the future and shrub can be successful without helping to make that happen is causing harm if the planter quite enjoyable.

Our asks one simple question: conversations can include “Can this shrub be invasive dreams of grandchildren yet to in our area?”. Invasive be born as we imagine them species should be avoided. walking under the trees. Or we Shrubs typically provide think of the wildlife that may shelter. With their branches make their home in the forest so thickly intertwined, small or perhaps we look forward to birds and fur-bearers can sawlog sales. duck into areas that their When thinking about tree predators cannot. While planting, we all have different many shrubs are planted for thoughts and feelings. It no their beautiful flowers, it is longer surprises me that so the fruit and seed that offer many people really do not like enhanced habitat opporcedar. Often this dislike is tunities. result of the misunderstanding Our native high-bush that cedar trees attract cranberry, nannyberry, mosquitoes. Cedar does not dogwood, sumac, serviceattract mosquitos. Cedar does berry, ninebark, willow, provide a shaded resting spot elderberry, and rose shrubs for mosquitoes, like that of can provide shade to other trees, shrubs, and watercourses and small structures. Like many insects, waterbodies while providing mosquitoes cannot stay out in food and shelter. Having the direct sunlight for long worked at a nature centre periods of time. As cedar is with mature rose hedges, I well suited to growing next to know the literal pain that open water and in swamps – these shrubs can be to which are mosquito breeding maintain. However, those grounds – it has unfairly been rose hedges stick out in my associated with those mind as one of the best annoying blood-sucking pests. examples of planned tree Counter that with planting to include all everyone’s love of sugar aspects of a future maple and the oaks. I specify ecosystem. From agrisugar maple as many do not cultural land to a diverse equally appreciate soft Whether planting by hand (top) or machine planting forest with trees towering maples. From the provision of over the land and shrubs (above) spring is tree-planting season.

44 The Rural Voice Donna Lacey is a forester with the Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority

Pines, cedar and spruce plantings have the greatest success

maple syrup to those super cool acorns, with their little hats, who does not like sugar maples and oaks?

Unfortunately, it is quite difficult to go from open land to hardwood forest without the help of other species along the way. It seems that there is nothing more attractive to wildlife than a fresh young hardwood seedling. While I do appreciate getting to see rabbits, hares, deer, mice, and voles when out in nature, I really dislike the complete obliteration of my work that happens when I plant hardwood seedlings. We have learned over the years not to plant the hardwoods in large groups.

Instead, we scatter them throughout the planting to make it hard for wildlife to find them for food. When hardwood seedlings are scattered throughout a field of coniferous

Woodlots providing a great edge habitat, the planters should be proud.

As I mentioned above, when planting shrubs, we need to be very careful to plant natives. My love of those rose hedges and what they provide has left me with some challenges in finding native rose shrubs to plant. The smooth, pasture, and swamp rose are all great choices for planting. However, not many garden centres carry these roses as they are not as showy as the nonnative and hybrid roses. Interested planters may need to search out native plant growers, nurseries, or suppliers.

As previously stated, many of the funding programs do not cover the planting of shrubs as part of their projects. Shrubs could be planted in areas where tree planting was not successful or around the edge of the planting without interfering with the funded project. Planting shrubs in these locations better mimics what nature would have done if left to fill an open area.

I am often asked why we plant so many pine, spruce, and cedar trees. There are many reasons that we continue to plant large numbers of these trees. These coniferous trees are planted with the greatest success. Pine and spruce are still the cheapest seedlings to purchase as they are easier to grow at the nursery than others. These coniferous trees will provide shelter and a nursery for a variety of other tree species to either naturally seed or be planted into. Pine, spruce, and cedar grow quickly allowing for a first thinning at about 35 years of age, allowing for the nursery to expand and the transition to a mixed forest continue, and a little revenue for the landowner.

Every tree planting season has its challenges. We often plant when it is snowing at the start of the season. Of course, those snowy days transition into rainy days, then right into the hot sun. This means that we go from snow to black flies, and even worse – snakes. As the season progresses these slithery creatures become active, often a little sleepy and not too quick to disperse. I would rather plant in snow. ◊

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April 2021 45

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

Subdivision Control – a checkerboarded past and future There was a time in Ontario when property owners were at liberty to subdivide their property without municipal consent. An owner in the nineteenth century to whom the Crown granted a 200-acre parcel could divide the parcel into smaller pieces and convey them to new owners by depositing deeds in the Land Registry. 200-acre parcels became 100-acre parcels, 100-acre parcels became 50-acre parcels, and so on. The creation of land parcels was largely a matter of the personal circumstances and preferences of individual landowners.

Early in the twentieth century, Ontario began to enact planning legislation intended to impose some governmental control over land use.

In 1946, Ontario passed the first version of the Planning Act, which gave municipalities the power to create and impose formal Official Plans. Later, municipalities were given the ability to pass subdivision control by-laws that would make municipal consent a condition of severances of land. Eventually, municipal consent was made mandatory for nearly all severances, with or without a by-law in place.

Section 50 of the Planning Act governs subdivision control today.

Section 50(3) states that, without municipal consent, and unless a special exception applies, No person shall convey land by way of a deed or transfer, or grant, assign or exercise a power of appointment with respect to land, 46 The Rural Voice

Agrilaw or mortgage or charge land, or enter into an agreement of sale and purchase of land or enter into any agreement that has the effect of granting the use of or right in land directly or by entitlement to renewal for a period of twenty-one years or more…

Section 50(21) of the Act provides the legislative hammer with which subdivision control is enforced: An agreement, conveyance, mortgage or charge made, or a power of appointment granted, assigned or exercised in contravention of this section or a predecessor thereof does not create or convey any interest in land …

A transaction that contravenes the Planning Act is ineffective; no interest in land is created or conveyed despite the intentions of the parties.

The transactions that require municipal consent involve the conveyance of an interest in one piece of land when the party making the conveyance retains an abutting piece of land (note that parcels that touch only at a point like squares of the same colour on a checkerboard are not considered abutting parcels).

Without municipal consent, the owner of a 100-acre parcel generally cannot sell off a 50-acre portion of the land and retain the other 50 acres.

The owner also cannot split the 100acre parcel into two 50-acre parts and transfer those simultaneously to two different purchasers (a procedure that was once considered a loophole in the Act). Without a severance consent, the owner is generally limited to dealing with the whole 100-acre parcel.

And it usually doesn’t matter that the 100-acre parcel, or whatever the area is, was formed from what were previously smaller parcels. If Owner The Rural Voice welcomes letters and will publish as many as space permits.

Write: The Rural Voice Box 429, BLYTH, ON N0M 1H0

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Agrilaw

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48 The Rural Voice

A owns a 50-acre parcel and purchases the 50 acres next door (taking title in the same name), the two 50-acre parcels merge and cannot be re-split without a severance consent. It doesn’t matter that the two 50-acre parcels may continue to have distinct tax assessment roll numbers or may even somehow appear as separate PINs (parcel identifier numbers) in the Land Registry; for purposes of the Planning Act, they have merged unless they were previously divided with municipal consent.

The Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (the “LPAT”, formerly the Ontario Municipal Board) recently reversed an amendment to the Official Plan of the County of Bruce (the “OPA”) intended to sever a 60hectare farm parcel into two parts.

The owners of the property had applied to the County for the amendment on the basis that it was a “correction of title” to restore the two separate parcels that had previously existed. The owners believed that the Land Registry Office had combined the parcels by placing both within the same PIN during the administrative conversion from the former Registry system of land registration to the current Land Titles system. For that reason, the owners believed that the County could reseparate the lands even though the Provincial Policy Statement (the “PPS”, the over-arching provincial planning policy in Ontario) would prohibit the creation of a new lot within a prime agricultural area.

The LPAT disagreed with the owners, writing: The Tribunal is sympathetic to the Applicants’ frustrations arising from their discovery that they cannot sell the Severed Lands without the Retained Lands, as a separate parcel, notwithstanding the fact that the two parcels were once purchased separately from the Crown. However, such circumstances are not unusual and the Act governs, and has governed, such aspects of the ownership of Lands in Ontario for decades. So too have the fundamental planning considerations which the Tribunal

Agrilaw must have regard to been in place for applications such as this, and which now require that the Tribunal ensure that [the OPA] is consistent with the PPS, and also is consistent with, and conforms, to the other goals, objectives and policies of the County OP, and represents good planning in the public interest. The issue is not merely a correction of title as the Applicants submit.

Compliance with the Planning Act is essential to any property transaction in Ontario. Given the drastic consequences of contravening the Act, legal advice is not optional. ◊ ______________________________ 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 circumstances.

Corey Hoffarth

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David Maddocks Senior Relationship Manager Seaforth david.maddocks@td.com

Kathryn Underwood Account Manager Listowel 519-774-8108 kathryn.underwood@td.com

ͻ Ă Đ Ŭ Ś Ž Ğ Ă Ŷ Ě ƚ ƌĞ Ŷ Đ Ś ŝ Ŷ Ő Ɛ Ğ ƌ ǀ ŝ Đ Ğ ͻ ' Ğ Ŷ Ğ ƌĂ ƚ Ž ƌ Ɛ Ă ů Ğ Ɛ Ă Ŷ Ě Ɛ Ğ ƌ ǀ ŝ Đ Ğ ͻ Ϯϰ ,KhZ ĞŵĞƌŐĞŶĐLJ ƐĞƌ ǀŝĐĞ after Ś Ž Ƶ ƌƐ Ž Ŷ Đ Ă ů ů Ŷ Ƶ ŵ ď Ğ ƌ

Bryce Toll Relationship Manager Wingham, Goderich, Kincardine bryce.toll@td.com

Joe Whitely Account Manager Seaforth 519-525-0359 joseph.whitely@td.com

519-272-4646

Brian Buffinga General Manager Mas t er Electrician ®

The TD logo and other trade-marks are the property of The Toronto-Dominion Bank.

M05336 (1018)

April 2021 49

People

Donations still flowing despite COVID-19 Rick Cober Bauman is proud to lead MCC Canada • By Gary West •

W

ith instability and hunger in many countries, there’s one man in our area, along with the organization he directs, that has been making a tremendous difference in the lives of people all over the world. His name is Rick Cober Bauman and he was the Executive Director of Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) in Kitchener, Ontario until 1989. For the last three years, he has served as the Executive Director of MCC Canada based in Winnipeg.

Bauman and his wife Louise raised their family of three children on a farm just south of Shakespeare (where they still reside). Bauman has helped many families and organizations in many countries around the world who are in need of food, housing and help. Through MCC, he helps them obtain a more secure way of life.

There are many MCC members in this area. They help with such fundraising efforts as the annual Mennonite relief sale held in New Hamburg every year and the popular Mennonite heifer sale held every year at Carson’s auctions near Listowel.

MCC has been instrumental in the last number of years aiding in disaster relief in countries such as Haiti and Mr. Bauman has also spent time in Nigeria doing developmental work and peace building.

The organization’s model has always been to offer relief, development, and peace in the name of Christ and they continue to do that in many countries today and especially in areas where disaster strikes.

Bauman comes by his desire to help honestly as his father, Gord Bauman, was the minister at Tavistock Mennonite church from 1978 to 1988 and still resides at Nithview in New Hamburg.

50 The Rural Voice

He says the MCC could not do the work it does without the extreme contributions and help of the farmers and the caring people in our area.

Although this year has been very

trying due to COVID-10 restrictions, he said contributions remain very strong. This has been a welcome surprise and blessings to the organization he helps represent. ◊

Rick Cober Bauman works on cutting wood at his Shakespeare farm and is also Executive Director of the Mennonite Central Committee which provides disaster relief. Though COVID-19 has affected fundraising efforts, contributions remain very strong.

TILE DRAINAGE PAYS! Let a good drainage system work for you to help improve: • Soil erosion • Aeration • Crop yields • Soil warm up 43479 Blyth Road • Crop rotation • Harvest length (R.R. #1) Walton, ON N0K 1Z0 • Land values • Soil conditions E-Mail: kmmfarmdrainage@outlook.com • Plant growth • Fertilizer efficiency

CALL THE EXPERTS! Business: 519-887-6428 Ron McCallum 519-524-3543

Chad McCallum 519-955-1588

GPS Grade Control & Mapping

Green Lumber Kiln Dried Lumber Coloured Mulch Sawdust Firewood

besterforest@gmail.com

CUSTOM WORK Get your fields ready for spring!

Dudgeon Enterprises offers seedbed prep, tillage and air seeding.

Call Jeff at 519-375-7235 for quotes and inquiries.

Dudgeon Enterprises, your environmentally friendly tillage provider.

Lisa Thompson MPP Huron-Bruce

CONSTITUENCY OFFICES Blyth Office:

Kincardine Office:

408 Queen Street, PO Box 426 Blyth, ON N0M 1H0 Phone: 519-523-4251 Toll Free: 1-800-668-9320

807 Queen Street, Unit 3 Kincardine, ON N2Z 2Y2 Phone: 519-396-3007 Toll Free: 1-866-396-3007

Website: www.lisathompsonmpp.ca Email: lisa.thompsonco@pc.ola.org

Huron-Bruce Matters

AVA I L A B L E A D S PA C E CALL 519-523-4311

rvads@northhuron.on.ca

$

INCOME TAX SERVICE

$

Farm, Business, Personal • complete year-round service including tax audit representation • E-file available

Stephen Thompson R.R. #2, Clinton

519-482-3244 stevethompson@tcc.on.ca April 2021 51

The

Rural Voice

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

B U S I N E S S

Wa n t e d to buy

Unique Ironwork

37452 Glen’s Hill Road, RR 2, Auburn, Ont. N0M 1E0

Benches, railings, gates, furniture and more One-of-a-kind functional art

Tel. 519-529-7212

Visit our website at

www.workingiron.ca allan@workingiron.ca 36854 Dungannon Road, Dungannon

519-529-3434

Snowblowers, Quick-attach Buckets, Sweepers, Woodsplitters, Crimper Rollers, Land Rollers, Stone Windrowers, etc.

