The Rural Voice - January, 2020

January 2020

Rural Voice

The

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

PROTECTING FARMERS Animal Protection Zones in proposed new legislation will protect farmers, animals and food safety from trespassers

SING AND SWING Mixing education with fun, Junior Farmers compete for prizes at provincial sing swing event in Grey County

TOSSED TO THE SIDE T.J. Klopp shares his healing journey after tractor accident in documentary on farm safety

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Contents The

Rural Voice THE MAGAZINE OF AGRICULTURAL LIFE

17

24

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

20 Columns Lisa B. Pot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Keith Roulston . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Kate Procter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Jeffrey Carter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Mabel’s Grill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Viewpoint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Recipes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37 Gardening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40 Markets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48 Woodlots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49 Agrilaw . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51

Departments Feedback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Ruralite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 News & Advice . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43 Business Centre . . . . . . . . . . . . .53 Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55 Advertisers Index . . . . . . . . . . . .63

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

34 JANUARY 2020 • Cover Photo T.J.Klopp of Zurich Photo by Jack Madden

• Deadlines: Feb. Issue – Jan. 14 March Issue – Feb. 11

17 Security from Trespassers Farm leaders applaud balanced approach of new act to protect farmers

20 Reducing Risks to Harvest Forage Risk management was a theme at this year’s Forage Focus event

24 It happened so quick T.J. Klopp shares his farm accident story for student documentary

28 Start the conversation now Intergeneration wealth expert encourages young farmers to make wills and start buying now

Contributing writers: Keith Roulston, Kate Procter, Jeffrey Carter, Rhea Hamilton Seeger, Arnold Mathers, Steve Bowers, Melisa Luymes, Anne Mann, Nancy Fisher, Dorothy Henderson, Bonnie Sitter, Gary Kenny, Jeff Tribe, Bob Reid and Geoff Dale Mailed by: McLaren Press Graphics, Bracebridge, ON Sales representative: Shelley Kroes rvads@northhuron.on.ca Production co-ordinator & Telemarketing: Joan Caldwell Advertising & editorial production: Dianne Josling PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40037593 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO CIRCULATION DEPT. PO BOX 429 BLYTH ON N0M 1H0 email: info@northhuron.on.ca Subscriptions: $20 (12 issues) $35 (24 issues), includes HST Back copies $2.75 each U.S. rates, $65.00

32 Transitioning business into cash Jerry Marten talks about the process of selling Avonbank

34 Sing Swing comes to Grey!

Junior Farmers from across Ontario compete for prizes

All manuscripts submitted for consideration should be accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope. The publisher cannot accept responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts or photographs, although both are welcome. The opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the publisher. Editorial content may be reproduced only by permission of the publisher.

The Rural Voice makes every effort to see that advertising copy is correct. However, should an error occur, please notify The Rural Voice office within 30 days of invoicing in order to obtain a billing adjustment.

Changes of address, orders for subscriptions and undeliverable copies (return postage guaranteed) are to be sent to The Rural Voice at the address listed above.

A division of North Huron Publishing Company Inc.

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

There is no need to label GMO foods, says reader The Editor, In his condemnation of genetically modified crops (GMO crops dominate fields in Canada, The Rural Voice, December 2019), Gary Kenny cites some of the most consistently negative sources. I wish to comment on three issues.

To the criticism that GMO crops are approved by Health Canada based on company-supplied data, readers should note that this is also true for virtually everything government approved for Canadian usage – including all medicines, health/food additives and consumer products. Health Canada specifies the data required and approves laboratories that can be used for testing. That’s true for genetically modified insulin, lipstick and insectresistant corn.

To the complaint that GMO salmon (a salt-water species) will escape to the ocean and breed in the wild, consider that the salmon raised for commercial use are virtually all sterile and will be raised in Indiana.

Anti-GMO activists continue to demand labelling of GMO crops/foods so that they can more easily vilify their usage. But Health Canada’s position is that there is no health or environmental reason for blanket GMO labeling. No more reason to label for this than for crops/foods produced using manure or specific fertilizers, or natural or synthetic pesticides, or crop varieties bred using other modern plant breeding technologies.◊ – Terry Daynard, RR 7, Guelph

“

Ruralite

•

My dad had burns on his arms

from trying to rescue the cattle and was in a

No Regrets

state of panic. It was like a nightmare.

