The Rural Voice - February 2023

Rural Voice

The

February 2023

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

SOURDOUGH STARTER Hands-on baking workshops in a new studio bring bakers to Grey County

UNLEASHING DISRUPTION Business struggles can unlease a creative place in your brain, says brewer

ROBOTS...OR NOT? Cheaper for some, costly for others, a dairy farmer panel discusses the value of robotic milkers

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Contents The

Rural Voice THE MAGAZINE OF AGRICULTURAL LIFE

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

24

17 Columns

Lisa Boonstoppel-Pot . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Keith Roulston . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Kate Procter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Jeffrey Carter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Mabel’s Grill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Viewpoint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Recipes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32 Gardening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34 Agrilaw . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38 Markets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40 Woodlots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42

Departments Ruralite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Advice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 People . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44 Business Centre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45 Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47 Advertisers Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55

Newsletters

National Farmers Union . . . . . . . . . .50 Perth County Pork . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51 Bruce County Federation . . . . . . . . .52 Grey County Federation . . . . . . . . .53 Perth County Federation . . . . . . . . . .54 Huron County Federation . . . . . . . . .56

30 FEBRUARY 2023 • Cover Photo Lauren Hambleton, Grey County Photo by Lisa Boonstoppel-Pot

Editor: Lisa Boonstoppel-Pot rveditorlisa@northhuron.on.ca Contributing writers: Keith Roulston, Kate Procter, Jeffrey Carter, Rhea Hamilton Seeger, Arnold Mathers, Donna Lacey, Melisa Luymes, Anne Mann, Nancy Fisher, Carolyn Crawford, Bonnie Sitter, Jeff Tribe, Amanda Brodhagen and Hetty Stuart

• Deadlines: March Issue – Feb. 7

Advertising Sales: Shelley Kroes rvads@northhuron.on.ca

17 Robots Past and Present

Production co-ordinator & Telemarketing: Joan Caldwell

April Issue – March 7

Dairy farmer panel talks management and robot wishes when it comes to robotic milking

21 Teaching Conservation Canadian Foodgrains Bank grows food and teaches smallhold farmers

24 Stoked for Sourdough

It’s practical, it’s artistic, it’s healthy — Lauren Hambleton teaches class on sourdough bread

30 Get Disruptive

Beer maker says business stress creates new places in the brain for disruptive thinking

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: $25 (12 issues) $45 (24 issues), includes HST Back copies $2.75 each.

Make cheques payable to: NORTH HURON PUBLISHING CO.

34 Firefly Magic

These little insects are more than just flashing summer wonders

37 Consumer Values

Veterinarian speaks to farmers about understanding a consumer’s values when marketing products

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

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“

It’s about going back to our

•

natural roots by fermenting the foods we

Robot Ready

fuel our system with.

“Wiley mentioned picking

”

~ Lauren Hambleton of Red Hen Artisanale on baking sourdough

only robot ready bulls. But

bread. Story on page 24

maybe all bulls should be

Anagram Fun

robot ready.”

THE EYES: When you rearrange the letters — THEY SEE

~ Carolin Turner of Holstein

PRESBYTERIAN: When you rearrange the letters — BEST IN PRAYER

Canada on making genetic decisions

{

}

DORMITORY: When you rearrange the letters —DIRTY ROOM

January Inspiration

for dairy cattle milking by robotic milkers. See page 17.

“Agriculture not only gives riches to a nation, but the riches she can call her own. ~Samuel Johnson

Jokes • Why do cows have hooves instead of feet?

Because they lactose.

• What did the farmer say when he lost one of his cows?

What a miss-steak • Breadmakers trade recipes on a knead-to-know basis.

•

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

• When someone says it

cannot be done, he is Snake Eyes

It’s an odd winter with a fierce December storm abating to mild spring-like weather. The wet could affect the roots of crops and winter erosion is a concern but the trees watch it with serpentine steadiness. ~Lisa Boonstoppel-Pot

only saying he cannot

•

do it.

February 2023 3

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

I

G

More crust please

rowing up, we called the crust on bread the “cushie” which is my family’s slang for the Dutch word “korst”. For as long as I can remember, I have hated the cushie. I was forced to eat it as a child so when I finally got to be the caretaker of my own home, I would often peel the crust off (when my kids weren’t looking) and enjoy the inside of the bread.

Then something happened. First, I switched to sourdough bread from the grocery store to increase the number of fermented foods in my diet. It is SO good but it also costs $6 for a small loaf. Ouch. I wondered if I could make my own so when I saw a place called Red Hen Artisanale offering a Sourdough Level 1 course, I immediately signed up.

The class was amazing and Lauren Hambleton (left) was a generous instructor with her baking knowledge. Precise, efficient and experienced, she provided a packet of recipes/instructions and best of all, a bit of her own sourdough starter for our future loaves. The breadmaking process is fascinating and I couldn’t wait to bake my first loaves. Lauren encouraged us to take the lid off our dutch ovens after 25 minutes and let the bread crust brown for an extra 10 minutes. The flavour is in the crust, she said.

I was highly skeptical until I tried eating my own bread for the first time.

She was right! That dark crust is crunchy and full of flavour and has completely transformed my approach to eating bread. No more grimacing while I chew off the outside so I can enjoy the middle…now I’m getting through the middle to enjoy the outside.

Life continues to surprise me by reversing (or maturing) thoughts, preferences and opinions … even when it comes to those dreaded “cushies” … and I’m here for it. ◊

Understanding consumer values and teaching by seeing

headed to the barn in my old plaid work coat and barn boots with flecks of manure. Walking beside me in his suit jacket and immaculate leather shoes was a businessman from the city. Friendly fellow he was, but very turned out for a visit to my little barn. He was there to choose a kitten to give to his daughter.

Were he another farmer, I would not have worried when his shoes sunk into spongy grass by the door (it was spring) or witnessing a huge spiderweb hanging from the beam or (what I consider) the sweet, honest smell of horse manure. Funny how it all looks different when perceived from someone else’s eyes.

He could not believe his luck that this kitten was free. I could have charged him a bit but I like to keep my barn cat numbers to four for pest control and was pleased this playful barn cat would be loved by a little girl.

Taking a look around, the businessman admired the horses and asked questions about raising the chickens. I’m not sure what he actually thought but there were smiles and genuine curiosity from both sides. It felt positive.

I was thinking about that when Dr. Kelly Barratt spoke at Dairy Day during Grey Bruce Farmers Week (see story in this issue). She suggested it is more important to understand our consumer’s values than educate them about 4 The Rural Voice

how we farm. I would argue we need to do both in a way that is mutually respectful. I hope I gave “kitten guy’ a good account of how the animals are respected, well-cared for and raised in a healthy environment with their bedded stalls, fresh hay and spacious pens.

I like to think he went home with a story for his little girl of a kitten that grew up curled on sweet, warm hay while the chickens laid eggs in tidy wooden boxes as the horses raced through the grass with the wind in their manes. Too romantic? At the very least I believe friendliness and generosity added positivity to his perception of farms, farmers and farming to maintain that trust the consumer has of our industry. ◊

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February 2023 5

Keith Roulston Keith is former publisher of The Rural Voice.

He lives near Blyth, ON.

An interesting book to read It’s not often that I get to review a book about living in this part of Ontario but, thankfully, Dorothy Brown Henderson periodically provides an opportunity to do so. Her most recent example is her novel, Dreaming in Grey .

A retired minister, most recently at Calvin Presbyterian Church in Exeter, Henderson is currently living in Waterloo. She has written three previous novels: The Season for Strawberries, Happy Are Those, and Dr. Bloom’s Event. She’s also written a cookbook: Loving it Local: Preparing Delicious Fresh Local Food. In fact she includes a couple of recipes as an appendix.

6 The Rural Voice

Dreaming In Grey covers five generations of a Grey County family, dating back to Granny Stewart in 1935, through her daughters, Jean, who marries a farmer and Edith, a school teacher; Jean’s daughter Ruth, who married farmer William Armstrong; their sons Greyson, who marries Debbie, and their children, Kep, Sara, Ben and Normie as well as Greyson’s younger brother, Tom. The book begins with the current family in 2008, jumping backward in that most recent generation of the family, including the sudden death of Debbie, soon after the family moves to Markdale from a farm farther north in Grey. The story is centered around one of the children, Sara.

After 50-odd pages, it jumps back to the earlier branch of the family, in 1935, again around one of the children, Ruth, her aunt Edith, a teacher, and her grandmother, who live together in Flesherton.

Another roughly 50 pages and we’re back with Sara, whose father Greyson is hoping to become reeve of Markdale in the new era of municipal amalgamation in 2002.

We return to Flesherton in 1938 when Ruth prepares for high school while living with her Aunt Ruth and grandmother. During the war years, she marries William in 1939, while she’s still a teenager, and they begin an operation growing vegetables and hire the Farmerettes, a service of young women who helped with farm work when there was a shortage of labour during World War II. After they arrive, Ruth decides to attend the Hamilton Technical Institute to put her sewing talents to work helping meet the labour shortage and intensive work at war plants.

While she’s away, William gets one of the Farmerettes pregnant and a bitter Ruth comes home to adopt the baby, Greyson, and raise him. Much later, when she is 41, too old she thought to get pregnant, she has a son Tom. Greyson and Tom, 20 years apart in age, never get along. We end the story with Sara in 2009 when she and her brother Kep meet for Christmas. More secrets are revealed.

If it seems like a lot to keep in your mind, it is. It becomes a little hard to keep all the people straight in all the time periods. Still, Henderson has many good story lines to reveal — such as the Farmerettes. She’s also anxious to show us something of Agnes Macphail, a Member of Parliament from Grey and an early member the of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) the forerunner of the New Democratic Party.

There are other items about the interesting history of Grey, such as the settlement of Black refugees from the U.S. on the Old Durham Road in the 1800s, all gone by the 1930s.

There’s a sense of what the Depression was like for people who had little, even if they didn’t starve.

Indeed sometimes it seems as if Henderson wants to make sure readers are aware of as much of the story of northern Grey as possible and sometimes it seems they might get swallowed up by the history.

Still, despite that, it’s an enjoyable leap into the story of Grey over 80 years and there are interesting characters for readers to care about.

Whether you’re from Grey or just want to learn about it, you may enjoy this book.◊

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

Take time to talk about and plan for your death As the old saying goes, nothing is certain, except death and taxes. As a new year rolls around again, many people take stock of their health – physical, mental, and financial – in an attempt to stave off both death and taxes. But maybe taking some time to plan for death – or even talk about it – could be one of the best things you can do to plan for the future.

Talking about death is something most people avoid at all costs.

Unfortunately, this reluctance can lead to generations-long ruptures in families, unnecessary suffering, and

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other negative consequences. Today, people talk about having a “good death”, something that happens when people are willing to really think about what matters and tell their loved ones what they want ahead of time.

Starting this discussion can be difficult, but there are tools available that can help. Hospice Palliative Care Ontario (www.hpco.ca) initiated Advance Care Planning, which provides tools and information about starting this process yourself. “We aim to raise awareness about the importance of advance care planning and provide people with the tools and information to begin their own advance care planning. Hospice Palliative Care Ontario works closely with people from healthcare, law, ethics and research who provide leadership and guidance for this initiative,” https://advancecare planningontario.ca.

The first step in Advance Care Planning involves thinking about who you would choose as your “Substitute Decision Maker” (SDM).

This person will make decisions for

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you if you are unable to do so yourself. This could be the result of a long-term illness, such as dementia, but can also be the result of something sudden, such as an accident or any other occurrence that may cause you to lose consciousness.

In Ontario, everyone has an automatic SDM – this is the person who is most closely related to you at the time that you need an SDM. This could be a parent, child, sibling, or spouse. Thinking about who you actually want to play this role in your life is an important first step. You could choose to name someone who is not related to you to play this role.

You could also choose to name one of your close relatives in the instance where you have multiple relatives who could equally perform this task.

If you have multiple siblings or children, all would be your automatic SDM if you have not taken care to name one or two people.

In order to name someone other than the automatic SDM, you must go through the legal process of naming an Attorney for Personal Care. The role is important, and you should think about who you have entrusted to make your life and death decisions on your behalf. As life rolls on, the person you have named could change. Should you perhaps have someone else named to do this for you? How are the people you have named changing in their own lives?

Are they still willing and able to do this for you? Even people who should know better have left their exspouse on as Attorney for Personal Care because they just didn’t bother to change it and wound up unconscious with vital decisions required of that person. It happens.

Naming a person for Attorney for both Personal Care and Finance is often done in conjunction with preparing a will, and it is very important that the people you name have copies of these notarized documents. I have learned the hard way that being placed in this role means nothing if you don’t have the paperwork to prove it. When urgent decisions are required, it is often too late to obtain this paperwork. If you are unconscious after an accident, you are not able to give permission

for your lawyer to release these documents, and your carefully named Attorney for Personal Care will be powerless to help you.

Aside from the legalities, there are other aspects to consider. When most people hear the word “palliative”, they automatically think that death is imminent. However, according to the Cambridge Dictionary, to “palliate” actually means “to reduce the bad effects of something”. Palliative care is more about giving people the best possible life with the life they have left when dealing with an incurable disease. Palliative care can start anytime after a person has a diagnosis of a condition that will limit the length of their life.

Dame Cicely Saunders, noted for her role in the modern palliative care and hospice concept, was the driving force behind the first hospice constructed in the world in 1967, St. Christopher’s Hospice in England.

“You matter because you are you, and you matter to the end of your life. We will do all we can not only to help you die peacefully, but also to live until you die,” Cicely Saunders.

I recently took a course through Hospice Palliative Care Ontario, in order to volunteer with our local Huron Hospice. The course was an eye-opening experience for me. The Huron Hospice website provides a lot of good information about the services they provide. “Hospice is a concept of care with a focus on caring, not curing, living not dying and helping to provide quality of life until the end. Hospice is all about HOPE”, www.huronhospice.ca . The hospice in Huron County has been providing care for people for almost 30 years. This can happen in the home, in the hospital, in long term care residences, and in Bender House, the residential hospice located near Clinton.

Unfortunately, often the first time we encounter death, we learn too late what we don’t know. Learning about the end of life can help us and our loved ones prepare for something that is unwelcome, but inevitable. It can even lead us to think about what is really important and to live our best life, no matter what stage of life we are currently in. ◊

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

The case for meat innovation and technology There’s growing interest in small to medium-sized abattoirs and meatprocessing facilities, according to the executive director of Ontario Meat & Poultry. Franco Naccarato said the industry gained a bit of momentum over the past couple years, a phenomenon likely related to the COVID-19 pandemic and growing concerns about food security.

“I wouldn’t necessarily say we’ve turned a corner but there has been a lot of interest in the sector. There have been some new facilities built and new ownership of existing facilities.”

Naccarato pointed to a little business at Sudbury as one example.

He said Local Jerky Plus began as little more than hobby about three years ago, quickly expanded and is now federally licensed to export product. Another example is the new generation of ownership stepping up at Peel Sausage at Drayton.

Ontario Meal & Poultry has been supporting the effort, working with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs to help smooth the way for entrepreneurs interested in the sector. While food safety is of paramount importance, there have been past complaints that regulations have sometimes been geared for the large players – too much emphasis on prescriptive measures – putting the owners of small facilities at a disadvantage.