Website: smythwelding.com Email: info@smythwelding.com

O L D BA R N S FOR SALVAGE CALL STEVE

519-440-7384

Galvanized Roofing For Sale

SALES & SERVICE INSTALLATION & PARTS

C E N T R E

Farm Drainage

• GPS • Plastic • Bron Plow • Surveys • Maps Glen 519-291-0709 cell Dennis 519-276-9292 cell

Newton, Ont. 519-595-4545

Rissler KEITH SIEMON FARM SYSTEMS LTD. 81987 Perth Rd. 180, R.R. 4, Walton 519-345-2734 (anytime)

www.keithsiemonfarmsystems.com email: keithsiemon@tcc.on.ca For Free Planning and Estimates

Horse & Livestock Car, Utility & Recreational any design, hitches trade-ins welcome super after sales service

Full service to all boats and marine engines

ARGYLE Marine & Small Engines Inc.

33973 Church Camp Rd., Goderich 519-524-5361 Email: argylemarine@cabletv.on.ca

52 The Rural Voice

www.beloretrailers.ca 324025 Mount Elgin Rd. Mount Elgin, Ontario N0J 1N0 Jamie Belore

phone: 519-485-5358 toll free: 1-877-247-7227 fax: 1-519-485-6129 jbelore@gmail.com

Maitland Welding & Machining

Est. 1991

63 North St. Wingham

• In-shop & on-site millwrighting • Custom fabrication • Steel & industrial supply sales

Ph: 519-357-2727 Fax: 519-357-4769 www.maitlandwelding.com rstute@maitlandwelding.com

PACKERS: WE BUILD RUBBER TIRE PACKER SPECIALISTS

Order Now

STEVEN NIXON

Also large fold-up steel drum packers, lawn & estate rollers, custom manufactured

RR #2, Arthur, Ont. (519) 848-2799

Serving the area since 1999

Broker WILFRED MCINTEE & CO. LIMITED

Bus: 519-357-2222 Cell: 519-531-0252 Email: nixon@execulink.com Web: www.stevennixon.com

It’s a Seller’s Market Need listings for houses and farms

318 Josephine St., WINGHAM, ON N0G 2W0

MANUFACTURING STEEL ROOFING SIDING & TRIMS

ROTH DRAINAGE LTD Quality Workmanship Since 1948

519-363-3757

2051 Bruce Rd. 19, R.R. 1 Chesley, ON N0G 1L0

Also Supplying Other Building Accessories

* Farm Drainage * Excavator & Backhoe Service * Municipal Drainage * No Obligation Quotes

Gads Hill 519-656-2618

Blyth 519-895-6367

1-866-494-2618

STEFFEN WELL DRILLING 519-531-0355 TEESWATER, ON

mike@steffenwelldrilling.ca

• Agricultural & domestic water wells • Well Cleanouts • Pump Testing • Camera Inspection • Irrigation Wells • Dewatering Services

2 Mailbox Sizes Available • Stainless Steel • Steel (with powder coated paint) • • • • • •

CUSTOM FABRICATING LASER CAPABILITIES PUNCHING SHEARING, BENDING STEEL, STAINLESS GALVANIZED, ALUMINUM

6650 Perth Line 88, R.R. #1 (Kurtzville) Gowanstown, ON N0G 1Y0 Ph: 519-291-4136 • Fax: 519-291-5532 info@behrns.ca

April 2021 53

B U S I N E S S C E N T R E

B U S I N E S S C E N T R E

KRAEMER CONCRETE LTD. Two Locations to Serve You! Leadership in energy and environmental design

5595 Road 130 Brunner N0K 1C0

220 Industrial Park Dr., Brussels N0G 1H0

Fax: 595-4903

Fax: 887-8764

519-595-2343

Devon Henry 84772 McDonald Line • Box 616 • Brussels

devonjhenry@hotmail.com 519-505-2473

WINGHAM

519-887-8763

Toll Free at 1-888-RING-KCL

BUSHELL’S AUTO SALES

519-357-6731

SUVS

TRUCKS 2016 Chev Colorado ext. cab, 2 WD, 149,000 km......$16,500 2015 GMC Sierra ext. cab, 4x4, 206,000 km ................$22,995 2015 GMC Sierra crew cab, 4x4, 224,000 km .............$19,800 2012 Chev Silverado ext. cab, 4x4, 136,000 km ........$14,995 2012 Chev Silverado ext. cab, 4x4, 197,000 km ........$14,000

2018 Ford Ecosport 54,000 km................................$18,995 2016 Chev Trax 18,000 km.........................................$14,400 2015 Ford Edge Titanium AWD, 111,000 km .....$19,995 2014 Ford Edge AWD, 140,000 km ...........................$12,900 2013 Ford Explorer AWD, 133,000 km ...................$16,995 2013 Ford Escape AWD, 125,000 km......................$12,995 2011 Ford Edge AWD, 140,000 km...............................$12,900 2011 Honda CRV AWD, 116,000 km ........................$12,995 2011 Honda CRV AWD, 33,000 km...........................$17,500 2010 Ford Edge AWD, 194,000 km...............................$9,995

VANS

2011 Dodge Ram ext. cab, 4x4, 295,000 km ...................$7,495 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan 111,000 km . . . . . .$11,700 $ 2011 Ford Ranger super cab, 4x4, 116,000 km........... 14,995 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan 230,000 km . . . . . . .$4,500 2008 Chev Silverado crew cab, 4x4, 198,000 km ......$10,995 2009 Chev Express 8 passenger, 152,000 km . . . . .$8,995

AS IS SPEC

CARS 2017 Chev Malibu LT 106,000 km . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$14,995 2016 Hyundai Elantra 141,000 km . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$8,395 2010 Hyundai Accent 102,000 km . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$3,995 2010 Chev Malibu 156,000 km . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$4,995

Is your car in the Body Shop?

2010 Chev Impala 308,000 km.....................................$1,500 2007 Ford Ranger ext. cab, 2WD, 197,000 km..........$3,500 2006 Chev HHR 114,000 km ..........................................$2,995 2006 Mini Cooper 180,000 km ......................................$2,995 2005 VW Jetta diesel, 370,000 km................................$1,500

We have rentals available for most major insurance companies.

Give us a call today!

Financing and Extended Warranty Available On All Units Plus 13% Tax ~ UCDA - Buy With Confidence

www.bushellsauto.ca 54 The Rural Voice

We have a good selection of used tires 12" to 20"

CLASSIFIED

CLASSIFIED

CLASSIFIED

AUCTION -------------------------------------------------Elmira Produce Auction – Hay and Straw Sales every Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. Consignors and buyers welcome. Call Lloyd Martin 519-6643356, 7400 Reid Woods Drive, Elmira.