“Farming is exactly that (a

”

~ Amanda Brodhagen, on rememberiing the barn fire

business). It is science and

that destroyed their historic barn but brought the

planning, strategy and

farming community together ~

tactics. It is complicated and sophisticated and incredibly rewarding. ” ~ Dr. Tom Deans, Intergenerational Wealth Expert, speaking to young farmers at the FCC Young Farmer’s Summit ~

IN THE NICK OF TIME Through the 18th century, businessmen often kept track of debts owed by carving nicks on a “tally stick”. When someone arrived to pay off their debt before the next nick was carved, they’d save that day’s worth of interest. Hence, nick of time.

{ } JANUARY INSPIRATION

The phrase “Do not be afraid” is written in the bible 365 times.

That’s a daily reminder from God to live every day being fearless.

The young remember Snow falls to deliver a ...

Warm invitation ~Lisa Boonstoppel-Pot

•

A thief who stole a calendar got twelve months

•

January 2020 3

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

Can we go back to being the “good guys”?

I tend to think of us as the good guys. We are farmers, a breed of people who take good care of our animals and cultivate the soil to feed families.

It saddens me to realize the Ontario government felt compelled to introduce new legislation, the Security from Trespass and Protecting Food Safety Act, to protect farmers against trespassers. That somehow, in the evolving culture of Western civilization, farmers are seen by

some as the “bad guys.”

For the “greater good” of animal rights, farmers, transporters and processing plant workers are now at risk of being judged, hated and even attacked for doing what civilizations have been doing for thousands of years — raising/hunting meat to feed their villages.

Oh, I get the disconnect.

Younger generations are removed from their farming roots. They don’t see or experience how animals are raised in our barns. In order to contain disease and protect the food supply, most farms have a “Do Not Enter” sign at the door, leaving people to wonder what really goes on behind those doors.

Misleading photos, videos and rants insinuate that farmers are cruel to their animals when in fact, farmers would not be successful if they mistreated the animals in their care.

Does it happen? Sometimes it does, unfortunately. There are ne’er do wells in every profession. As a broader farming community we have to live with that shame in the same

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way that society as a whole has to bear the social responsibility of child/spousal/elder abuse.

Taking it to a cosmic level, one of my favourite podcasters, Rich Roll, suggests that animal death creates a negative energy which affects planetary health and human wellbeing. Roll is an ultra-athlete vegan who is a vocal advocate for eating a plant-based diet and throws around the phrase “factory farm” like it’s a swear word. He clearly has an agenda, but that is still a heavy load to dump on farmers!

There’s so much to unpack here, I’m almost overwhelmed by this culture shift.

I do think when these shifts occur, it’s wise to take a minute to ponder if they are true. First off, is it really just a minority of animal right’s activists who happen to be able to make a huge noise? Or, are we on the wrong side of the argument here? Are we, as a meat-raising, milk-drinking, eggeating omnivores, who raise animals for meat, in the wrong?

After all, I don’t eat horse meat. In my mind, horses are companions, not meat animals. I do understand the reluctance to eat the meat of certain animals. So why not all animals?

I find myself at a loss, actually, to fully defend my position or decry theirs. I do think profitability has forced some farmers to push animal growth to excessive levels and reap more from the soil that it can replenish.

Yet, I am proud to be a farmer! I do not want to relinquish the trust and respect farmers have held in the past as growers of food. So how do we proceed without further alienating each other?

Part of it is listening to other people’s viewpoints and being respectful of alternate ways of eating and being. It’s good to learn the “why” of people’s choices and really listening is such an easy way to respect someone.

My farm-raised daughter, who has a strong environmental and animalcare focus, points out that farmers should welcome criticism from the animal rights activists. “Sometimes we need an outside perspective on these things; especially if we have

Lisa B. Pot lived our life enmeshed in farming culture.” She suggests that it is a good thing to be pressured to increase the standards of care for animals we are responsible for.

Especially if we are vocal about being good stewards.