While more work is needed in this area, Naccarato said there has definitely been progress. “We have a 10 The Rural Voice

great working relationship with OMAFRA and they’re responded greatly to our concerns.”

Another positive development has been the creation of the Centre for Meat Innovation and Technology at Guelph, a joint initiative between Ontario Meat & Poultry and the University of Guelph. While the university has had a focus on meat sciences, there’s been a need for practical training; there’s already been a short course held for sausagemaking and expertise from Italy is being brought in for a salami-making course. The new centre will also provide training and act as an incubator to help build Ontario’s meat processing industry.

“Our study we did a couple years ago suggested we could basically double our provincial capacity.

We’re targeting a billion dollars new infrastructure over the next 10 years,” Naccarato said.

Expansion in Ontario’s meat processing sector provides new marketing opportunities for farmers.

For consumers, it supports food security, adding more truly-local options.

Concerning affordability, there can be less expensive options than what’s supplied by regional operations but Naccarato said it’s important to compare apples to apples, taking quality into consideration along with price. From that perspective, small and local players do compete and may even be the more affordable option.

I’ve seen this myself, having frequented a number of businesses here in the Municipality of ChathamKent that feature various meat products they produce for themselves or acquire from modestly-scaled suppliers. Certainly, if price is your only measure, there are less expensive options but price is only one measure of value and not always the most important.

Having more options to market meat and poultry from the farmgate also supports the farming community, adding competition to what’s become a highly concentrated industry. It may even encourage more farmers to consider the

advantages of having a livestock component to their businesses and expand the opportunities for alternatives to the industrialized protein industry, such as allowing for the expansion of grass-fed options and animals that fall outside the cookie-cutter requirements of the large processors.

Among the younger members of my family are vegans and vegetarians and I don’t dispute their choice.

There is a rational argument for purely, plant-based diet, although that opinion often does not take into consideration the importance of livestock to building the sustainability of the food and agricultural system in terms of things nutrient-cycling, reducing fossil-fuel use and building soil carbon.

While there has been widespread criticism of the livestock industry — cow burps, intensive management and welfare come to mind — livestock also provide an opportunity to build more sustainable /regenerative farming systems. ◊

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February 2023 11

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

“I may take the snowblower off the tractor this afternoon,” said Dave Winston as he sat down at M a b e l ’ s Grill, one warmer-than-normal morning recently.

“Well, if anything can change the weather, that’s it,” chuckled Cliff Murray, as he perused the menu, trying to figure what he wanted for breakfast.

“Hey, I’m always wrong, no matter what,” sighed Dave. “Back in November we got that snow storm before I barely got the corn off, so I didn’t have it on. So I put it on but then the snow all went away so I took it off so I could take some wagonloads of corn to the elevator. Then we got that huge blow at Christmas and I could hardly find the barn among the drifts so I put it back on and I used it about two days, then it got mild and it all started to melt again.”

“Well I like it like this,” chimed in a cheerful Molly Whiteside, who arrived to take their orders in time to hear most of Dave’s speech. “I didn’t even need my winter boots to come to work today. So, what can I get you lads?”

“Makes me think of spring,” said Cliff. “I think I’ll have pancakes with

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maple syrup and peameal bacon.”

“I’d have that,” grumbled George Mackenzie, “except the price has gone up so much I can’t afford it.”

“Well it’s unfortunate there’s so few breakfast dishes with beef!” grouched Dave. “You raise the cattle it’s made from so you should be fine with that, even if the price is skyhigh!”

“I’m not making money on beef!”

George exclaimed. “With the cost of feed so high I’m barely breaking even.”

“Alright, let’s not get into a fight before we’ve even ordered,” Molly interceded. “Maybe you could just have the pancakes without the pork.”

“I’d still be paying more!” grumbled George. “Everything is more expensive.”

“Don’t you grow wheat for the pancakes?” wondered Molly.

“You want pancakes, I’ll buy you pancakes, with bacon” sighed Dave.

“Huh, the price of lamb must be high,” said Dave, though he mumbled so he couldn’t be heard clearly.

“No, I’ll just have eggs — no bacon,” sighed George.

“I’ll have eggs and sausages — even if the price of pork’s high,” grumbled Dave.

“Got it,” said Molly, “and I’ll get out of here quick before we get into any other complaints about food.”

“Now might be a good time to talk about that fuss on television over the $37 chicken at the Loblaws store,” chuckled Cliff. “I don’t see any

chicken growers in here this morning so we can complain without anybody getting upset.”

“Good grief! $37? Really?” grumbled George.

“Well it was skinless, boneless and organic,” said Cliff.

“You’d need to be royalty to pay that much!” said George.

“Well Prince Harry can afford it, what with all the money he and Meghan made on TV and his book flowing off the shelves,” said Dave.

“I saw something on TV about one bookstore that must have had a few hundred copies on one table.”

“You’ve got to be royalty to make so much money complaining about your family,” said George.

“I’d love to hear the conversations that are going on behind the walls at Buckingham Palace” chuckled Cliff.

“The rest of the family will probably blame it all on Harry hooking up with Meghan.”

“There’s probably a fair bit of talk about her being American,” said Dave.

“Yeah, and then all that money going into the U.S. economy,” said George.

“I wonder if Harry and Meghan go to the coronation of his father after all this, and what will be said,” chuckled Cliff.

“Well here you are, gentlemen”, said Molly when she arrived with the plates, “breakfast fit for a king!” She must have wondered at the strange looks that went back and forth among the others.◊

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February 2023 13

Mel Luymes Mel Luymes is a freelancer working in agri‐ environment projects. headlands.ca

Advocating for wellness Well, we got through the long lockdown, but this year was still full of ups and downs, so when I heard that the Ontario Federation of Agriculture took the Farmer Wellness Initiative across the province to offer free counselling to farmers and their families, my friend and I challenged each other to call the number.

Before I forget to tell you, the number is 1-866-267-6255.

Anyway, we both called the number, not knowing what to expect.

It goes to an automatic system, and I pressed 1 for English and then, because it was not an emergency, I pressed 2. Someone in a call centre answered and I asked to book an appointment with a counsellor. The calls go to LifeWorks, which is an employee-assistance program also offered in benefits packages for those people that have “normal” jobs. I asked to speak to someone that had agricultural experience and my appointment was set. A counselor would call me at 4 p.m. that Friday.

So, booking the call was simple, but I hesitate to tell you the rest because it turned out to be a difficult experience for me. However, I think it all has a valuable point at the end, so I want to share in case it helps even one of you that is reading this.

And the point that I’ll get to is that we need to advocate for ourselves and our well-being.

Friday’s call turned out to be awkward and difficult. The long story short is that I struggle with how different my beliefs are from my family and my community; I left the church in my early 20s and traveled the world, so it isn’t always easy being back here where I started from.

14 The Rural Voice

That Friday was especially tough with a big issue in our community weighing on my heart, and my counsellor from Lifeworks turned out to be a Christian pastor. He trivialized my experience and then advised me to simply move away from the area.

I was upset, but I also got fired up because I was determined to find some peace. I started to search the internet for tips on recovering from religion and I ended up finding a whole community online and several books about it. It is recognized in psychology as Religious Trauma Syndrome, so now I have a whole new internet rabbit hole to go down this winter!

And it’s not that I just don’t like therapy. I usually love it! Years ago, I attended a Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) class offered for free from the local health unit. It was a six-week course offered in a group setting and it was incredibly helpful.

I followed up with some one-on-one sessions and continued to use the CBT method to examine and correct my unhealthy thought patterns. Well, for a while at least.

Anyways, back to my story. A few weeks went by and then I said something about the session with that pastor to the OFA staff person leading the Farmer Wellness Initiative. She escalated my complaint to the Canadian Mental Health Association that had partnered with the OFA to create the service, and they responded directly to me to apologize and assured me they were working to improve the service and training of their counsellors.

In the meantime, I called the number again and again, and I ended up speaking with two other counselors that were also bad fits for me. This time, when I sensed that they were not going to be helpful, I ended the calls early.

All this would be a really disheartening story, except that the experience with LifeWorks got me determined to get help and resources for myself. And I found something!

A friend of mine recommended a counsellor from Ottawa and I connected with her. It isn’t free and it isn’t even “talk” therapy; it is more

like a meditative visualization, and it is worth every penny. Only two sessions in and already it has shifted my outlook on things.

I’m so glad that my friend and I challenged each other to make that phone call because it started a whole journey for me. I learned to trust my spidey-sense, enforce boundaries and to advocate for my wellness.

I would still encourage everyone to call the number – again, it is 1866-267-6255 – and see if it helps in some way. If it doesn’t, release your inner Karen (I love her!) and complain to the manager, then try something else. Try CBT and if you don’t love it, try something else.

Don’t quit until your head is clear and you can fully enjoy your life. We are all stuck inside our minds for our whole lo-o-o-ng lives, and it doesn’t have to be a terrible place up there.

Please, advocate for your mental health and your peace of mind, and let’s also keep advocating for the wellness of our neighbours, friends and all the farmers out there! ◊

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Dairy

Robotic milkers past, present and future Two dairy farmer panelists say cost efficiencies and freedom won them over to robots but one dairy farmer said robots were a costly and frustrating choice

Ron Groen

I

Korb Whale

f all his dairy cows were under one roof, a rotary parlour would have been Ron Groen’s first option but with two barns on the go, cost considerations made him choose robotic milkers.

“For us, it was about cost,” said Groen. “A state-of-theart parlour versus robots and with separate locations, robots were the cheaper investment.”

Groen was part of a four-person panel discussing the past, present and future of robotic milking systems in a wide-ranging discussion that focused on cost, management styles and breeding choices. It took place at Grey Bruce Farmers Week held in Elmwood in January. One panelist said he decided to get rid of robots and get back to parlour milking.

“I do not regret installing robots as a 13-year experiment but I am so relieved we made the switch back to a parlour,” said Korb Whale, owner of Clovermead Farms near Alma.

“In the three years we have run our parlour, our cow longevity has increased by a year and a half. We milk three times a day and our production went up 30 per cent.”

However, he has installed robotic milkers in his other

Jon Wiley

Carolin Turner

barn! Each barn and management style requires different milking systems, he believes.

First, a little history on each dairy farmer in the panel: ● Korb Whale, Clovermead Farms and Mapleton Organic: Whale works with his wife, parents, four full-time and four part-time employees. Robots were installed in 2007 before being removed for a new parlour in 2022 to milk 160 cows producing a 35 litre average. An on-farm biodigester repurposes manure and other material into bedding. Cattle are fed twice a day with feed pushed in eight times a day. ● Ron Groen, Eastlink Dairy/Dalvis Farms, Teeswater: Groen farms with his parents and 12 employees, milking 550 cows on two farms. They use 12 GEO Monobox robots and have a guided flow barn feeding dried distillers and robot pellets in the robots along with a glycerol pellet to early lactation cows. Cows are fed twice a day with five times per day feed push-ups. Milk production averages 37 litres per cow.

• By Lisa Boonstoppel-Pot • February 2023 17

● Jon Wiley, Fairmount Farms, Meaford: Farming with his parents, Brian and Trudi, Wiley installed a robotic milker in a remodeled bank barn to milk 53 cows. Milk production average is 37 litres per cow. He also uses an automatic Lely calf feeder. ● Carolin Turner: Classification field services with Holstein Canada.

Turner started off the discussion saying at the current rate, 50 per cent of dairy cattle in Canada will be milked in robots by the year 2040.

“Bruce County has 40 robot herds and Grey has 28, which is one in every five dairy herds,” she said. As a classifier, when looking at dairy cows for robotics, she likes to see excellent locomotion, udder depth and rear leg side view scores. “We are getting legs that are too straight and those cows have a harder time moving and their location isn’t as good, plus they struggle to get up and down,” said Turner.

She also looks at longevity in cows because the most profitable cows are ones who reach their third lactation or higher. High locomotion scores are a good predictor for

longevity in cows.

Teat length is another valuable trait for dairy cattle milked by robots “That two-inch mark is ideal,” said Turner. “If they are shorter, it’s harder for the milking system to stay attached and if they are too long, it affects how robots can attach and there is risk for that teat to double up.” Hand in hand with length is teat placement because teats that are too close together also cause attachment problems.

Cows who adapt better to robots are also cows that do well in any milking system, but characteristics include functional feet and legs, milk speed, temperament and mastitis resistance. In the future, she hopes bull proofs will include a specific robot index. Currently, bulls that sire daughters ideal for robotic milking are called Robot Ready.

Breeding Considerations Whale said it’s their goal to keep older cows. Cattle get bred twice to dairy genetics and if they don’t catch, are bred beef. Heifers are bred using sexed semen. The Pro$ label is something he looks for as well as Immunity+. “I’m not doing anything

Ron Groen shared scenes from the robotic milking system at his farm near Teeswater featuring a guided flow system.

18 The Rural Voice

really interesting. We just put heavier weight on health, feet and legs and a high-fertility bull.”

Groen had a lot of extra heifers in recent years so they revised their breeding program. Every heifer with a mother or grandmother who produced 12,000 litres of milk or more received sexed semen and everything else is bred beef. He is not interested in really large cattle so he watches for stature and chooses for feet and legs. “We want her to move around and live a longtime.”

Wiley breeds all his cows to Robot Ready semen and keeps a clean-up bull in the herd for the heifers. He admits he takes a “bit of a hit” on not breeding his heifers with top genetics but said heifers are often difficult to breed and his top goal is getting them pregnant and into the milking herd. “Easy calving is also a big one for me.”

Robots…or not Putting robots in the barn in 2007 was supposed to save time, input costs and increase milk production.

“Over the 13 years we had them, we achieved none of those things,” admitted Whale. “We had the same number of staff, bought more feed than ever before and repair and maintenance costs were high.”

However, he realizes he had an earlier version of robotic technology and believes in the end, that he was the problem. “I am the only full-time person on the farm and I couldn’t convince anyone else to take weekend calls so I was on call for 13 years.” Whale said it wasn’t sustainable so he replaced the robots with a parlour.

When an aging parlour needed updating, the Groen family compared the price of a double-16 parlour, complete with 32 milk metres, a new structure and new crowd gates. Then when the family purchased another farm in Sterling, those predicted costs doubled. So they chose robots as a more cost-efficient option.

Wiley said when they added the robot in 2013, he was the father of two young kids. “I wanted to coach hockey and baseball and needed more freedom to go places and do things. Robots work well for us.”

Forage Rations Being short on haylage year after year led Wiley to tear down two existing silos and put up bigger ones to ensure he had enough haylage for his dairy herd. He has grown oats as a cover crop and fed it to the heifers but doesn’t like to dabble with cover crops in the cow ration.

However, Groen says they feed primarily corn silage because “picking stones in the alfalfa field sucks.” Also, timing the proper harvest date for alfalfa is challenging.

“Corn silage is easy to grow and you can chop it all up in one day. We do harvest haylage but we like to feed as much corn silage as possible.”

Whale was a happy medium, feeding a 50-50 hay and corn ration because he likes to use cover crops in the ration. “We have lots of forage in the spring from the cover crops as we are experimenting with perennial rye grass after wheat. There is a lot of energy in that grass.” He wants to use as many cover crops in the ration as possible because they are so plentiful.