-------------------------------------------------CONSTRUCTION -------------------------------------------------WE POUR: liquid manure tanks, bunker silos, foundations and pads.

All are 100% engineered. Serving Ontario since 1968. De Jong & Sons Ltd. 519-348-0523.

-------------------------------------------------CUSTOM BALING -------------------------------------------------Custom big square baling, rotocut, $1.15 per foot, no knives; $1.25 per foot with knives. 519-377-2303.

-------------------------------------------------CUSTOM WORK -------------------------------------------------Barnhem Farm Services – solid manure spreading; variable rate precision application (optional).

Serving Bruce, Grey, North Huron and North Wellington. Contact for information: Herman Vinckx at 519881-7663 or Dylan Vinckx at 519-8818957.

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

Call 519-625-8242 or 519-274-1490.

-------------------------------------------------FIREWOOD -------------------------------------------------Screened hardwood slabs – 16" cut $30 face cord, 10 cord deliveries or pick up in Auburn. huronfirewood.com Call 519-5243493.

-------------------------------------------------FOR SALE -------------------------------------------------Alfalfa hay mixtures, pasture mixtures, top dressing for pastures, and a selection of organic grass seeds. All mixed to your personal needs. Also red clover for plowdown.

Available at Courtney Grain & Seed (2015) Ltd., 225 Hwy. 21, RR 1, Ripley. Phone 519-395-2972. Ask for Carmon or Mitch.

--------------------------------------------------

FOR SALE -------------------------------------------------For prices on forage peas, forage pea mixtures, barley, oats, spring wheat and mixed grain seed. Contact Courtney Grain & Seed (2015) Ltd., 225 Hwy. 21, RR 1, Ripley. Phone 519-395-2972. Ask for Carmon or Mitch.

-------------------------------------------------Soybean seed for sale – Absolute RR, Altitude R2, Extent R2X and Beliveau R2X Roundup Ready varieties. Treatments and inoculants available. Call Mitch at Courtney Grain & Seed (2015) Ltd. 519-4406712.

-------------------------------------------------Martin’s Nursery & Bee Supplies Etc. Large selection of flowering trees, shade trees, fruit trees and hydrangeas and other shrubs. We have the plants you need to make a living “privacy hedge” or snow fence or windbreaks. Blue Spruce, Norway Spruce, White Spruce, Pine and Cedars. Also… a Complete line of Bee Supplies for the commercial or hobby beekeepers. Order your (Nuc) Bees for spring 2021. We stock all wooden-ware (bee-hives) foundation, assembled and unassembled frames, smokers, suits, jackets, gloves, mite treatments and some extracting equipment. Honey containers, jars, pails, custom built wooden-ware.

Come visit our nursery and bee supplies store Monday to Saturday at 42661 Orangehill Rd., RR 1, Wroxeter, ON N0G 2X0, one km. north of Wroxeter.

-------------------------------------------------CORN SEED pricing starting at $129/bag (before discounts). De Dell Seeds, the Leaders in non-GMO corn.

519-264-CORN. -------------------------------------------------Rosco grain bins for sale – 19' and 14' diameter. Parts available. Used grain bins wanted for parts or reuse.

Closed Sundays, 519-338-3920.

-------------------------------------------------Rebuilt water pumping windmills Beatty, Aermotor, etc., parts, repairs and sales. 519-357-3621.

-------------------------------------------------Double cut red clover seed, 55 pound bags, James McKinlay 519599-6236.

--------------------------------------------------

FOR SALE --------------------------------------------------

CAMPER FOR SALE 21 1/2 ft. 5th wheel, 1996 model, air, awning, microwave, good condition. Asking $5,000

519-527-1866 Discount Steel Great for barn posts, stabling or other build-your-own projects

Custom Welding & Machine Shop Custom Stabling Mfg. Open Tues. & Thurs. ~ other days by chance John A.M. Martin 1467 Grey Ox Ave., Lucknow

• Tree Seedlings • Nursery Stock • Shade Trees • Native Species Order for Spring 2021 Now

888-226-6344

www.hrichardsonfarms.com

Meadowview Farm & Apiary Grass-fed Beef

Chicken

Available to order by the side or mixed quarter.

At the farm store: Assorted cuts & patties

Available to order fresh At the farm store: Frozen, Whole or in pieces (Drumsticks, wings, breasts)

Clare and Gwen Gerber 91104 Holmes Line, Wingham 519-357-4347 or Cell: 519-357-8339 • Honey • Beeswax • Candles • Nucleus colonies

-------------------------------------------------IRON & STEEL -------------------------------------------------DISCOUNT STEEL: New second grade steel sales; 1" - 8" square tubing; 7/8" - 14" round tubing; Rectangle tubing, discount plate; New and Used I-Beams; Bar grating, rebar, angles; Custom cutting, welding, punching. Listowel. Phone Aden 519595-7775.

--------------------------------------------------

Advertising in The Rural Voice A Wise Choice!

Call Today! 519­523­4311 April 2021 55

CLASSIFIED

CLASSIFIED

CLASSIFIED

LIVESTOCK BEDDING -------------------------------------------------MIRACLE FIBER Livestock Bedding.

Also, coarse wood mulch for horse and cattle walkways, wet areas around water troughs and bush lanes.

Also available is dairy pack starter bedding. 1-877-773-8004. Sittler Grinding. Rick Sittler.

-------------------------------------------------LIVESTOCK FOR SALE -------------------------------------------------LIMOUSIN breeding bulls – quiet, thick, semen tested, guaranteed breeders, delivery included. Select now for spring delivery. OPEN HOUSE – April 10, 2021. Posthaven Limousin, John Post. 519-766-7178. www.posthavenlimousin.com -------------------------------------------------Red Angus, Simmental and Red Angus-Simmental bulls are finished test. See their results at AgSights Ontario. Bull Evaluation, Silver Spring Farms. James and Joan McKinlay 519-599-6236.

-------------------------------------------------McKague Charolais Bulls, yearlings and two year olds, registered purebred, polled or dehorned. Some heifer approved.

Also heifers bred Charolais (calving ease), Wingham 519-357-3808.

-------------------------------------------------Gelbvieh Bulls – reds and blacks, 14 months old. Ready to work and fully guaranteed. Mike Klages 519363-6307.

-------------------------------------------------Rabbit breeding stock. High quality genetics available in Ontario. Order your PS40 bucks and PS19 does today. CuniON@tcc.on.ca --------------------------------------------------

PERSONALS -------------------------------------------------Being alone on Valentine’s Day wasn’t fun. Fit female looking for a loving male partner to share life with.

My interests are food, cooking, family, the outdoors, animals and agriculture.

Age: 55-62. Send references to: Drawer #1, c/o The Rural Voice, PO Box 429, Blyth, ON N0M 1H0 -------------------------------------------------REAL ESTATE -------------------------------------------------Selling or buying farmland, residential or commercial. All properties needed. Call Greg or Dwaine Nicholls, Brokers for GA Nicholls Realty Ltd. Greg 519-2910507, Dwaine 519-492-2002.