My farming son, who has less temperament to deal with opposing viewpoints, suggests that with the abundance of food in grocery stores, people have a lot of time and energy for alternate views. If they had to grow that food themselves to feed their families, they might not have the energy to trespass. His other argument is for activists to watch a nature show of wolves eating a deer, butt side first, while the deer lives on.

Nature is crueler than the worst farmer could ever be.

How we care for animals has to be forefront. We should all be doing our best to ensure we would not be ashamed to open our barn doors to show the world how we take care of our animals. We shouldn’t just meet the practices outlined in the Provincial Animals Welfare Service Act, we should exceed them! Plus, we need to hold each other accountable. Share our stories! Share this magazine with your non-farming neighbour!

We also need to encourage each other to be collectively proud of what we grow and raise to provide for our families and the country as a whole.

Whether someone chooses meat or plants, we, the farmers, grow it all.

Lastly, we can remember to be thankful at each meal and for the freedom to choose our diet.

Thankfulness is a super-power energy that must surely counteract any negative energy meat-eating creates in our planet.

We can also be thankful for a government that recognizes opinions matter and should be voiced, but also states that people and their safety is still more important than illegally acting on opposite opinions.

If nothing else, perhaps our collective New Year’s Resolution this year might be to look around in our barns with fresh eyes. If we really believe we are the good guys (and I do!) then we gotta live it and prove it, the same as anyone else. ◊

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Keith is former publisher of The Rural Voice.

He lives near Blyth, ON.

Remembering the magic of a seed There’s something about human beings that fascinates us with magic, whether it be that of the sorcerers and with doctors of ancient times or technological advances of today.

Right now, the magic that fascinates us generally comes from the rapidly changing world of artificial intelligence. People are falling in love with those electronic home assistants where you don’t have to make the supreme effort to get up and change the thermostat if you’re feeling cold, you can just ask Google or whatever the name of your assistant to change it for you Your assistant can see who’s at the door when the doorbell rings. It’s also fascinating to think that a car can drive itself, although a large part of the population isn’t sure it’s ready to ride along on that one yet.

But the thing about humans is that we very quickly adapt to the latest bit of wonder and we need some new shot of magic to impress us. You have to go back and see the world through the eyes of a young child to rediscover the magic we take for granted.

I was thinking about that the other night when I watched a show on TVO about the miracle that is a seed.

Inside a small seed is the beginnings of an entire plant, whether it’s a stalk of wheat or corn or a 70-foot-tall maple or pine tree. Put it in soil, add moisture and warmth, and this deadlooking thing comes to life, sprouting a stem and roots and beginning a new life that will last a summer or a hundred summers, depending on the species.

Farmers have moved on from the wonder of a single seed, of course.

Farming has always been about improving on nature – selecting the seeds that will produce the best offspring whether it be a grain or

fruit tree or bush and creating conditions under which as many of the seeds as possible will grow, compared to the random ways of nature.

The initial steps in this husbandry came about through observations of the more curious of the early farmers – reducing competition from other plants would maximize growth and yield, or adding animal dung would spur growth. Later, closer to our own time, the selling of expertise to farmers meant people could profit without getting their hands dirty.

Farmers have gained enough from this that they (mostly) didn’t mind.

As the limits of advancement from fertilizing and spraying crops with chemicals to kill weeds and insect pests approached, companies supplying farmers with seed and other crop inputs needed new magic to sell. Improved crop varieties through hybridization, then genetic alteration wowed growers who were quick to buy in.

The TVO documentary I watched was not very complimentary toward the big seed and chemical companies about these recent bits of magic, likening them to the snake-oil salesmen of a 150 years ago. Hybrid seed means a farmer can no longer keep his own seed to plant next year.

Seed genetically altered so, for instance, it can be sprayed with Roundup, ties the farmer forever to the agri-giants.

These are tradeoffs the majority of farmers have willingly made, and society in general has benefited from large volumes of relatively inexpensive food.