Data Recording Whale said he doesn’t make a lot of use of data from the farm he does collect and uses data from Lactanet in the parlour.

Groen felt the $7,500 price tag for milk recording in 2018 was not worth the value it provided the farm so his family quit collecting milk recording data back then.

Wiley used to use Dairy Herd Improvement services but when he installed the robot, he used data collected by the machine for management decisions.

He specifically uses the somatic cell count numbers it provides.

Cattle Temperament In terms of the cattle, Wiley said he felt the whole herd “got friendlier and personal with humans.” No matter who walks in the barn, the cows will come up to them out of curiosity.

Groen said he culls heavily for temperament. “If we have a bad cow we look at mom and daughters and usually every daughter goes on the truck. We will take the whole family line out because we can’t have cows that kick the robot the whole time.”

Wish List When asked what option or service each farmer loved or wished they had, Groen replied that he really loves the manual attachment on the robots. “If I have incentive days I need to fill, I can milk some cows for another five weeks,” he said. Groen also enjoys having the robot do all the pre- and post-udder care, especially teat dipping.

Whale said when he had robots, he also used the manual attachment and somatic cell counter.

Wiley repeated that the SCC

counter is a “big tool” on his farm and he also had a weigh scale option but isn’t using it as much as he could.

What works for you Ultimately, choosing robots or parlour depends on whatever management system suits the people and the place. From a cow’s perspective, Turner believes the best cows will suit all environments and believes breeding for a cow that is functional. “Wiley mentioned picking only robot-ready bulls, but maybe all bulls should be robot ready,” she said. ◊

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Food

Sowing seeds for a food-secure future Conservation agriculture in combination with support from the Canadian Foodgrains Bank is creating food security for farmers in Ethiopia and beyond • By Gary Kenny •

L

Andy Harrington (above,right) is the executive director of the Canadian Foodgrains Bank which works with smallholder farmers in countries like Ethiopia to educate and encourage farmers to grow sustainable crops and also teaches marketing and business skills. ~Photo by Kebede Workineh

ike so many small-scale farmers in sub-Saharan Africa, where climate change is compounding chronic poverty and the challenges of growing enough food for daily sustenance, farmer Asnakech Zema has struggled to feed her family. Far too often hunger has knocked on the door of her modest mud and wattle bungalow in Ethiopia’s southern highlands.

One day, when Zema noticed that a neighbouring farmer working the same soil as hers was realizing greater yields, she had to know why. The neighbour, she learned, had been trained in something called “conservation agriculture” (CA), and there was a Canadian connection.

When she told her husband of her plan to be trained in CA, he chided her. Having grown cynical after years of working the farm with dwindling harvests, he wasn’t keen on his wife’s proposed “experiment” and thought the training a waste. But Zema stood her ground – and was rewarded for her resolve.

After just one year of practicing CA her yields of corn, wheat, beans, millet, taro root and other food crops the Zema family relies upon had increased. In time, not only was there a continuous supply of nutritious food for the family table, there was also surplus – produce Zema could share with community members or sell on local markets.

As part of her CA training Zema also learned marketing

skills and joined a local savings and loans group. Its women members saved money together to acquire and raise goats and sell them for profit.

“Life was very stressful for me,” Zema said of pre-CA years. Her 10 children would sometimes go to bed hungry, and the costs of paying taxes and school fees, buying better clothes for her kids, and making improvements to the family’s house were a continuous burden.

“Thanks be to God, (with CA) we have gained surplus agriculture products year after year that sustain us,” she said.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Zema’s once-doubting husband is now a believer.

Zema’s is a good news story replicated elsewhere in Africa and the developing world where humanitarian organizations are working with local partners to sow seeds for a food-secure future. One of them is the Winnipegbased Canadian Foodgrains Bank (CFGB).

A household name in many of Canada’s farming communities, CFGB is a partnership of 15 Canadian churches and church-based agencies with a mission to “work together to end global hunger.” It partners with organizations in developing countries to help meet emergency food needs and achieve long-term solutions to hunger. In Ethiopia, it works with Terepeza Development February 2023 21

Association which trained Zema and other Ethiopian smallholders in CA. It also fosters action by Canadians and governments in support of its objectives.

Appropriate, locally-sourced emergency food assistance is one of two main ways the Foodgrains Bank addresses global food insecurity. The other is its Agriculture and Livelihoods program where CA and other long-term development initiatives are situated.

The mainstay of the Foodgrains Bank’s capacity to raise funds for its overseas programming is the literally hundreds of registered local community growing projects across Canada. They vary in size from a few acres to hundreds. Typically, farmers plant, tend and harvest a crop, sell it on the Canadian market, and then donate the earnings to the Foodgrains Bank.

For many years the Canadian government has matched public donations further incentivizing fundraising at community levels.

Local businesses also donate inputs such as seed and fertilizer along with services including trucking, insurance or promotion.

Their contributions help keep costs down and build local community by bringing people together in support of the CFGB’s humanitarian efforts.

For 20 years, farmer Larry Dyck has been involved in or hosted local growing projects on his family’s 2,400-acre farm in Vineland, Ontario.

Under the banner “Grow Hope” the projects, which are supported by several denominations and vary in design, have grown an array of carefully rotated crops including wheat, sunflowers, corn, canola, an oat-pea mix, and more.

For Dyck, a Mennonite, the Foodgrains Bank’s global humanitarian mission work fits nicely with his family’s lifelong commitment to use their resources to help people and communities in need. “We’ve been privileged to have been born in one of the wealthiest countries on our planet,” Dyck said.

“Yes, we’re in business to make money, [but] we’re also in business to give.”

Dyck is especially impressed with 22 The Rural Voice

how CA is positively impacting the CA projects since 2004, and lives of farmers in the Global South, according to executive director Andy women especially. According to the Harrington, they’ve been “terrifically successful.”

UN, on average women comprise 47 A recent five-year project percent of the agricultural labour demonstrated that success writ large. force in developing countries where From 2015-2020 the Foodgrains gender relations are traditional and in Bank worked with African partners some countries the number is much in Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania to higher. scale up CA in the east African “The lives of women farmers [in region. The project was a the Global South] are very busy,” collaborative effort by CFGB Dyck says. “They have to walk members Mennonite Central sometimes long distances to fetch Committee Canada, World Renew water, do the planting, tending and and Tearfund Canada. Its goal was to harvesting, and on top of that look improve food security and after children and prepare daily sustainable livelihoods across the meals,” he adds. region. Canadians donated $4.67 Simcoe County farmer Keven million to the project and the Eisses chairs the Loaves and Fishes Government of Canada $14 million. growing project in Simcoe County.

The hope was to benefit 18,000 Sale of crops from the project’s 90households across 241 communities. plus acres as well as donations from End-of-project results far exceeded area churches and others raised $135,000 for the Foodgrains Bank in 2022. Eisses especially appreciates the CFGB’s ecumenical nature which he says is reflected in Loaves and Fishes.

In 2015 Eisses participated in a CFGB study tour to Ethiopia where he witnessed how CA provides “hope to struggling families who can’t produce enough food to feed themselves (through no fault of their own),” owing to the many challenges, global warming among them, that farmers Ethipian farmer Habitamu Temesgen tends to his face.

The core principles of CA farm in southern Ethiopia. ~Photo supplied by are designed to Canadian Foodgrains Bank. agroecologically harmonize expectations: over 51,000 households farming patterns with the rhythms of improved their food security and nature on smallholder farms that increased the quantity and quality of average one to four acres in size. their foods.

They include building the soil and Considering the extent of food improving its fertility, carefully insecurity in the world and its rotating crops to prevent soil-borne intersecting causes, ending global diseases and pestilence, mulching hunger might seem a tall order for crops to suppress weeds, and planting humanitarian organizations like cover crops to fortify the soil and CFGB, and the more so at present. prevent erosion. All are measures According to the UN World Food farmers can apply by using resources Programme (WFP), “The world is available locally, thus sparing the (currently) facing a food crisis of cost of fertilizers, pesticides and unprecedented proportions, the other expensive agricultural inputs. largest in modern history.”

The CFGB has been supporting

As of the end of 2022, WFP reports, 828 million people are experiencing persistent hunger, a number that’s expected to grow. A total of 49 million people in 49 countries are teetering on the edge of famine. In Zema’s country of Ethiopia alone, more than seven million people are acutely food insecure due to the cascading crises of conflict, economic disruptions and climate change – all have conspired to cause a three-year drought, unprecedented in length.

“Five years ago, we were seeing global hunger decreasing. It was wonderful news, and even if the decrease was modest, it was something to celebrate,” says Harrington. “The upward trend toward greater hunger in the world we’re seeing now – it’s alarming.”

Conflict, climate shocks, the economic fallout of COVID-19, the threat of global recession and more are the drivers behind what WFP calls a “seismic” food security crisis.

The interplay of these drivers, WFP adds, “is making life harder each day for the world’s most vulnerable people and reversing recent development gains.”

Protracted poverty underlies and compounds the current crisis, says the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD). According to the most recent (2015) UN estimates, 10 percent of the world’s population, or 734 million people, lived on less than $1.90 a day. Those numbers will increase significantly with the socio-economic effects of the pandemic, the UN adds.

The poverty and food insecurity experienced by small-scale farmers like Zema are not of their own immediate making, CAFOD says.

They are the consequence not only of recent droughts and other shocks, but of hundreds of years of colonialism – political, social, cultural and economic domination and control.

For the early colonizing European states, colonialism was primarily economic in motive. It served to supplement European profits and markets through the extraction of natural resources including food, rubber, ivory, minerals, lumber – and

of course people through slavery and indentured servitude.

Before colonialism, small-scale farmers grew a diverse range of local food crops, CAFOD says. That diversity ensured balanced diets and enabled farmers to feed their families and manage risks. Surplus was used for trade and investment to cover other needs. Hunger and malnutrition did not stalk farmers the way they do now.

Under colonial rule in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and Latin America, CAFOD adds, many farmers were coerced into growing a few crops for export – cotton, wheat, sugar, tobacco and groundnuts among them. Roads, railways and other infrastructure were built to facilitate the export of these products to European countries, bringing economic benefits to the colonial powers but little gain to the producing countries, especially farmers who were paid low prices for their crops.

The focus on a limited number of export crops resulted in serious food shortages as agricultural efforts were redirected away from sustainable diversified crop production and meeting local food security needs. In Ghana, Kenya and Senegal, for example, export crops are now grown on more than 50 percent of arable land, while at the same time food to feed local people is imported.

Many of the underlying causes of hunger in the world “can be directly linked, in part, to the colonial legacy of focusing on exports of a few staple crops, while importing food to feed local people,” says Graham Gordon,

CAFOD’s head of public policy.

Harrington recognizes the complex interplay of factors that perpetuate global hunger today. “We are trying to think more on a systems level and become more aware of some of the global context of hunger,” he says. CA, for example, is almost always now combined with other relevant project elements including gender empowerment, policy work, marketing strategies and livestock production – measures to promote local, diverse, resilient systems especially important during this time of climate change. “It’s a journey we’re on,” Harrington added.

“It’s about more than what comes from the earth.”

CFGB’s humanitarian sojourn also includes holding itself accountable for the ways its aid practices might be contributing to contemporary colonialism. In its new strategic plan, “Until All Are Fed” (2022-2026), it pledges to work “with our members, their international partners and the wider church community in Canada to enhance understanding around the decolonization of aid practices.”

We look forward to leadership from our global partners on these issues, Harrington said. Consultation must be meaningful, “not top down from rich countries.”

Added Harrington, “We’re not sitting here saying we have all the answers. We’re saying…we acknowledge these problems exist and we’re going to do all we can to enter the conversation with humility and with inspiration to be part of the solution.” ◊

C - 119 Pinebush Rd., Cambridge, ON Fax: 1-866-388-9659 Email: info@waddelleng.com Website: www.waddelleng.com Instagram: @waddell_engineering TikTok: waddell_engineering

Design your next project with our trusted team February 2023 23

Food

Stoked to create with sourdough starter With a new bakery and skills from years as a baker and bakery teacher at Humber College, Lauren Hambleton offers classes to anyone keen to learn the art of creating sourdough bread At the end of the day learning to make sourdough bread and pies with teacher Lauren Hambleton of Red Hen Artisanale near Priceville, the new friends gather around the rising sourdough loaves for a group photo.

M

ixing a bowl of flour, water and sourdough bread starter by hand is a sticky experience but it’s the start of creating crusty, healthy sourdough bread at Red Hen Artisanale near Priceville.

Owner and baker, Lauren Hambleton, is a bread whiz having graduated from Humber College’s culinary program and creating the bread and pastry program at Peller Estates Winery. The sourdough starter she developed there has been growing strong for eight years and it's what her students use when signing up for bread making classes at her new baking studio, a gorgeous “she-shed” with everything one can need to bake bread, pies and whatever she chooses to teach.

“It’s about going back to our natural roots by fermenting the foods we fuel our system with,” says Hambleton. She has a love for “all things sourdough” and also believes in encouraging community with a small group setting and “ask-anything” approach.

As gut health, digestion and weight become increasingly entwined, sourdough bread is gaining popularity as a healthier choice because it can be easier to digest for some people. Some studies indicate that sourdough bread acts as a prebiotic, which means that the fibre in the bread helps feed the “good” bacteria in your intestines. These bacteria are important for maintaining a stable, healthy digestive system.

It’s why I chose to take The Sourdough Experience -Level 1. I love bread but I’m tired of feeling bloated and 24 The Rural Voice

By Lisa Boonstoppel-Pot

guilty from eating it. I’ve been buying sourdough bread from the grocery store for months but as prices continue to soar and loaves are costing $6 or more, I wondered if I could make my own. I could watch a video online but hands-on learning is so much more fun. Plus, I needed a starter and all Red Hen students go home with Hambleton’s starter plus directions on how to keep it alive.

Armed with an apron and mixing bowl, I arrived to find my place at a butcher block countertop along with six other classmates in the modern studio. It’s a very organized space and after each stage, Hambleton busily wipes and tidies. She’s efficient, this lady, and generous (I was to learn) with her knowledge.

Sourdough bread revolves around the starter. “It’s a living thing,” says Hambleton. Requiring the right temperature and “food”, the starter needs flour and water on a regular basis to survive. Fortunately (for who has time to make bread every day!) the starter can hibernate in the fridge, ready to get active when taken out and fed once again.

While bread can be made in a day, Hambleton says it's really a three-day process involving mixing the starter the first day, making the bread the second day, and baking it the third. I wonder to myself if I’ve bitten off more than I can chew…this sounds very time-consuming.

Hambleton starts the teaching process, saying how important temperature is to the success of making bread.

She leads us through creating a log sheet/formula/chart to

understand how to achieve the ideal temperature. If the dough is too cool, the yeast will be sluggish. Too warm, and the yeast gets a little crazy.

Hambleton also uses a log to write down mixing, folding and rising times. “It’s easy to get side-tracked and you wonder if you are the first, second or third fold. It’s easy to get mixed up,” she says.