-------------------------------------------------RESTORATION -------------------------------------------------The Olde Tyme Radio Centre – antique radios, clocks, gramophones, telephones; sold/restored. (vintage autoclock radio, speedometer, tachometer repaired). Belgrave 519357-4304, www.oldtymeradio.ca -------------------------------------------------RETAIL & GIFTS -------------------------------------------------Stitches with a Twist – 404 Queen St., Blyth, 519-523-9449. Yarns, needles, notions, patterns, books and lots more yarn.

------------------------------------------------SERVICES -------------------------------------------------INCOME TAX FILING – for farms, small business, truckers and individuals. Will make house calls in the North Huron, Perth and surrounding area. Call Shirley in Wingham – cell No. 1-705-434-8187.

--------------------------------------------------

SERVICES -------------------------------------------------Cronin Poured Concrete Ltd. Since 1976. Liquid manure tanks to 200'.

Heights of 8'-14' (1-pour). All jobs engineer specifications/inspections guaranteed. Best firm quote in Ontario. Mark Cronin, 519-348-9062.

Cell 519-274-5000. www.cronin pouredconcrete.ca -------------------------------------------------Firearms and hunting training.

PAL & HUNTER ED. Ongoing courses available.

Certified instructors. Call Greg 519-887-9622 or 519-291-0507.

-------------------------------------------------TOWNSLEY BARN PAINTING – All farm buildings and houses, seamless eavestroughing, liquid rubber coatings, waterproofing, metal, concrete, wood, foam and bin flooring sealing. Serving Ontario since 1955.

Call 519-859-0097 or 519-871-0300 townsleypainting@hotmail.com -------------------------------------------------Custom clover seeding with GPS, $2.50/acre or $3 for pasture. Seed available. Call Kurt Beuerman 519525-0538 or 519-523-9234 (home).

--------------------------------------------------

Canada's Own Dual Purpose Chicken White Chantecler Chicks available now!

226-222-1469 dandhnewman@gmail.com http://dandhnewman.ca/chantecler-chickens/

GLAVIN BARN & COMMERCIAL PAINTING

Pick up in Ripley, ON Beltsville Small White Turkey Poults also available

Call: Jim Glavin 1-800-465-4725 519-228-6247 Eugene Glavin 519-228-6801

Limousin BULLS and Open and Bred FEMALES

For Sale By Private Treaty Please call to arrange a private viewing

23rd Annual Open House - Sat. Apr. 3, 2021 At the farm 10:00 am to 5:00 pm

FARMERS repaint your faded coloured steel FREE QUOTES ~ FULLY INSURED

RR 1 Crediton, Ont. N0M 1M0 (near Exeter)

Sales Service Installation Free Estimates

519-364-4026 eod@persona.ca

Smart Limousin

Eastern Overhead Doors

www.smartlimousin.com or Follow us on Facebook

(Bruce-Grey) Ltd.

137606 Grey Rd. 12 Meaford 519-372-7459

56 The Rural Voice

CLASSIFIED SERVICES --------------------------------------------------

DONALD A ANDREW ACCOUNTING Accounting & Income Tax Services for FARMS, BUSINESSES & INDIVIDUALS 296 Ross St., Lucknow

Ph. 519-528-3019

Specializing in on Farm Pest Management Serving Southwestern ON, Golden Horseshoe, GTA Email: info@sgsltd.ca

519-692-4232 www.sgspestmanagement.ca

-------------------------------------------------WANTED -------------------------------------------------Cropland, very competitive rates or share crop. Long or short term.

519-276-9405. rastorferfarms@ gmail.com -------------------------------------------------Dion threshing machine, 22x38 or 28x48; 7 ft. International or John Deere grain binder. Phone evenings 905-983-9331.

-------------------------------------------------Round bales of horse or cattle quality hay picked up. Call Riley Gorman 519-321-1012.

-------------------------------------------------DEALERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES are available in many areas with the Leader in Non-GMO corn. De Dell Seeds 519-264-CORN. -------------------------------------------------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. 519-3231113.

-------------------------------------------------Farmland – Long or short term.

Cash rent, share crop. Contact Paul at Hill & Hill Farms, 519-2333218 or 519-525-3137 or email: paul.hillhill@tcc.on.ca --------------------------------------------------

CLASSIFIED WANTED -------------------------------------------------Looking for land to rent for upcoming year. Call Braecker Farms 519-524-0615.

-------------------------------------------------Young farmer looking for land rent, sharecrop, or custom work opportunities. Good environmental stewardship and professionalism.

Short and long term. 519-200-7845 or hundt.chris@outlook.com --------------------------------------------------

Lakeside Shelving & Racking • Pallet Racking • Store Shelving • Warehouse Equip. & more Industrial, Farm & Retail

519-524-1740 www.lakesideshelving.com

Enjoy the Country Lifestyle!

THE RURAL VOICE MAGAZINE Don't Delay – Subscribe Today!

Produced by people with farming in their blood.

Serving more than 11,000 readers in the region.

One year for $20; two years for $35 (HST included) The Rural Voice Box 429, Blyth, ON N0M 1H0

519-523-4311

Deadline for the May issue of The Rural Voice is April 13 April 2021 57

National Farmers Union – Ontario NEWSLETTER Phone: 1-888-832-9638 E-mail: office@nfuontario.ca Website: www.nfuontario.ca

Strong Communities.

Sound Policies.

Sustainable Farms.

United Apart: NFU-O Convention and AGM goes virtual In February, the NFU-O held its first-ever virtual annual general meeting and convention. So this year, instead of crowding into a banquet hall or community centre, the membership gathered on a Zoom line, over the course of two days, from the comfort of their own home. This year’s theme was “Land, Labour, Laws: From Policy to Practise,” and we were pleased to welcome Jane Rabinowicz, executive director of SeedChange, as our keynote speaker.

Jane’s presentation focused on the work of SeedChange, contextualizing a global movement of farmers fighting for justice, health and sustainability, as well as work with Farmers for Climate Solutions, of which SeedChange and the National Farmers Union are founding members. Her presentation sparked a dynamic discussion about seed sovereignty, corporate greenwashing, and centering producer voices in conversations about how to mitigate the effects of climate change.

The NFU-O partnered up with the Ontario Farmland Trust to deliver the first of three panel discussions, “Land-Linking 2021,” on Thursday afternoon. This webinar was the culmination of our winter 2021 Landlinking and Farmland Conservation series, so we first heard reports of the key takeaways from our workshops with land-seeking students, youth, and with BIPOC farmers. We were then excited to welcome several landholders and who shared about their search for successors and land partners.

In the summer of 2020, the NFUO, in partnership with Gravel Watch, engaged a McMaster University student to map aggregate extraction on prime farmland. Our second panel discussion explored how we can use the current data to engage planners and local groups about the risks aggregate extraction poses to food

sustainability and healthy communities. We heard from a number of panelists who enriched our understanding of how aggregate extraction affects each of their regions uniquely and who inspired an enthusiastic exchange between attendees about how collective action can be used to protect natural land features that support wildlife and defend against the effects of climate change, like soil erosion.

In our final panel discussion we heard from the NFU-O Farm Labour Project team about the trends they were seeing in the data they collected from farm owners and farm workers over the past year. Attendees got a glimpse of the employment landscape on sustainable farms across Ontario and explored best management practices, policy initiatives, and community connections meant to attract, develop, and retain the farm

leaders of tomorrow. The full report being produced from the over 700 responses we received from farm operators and labourers across the province will be released in the spring of 2021.

Members also heard reports from Council on provincial and national work, elected leadership, and voted on resolutions.

We couldn’t meet in person but not even a global pandemic could keep NFU-O farmers from as far north as Pass Lake to as far south as Pelee Island, from joining (virtually) together to commemorate and commiserate on this historic year. We look forward to brighter days where we can gather together under one roof again, but until then we’re excited about the opportunities virtual meetings offer to bring to more NFU-O members together at this time where it’s important to stay apart.

Coming Events Local 340 Waterloo/Wellington — Local 340 will be holding meetings on the first Tuesday of every month via Zoom. Anyone interested in attending should reach out to Local President Caitlin Hall (hallcaitlin@gmail.com)

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

Perth County Pork Producers NEWSLETTER

Stewart Skinner, President stewart@stonaleenfarms.ca / 519-492-2990 * The Rural Voice is provided to Perth County Pork Producers by the PCPPA perthcountyporkproducers@gmail.com

With BBQ season just around the corner fill your freezer with local pork products. Order today from Tanya & Darryl Terpstra (519-291-7603) and Dave & Ruth Kloostra (519-347-2619) or visit Leis Feeds in Milverton, open Monday to Friday from 8 to 5:30 and Saturday from 8 to 12. BBQ services for large groups are also available, contact perthcountyporkproducers@gmail.com for more details

Correction The article for the Pork Producers in the March issue of The Rural Voice was submitted by Clare Schlegel not Craig Hulshof as stated. The Rural Voice apologizes for this error and any inconvenience this may have caused.

April 2021 59

Grey County Federation of Agriculture

446 10th St., Hanover, Ontario N4N 1P9 519-364-3050 or 1-800-275-9551 Email: grey@ofa.on.ca Website: greyfederation.ca

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

Grey County announces winners of 75th annual speaking contest Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the school year being unusual, Grey County Federation of Agriculture held its public speaking contest differently this year.

Students submitted a video of themselves saying their speech.

GCFA was thrilled with the overwhelming response from schools and students, and had 42 fantastic submissions for the contest this year. Winners were chosen by a panel of judges and shared at a virtual event.

The range of speech topics this year were extensive. They included COVID, Fear, Mental Health, Different Farming Practices, Volcanos and Greek Gods among other intriguing topics. The students kept the judges on their toes choosing the finalists from the group of exceptional speakers.

After extensive discussion by the judges, the winners are as follows: Junior division: first place, Madison H., “My Farm”; second place, Nolan R., “Arguments” and third place, Mac P., “Mountain Biking”.

Intermediate division: first place, Peyton H., “Fear”; second place, Grace R., “Vermiculture” and third

place, tied, Luca C., “Vertical Farming” and Jack F., “Whatever happened to….”.

The Agricultural Awards were won by: Madison M. (Junior division), speaking about “Her Farm” and Grace R. (Intermediate division) with her topic of “Vermiculture”.

They received the Don Hill Memorial Award in honour of Don, longtime director for the Federation of Agriculture.

GCFA would like to thank all the participants. They all did a fantastic job and should be very proud of themselves. ◊

Peyton – Intermediate Winner

Madison - Junior Winner and Junior Ag Winner

Grace – Intermediate Ag Winner

Grey County Federation of Agriculture

2021 MEETINGS • April 8

• August 12

• October 14

• June 10

• September 9

• November 11

• December 9

DUE TO COVID-19 GCFA Board Meetings have become conference/video call format.

Grey Federation of Agriculture

Please contact the office if you are interested in taking part. @ GreyFedAg

* 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

446 10th St., Hanover, Ontario N4N 1P9 519-364-3050 or 1-800-275-9551 * The Rural Voice is provided to OFA Members in Bruce County by the BCFA

Remember to share the road during planting season Any opinion expressed is that of individual County Directors or Representatives and may not necessarily reflect the views of the Bruce County Federation of Agriculture or Ontario Federation of Agriculture.

As the days of late winter and signs an early spring are coming on, this is the best time to take a family afternoon drive to see how the world has awakened after the long cold winter days.

This also would be the time of year the farmers of our area will be out getting fields ready for the spring planting. Which means large tractors and equipment will be on the roads.

Please remember to share the road with them because they also have to get to work, only not in an office or building in town. Their best work happens in the fields of our rural townships of the area. Time is also of the essence to them, when completing their jobs as the window of opportunity is only open for so long to plant the optimum crop to harvest, which will feed us later in the year.

An interesting study was done by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). In this study, there were approximately 50 tractor operator fatalities per year.

This does not include non-fatal injuries that occur as a result of collisions on the roadways. Some of the interesting facts that came to light were: 1. Most collisions coincide with planting and harvesting times.

2. Most collisions occur between 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.

3. Collisions happen with two- or four-door passenger vehicles or pickups.

4. More often than not collisions happen on secondary routes or unnumbered highways.

5. Visibility and/or line of sight has been a major factor.

6. Farm equipment and motor vehicle collisions occur on roads with

posted speeds in excess of 80 km/hour.

7. Speeding by non-farm vehicles has been a factor four out of five times.

Most tractor/motor vehicle collisions occur when the motorist assumes the tractor is pulling to the right. The motorist then makes the move to drive around as the tractor makes a wide left turn instead.

So how do we prevent some of these collisions from happening?

Think about a quote I once heard by Tolstoy, “The two most powerful warriors are Patience and Time.”

Farmers need to take time to do a few little safety items before operating farm equipment on the roadway. These are some ideas to keep you and the motorist safe this planting season: 1. Make the tractor and/or equipment as visible as possible.

Flashing lights, headlights, and slow moving vehicles signs mounted on the rear-most piece of equipment being towed are all good ways to light you up.

2. Before operating on the road, lock your brake pedals together; adjust your seat so that all controls are within easy reach; adjust mirrors for good vision; make sure all lights and flashers are working properly; add weights as necessary to balance the tractor especially if you are towing a load; if tractor is equipped

with rollover equipment be sure to secure it in the upright position 3. With extra-wide equipment it is always a good idea to have an escort truck so it may clear the way and warn you of any dangers ahead.

4. Some other things to keep in mind are the “One seat one rider” rule. Do not allow passengers in or on any tractor that does not have use of a seat or seatbelt for their safety.

5. Finall,y remember that no matter how tired you feel or how late you will be, don’t take chances.

When people are in a hurry to finish a job they are more likely to make mistakes and cut safety corners.