Hambleton recommends using bread flour for the right amount of gluten. Cake or pastry flour is too starchy. The process involves a mix, 30-minute rest, another mix (to add in salt), a 30-minute rest, four “folds” with 30 minutes in between, then two shapings with another 20-30 minutes in between. Finally, there is a three to four hour rest after which time the dough can be baked or put in the fridge for up to 20 hours to bake at another time.

It’s quite a process, and a surprisingly enjoyable one. The dough rises, changes, becomes stretchy, airy and relaxed. You can see the yeast developing the flour and feel it take on structure and develop a “skin” as it gets shaped. Patting and rounding the bread into an oval or circle While sourdough teacher and owner Lauren Hambleton of Red Hen Artisanale near Priceville (above) taught and baked sourdough loaves for our lunch, Sourdough Level 1 classmates were kept busy. At top (left to right) Maryann Palmer, Wendy Bannon and Susan Warris worked on sourdough crust designs for their apple pies. Bottom (left to right) Rahil Kadiwala, Rahim Momim and Alim Prasla of Centurion Coffee in Guelph worked on their dough, rounding it into circular shapes to create a “skin” on top of the loaf before letting it proof for a few hours. Sourdough bread, said to be healthier bread, is made with a fermented starter.

It bakes up with a tasty, crunchy crust but is light and full of air pockets inside.

February 2023 25

before placing it into a banneton (a wicker basket used to proof bread) is almost like putting your baby down for a nap.

During this final rest, we get to chat with Hambleton and learn she now teaches baking and pastry at Humber College. She likes to learn from other bread masters and in 2017, she stayed with Tara Jensen (author of A Baker’s Year) to “absorb every detail she was willing to share about bread, fire and the stars that make up the universe we call home.”

She teaches us about scoring the bread to allow it to open up in the oven. The marks create a pattern on the loaf that can be quite artistic and also have historical significance.

Hambleton said back in the time when women shared a village oven, each household would have its own bread pattern so the bakers knew whose bread was whose.

The conversation continues as Hambleton leads us in the piemaking portion of this class, using sourdough pie crust. Again, the making of it is a lovely partnership between practical and pretty as we

are encouraged to create a design on the top with the three ladies at the other counter -- Maryann Palmer of Staynor, Wendy Bannon of Melancthon and Susan Warris of Allenford -- creating three “bakeshop worthy” pie crusts.

Palmer has taken other breadmaking classes so she knows the basics but says “there are so many ways to make sourdough” that she takes the top tips from each class to develop her own technique.

At my table, Rahil Kadiwala, Rahim Momin and Alim Prasla were also very engaged in the process. All three work at Centurion Coffee in Guelph, a popular coffee shop with students and they hope to offer sourdough baking in the future.

As our dough rises and the day winds down, Hambleton ends the session with a lesson on growing and grinding grains to create flour. We get to choose from einkorn, emmer and spelt grains and grind a handful into a paper bag to use for future bread making. Hambleton grows her own grain in the garden for use and aesthetics. While she doesn’t

currently have the space to grow enough for her bread-making needs,that is a goal of hers.

Since the class, I’ve baked eight loaves, and LOVE the texture and taste. One batch was too moist and dense (I had measured ingredients in millilitres instead of grams) but the others have come out beautifully.

Terrified I’d kill the starter, I froze some and keep two jars in the fridge.

I plan to make most of my bread from now on but will do it by making multiple batches at once. Like most people, I don’t have time to mix, pull and fold bread all day.

However, when I do, there is a sense of creation with the process and the loaf design. Plus, I feel respect for my forebears whose survival would have required this skill. Moreover, making bread is both a practical and gift-like offering to my family which creates a wonderful sense of provision and satisfaction.

As a non-baker I could not be more surprised that something “rose” in me that day and I’m joining the ranks of those who are “stoked for sourdough!” ◊

Every business is unique.

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26 The Rural Voice

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Advice

• By Lisa Boonstoppel-Pot •

Unleash disruption and make beer (or something else!)

F

ull of energy, a home brewer. He solved curiosity and that problem by stealing charisma, it’s some from Big Rock probably no surprise the Brewery via a ruse of touring former “nerd who worked the company. “Don't worry, I for the military” became a later apologized,” said successful businessman.

Sherman.

But the journey did not The process of making come without stress, threat beer began and Sherman of bankruptcy and fear. discovered he made great When your business beer. Soon, his tool shed was reaches that point, it’s the place to be for poker time to unleash disruptive night, hockey or any event behaviors, said Graham that required libations. “I fell Sherman, owner of the in love with what this craft Tool Shed Brewing beer was doing in the Company in Calgary, community around me.”

Alberta who was a key Sherman was still working speaker at Farm Credit in communications for the Canada’s Forum held military in Afghanistan at December 7 in London. this time but he started to “I had to start NOT wonder if he should stay thinking the way everyone home and leave his job. in the industry had thunk “However I felt I was too before,” remembers far in life, with the kids in an Sherman, as he tried to Graham Sherman of Tool Shed Brewing in Alberta told expensive school, and giving establish a brewery in farmers at the FCC Forum that struggles can unleash up a job that paid really well 2013 in a province that creative and disruptive thinking to improve your business. was hard. I should also share didn’t support craft that my wife hates beer,” said breweries at that time. So Sherman. “It was going to be became so good at it, he qualified to Sherman became an importer! Then a hard conversation. represent Canada at the world he started making his voice heard So he skipped that conversation championships for barbecue. In fact, about opportunities being lost to turn and soon after told his wife, “Guess he won a gold medal. one of Alberta’s golden crops -what? We do not make money any What Sherman discovered along barley -- into a value-added product. more. We make beer.” It was a dark the way is that his real passion is It was the beginning of a massive time, he admits. And not what he bringing people together. “I love shift in craft beer that started for recommends as part of the path to service and I love hosting. A great Sherman with an obsession for success. He made that decision life, for me, is searching for ways to coffee. before realizing Alberta did not give bring people together.”

One of Sherman’s passions is out brewery licences unless the It isn’t surprising, then, that he merging his ideas with technology. brewery could produce 500,000 litres turned to beer as his next project. It So he ordered a “massive coffee of beer in a year. That was totally not wasn’t so out of his realm of maker” from Italy and using his feasible for a start-up. understanding for Sherman’s brother technological expertise, created a “Ontario had 150 breweries then is a professional brewer in Australia. communication port to create roast and Calgary only had two. Yet “I told him I wanted to brew the profiles for transfer to a coffee Western Canada ships barley across same quality of beer in my toolshed.” roaster. the world. So we ship these beautiful His brother tried to discourage him, Then he became fascinated with grains and buy them back at a saying “you always take it too far barbecue and tweaked his barbecue premium. What the hell?” said and you will end up divorced over so that his ribs would not fall into Sherman. this one. You need lab equipment enemy hands. Clearly, this is a man He started collecting data, and all this gear.” who takes things to a new level. As learning every dollar spent on craft Sherman was like, “yep, yep” and he says, “Adding technology to beer brings $1.12 to the local wrote down a shopping list. hobbies is the most fun ever!” He got economy. Plus, one out of every 10 To start, he needed kegs but into competitive barbecuing and jobs in Canada are connected to beer. discovered it was hard to buy kegs as 30 The Rural Voice

“We are doing God’s work here,” he laughed. But the straw that broke the camel’s back was when he found out Canadian hockey legend Lanny McDonald had a brewery that was not in Calgary, not in Toronto and not even in Canada! It was in Montana.

That’s when Sherman decided to find an alternate route to producing beer. He decided to import it (which was allowed) but only beer that used local barley. “I began to sing about the farmers and agriculture in our part of Canada. That was my new business plan.”

He talked about farmers on television and the amazing economic development tool beer could be. He said both industries should collaborate. It took a year but in December 2013, the Alberta gaming commission eliminated the minimum brewing requirement and Sherman was ready to rock and roll.

However, the banks were not so keen to bankroll purchase of a building and equipment and Sherman realized he could not even get to the starting line. Again, he needed to think differently. He turned to friends to invest and got the building for a $65,000 deposit and $15,000 rent. It was so tight, his wife called one day, furious because she was at the gas station and there was no money in the account to get the kids to volleyball.

“I had gas in the truck so I got the kids to volleyball,” remembers Sherman. Then his partner said they were half a million dollars short for business expenses. It was beyond desperate and Sherman admits tears were shed.

“But I think sometimes we need to get to that spot. Holy moly, we have to get scared and out of our comfort zone to think of creative, disruptive stuff,” said Sherman. “I had to do something that had not been done before.”

The idea he came up with was to ask 500 people to invest $5,000 each in exchange for free beer for life. “It was crazy and I went to every bar and every restaurant telling them I had a brewery and they would have beer for life. It was a scary pitch.

“And yet … I pulled it off.” The

first month he sold three “beer-forlife” shares and that was rent. The next month he sold eight, then one, then seven and lived for another month.

Amazingly, the first person/business to buy the “beer for life” membership was Big Rock Brewery, the brewery he had stolen his original kegs from. “They told me they loved what I was doing and that Alberta needed more people singing the praises of agriculture,” remembers Sherman.

And that’s how Tool Shed Brewery was born.

Sherman says when you get desperate, you find a different spot in your brain that allows you to think of different ideas.

It was so effective, he now creates from that spot. “Whatever everyone else is doing, we go the opposite way,” he says. “When other breweries were advertising on billboards and magazines, we advertised on combines. The idea was that people driving by would see the combine harvesting barley and

say, ‘holy crap, they grow beer in those fields!’”

Disruptive thinking was required again to survive the pandemic. He admits the pandemic decimated his business as it did others around him.

So he partnered with a company that delivered food and groceries, inviting them to use his massive brewery space. “We converted our entire business into a satellite for that business,” said Sherman. “It kept them alive and it kept us alive. I went from 15 employees down to four and was able to bring them all back by putting food boxes together.”

Most solutions come from being collaborative, believes Sherman.

“When it involves the community, it has to be genuine and authentic,” he says.

To conclude, Sherman encouraged everyone not to be afraid to think differently. “Be disruptive. When we change our way of thinking and create solutions that are collaborative and community-based, then we can come up with creative solutions in our own industry.” ◊

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February 2023 31

Recipes by Anne Mann

Family favourite dishes for Family Day

F

amily Day weekend is a perfect excuse for families to get together with other families.

The pandemic made potluck gatherings impossible for several years but now we can dust off all our family’s favourite kid-friendly recipes and kiss the winter blahs good-bye as we celebrate with others.

These are great additions to any buffet table.

Mom’s Chicken Casserole This was a favourite at home as a kid and a favourite of my own children. It makes a lot of dirty dishes but those can all be done beforehand so you can enjoy the time with family. I serve it with a side of boiled peas, but you can add them directly to the casserole if you want it to be a complete meal in a dish.

I cannot find gluten-free egg noodles but I have used Catelli’s lasagna noodles broken in pieces as an alternative and was very happy with the results. Sometimes they are broken when you open the package so save those for soup and casseroles! If you have the time, you can make your own gluten-free egg noodles and they are fantastic (see next page)!

Ingredients: Chicken and Stock: 4 chicken breast halves, with bone and skin 8 cups water 1 bay leaf 2 cloves garlic 2 ribs celery, with leaves 1 carrot, cut in pieces 2 onions, cut in quarters 3 whole cloves 2 tsp salt 8 whole black peppercorns 3 Tbsp parsley, dry or 6 stems fresh Casserole: 3 Tbsp butter, to use at different times 1/2 – 3/4 cup onion, chopped 2 Tbsp corn starch 2 Tbsp light cream 2 cups homemade chicken stock (above) 1 tsp salt 1/4 tsp pepper 32 The Rural Voice

1 Tbsp fresh parsley, chopped 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese, packed lightly Chicken cooked in stock (above) torn in bite-sized pieces 8 oz mushrooms, sliced 2 cups broad egg noodles* I used 1/3 of the homemade noodles 1/4 cup sliced almonds, toasted*(optional) 1 lb frozen peas (optional) Directions: To prepare chicken and stock, simmer together chicken, water, bay leaf, garlic, celery, carrot, onion, cloves, salt, pepper and parsley for 1 1/2 hours.

Remove chicken to let cool, reserve both for casserole.

While chicken is cooking sauté mushrooms in 2 Tbsp butter until liquid is evaporated.

Make sauce by cooking onion in remaining 1 Tbsp of the butter until the onion is soft, about five minutes.

Mix cornstarch with cream until dissolved then stir in chicken stock, whisking until incorporated.

Add stock, cream and cornstarch mixture, stirring to prevent lumps from

With Family Day approaching, it’s time to recreate those dishes everyone loves.

Top: Apple Kuchen which pairs custard and apples. Above: Mom’s Chicken Casserole goes well with a side of peas.

Right: Broccoli casserole is fresh and crisp and adds colour to a winter banquet.

forming until sauce thickens.

Add salt, pepper and parsley and cook a few more minutes on low.

Boil egg noodles according to package directions and drain.

Remove chicken from bones and skin and tear into bite-sized pieces.

Combine chicken, mushrooms, sauce, 3/4 cup of cheese, and peas if desired, in a 2 1/2 quart casserole.

Sprinkle almonds and remaining 1/4 cup of cheese on top of the casserole.

Bake at 375°F, covered for the first half hour. Remove cover and bake 30 minutes longer or until until bubbling and slightly browned.

Serves 6 *Toast almonds in a 375°F oven for about five minutes until just starting to brown at edges. Watch carefully so they do not burn.

Egg Noodles These gluten-free egg noodles are amazing and surprisingly easy to make. They take a bit of time, like everything that is gluten-free, but are worth the effort. They make Mom’s chicken casserole taste the way I remembered! I used this flour blend for the noodles and any leftover flour I just added to my bread flour bin.

This recipe is adapted from the egg noodles on Jeanne Sauvage blog artofglutenfreebaking.com Ingredients: GF Pasta Flour Mix 1 cup brown rice flour 1 cup white rice flour 1 cup sweet rice flour 1 cup tapioca flour 1/2 cup millet flour Egg Noodles 2 1/4 cups GF pasta flour mix 1 tsp xanthan gum 1/8 tsp salt 4 extra large eggs Directions: Sift two cups of the flour, xanthan gum and salt into a bowl. Reserve 1/4 flour to add as needed to achieve a smooth dough.

Add eggs and mix with a dough hook for about seven minutes, stopping to scrape flour into eggs every few minutes. Dough should be smooth and only slightly damp. Add remaining 1/4 cup flour as needed.

Knead dough into a smooth disc and cover tightly with plastic wrap and let rest for at least 30 minutes.

This can be left overnight in the refrigerator.

When you are ready to roll out the noodles I divide it into six pieces, keeping the remaining dough wrapped until you are ready to roll to prevent drying.

If you are not using a pasta machine, I would recommend rolling your noodles on a piece of plastic wrap for ease of handling. Form the piece of dough into a rectangle and begin rolling it out until it is very thin. Use flour sparingly on plastic wrap. You may even roll it between 2 pieces of plastic, lifting and flipping frequently to get the dough thinner.

I use a manual pasta roller and begin at the widest opening after rolling into a rectangle that will go through easily. Continue narrowing

the rollers, one level at a time. If your dough is breaking you may need to add a touch of the flour to it to prevent sticking. Anytime the sheet becomes too ragged you can refold and roll again, widening the rollers again if needed.