Be great warriors of the agriculture community. Take time to be safe and be patient when travelling on the roadways this planting season.

– Dianne Atkinson Progressive Agriculture Safety Days Bruce County Federation of Agriculture

2021 MEETINGS April 26 May 24 June 28 August 23

September 27 October 25 November 22

DUE TO COVID-19 BCFA Board Meetings have become conference/video call format.

Please contact the office if you are interested in taking part.

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

April 2021 61

Perth County Federation of Agriculture Email: perthcountyfedofag@gmail.com Website: www.perthcountyfarmers.ca Sue Shafer, Office Administrator 1-833-229-6834 Tim Halliday, President: 519-292-9533

Talk to your councillors to lower the farm tax ratio Our local municipality faces many challenges to provide services while maintaining fiscal responsibility. The Current Value System that is currently used to determine taxation is based on MPAC assessments and is updated every four years. Although assessments that were supposed to come out in 2020, they were delayed due to COVID-19.

Over the last four years Perth County farmers have been seeing an increasing burden from taxes being collected on bare farmland. This is solely based on increasing farmland values compared to a slower increase in residential values but this does not reflect the services used on bare farmland. Currently 29 per cent of Perth County’s Budget comes from revenue from bare farmland. It is important to note here that farm residences and businesses are taxed at a different rate and are not considered bare farmland.

PCFA does not feel that bare farmland in Perth County uses 29 per cent of the services provided and as such has been actively lobbying Perth County Council to lower the farm tax ratio below the maximum 25 per cent that is allowed.

Perth County Federation of Agriculture

BOARD MEETING Thursday, April 15 8:00 p.m. via Zoom Call Sue at 1-833-229-6834 to get information about or to participate in the upcoming Board of Directors’ Meeting.

There have been several municipalities near Perth County that have taken advantage of lowering the farm tax ratio, using it as a tool to reduce the percentage of taxes paid by bare farmland. Then if residential values increase in the future councils can raise the farm tax ratio back to 25 per cent and maintain bare farmland’s portion of the County’s budget.

Below are some examples of municipalities that have taken advantage of this tool and lowered the farm tax ratio for 2020 from the maximum 25 per cent.

Oxford – 23.5 per cent Dufferin – 23 per cent Elgin – 23 per cent Lambton – 22.6 per cent Grey – 24 per cent PCFA will continue to lobby with Perth County Council on this important issue. If you are concerned about the farm tax ratio, I would encourage you to talk to your councillors in Perth County.

To see what the Perth County Federation has been doing check out

the website: perthcountyfarmers.ca.

All recent letters are under “What’s New, In the Community”. ◊ – Submitted by: Julie Danen PCFA Executive Member

2021-2022 PERTH COUNTY FEDERATION OF AGRICULTURE EXECUTIVE MEMBERS: Sara Wood, President Julie Danen, Vice President Darryl Terpstra, Chris Tegenbosch DIRECTORS: Tyler Denham, Joanne Foster, Bob Martin, Julie McIntosh, Eric McLagan, Sharon Weitzel, Derek Van De Walle, Tim Halliday Toll Free: 1-833-229-6834 www.perthcountyfarmers.ca perthcountyfedofag@gmail.com @PerthCountyFedofAg @PerthCountyAg

Resilient Fields: Bringing science and farmers together Following best management practices isn’t as simple as it sounds.

Resilient Fields is a new, free app to help Ontario crop farmers find sustainable solutions for field-based problems.

Resilient Fields will help you weigh options ahead of your growing season and your entire crop rotation. Use the app with your crop advisor or on your own to balance trade-offs and find sustainable solutions that are backed by science and supported by articles and videos. You can also access other tools such as the 4Rs, cover crop choices, maps and many more.

This project is funded by the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, the Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario and the Ontario Federation of Agriculture. The site has been developed in consultation with a team of crop advisors and industry experts. Go to www.resilientfields.ca to find out more.

– Taken from www.ofa.on.ca

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

62 The Rural Voice

Index A.G. Hayter Contracting Ltd ..........22 Allied Associates LLP ....................47 Argyle Marine & Small Engines ....52 BDO ..............................................16 Beekeeping ................................9,11 Behrns Metal Fabricating Inc ........53 Belore Trailers ..............................52 Bernie McGlynn/SB Flooring ........47 Bester Wood Products ..................51 Bio-Ag ..............................................6 Boonstoppel, Dave & Elly ..............17 Brian Buffinga Electrical ................49 Brough & Whicher Limited ............52 Buddsteel Architectural ..................39 Bushell’s Auto Sales ......................54 Canadian Co-operative Wool ........20 Chalmers Fuels..............................20 Cliff’s Plumbing & Heating ............38 Crop Management ....................31,33 DJ Henry Homes & Renos ............54 Donkers Agri ..................................21 Dudgeon Enterprises ....................51 Dundalk District Credit Union ........41 Easy Lift Doors Ltd ........................14 Gerber’s Workwear ........................53 Greenfield Global Inc ....................47 Greenville Liquid Plant Food..........43 Grey-Bruce Construction ..............49 GRK Products ..................................8 Hanover Honda..............................17 Hardi ..............................................42 Harold Jones Enterprises ..............53 Hayden Water Wells ......................10 Hill & Hill Farms....Inside Front Cover Hunter Steel Sales ................Cover 3 Huron Commodities ......................43 JA Porter Holdings Ltd ..................27 Jennifer Cook & Associaties ..........46 JJM Concrete Grooving ..................3 Keith Siemon Farm Systems ........52 Kingwood Bins ..............................57

Check out our great selection of books from the Rural Reading Room!

KMM Farm Drainage ....................50 Kraemer Concrete Ltd ..................54 Kuepfer Farm Drainage ................52 LAC ................................................28 Lakeside Shelving & Racking ........57 Lambton Heritage Museum ..Cover 3 Lands & Forests Consulting ..........45 Layton, Steve ................................52 Lisa Thompson MPP ....................51 Live Landscape..............................41 Maitland Welding ..........................53 Maples Leaves Forever ........Cover 4 Mapleview Agri ..............................15 Marquardt Farm Drainage ............28 Martin Farm Wagons ....................27 Marvin L Smith ..............................43 McIntee - Steve Nixon ..................53 Meadowview Farm & Apiary ..........55 Metzger Meat Products..................36 Michael’s Stabling Developments ..63 MNP LLP ......................................48 Morris Sachs Silo Construction......41 MRC Wireless ................................24 Nature’s Wave Inc ........................19 Nuhn Forage ..................................46 Ontario Sheep Farmers ................28 RBC ..............................................22 Ridgeway Metals ..........................53 Roth Drainage Ltd..........................53 Royal LePage - Steacy Den Haan 13

Royal LePage - Steven Michie ......48 Rural Living ....................................36 Rural Voice Books ................Cover 6 Sauble Beach Motorsports..13,17,35,43 Saugeen Valley Conservation ......45 Schmidt’s Farm Drainage ................2 Schweiss Doors ............................24 Seifried Farm Equipment ..............24 Sew & Save Centre ......................36 Sharp’s Creek Forge........................2 Signature Crane ............................49 Silver Creek Nursery......................41 Smyth Welding ..............................52 Somerville Seedlings ....................45 Steffen Well Drilling ......................53 Stephen Thompson ......................51 Stihl Ltd ............................................7 Stratford Agri Analysis ..................51 Superior Barn Painting ..........Cover 4 SWO Diesel Inc ....................Cover 5 TD Canada Trust ..........................49 Townsley Barn Painting ................56 Tree Planting & Maintenance ..........4 Triple P Consulting ........................19 Trouw Nutrition ................Back Cover Usborne & Hibbert Mutual ............38 Waddell Engineering......................19 WD Hopper & Sons Ltd ................35 Williams Drainage ..........................13 Working Iron ..................................52

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April 2021 63

HURON

42 First Avenue, Clinton, Ontario N0M 1L0 519-482-9642 or 1-800-511-1135

County Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER

FBR registration deadline extended Ontario farmers will have more time to complete and submit their 2021 Farm Business Registration (FBR). Agricorp officially extended the FBR deadline to help alleviate stress and pressure caused by COVID-19 and to give registrants additional time to learn how to navigate the new online registration system. This year’s deadline to register your farm business is now April 15, 2021.

When you register online, you can: 1. Easily select an accredited farm organization such as the Ontario Federation of Agriculture and pay your invoice. You can pay with a credit card and avoid a trip to the bank or to the post office.

2. Immediately receive proof of registration. You will receive an email as proof of registration.

3. Quickly update your FBR information.

Your account information is readily available and you can confirm or update your farm information online.

Benefits of registering Registering your farm business provides the following benefits: • Farm property class tax rate – you may qualify to pay 25 per cent of the municipal residential rate on your agricultural land.

• Eligibility for government programs – you may be eligible for programs such as the Wildlife Damage Compensation Program and Canadian Agricultural Partnership initiatives.

• Membership in an accredited farm organization – With a valid FBR number, you can obtain a membership to the Ontario Federation of Agriculture.

How FBR information is used • Agricorp compiles your registration information and delivers it to the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA).

Farm business registration supports development of public policy for Ontario’s producers.

• Agricorp also notifies the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation about all registered farms each year.

Your valid FBR number is one of the requirements for receiving the farm property class tax rate.

For more information, call Agricorp at 1-866-327-3678. Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ◊ – www.agricorp.com

Upcoming Election Huron and Perth OFA members will hold an election for the OFA Board Zone 7 Director position this year.

Nominations for this position will be in June and details will be provided in the coming months.

If you are interested in further details about the process or for answers about the director position please contact OFA Member Service Representative Margaret Vincent at margaret.vincent@ofa.on.ca or 519 482 9642 ext 1. ◊

From the HCFA history files January 4, 1960: The HCFA Politician Action Committee hosted a politicians meeting. In attendance was Elston Cardiff MP, Marvin Howe MP and Charles McNaughton MPP. HCFA president Warren Zurbrigg chaired the meeting.

At the meeting concerns about expropriation and detrimental impacts of tariffs were discussed.

Updates on the issues facing producers were presented by Hog Producers, Cream Producers, White Bean, Sugar Beets, Concentrated Milk Producers, Fluid Milk Producers, and Poultry Producers. ◊

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

Upcoming Events April 4 – Happy Easter!

April 7-8 – Canadian Dairy Expo will be held virtually. Visit https://dairyxpo.ca for details.

April 7&8 – National Poultry Show ENGAGE virtual event: www.westernfairdistrict.com/nationalpoultry-show April 8 – Farm and Food Care annual meeting will be held online.

Huron County Federation of Agriculture

BOARD MEETING April 26 Contact the office for details on how to join this virtual meeting

Congratulations!

For its 80th Anniversary, the Huron County Federation of Agriculture is doing a draw every month from its membership.

Winner of the March draw for a local food gift certificate was Eric Chuter.

OFFICE UPDATE due to COVID-19 Please call before visiting the HCFA office to determine if the office is open.

Please be assured that we are still available to address your concerns by telephone: 519-482-9642 or email: ofahuron@tcc.on.ca Follow us on Twitter twitter.com/huronfedofag and Facebook at Huron County 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

“The Magazine of Agricultural Life”

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Call in and pay by credit card or mail in a cheque made payable to North Huron Publishing The Rural Voice 405 Queen St., P.O. Box 429 Blyth, ON N0M 1H0 519-523-4311

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HAVE MERCEY My First Sixty Years Making Music An autobiography of the music career of Larry Mercey and the awardwinning Canadian Country Music group, The Mercey Brothers. $25.00

WHAT’S ON MY FARM? This picture book for ages 2-5 helps introduce kids from farm and city alike to the world of farming including the animals, food produced, machinery and people – from farmers to veterinarians. 160 pages, small 5 1/4 by 5 1/4-inch format. $9.95

Special Books

The Rural Reading Room Specializing in Rural Living & Local Authors

ON THE WRIGHT TRACK Memories from C.P.R. School Car #2. William “Bill” Wright, was a teacher hired by the Department of Education and he and his wife Helen, raised four children on the C.P.R. School Car #2. These are their memories. $25.00

THE FRESH EGG COOKBOOK Farm-fresh chicken eggs are nutritious and delicious and versatile in so many dishes. This cookbook provides recipes for breakfast, lunch and dinner and desserts to top off the meals.

Lots of information about eggs. $22.95

CHICK DAYS - Raising Chickens from Hatchlings to Laying Hens Here’s “an absolute beginners guide” for all the steps from keeping new chicks warm to collecting eggs. Information on different breeds, housing, feed and stages of growth. $22.95

HELLO FARM! Lift-a-Sound Lift the big flaps! Push the big buttons! Listen to the farm animals say HELLO! Perfect for the little ones. $17.99

WOODPECKERS OF NORTH AMERICA Woodpeckers are fascinating birds, using their beaks to find food and communicate. See beautiful colour photos and learn about 28 North American species, their feeding habits and their benefit to the environment. $24.95

THE HORSE DOCTOR IS IN Veterinarian Brent Kelley, with nearly three decades of experience in Kentucky horse country, shares practical information on a broad range of equine ailments and conditions through real life stories of horses, owners, trainers and breeders. $29.95

Check out huroncitizen.ca under Marketplace for more books Total

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HAVE MERCEY ON THE WRIGHT TRACK THE FRESH EGG COOKBOOK WOODPECKERS OF NORTH AMERICA WHAT’S ON MY FARM? CHICK DAYS HELLO FARM! LIFT-A-SOUND THE HORSE DOCTOR IS IN

$25.00 $25.00 $22.95 $24.95 $9.95 $22.95 $17.99 $29.95 Total for Books Shipping & Handling $9.00 Add 5% GST on subtotal Order Total

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.

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