When I got to level five on my machine (highest level is seven) I split the pasta into two pieces so it was a manageable length and did not break. I cut the noodles with a sharp knife into 1/2 - 3/4 inch widths then cut those into approximately twoinch pieces and let them dry on parchment paper before boiling to prevent them from sticking.

This made about 18 1/2 ounces of fresh dough which should be enough for eight servings of fettuccine Apple Kuchen Apple pie is always a hit on a dessert buffet but it takes a lot longer to prep than this simple tart. The pastry crust of this dessert is just pressed into the pan quickly and works quite well with GF flour substituted also. The smooth, richness of the custard is the perfect pairing for the apple and cinnamon.

Use an apple like a Northern Spy, Golden Delicious or Courtland, that keeps its shape when baked. It can easily be made ahead and is almost better the next day or at least cooled to room temperature.

Ingredients: *Pastry: 2 cups all purpose flour 1/3 cup white sugar 1/2 tsp salt 1/4 tsp baking powder 1/2 cup butter Filling: 6 cups apples 3/4 cup white sugar 3 tsp cinnamon Custard: 4 egg yolks 1 cup whipping cream 1 cup light cream 10 per cent, you may use all whipping cream if you like Directions: For the pastry mix flour, sugar, salt, baking powder and butter using a pastry blender or your clean hands.

Pat along the sides and bottom of a 9 x 13 inch pan. This is quite dry.

For filling, toss apples with sugar

and cinnamon and gently place into the crust.

Bake in a 400°F oven for 15 minutes.

For custard whisk together egg yolks and both creams and pour over hot filling. Reduce oven temperature to 350°F and cook until custard is set about 30 - 45 minutes more.

I prefer to serve this cooled. *For gluten-free crust I substitute one cup of my GF bread flour mix and one of the GF all purpose mix with 1/4 cup of ground almonds Serves 12 Variation: Peach Kuchen In the summer when peaches are fresh and sweet make this alternate. I have also used a combination of peaches and sour cherries for an amazing flavour combo!

Replace apples with 4 ½ cups of peeled and sliced fresh peaches and reduce cinnamon to 1 tsp.

Broccoli Salad This salad was always a hit at banquets catered by Lorna Guay and is just as popular with all ages at a potluck. It is a bright spot of colour on a winter table and delightfully fresh and crisp.

Ingredients: 2 heads broccoli, cut into small florets, 3 - 4 cups 1/3 cup red onion, finely chopped 1/4 cup sunflower seeds (optional) 1/4 cup pumpkin seeds, salted (optional) 1/3 cup raisins or dried cranberries 1/3 cup shredded Cheddar cheese, sharp 4 slices bacon, cooked until crisp, about 1/6 lb 1/2 cup mayonnaise 1 Tbsp lemon juice or vinegar 2 Tbsp white sugar salt and pepper to taste Directions: Mix broccoli, onion, sunflower seeds, raisins and cheese in a large bowl.

Crumble bacon over top.

Whisk together mayonnaise, vinegar and sugar and pour over broccoli.

Stir everything together thoroughly and let sit an hour or two before serving.

Taste and add salt and pepper if desired before serving. Serves 8. ◊ February 2023 33

Gardening Rhea Hamilton‐ Seeger is a skilled cook and gardener who lives in Goderich.

The magic and practicality of fireflies

Fireflies, also known as lightning bugs, are classified as Lampyridae, members of the larger click beetle group that have elongated, hard shelled bodies and are generally plant eating. This family of beetles has their heads shielded by what would look like an elongated hood. A pair of hard coverings also protect their wings and are raised like gull wing car doors to expose and allow the true wings to spread. Surprisingly there are over 170 species in North America and an estimated 2,000-plus worldwide! (Firefly Conservation and Research, firefly.org) We have always thought the bioluminescent signal was to draw partners but new evidence suggests it might be a warning signal. (Jesse Barber, a biologist at Boise State University, USA). Fireflies have developed a steroid to make them distasteful, and sometimes poisonous to some predators. Coupled with its distinct flight pattern and warning flashes fireflies have a protective system much like the colourful markings the monarch uses to warn predators away from its distasteful body.

Aside from the magical flashing, why would we encourage fireflies in our gardens? The firefly larvae feed on mosquito larvae, worms, slugs and snails; creatures we deal with in our gardens. These larvae spend up to two years in this stage before morphing into the adult stage. They too have the bioluminescence in their

The first full summer we were in our new garden, I saw a couple of fireflies. I was stunned. With all the streetlights, and new brilliant lighting systems on so many houses, it was a miracle that one would see a wee flashing firefly! We used to see fireflies in quiet areas of the farm but no matter where you see them it is such a magical moment.

So enjoying fireflies can happen away from cottage country and I went digging to find out how we could help make this happen more often.

The more I read about fireflies the more I thought about how their survival fits into the same movement to preserve our native bees and butterflies. Nothing in nature works in isolation. Everything has a purpose. Fireflies are more than a spark in the night. Like the bees and the butterflies, all insects have a role to play in pollinating and/or controlling populations of other insects.

I hope you are familiar with the term integrated pest management?

The first step is to identify an insect problem in your garden (or farmland) then you take steps to reduce it. So let’s flip that thinking Firefly larvae feed on around. Let’s look at insect mosquito larvae, management; identify what worms, slugs and insect you want to see in your snails for the two years garden, identify the habitat they spend in the that would draw it and try to larvae stage. Once create it. I believe we need to learn how to identify fireflies they take on their adult by more than their spark, form, you will notice understand their life cycle, their bioluminescense discover all the good they can on summer nights. do and encourage them to become a part of our gardens.

34 The Rural Voice

abdomens. Once they become adults some may eat pollen but the majority only live long enough to mate and lay eggs. They are active during the summer months for a few short weeks.

Firefly larvae require a damp-towet habitat which is why they are often seen along riversides and lakeshore areas where people vacation. But once those areas are over-developed with the building of more cottages or campsites, the creation of lawns and the increase in outdoor lighting, habitat is reduced or eliminated. We lived along the Saratoga Swamp in West Wawanosh and now in Goderich. Sightings along the swamp made sense but in Goderich I think irrigating systems, and being located in a wetter end of town, and of course leaves along the lake bank might all contribute to seeing fireflies here.

Gardeners are fast catching on to the importance of their yards to the natural environment. We can help restore habitat for so many fellow creatures one yard at a time. A lot of the work involves no work; learning to resist the urge to remove and tidy up our yards. You don’t have to give up on your lawns or that manicured look it if makes you happy, but you could set a back corner aside for simply letting nature take its course.

Don’t rake your leaves to the curb or remove them from the property.

Pile them up and keep them moist, not wet, for three to six months of the

year. This creates ideal habitat for snails and slugs, food for firefly larvae. Female fireflies lay their eggs in many spots but will obviously target moist areas where food will be guaranteed for their offspring.

To improve poor soil, work in some bag compost, leaves or other organic matter. Disturb the soil as little as possible by using a no-till method or a broad fork to simply loosen the soil by adding some holes.

Avoid chemicals and that includes fertilizers and any chemical pest controls you employ elsewhere in the yard. We also know that native trees and grasses help retain valuable moisture in the soil. Something more to think about I found several wonderful websites but the best was by Firefly Conservation and Research or their website www.firefly.org. As well as wonderful educational information, they have a program to help guide individuals and organizations in creating firefly habitat. Once that is established there is a sign you can display educating others. ◊

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Beef

• By Amanda Brodhagen •

Eliminate the causes of costs, advises beef expert

With potential profits for beef sales eaten up by high feed costs, Dr. Jordan Thomas says beef farmers need to look at cow depreciation as a cost they can control. He was the featured speaker at Grey Bruce Farmers Week beef day.

W

hat’s the silent killer of cow-calf profitability? Dr. Jordan Thomas, Cow-Calf Specialist from the University of Missouri explains why cow replacements is a controllable cost that producers shouldn’t overlook Rapidly rising production costs and the price of inflation is a concern for many and farmers are no exception. Dr. Thomas, the keynote address at the Grey Bruce Farmers’ Week Beef Day said that as people in the beef business we’re all trying to generate a positive return on assets and that’s a challenge in the current environment with rising input costs despite the feeder cattle market projecting to be fairly strong that any “potential margin is just eaten up by costs,” he noted.

Dr. Thomas suggests that the biggest cost that beef farmers can potentially control is cow depreciation. He digs in and says “there’s a fundamental truth from a business perspective and that’s when cows are losing money on an individual animal basis … scale doesn’t do very much for us.”

36 The Rural Voice

Making the point that beef farmers could be scaling up a business that doesn’t have profit margin in any of the products that they produce.

He adds that given this reality beef farmers need to do something “radically different” from what typical industry practices are. Feedrelated costs are the biggest expense but the second biggest cost of production is cow replacement that’s embedded in every calf that is produced, which he argues is a controllable cost.

To advance his argument, Dr. Thomas shared a quote from Brian Joiner that says “real benefits come when managers begin to understand the profound difference between ‘cost cutting’ and and ‘eliminating the causes of costs.’ ” He said that while producers can make attempts at cutting feed costs, it could also eliminate revenue. One can also look at buying cheaper replacements and in theory cut that cost, but it may reduce revenue so we need to be thoughtful on what is causing cow replacement costs to be the second biggest input cost,

followed by feed.

“The biggest problem isn’t the biology of cattle but the person in the mirror and the habits that person has,” Dr. Thomas said.

He compares this to later-bred cows or later-bred heifers, adding that beef farmers are often tempted to keep them instead of market them because they currently own them and therefore overvalue them instead of looking at cattle retained for breeding as “we buy a cow every production year,” he argues.

Getting into the weeds on cow replacement costs, Dr. Thomas suggests that the silent killer to profitability for beef farmers is cow depreciation costs. During his presentation he shared a paper published in 1958 that draws the conclusion that the later a cow calves the more likely she is to be open the following year. Dr. Thomas underscores that given the date of when this paper was published, that this isn’t new information and that a significant factor in annual cow depreciation costs is how long the calving season really should be.

Similarly, when it comes to heifers Dr. Thomas references Cushman et al., 2013 research that shows heifers that calved during the 21-day period with their first calf remained in the herd longer than heifers that calved later.

Beef farmers who are trying to assess whether to retain or cull an animal should start looking at pregnancy diagnosis to determine whether to strategically market a cow that has a higher chance of failing to conceive the following year.

Marketing these cows ahead of time means selling them when they’re pregnant and younger instead of open and older.

“Sell off cows that are bad investments,” Dr. Thomas concludes, adding that beef farmers who want to put this approach into practice can look at synchronization as a reproductive management tool. ◊

Advice • By Lisa Boonstoppel-Pot •

Healthy animals are good for mental health From consumer values to calf health, Dr. Kelly Barratt reminds dairy farmers they are all in it together

D

r. Kelly Barratt hears over and over again from farmers that we only need to educate the consumer about what farming is really about but she doesn’t think it’s possible to educate for loyalty.

“It’s true that most of them truly have no idea how the milk actually gets to the store from you waking at 4 a.m. to milk, to the milk truck to the processor, then to them,” said Barratt, a veterinarian and Director of Animal Welfare for Saputo. “At the end of the day, consumers have values and they want to support companies that align with their values.”

Barratt believes instead of coming from an approach of wanting to educate “them”, it might be more valuable to understand how consumers came up with those values. “Because now they have a choice. Right beside dairy products are the other milk options and some of them taste pretty good.”

It’s vital that dairy farmers and the dairy industry as a whole understand that consumers have expectations.

“They expect that ALL dairy animals are well cared for. It’s important that all milk should be seen as equal.”

The Dairy Code of Practice helps ensure that. Recently reviewed as part of a 10-year cycle, in a long process that involves researching the latest science, peer reviews, creating best management practices and discerning where the industry is headed, the new code is ready but not yet published.

Addressing parts of the code that will be updated, Barratt said Saputo and Dairy Farmers of Ontario have no space for animal cruelty. If it does happen, it can often be traced back to employee training which is the farm owner’s responsibility. “There needs to be a protocol that employees follow and that needs to be followed

up on,” said Barratt. “You don’t need to have them take a fancy online course but your employees do need to be trained and supervised regularly, with retraining as needed.”

Housing is another issue, with values and expectations being examined around the world. “We are one of the last It’s true that consumers don’t really understand how milk is countries that produced and how dairy cattle are raised but connecting allows tethering with them is more about understanding their values than on a routine educating them, believes Dr. Kelly Barratt who spoke to dairy basis,” said farmers at Grey Bruce Farmers Week.

Barratt. “Not to say that pain control, down cows and tethering is bad. I have zero science euthanasia have all been addressed in to tell you that tethering is bad. But the new Dairy Code of Practice. there is much science to prove that Ultimately, said Barratt, freedom of movement and freedom improving animal welfare improves to express natural behaviours is animal health which improves a good.” farmer’s wellbeing.

Barratt said dairy housing will “It takes a huge toll to go into a continue to move in that direction, barn to hear all the calf coughing with more freestalls, bedded packs rather than making the investment to and space for cows to exhibit their knock out a wall and make changes natural behaviours. “In a perfect to improve ventilation,” said Barratt. world, that would also include She believes wholeheartedly in the pastures, but that takes excellent resourcefulness of farmers and their management,” she said. desire to raise healthy animals.

In terms of cattle health She recommended farmers go management, Barratt said colostrum home and think about how they raise is the single most critical thing dairy their animals, the direction society is farmers can do to ensure calf welfare. leading in terms of agriculture and Cows need a good body condition what signals you are hearing about score and hoof trimming is critical dairy farming and best practices. because lameness is a huge issue in “Then come up with ideas on your dairy herds. own or ask an advisor to help you,” Issues and control surrounding advised Barratt. ◊ February 2019 37

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

Court of Appeal restores son’s option to buy farm In 1985, husband and wife made mirror wills. On the death of one spouse, the surviving spouse would inherit the deceased spouse’s estate. On the death of the surviving spouse, the residue of the estate would be divided equally among the surviving children of the couple. The husband and wife had seven children and had operated a 66-acre hobby farm as a secondary source of income – the main employment of both husband and wife was off-farm. On the farm, one child in particular – the eldest son – assisted his

parents in the farm operation, including after most of the other children had moved away. In their will, made when the farming son was 40 years old, the husband and wife gave the farming son an option to purchase the farm operation including the land from the surviving spouse’s estate.

The language of the option was as follows: If my son, …, shall be living at the time of my death, my Trustees shall sell the farming business carried on by me at _____, Ontario, … to my son, …, as soon as convenient for the price of $85,300 or such lower price to be agreed upon by my Trustees and my son, having regard to the assessed value of the lands included hereby at the time of my death and the assistance given me by my son in the conduct of the farming business … And I desire that for the purpose of this clause the expression of my farming business shall include all assets, stock, plant, liabilities, in connection therewith on the other and it shall include the estate in fee simple of the farm…

If the farming son failed to exercise

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the option to purchase the farming business within one year of the death of his surviving parent, then the farm business would form part of the residue of the estate such that it would be divided equally amongst the surviving children (including the farming son if he were still living at the time).

In 1985, at the time the mirror wills were made, the husband and wife’s farming operations included livestock (cattle, pigs, rabbits, and chickens) and cash crops (oats, barley, soybeans, and wheat). When the husband passed away in 1994, the wife began to rent the farmland for crops to the farming son through a series of two-year leases.

Livestock operations had ceased in 1992. The farming son carried out his own crop production on the farmland until 1997 or 1998, after which he subleased the land to other producers.

He continued to pay rent to his mother.

The husband and wife had resided on the hobby farm and the wife continued to live on the farm until 2017 when she moved to a retirement home.

The farming son continued to rent the farm from his mother and she continued to claim farming income on her income tax return. In 2019, the wife died at the age of 95. The farming son continued to lease the farm from his mother’s estate.

The farming son, now 75 years old, wished to exercise his option to purchase the hobby farm for $85,300.

Of the farming son’s five surviving siblings, three challenged his right to exercise the option. They argued that their late mother had not carried on a farming business for many years and, therefore, the option was no longer effective. One sibling supported the farming son’s right to exercise the option. The remaining surviving sibling was one of two Estate Trustees (along with the spouse of one of the siblings opposed to the exercise of the option).

The Estate Trustees made an application to the Superior Court of Justice for the Court’s opinion and advice respecting the interpretation of the will.

The Application Judge ruled that the option had lapsed and could no longer be exercised by the farming son. He looked at “the circumstances that existed and which might reasonably be expected to have influenced the Testator and her husband in the disposition of their property by their mirror wills” and found that “the

Agrilaw Testator sought to provide [the farming son] with the option to acquire the farm operation as a going concern in the same form that she and her husband had operated it.” The Application Judge found the phrase in the option “the farming business carried on by me” referred to the “active farming business involving the cultivation of crops and/or the raising of livestock for commercial sale and profit” carried on by husband and wife for many years prior to the making of their wills in 1985. The “farming business carried on by me” did not extend to the “bare rental of farmland”. As such, the wife was no longer carrying on a farming business at the time of her death and the option had lapsed.

The Court of Appeal reversed this decision. The Court found that the Application Judge erred in law in failing to apply the following presumption required by Section 22 of the Succession Law Reform Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. S-26: “Except when a contrary intention appears by the will, a will speaks and takes effect as if it had been made immediately before the death of the testator with respect to … the property of the testator.” The term “farming business carried on by me” was not to be interpreted as if it were still 1985 when husband and wife had made their mirror wills. The term was to be interpreted as of the time of the wife’s death. The question to be asked was whether the wife, at the time of her death, was carrying on a farm business at the farm. The Court of Appeal found that she was – she was renting out the farmland and declaring farm income on her income tax return each year. On each tax return, she indicated that the tax year at issue would not be her final year of farming.

The Court of Appeal allowed the farming son’s appeal, declaring that the will did give him the option of purchasing the farming business for $85,300 and that he did exercise the option according to its terms. ◊ ______________________________ John D. Goudy’s law practice includes real property and environmental litigation, expropriation law, energy regulation, and regulatory offences.

Agrilaw provides information of interest to the farming community, not legal advice. Readers should consult a legal professional about their particular circumstance.

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

Quantitative easing and tightening affect our purchasing power Inflation is on the mind of anyone who purchases anything these days.

Most households show unease about the cost of living, with the rising cost of food and fuel being at the forefront of these concerns. Inflation has been dubbed the “silent thief” as inflation reduces the purchasing power of money, lowering the value of money.

Why do prices go higher in times of inflation? Simply stated, if a dollar has less value, then logically it takes more of these dollars to buy real goods over time. At times of increasing inflation, households get squeezed, as income growth often does not move directly higher along with the upward movement of prices.

It is because of the lack of purchasing

power that individuals show concern over inflation, as this reality becomes apparent through tightened home budgets.

It is not only individuals that are concerned with inflation. Central bankers of the world — those tasked with targeting a nation’s inflation rate — continue on their quest for lower inflation aggressively. The Bank of Canada controls the money supply in this nation, along with Canadian interest rates. The Bank’s targeted inflation is two per cent per year, an inflation rate target similar to other developed nations of the world. As tools to control inflation, central banks can raise and lower the actual amount of money within the Canadian economy and change interest rates. Increasing the money supply is called Quantitative easing, while decreasing the money supply is called Quantitative tightening. For years the central banks of the world have been Quantitive easing as a way to stimulate the economy. Putting more money into the system would act as a stimulus to economic growth, especially when combined with low interest rates. This has been their course for quite some time, reaching back as far as the financial crisis and continuing through the COVID-19 period.

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thought of many was that interest rates could not increase much and even when inflation did begin to rise, it would be short-lived and any bounce in rates would be slight if they were to occur. Even the central bankers of the world voiced this opinion publicly, with many often repeating that the inflationary forces of COVID-19 policies would be transitory – they would be short lived and then go away. In actuality, inflation showed itself not to be transitory. It is aggressive and seems to be a foe that central bankers are now attacking vigilantly with aggressively higher interest rates.

Rates have essentially tripled since the move began. Their hope is that increasing rates will noticeably reduce the demand for goods and services. Because households and businesses have increased debt loads, higher interest rates will increase debt servicing needs, leaving less money to pursue goods and services.

The lower demand for these items would in turn lower prices, or at very minimum slow, the rapid increase in price.

This conversation brings us to commodity prices and the effect that quantitative tightening and interest rates have on commodity values, including agricultural markets.

Commodity futures are “investment assets” to many institutions and financial funds. As money supplies shrink and the cost of borrowing increases, there is less financial demand for asset classes such as grain futures that a speculator may buy when money is cheap to borrow.

A financial manager is reluctant to buy assets with hopes of gain, that comes with a growing financing charge through higher borrowing rates. As a result of the lower interest by financial investors prices do not have an incentive to rise, but rather fall due to lack of buyers. This in part, explains the falling grain prices that we have experienced through the end of 2022 and to begin 2023.

Grain prices are also weakening as there just isn’t the fundamental story to support higher values in today’s environment. Ukraine is still an aggressive shipper and has had great success in shipping given the

conditions of war. This season Ukraine has shipped 23.6 million metric tonnes of grain. This represents good volume, however is down 29.6 per cent from last year due to the ongoing conflict. Into the new crop growing season, it is important to note that the major grain growing regions are not in the primary conflict zone in the Ukraine. Therefore unless the conflict zone becomes larger and spreads to these regions, grain production for the coming season is likely to be in line with expectations, assuming that farmers have the access to inputs and capital to operate.

Major wheat shippers of the world have had large crops this season and are ready sellers. Russia and Australia have produced record-size crops this year. These two nations represent around 30 per cent of global wheat exports on average and therefore their large crops are significant in satisfying world demand. Canada as we know, is also a major world shipper and stocks here have stabilized to around the fiveyear average inventory.

Looking ahead to new crop wheat, there are many areas where drought is of concern. The U.S. Hard Red Winter crop in the Plains is rated in one of the worst conditions ever.

Northern Africa and the EU are both dry and may see reduced crop sizes going forward also. The market today is not showing concern over these potentially distant worries. Market attention is focused rather on the realities of today’s problems of adequate supply and financial market demand… and prices wane. ◊

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

Collecting tree seeds for assisted migration I recently took the opportunity to travel and visit a different country. I am not much of a worldly traveler and really don’t relish the opportunity to sit shoulder to shoulder with a stranger while hurtling through the sky in something that just doesn’t seem like it should be able to fly. To make matters worse, you are expected to sit still for hours on end, and I tend to get a little motion sick.

The flight itself was great with a friendly crew and little turbulence. I finished half of a novel trying to keep

my mind occupied so that my restlessness and fear of death didn’t overwhelm rational thinking. After five agonizing hours, we landed in beautiful Costa Rica.

Prior to making this trip, many people offered up their insights into Costa Rica; how beautiful it was, the abundance of wildlife, and that it was hot. I was quite excited to see the beauty and the wildlife, but a little reluctant about the heat. Turns out everyone’s recount of the characteristics of the wonderful country was quite correct. What I didn’t expect was just how difficult I would find it to adapt to the heat.

As a lifelong resident of Bruce County, I am well adapted to what I will call moderate temperatures that have varying ranges depending on the season. Much like myself, the trees of the areas in which they live are well adapted to their local climates.

In last month’s issue, Lisa Boonstoppel-Pot wrote an article on the work of the Forest Gene Conservation Association (FGCA). A

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portion of this article touched on the importance of being mindful of the phenotype of tree seed. I find that most people are quite surprised to hear how many controls are in place to ensure that the seed that is supplied to our tree planting program suppliers is of a similar phenotype to that of our area.

Our supplying nurseries buy their tree seed from Certified Seed Collectors. These seed collectors must provide the location of the trees in which the seed was collected, the date of the collection, and the name of the collector. The name of the collector is required to verify the collector’s status, known to be a collector that provides quality seed, and certification status. The date of the collection is provided as a check to ensure that the seed has been handled properly. The location of the collection is needed so that the seed can be grown into seedlings to be planted back into the same seed zone.

Seed zones divide our province based on environmental factors. If you have ever observed a sugar maple in northern Ontario and compared it to that of one in our area, I believe you could relate to the differences within our regions. Basically, if seed was propagated from a Grey County site, it would do best if returned to a similar environment.

The process of tracking seed to ensure that seedlings would be most viable for reforestation has been long standing. A couple of wrenches have been thrown into the wheels of this well-established program. The first wrench has been our changing climate. Seed that has been grown in our area is genetically prepared for the climate in which its parent tree(s) grew and would therefore thrive in our environment. With the changing climate, seed is now being sourced from sites that have the characteristics of what our climate is predicted to be in the future.

This seed sourcing from climates which are different from ours is very challenging as the seed that is suitable for our predicted climate must also produce a tree that will grow well in our present climate. The movement of seed for this purpose is

called assisted migration. I believe the name to be very descriptive of the program, as both flora and fauna migrate over time, this program gives migration a boost. Tree seed from many more southerly states has been collected and planted in locations as trials for growth and quality. The FGCA has a very stringent program designed to ensure that our native seed is retained into the future, as well as ensuring new seed sources produce viable trees for our next generations.

The second wrench that has been thrown into the wheels of the program is the lack of quality seed collectors. Seed collection requires a lot of leg work prior to gathering the seed for many of the species. Seed forecasting takes place to estimate the volume of seed in each stand. If the seed crop appears to have a significant enough volume, the collector will plan a return visit.

Should the seed be developing along and not aborted by the trees or destroyed by predators, the collector will start monitoring for the proper collection date. This monitoring may require a few trips to check on the status.

The FGCA publication; Seeds of Ontario Trees and Shrubs (A Field Manual for Crop Forecasting and Collecting), provides both collectors and interested parties with all the details required to start collecting seed aside from the actual collection sites. Seed collectors must either collect from land that they own or have permission to take seed from property not within their ownership.

Truth is, we need seed if we want to plant trees. Many of the species that I have difficulty obtaining in the numbers that people would like to plant are in short supply because they do not produce seed frequently, collection sites and collectors are limited. We need quality seeds that will grow trees that will survive in our environment if we want to be able to plant forests for our future.

Needless to say, I did not violate any import laws and bring back tree seeds from Costa Rican forests to plant in my backyard. I don’t think they would appreciate our Canadian winter. ◊

Marvin L. Smith

B.Sc.F. (Forestry), R.P.F. Farm Woodland Specialist 570 Riverview Dr. Listowel, Ontario N4W 3T7 Telephone: (519) 291-2236

Watch for spring tree order forms at abca.ca or call us at 519-235-2610 or toll-free 1-888-286-2610

Also, nominate a person GBSN CVTJOFTT PS group you know for the annual conservationist award!

February 2023 43

People

T

• By Gary West •

Making steel and jobs — Wal-Dor Industries is almost 40

here is a manufacturing company in New Hamburg that has spent close to 44 years in steel fabrication and is still as busy as ever turning out products for its many clients.

Wal-Dor Industries Limited is a company that was founded by Waldron Eckstein and launched in May, 1979 by manufacturing one basic model design of a horizontal

Above workers at Wal‐Dor include (left to right) Jeff Shantz, Jose Umana, Alex Laudano, Dwayne McDonald, Wayne Eckstein (plant manager), Trevor Bwennies, Bryce Liedtka, Marcel La Fontaine, Dan Kiertschier and Dylan Deabreu.

(Absent Trevor Koopman)

continuous flow dryer/cooler for farm applications.

The Vers-A-Belt was a versatile horizontal dryer/cooler with continuous flow, designed to save energy. It was adaptable in a wide range of natural products that require moisture removal. That could include corn, beans and even wood products.

Fast forward to today when Waldron Eckstein’s son — Wayne — has taken over ownership of the business.

Wayne and his brother Mark jointly owned the company for 20 years until Mark’s retirement last April. Wayne’s sister Valerie Kropf is also involved in bookkeeping for this progressive local company. Wayne is happy that his father still comes to the plant once a week and takes an interest in the projects the boys are working on.

Wal-Dor Industries still includes the manufacture of driers, but 90 per cent of the company’s business is now in steel fabrication. Wal-Dor Industries clients include area millwrights, along with car companies like Toyota, Honda and G.M. They also supply many local industries, including Alpine Plant Foods and many farmers in the area that require the need for steel fabrication in specific areas on the farm.

From humble beginnings, this successful local family business proves that medium-sized manufacturers still have an important part to play in supplying not only quality steel and fabricating products, but employment for many area workers who say they enjoy coming to work everyday.

For more info contact- wayne@waldorindustries.on.ca ◊

Nurse and missions maven honoured with Order of Canada

O

ne of the highest honours that a Canadian resident can receive is the Order of Canada and a Downie Township nurse from Perth County recently received that honour.

Jean Aitcheson is a decades-long volunteer who has devoted her life to helping the less fortunate at home and abroad, while also working as a Registered Nurse full time.

Over the years, she has been part of humanitarian mission teams around the world. For her it started in a little village of Cojax in the mountains of Guatemala back in 1995. She was part of a team to build a Christian school and hold a three-day medical clinic. The people had prayed for six years for a school for the village. Once completed, they named it the “Canada School”.

The mission team returned to Guatemala many times, but Aitcheson also travelled to El Salvador, Nicaragua, Peru, Guyana, Dominican Republic, Mexico and the Philippines. She has been on 37 mission trips so far!

The registered nurse also took her expertise in the medical field as part of one team to Malawi, Africa, to start building a secondary school for girls and work in the local rural hospital. She was also part of a Rotary Club “plastic surgery” team to Bangladesh, to repair cleft lips and palates and improve burn scars and contractures.

Each of those mission teams used medical supplies 44 The Rural Voice

collected at the “Stratford Mission Depot” which accepts used air casts, canes, walkers, crutches, I-V equipment, wheelchairs, and any over-the-counter medications.

Aitcheson will make sure they are properly disposed of through their ongoing work.

Perth-Wellington MP, John Nater, said he was delighted to see Aitcheson appointed as a member of the “Order of Canada”. Nater called her personally to congratulate her and said that she truly embodies the motto of the order, “They Desire a Better Country” and congratulated her “for all you have done and Perth County’s Jean Aitcheson all you will do”.

To donate call Jean wears the Order of Canada in her Aitcheson at 519-276- second home, the Stratford 1975 or e-mail Mission Depot at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Stratford. jkhsn@quadro.net ◊

The

Rural Voice

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

DL Distributing Dave Mustard 519-794-3334 Authorized Dealer

Leadership in energy and environmental design

Tough on Winter, Easy on You

Devon Henry 519-505-2473

Email: dlmustard2@gmail.com 556735 Strathaven Road, Chatsworth, ON

84772 McDonald Line • Box 616 • Brussels

devonjhenry@hotmail.com

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

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

QUALITY METAL ROOFING, SIDING & TRIMS

519-363-3757

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

The Better Choice, Plain and Simple

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

Profitable, Actionable, Advice Crop Planning SWAT Maps/Soil Sampling Variable Mapping/Scripts Cropwalker Newsletter

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

February 2023 45

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

REAL ESTATE

• Real Estate questions • Wishing a Market Value Analysis

KRAEMER CONCRETE LTD. Two Locations to Serve You!

(Free and convenient at your property)

• Buying or Selling?

“Welcome to connect with me anytime”

Gladys Munro Realtor®

Direct: 519.389.8242 Office: 519.396.3300 gladysmunro21@gmail.com 926 Queen St. Kincardine, ON

5595 Road 130 Brunner N0K 1C0

220 Industrial Park Dr., Brussels N0G 1H0

Fax: 595-4903

Fax: 887-8764

519-595-2343

519-887-8763

Toll Free at 1-888-RING-KCL

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

Choose from: Hazelnut, heartnut, Persian and black Walnut, chestnut, hickory, pecan, pawpaw, persimmon, mulberry, fig and more.

979 Lakeshore Rd, RR3 Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario L0S 1J0 Tel: 905-YEH-NUTS (934-6887) Fax: 905-YEL-NUTS (935-6887) E-mail: nut.trees@grimonut.com Catalogue Site: www.grimonut.com

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

SALES & SERVICE INSTALLATION & PARTS

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

Tel. 519-529-7212

Snowblowers, Quick-attach Buckets, Sweepers, Woodsplitters, Crimper Rollers, Land Rollers, Stone Windrowers, etc. smythwelding.com info@smythwelding.com

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

Check out The Rural Reading Room in this issue Great books that make wonderful gifts for any occasion 405 Queen St., Blyth 519-523-4311 46 The Rural Voice

PACKERS: WE BUILD Order Now

RUBBER TIRE PACKER SPECIALISTS

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

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

WE WANT YOUR GRAIN! Download the London Ag App for FREE (Real-time scale tickets, contracts, cash bids and more.)

• Corn • Soybeans • Feed Grains • Feed Ingredients • Food Quality Soybeans CASH & FORWARD CONTRACTS Call us today for Quotes Scott Speers Richard Smibert Scott Krakar Matt McKillop Alex Kissler

1615 NORTH ROUTLEDGE PARK UNIT 43 LONDON, ONTARIO, N6H 5L6 519-473-9333 Toll-Free 1-800-265-1885

CLASSIFIED

CLASSIFIED

CLASSIFIED

CONSTRUCTION -------------------------------------------Liquid manure tanks, bunker silos, foundations and pads. All are 100% engineered. Serving Ontario since 1968. De Jong & Sons Ltd. 519-348-0523.

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

Call 519-625-8242 or 519-2741490.

-------------------------------------------FOR SALE -------------------------------------------Rosco grain bins for sale – 19' and 14' diameter. Parts available. Used grain bins wanted for parts or reuse. Closed Sundays, 519-3383920.

-------------------------------------------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 – Altitude R2, Beliveau R2X and Ramage XF Roundup Ready varieties.

Treatments and inoculants available. Call Mitch at Courtney Grain & Seed (2015) Ltd. 519-4406712.

-------------------------------------------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 519-3952972. Ask for Carmon or Mitch.

-------------------------------------------Second-cut alfalfa timothy hay, 3x4 and 3x3 large square bales, no rain. Third-cut alfalfa timothy individually wrapped baleage (4x6).

Also, big square bales, rotary combined clean straw, suitable for TMR ration. Call 519-369-4703.

-------------------------------------------30 tonnes of bullet oats. Good for feed or seed. 519-335-3034.

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

FOR SALE -------------------------------------------Hawthorn Farm Organic Seeds – vegetable, herb and flower seeds, RR 3, 5961 5th Line, Palmerston, ON N0G 2P0. 519-343-3375, hawthornfarm.ca sales@hawthornfarm.ca -------------------------------------------Alfalfa Timothy Hay, 152 big square bales, good quality first cut, no rain; Straw, 94 big square bales 7' long. fairlaine@rogers.com or text 519357-4182.

-------------------------------------------Maple Syrup Equipment for Sale – InTens-O-Fire 2½' x 10' evaporator with three syrup pans, side gutter and 1½" modulating draw-off; CDL 7" short filter press, two diamond pattern plates and three hollows; CDL 200 gal. SS round bottom holding tank; CDL 12-24-08 mechanical extractor; 300 gal., 350 gal., 500 gal. SS flat top milk tanks; 600 gal. SS round milk tank; 425 gal. plastic tank with 2" gas powered pump; Airablo small vacuum pump with ¾ hp electric motor and moisture trap, good for 800 taps; Leader 28 gal. 16"x34" SS finishing pan with double propane burner and stand; Trailer with plastic 125 gal. tank and 2" gas water pump for hauling. fairlaine@rogers.com or text Keith 519-357-6114.

-------------------------------------------HELP WANTED -------------------------------------------The Huron Research Station is seeking college or university students to work as research assistants from late April to the end of August. Please send résumé by February 18 to the Huron Research Station, 911# 70257 Airport Line, RR 1, Exeter, ON N0M 1S4 or huronresearchstation@gmail.com -------------------------------------------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 -------------------------------------------Rabbit breeding stock. High quality genetics available in Ontario. Order your PS40 bucks and PS19 does today. CuniON@tcc.on.ca -------------------------------------------Suffolks Purebred yearling rams.

British bloodlines, Genovis-tested, from MVNegative closed flock.

Florence Pullen, Clinton, 519-2337896.

-------------------------------------------Red Angus, Red Angus-Simmental and Simmental bulls on test. Watch them grow by googling “Ontario Bull Evaluation” Silver Springs Farms. James, Joan and Robert McKinlay 519-599-6236.

-------------------------------------------LIMOUSIN bulls available. Quiet, well muscled, semen tested. Also selection of yearling heifers. Open House and Private Treaty Sale, Saturday, April 1, 2023 Smart Limousin, Garry Smart, 519-3727459. www.smartlimousin.com or follow us on Facebook.

-------------------------------------------LIMOUSIN breeding bulls, quiet, thick, semen tested, guaranteed breeders, delivery included. Select now for spring delivery.

OPEN HOUSE Saturday, April 8, 2023. Posthaven Limousin, John Post, 519-766-7178. www.posthavenlimousin.com -------------------------------------------RESTORATION -------------------------------------------The Olde Tyme Radio Centre – antique radios, clocks, gramophones, telephones; sold/restored. (vintage autoclock radio, speedometer, tachometer repaired). Belgrave 519-357-4304, www.oldtymeradio.ca -------------------------------------------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, 519-3489062.

Cell 519-274-5000. www.croninpouredconcrete.ca --------------------------------------------

February 2023 47

CLASSIFIED

CLASSIFIED

CLASSIFIED

SERVICES --------------------------------------------

SERVICES -------------------------------------------INCOME TAX FILING FOR CORPORATIONS and late filers – 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.

-------------------------------------------UPCOMING EVENTS -------------------------------------------FACTS Classes! Looking to learn some new creative skills or brush up on some old ones? Check out the Fashion Arts & Creative Textiles Studio website for our upcoming sewing and fibre arts workshops: up-cycling denim, basic sewing, embroidery, natural dyeing, wet and needle-felting. www.factsblyth.ca -------------------------------------------WANTED -------------------------------------------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 --------------------------------------------

WANTED -------------------------------------------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 -------------------------------------------Round bales of horse or cattle quality hay picked up. Wanted t o b u y : small square bales of wheat straw, conventional or rotary.

Call Riley Gorman 519-321-1012.

-------------------------------------------Scrap Cars Wanted – 20, 30, 40 yd. scrap metal bins available. We sell quality used auto parts. Wanted to buy – scrap cars, trucks, farm machinery, heavy equipment.

Kenilworth Auto Recyclers. 519323-1113.

-------------------------------------------Dion threshing machine 22x38 or 28x48. International grain binder 905-983-9331.

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

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

DANNY’S

Custom Painting & Sandblasting 86362 Harper Line RR 1 Lucknow N0G 2H0 (just north of Zion Road)

48 The Rural Voice

Call Joan at 519-523-4311 to place your classified ad Deadline for the March issue of The Rural Voice is February 7, 2023

DEADLINE for the

March issue

of The Rural Voice is

February 7

Lakeside Shelving & Racking

Backyard Birding BAYSHORE COUNTRY FEEDS LTD. • Bird Seed & Feeders Livestock • Pet • Horse Feed

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

519-524-1740

Custom Milling & Cleaning 1304 2nd Ave. E., Owen Sound

519-376-5830 First for Quality & Service

WILD BIRD SPECIALISTS Bird Books, Feeders, Houses & many more unique items!

36 Kingston St.,Goderich 519-524-4272 www.feedthebirds.ca

www.lakesideshelving.com

CRAFTER’S

CORNER Fabrics, Quilts & Much More 519-392-6046 3855 Bruce Rd. 4, 5 kms. N. of Teeswater

February 24th ~ Fabulous Friday - “H” Day 20% off - Horses, houses, hens, hares, houndstooth, etc.

Check Facebook for store updates or visit our website sanityhill.ca

Pick up a new hobby this winter!

Country Quilting Piece a quilt you love, we can quilt it! ** Custom Machine Quilting **

Fabric, Quilting Supplies, Ready & Custom Made Quilts 519-625-8435 heather@thequiltplace.ca www.thequiltplace.ca 3991 Perth Rd. 107, Shakespeare, ON

For the quilting enthusiasts, we have everything you need.

Cottons, flannels, fleece, wools, books, patterns 84849 Ethel Line, Brussels, ON

519-887-9456

www.countryquilting.ca

February 2023 49

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.

Documentary filmmakers help build trust between Canadian consumers and food sector As farmers, we are all aware that most consumers do not know enough about agriculture. Of all aspects of the food system, Canadians report understanding the least about farmers.

This awareness gap is a failure on the part of the food system as a whole.

Consumers “have concerns about … a lack of overall transparency [within the food system]” (Sutherland et al., 2020, “Consumer insights on Canada’s food safety and food risk assessment system”); yet, they are “sympathetic” towards farmers despite lacking knowledge of production practices (Spooner et al., 2014, “Attitudes of Canadian citizens toward farm animal welfare: A qualitative study”).

The Guelph Statement (November, 2021) prioritizes “fostering awareness of sector commitment to the sustainable production [tackling climate change and environmental protection to support GHG emissions reductions] of safe, high-quality food and building public trust…” As farmers, we want our stories told directly, honestly, and with recognition that we, as producers, are committed to sustainable practices.

Over the next two years, the National Farmers Union is teaming up with award-winning documentary filmmakers, Tamer Soliman and Sarah

Douglas, of March Forth Creative Inc. to film and present 40 farm stories that will connect Canadians consumers with their farmers and the sustainable initiatives that they are undertaking on their farms. With many other ag organizations, we will be making these available on-line and via film screenings. We will be promoting them throughout fall/winter 2023/2024 with the intent to inform Canadian consumers about the people who

feed their families.

The National Farmers Union is grateful to pursue this project with the funding support of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and to our many partners in the sector who will help propel this film series to the Canadian consumers.

To learn more, scan the QR code or visit us at www.nfu.ca/filmsabout farming today.

Local News/Events Local 340 (WaterlooWellington) will be hosting our Annual General Meeting (AGM) in-person on Saturday, February 11 at 6:00 p.m. at the Stone Crock (1402 King St N, St. Jacobs, ON). Join for regional updates, elections, and fine company! For more details, please contact the Local 340 at nfu.local340@gmail.com

A subscription to The Rural Voice is one of the benefits of being an NFU-O member 50 The Rural Voice

Perth County Pork Producers NEWSLETTER

Polly Hoekstra, President phoekstra@hotmail.ca / 226-580-0174 * The Rural Voice is provided to Perth County Pork Producers by the PCPPA perthcountyporkproducers@gmail.com

A New Year’s Resolution for your farm Every year, we make a New Year’s resolution to make ourselves better, but now that it is February, and your personal resolution may have become a distant memory, let’s take the next step and make a resolution to make our farm businesses better.

Kristjan Hebert is an accountant turned farmer from Fairlight, Saskatchewan. He made the point that every year, inflation makes our profits less valuable. If you don’t increase your profit at the rate of inflation, you are falling behind. This year, consumer price index inflation is between seven and eight per cent.

In the face of rising interest rates to curb this inflation, it is essential to find ways to improve your farm operation and stay in the game.

Danny Kleinfelter of Texas A&M promotes the five per cent rule. The idea is that there are no silver bullets that will boost your profits by 30 per cent, only incremental improvements that add up to make a big difference.

For instance, with a canola crop, if you can increase your yield from 40 to 42 bu./ac., increase your selling price from $10 to $10.5/bu. and decrease your cost of production from $350 to $332.5/ac., your net profit increases over 100 per cent from $50 to $108/acre. (Credit to Real Agriculture and Kristjan Hebert for this example). Farming is such a complex business, with so many different facets of expertise, it seems like there are always opportunities for improvement. I solicited the advice of some of our farm advisors to see what they would recommend for a farm resolution.

Measure expenses on a unitproduced basis ($/pig, $/bushel), not on a production unit basis ($/acre, $/crate): This stops you from cutting costs that also cut production.

– Kristjan Hebert

Focus on gilt development, they are the future of your herd. In Denmark, some herds use an electronic sow feeder with a scale to keep gilts on the correct growth curve and don’t breed them until they have reached the optimum weight.

– Callum Reid, Kenpal Weigh your pigs when they transition to the next phase of feed to ensure they are at the correct weight for that diet. We expect our genetics to improve every year, but if our feeding programs do not adapt to meet those changes, we could be sacrificing performance by feeding a diet for too little time, or wasting money by feeding a diet for too long.

– Craig Hulshof Get control of your margin over feed cost (MOFC). In the pig farmer’s world, where feed is the main day-to-day investment, and the pig is the profit opportunity, it is important to maximize your return for every dollar invested in feed.

Most farmers think only in feed price and pig price, but there are other factors that will affect the profit opportunity.

MOFC ($/pig) = (revenue) - (feed cost) Revenue ($/pig) = hot carcass weight x index x pork price Feed Cost ($/pig) = feed intake (MT) x feed price ($/MT) / no. pigs Trouw Nutrition’s Watson can predict MOFC and can support you in finding the best case scenario for your particular needs. A relatively simple model simulation could make you extra profits and secure your long term business sustainability.

– Abel Lopez, Trouw Nutrition Decrease your pre-weaning mortality. Some farms are able to

achieve one-third of the industry average by focusing on piglet care during and immediately after farrowing. More information can be found on these fact sheets: http://omafra.gov.on.ca/english/ livestock/swine/facts/info_pm_prewe an.htm https://www.ontario.ca/page/helpinghigh-risk-piglets-farrowing-room.

– Jaydee Smith, OMAFRA Swine Team Develop on-farm emergency plans. Not only would it help in the case of an ASF or other foreign animal disease outbreak, but also is helpful with other on-farm emergencies like barn fires, tornados, etc. Ontario Pork currently has a student hired to assist with the development of these plans for your farm. Government, Industry, and Ontario Pork have done a lot of work to prepare for a foreign animal disease outbreak in the pork industry. Do your part and develop your on-farm emergency plans.

– Laura Eastwood, OMAFRA Swine Team Leverage the technology you have. The tech. in our barns and in our pockets is powerful, and loaded with features. So much data is collected, but not necessarily analysed and used. A new ventilation controller may have been installed, but never optimized for winter vs. summer use. An ESF has the ability to feed every sow exactly what she needs. However, if that information wasn’t available at install, it may be feeding every sow the same thing. Invest the time it takes to read the manual, watch the YouTube Video, talk to tech support, or your local service technician to make your technology work for you. ◊ – Anonymous

February 2023 51

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

NEWSLETTER Weekly Trivia contest closes

Student Online Trivia Throughout 2022 Grey and Bruce Counties ran a weekly Trivia Contest for all elementary and secondary students in both counties. Each week there were three to five questions for each Primary and Secondary level.

All commodities were covered throughout the year as well as general agricultural information.

We extend our thanks to Farm and Food Care for supplying information

and questions to us for our use each week. Also to Chapman’s Ice cream, Markdale for supplying coupons for free ice cream for all the winners.

This very successful initiative concluded in December and in early January a grand prize winner was chosen randomly from all of the entrants over the year.

Grey County Federation of Agriculture and Bruce Federation of Agriculture together would like to extend congratulations to Ellaina H. from Owen Sound! She is the recipient of a Samsung Galaxy A8.

Please check back to this page, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter or check out our website for updates on future initiatives for our local youth. ◊

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

Bruce County Federation of Agriculture

2023 Events February 27 - Directors’ Meeting March 27 - Directors’ Meeting April 24 - Directors’ Meeting May 23 - Directors’ Meeting June 26 - Directors’ Meeting July 8 - Ag Night at the Races Safety Days August 28 - Directors’ Meeting September 25 - Directors’ Meeting Concert Series October 27 - BCFA AGM November 13 - Directors’ Meeting

Grey Ag Services – Winter Courses The list of opportunites for continuing education for Grey Bruce residents is now available.

A list of courses are below and continued on the Grey County Federation of Agriculture page.

To register contact Grey Ag Services at info@greyagservices.ca or by calling 519-986-3756

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

52 The Rural Voice

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

GCFA 2023 Events FEBRUARY 8 - Directors’ Meeting 11 - Curling Bonspiel Public Speaking Semi-Finals MARCH 8 - Directors’ Meeting Public Speaking Finals APRIL 12 - Directors’ Meeting Shed Talk - Mental Health JUNE 14 - Directors’ Meeting JULY 8 - Ag Night at the Races AUGUST 9 - Directors’ Meeting Member Day - Storybook Park SEPTEMBER 13 - Directors’ Meeting Concert Series OCTOBER 13 - GCFA AGM NOVEMBER 8 - Directors’ Meeting

GCFA Curling Bonspiel Saturday, February 11 – Markdale Curling Club

9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Draws – Two 8-end games (lunch included) Cost: $240 per team – prizes supplied by J-Mar Meats

Please call 519-364-3050 Ext. 1 for more information

Grey Ag Services – Winter Courses

(continued)

To register contact Grey Ag Services at info@greyagservices.ca or by calling 519-986-3756

Wed Apr 12

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

February 2023 53

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

Canadian Agriculture Day is February 15 So, what is Canada’s Agriculture Day? According to the website Ag More Than Ever: “Agriculture More Than Ever is a forum where the agriculture industry comes together to share pride for agriculture on social media. Its 96,000 followers across Facebook, Instagram and Twitter engage in positive dialogue around ag and food, which contributes to creating trust between producers and consumers.

The platform was launched in 2012

by Farm Credit Canada (FCC) and is now led by the Canadian Centre for Food Integrity, who assumed the leadership in May 2021.”

“Agriculture More Than Ever has also been the driving force behind Canada’s Agriculture Day launched in 2017 to celebrate Canadian agriculture, food and everyone who works in the industry.”

Since that time, #ForksUp for Canada’s Agriculture Day (#CdnAgDay) has been wildly successful on social media with 42 million views and in 2022 was trending all day on Twitter. This included some especially important voices, including influencers, ag companies, and food companies.

By any metric #CdnAgDay has become wildly successful, but even with this reach we need to keep sharing our agriculture and food story. After all our industry has done and continues to do, only one out of every three people in Canada believe our food system is heading in the right direction.

Consumers are still surprised to learn the safest, most nutritious food is often right on their doorstep, only a

few kilometres outside their city or that neighbours may be employed in a food processing or distributing facility.

There is a strong appetite by Canadians to learn even more about their food systems and that has only increased. The pandemic showed us all how fragile our domestic system could be if we are not careful, and that local food is important.

We can all share in continuing to get this message out by telling your own story to people outside of agriculture. Share information on your own social media about common practices, try to keep informed about consumer issues and help us all celebrate and share the hashtag #CdnAgDay. You can share pictures of your own all-Canadian meal, favourite recipes, special forks up selfies (available on the website link below) and be sure to re-post, share or retweet.

To help us all do this you can go to the website https://agriculturemorethanever.ca/cd n-ag-day/ to download logos,

pictures, newsletters and much more, to share widely on February 15, 2023, this year’s Canada Agriculture Day !

– Submitted by Sharon Weitzel, PCFA Director

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

54 The Rural Voice

Index AG Hayter Contracting Ltd ..........5 Allied Associates ........................20 Argyle Marine & Small Engines..45 Ausable Bayfield Conservation ..43 Backyard Birding ........................49 Bau-Tec Industries Inc................39 Bear Tracks Inn & Restaurant ....10 Beekeeping ..............................9,11 Belore Trailers ............................45 Bernie McGlynn/SB Flooring ....42 Bervie Supply Energy Ltd ............7 Bio-Ag..........................................40 Canada’s Ag Day ..........................2 Canadian Co-op Wool Growers ....7 Chalmers Fuels ..............................5 Christian Farmers Fed ........Cover 5 Crafters Corner ..........................49 CropQuest Inc ..............................41 DeDell Seeds ..............................20 DJ Henry Homes & Renos ..........45 DL Distributing ............................45 Easy Lift Doors Ltd........................8 Facts & Finds ......................Cover 6 Farm to Table ..............................15 Fieldwalker Agronomy ................45 Garden Seeds & More ................35 Gerber’s Workwear ......................14 Gladys Munro - Real Estate........46 Green Valley Heating Inc ............43 Grimo Nut Nursery ......................46 Hanover Honda ............................12 Harold Jones Enterprises ..........46 Hayden Water Wells....................38 Hill & Hill Farms ..................Cover 2 Hub Capital ..................................13 Hunter Steel Sales..............Cover 3 Huron Commodities ....................39 Keith Siemon Farm Systems ......46 Kraemer Concrete Ltd ................46 LAC ..............................................46 Lakeside Shelving & Racking ....49 Lisa Thompson MPP ..................20 Live Landscape ..........................35 Maple Leaves Forever ........Cover 4 Mapleview Agri ............................16 Marquardt Farm Drainage Ltd ......7 Martin Farm Wagons ..................55 Martin’s Nursery ..........................42 Marvin L Smith Forestry..............43 MNP LLP ......................................31 Moore Hemsworth Insurance ....20 Morris Sachs Silo Construction ..13 Nature’s Wave Inc ......................43 Nutrient Management..................13

Ontario Pesticide Training ............5 Railfence Books ..........................35 RBC Ag West ..............................26 Ridgeway Metal ..........................45 Rural Voice Books ..............Cover 7 Schmidt’s Farm Drainage ............15 Schweiss Doors ............................6 Seebach & Company ..................41 Smyth Welding ............................46 South Western Dairy Symposium ..19 St. Lawrence Cruise Lines ..........35

Steffen Well Drilling ....................46 Steve Thompson ........................20 Stops Along The Way ........Cover 6 Superior Barn Painting ......Cover 4 SWO Diesel ........................Cover 3 Townsley Barn Painting ..............48 Triple P Consulting ......................19 Trouw Nutrition ............Back Cover Waddell Engineering ..................23 Wedding Showcase ........27,28,29 WD Hopper & Sons Ltd ..............41

February 2023 55

HURON

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

County Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER

Huron-Bruce MP sponsors Private Members’ Bill In 2022 Huron-Bruce Member of Parliament Ben Lobb sponsored a private members bill; BILL 234 An Act to amend the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act. Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act (wording provided by Ben Lobb’s Office): 1 (1) The definition eligible farming machinery in section 3 of the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act is amended by adding the following after paragraph (b): (b.1) property used for the purpose of providing heating or cooling to a building or similar structure, including those used for raising or housing livestock; (2) Paragraph (c) of the definition eligible farming machinery in section 3 of the Act is replaced by the following: (c) an industrial machine or a stationary or portable engine,

insertion start including a grain dryer; or (3) The definition eligible farming machinery in section 3 of the Act is amended by adding “or” at the end of paragraph (e) and by repealing paragraph (f).

(4) The definition qualifying farming fuel in section 3 of the Act is replaced by the following: Qualifying farming fuel means a type of fuel that is gasoline, light fuel oil, marketable natural gas, propane or a prescribed type of fuel. (combustible agricole admissible) This Bill is currently at the Report Stage at the House of Commons and the committee report was submitted November 23, 2022.

We are pleased that it has passed the first and second readings and |look forward to it being discussed in the House of Commons early this year. ◊

The people working on your behalf Ethan Wallace Ethan Wallace serves on the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) Board of Directors as the Zone 7 Director representing the counties of Huron and Perth. Ethan operates a dairy farm near Seaforth with his wife Joanna and three children. Ethan historically was a Policy Advisory Council member and the HCFA President in 2018-2020.

If you have any concerns he can be reached at ethan.wallace@ofa.on.ca

Teresa Van Raay Teresa Van Raay serves on the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) Board of Directors as Director-at-Large. Teresa was elected into the position for a second threeyear term at the 2022 Annual General Meeting.

Teresa is a hog and crop farmer from Dashwood. If you have any concerns she can be reached at teresa.vanraay@ofa.on.ca.

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

Upcoming Events February 2 - Ground Hog Day. February 15 Agriculture Day.

-

Canadian

February 20 - Family Day. March 1 - Farm Business Registration deadline with Agricorp.

Huron County Federation of Agriculture

BOARD MEETING Monday, February 27 8:00 p.m.

Vanastra Office

MP MPP FORUM The HCFA is currently working on plans for the annual MP MPP Local Politicians Forum.

If you have specific concerns you would like the Board of Directors to present please contact the HCFA office or a director to state your concern.

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

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

56 The Rural Voice

CHRISTIAN FARMERS Federation Of Ontario

CFFO

WORKING FOR ONTARIO FARMERS

When registering for your Farm Business Registration Number...

CHOOSE CFFO AS YOUR ACCREDITED FARM ORGANIZATION! We advocate for policy that encourages Christian stewardship and supports thriving family farms.

Register by March 1, 2023 at: www.agricorp.com/FBR For assistance, contact: info@christianfarmers.org or 1-855-800-0306.

KEEPING FAITH IN FARMING www.christianfarmers.org

Hidden Gems of Huron County Winter issue print version now available FREE at tourist information booths, town halls, local businesses, accommodations, and restaurants throughout the county and beyond!

Online version available at

stopsalongtheway.ca

FARM LIFE FACTS & FINDS

In The Field: Is Waterhemp an annual or perennial weed?

In The Barn: True or False? Chickens have over 200 distinct noises they can make for communicating.

For The Home: What is a dolly peg?

For Your Health: True or False? Your body absorbs the calcium in dairy products more easily that what’s sourced from plants.

Find answers on ruralvoice.ca website under “Facts & Finds” tab

The Citizen

Sweet February Reads

2023 NIGHT SKY ALMANAC This is the ideal resource for both novice and experienced sky watchers. A month-tomonth guide to North American’s skies from The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada. 14.95

250 GLUTEN-FREE FAVORITES Discover tasty and innovative ideas for everything from baked goods, pasta dishes, appetizers and family meals to mouth-watering desserts.

As a bonus, many of the recipes are dairy-free, egg-free and white sugarfree. $27.95

PARKING THE MOOSE Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, author Dave Hill takes us on an epic quest to uncover his incredible Canadian Roots (his grandfather was from Clinton, ON) in what some say is the wisest and funniest book ever about Canada. $29.95

The Rural Reading Room Specializing in Rural Living & Local Authors

FEED THE BIRDS This book is the perfect resource for beginners and experienced birdwatchers alike. Covering 196 bird species that are attracted to backyard feeders. A wide variety of feeders and seed types are discussed as well as bird behaviours. $29.95

THE TIME OF OUR LIVES Stories of Huron County in the Post-War Years The post-war years in Huron County have been the times of our lives. David Yates shares stories about a time of dynamic change when Huron County was at the crossroads of an older, rural way of life and a modern, affluent, technologically advanced society. $25.00

2023 NIGHT SKY ALMANAC 250 GLUTEN-FREE FAVORITES FEED THE BIRDS QUACK! MOO! OINK! PARKING THE MOOSE THE TIME OF OUR LIVES YESTERDAY: THE SEARCH CONTINUES AMAZING COWS Check out huroncitizen.ca for more books

Qty.

QUACK! MOO! OINK! Bring the barnyard to life with 10 farm animal sounds! Fun facts and sounds on every page for your little farmer. $19.99

YESTERDAY: The Search Continues Huron County author David Turner returns with volume 2 of his tales about growing up in rural Ontario with stories of one room schools, bicycles, party lines, gravel roads, steam threshers, and black and white TV. $23.95

$14.95 $27.95 $29.95 $19.99 $29.95 $25.00 $23.95 $14.95

Total for Books Shipping & Handling Canada Post Fuel Surcharge Add 5% GST on subtotal Order Total

Total

$9.00 $4.00

AMAZING COWS Udder absurdity for children of all ages up to a hundred and moo.

This book has stories, poems, jokes, comics and more. $14.95

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.

Contact your local Shur-Gain dealer for more information HENSALL CO-OP Londesborough 519-523-9606 / 800-265-9000 Zurich

HOLSTEIN FEED MILL (2015) LTD.

MCBRAYNE FEEDS & NEEDS LTD.

THE HITCHING POST (2019) LTD.

TROUW NUTRITION CANADA INC.

Holstein 519-334-3424

Dresden 519-683-4439

519-236-7155 / 800-565-7155 Ripley 519-395-5955 / 855-895-5955 Ailsa Craig 519-232-4449

St Marys 519-284-2360

Tavistock 519-655-2033