A valid point the documentary made is even though we’ve developed a better seed for this particular place and time, we can’t afford to let the original, unaltered plants become extinct. Seed banks have been started because we never know when the traits still within these varieties might be required to meet new conditions, for instance, created by climate change. We can’t afford to be like the kid in the movie Toy Story who gets so excited about his new toy that he forgets the importance of the old favourite. We need to save the boring old seeds and recognize their value.◊

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January 2020 7

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

Quebec has learned to speak with one voice Last year, about this time, I wrote a column about participating in AgriFood Training’s C-Team course. I began with the first course almost two years ago in Vancouver and have been fortunate to also travel to Calgary and Niagara Falls for weeklong sessions. Our wrap-up session began in Montreal and concluded in Ottawa.

C-Team stands for Canadian Total Excellence in Agricultural Management and “is designed specifically for producers and ranchers. Through four modules, which are held in different cities across Canada, you will develop and implement your own strategic and operations plans for your farm� (www.agrifoodtraining.com).

It is so easy, in our farm businesses and in life in general, to get so caught up in the day-to-day grind that we lose sight of the big picture – why we are doing what we are doing. We get into autopilot mode some times, or consumed with putting out fires. It takes discipline and a mindful effort to set aside time and energy to make sure we are still steering the boat in the direction we want to go. In Ontario, the Grow Your Farm Profits workshops (which I taught for a period of time) have a similar goal – taking you out of your daily work-day and doing the hard work of evaluating the why behind all of that work.

C-Team requires active participation. We have people in our group from Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, and Nova Scotia. There are people who are growing canola, peas, lentils, wheat, beef cattle, bison, pheasants, tobacco, corn, soybeans, asparagus, strawberries, squash, 8 The Rural Voice

cantaloupe, zucchini, lettuce, and celery. As we all became more familiar with all of the faces around the table – we have shared more and more about our operations, our life experiences as farmers, as family members and as part of a bigger rural economy that plays such an important role in Canada.

As part of the course, we are each expected to really look at our own operations in a new and detailed way.

We all developed plans and at this our final session, are presenting how those plans unfolded over the past year. As expected, everyone set out to do more than we were able to fully accomplish. And most of us, even if we didn’t consult with our written plan, held the tasks in the back of our minds and actually accomplished more than we may have realized while we were in the middle of it. Of course, some of our plans became part of next year’s plan as we moved dates forward and adjusted courses of action based on what we learned this year.

We have been fortunate to experience, through a day of touring in each region, interesting and engaging folks across the country, who are passionate about agriculture and food. Our wrap up session has also included sitting down with an economist and a lawyer who work for the Union des Producteurs Agricoles (UPA) in Quebec, touring the Canadian Parliament buildings, and discussing agriculture and food policy in Canada.

We learned that although business management knowledge is vitally important as farms become bigger and more complex, funding across the country for agricultural business

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training has dwindled over the years.

Quebec seems to be putting more of a focus on this, offering funding for young farmers to expand their knowledge.

While farmers in other regions of Canada like to grumble about the perceived special treatment of farmers in Quebec, those farmers have managed over the years to maintain a single voice that presents a strong lobby to government, which helps them focus their message and keep their voices heard. “Today, feeding the world is a strategic challenge of global proportions. Farming communities of all stripes would benefit from standing together and finding innovative methods of action in a context of globalized markets. In 1993, this recognition led to the creation of UPA DĂŠveloppement international (UPA DI), a not for profit corporation founded in order to lend support to democratic farmers’ organizations and collective marketing systems in countries around the world.â€? Farmers from other areas are able to travel to Quebec to learn about agriculture, and Quebec farmers also travel to other places to learn as well.

This reinforced my belief that life long learning is vital, no matter what you end up doing. The people who have been successful are good at making a conscious and deliberate effort to take risks, grow, step outside their comfort zones, and learn from their mistakes. As I become inspired by the passionate Canadian farmers I have been fortunate to get to know, I am reminded once again that we aren’t alone and again recognize the opportunity to do so is a huge gift. ◊

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The crisis of our times I’ve long appreciated the National Farmers Union’s propensity for speaking uncomfortable truths.

For many years there was a focus on things like government agricultural policy, the banking system and consolidation within the wider agricultural industry, the chemical suppliers, grain merchandisers and so forth.

Yet the organization was never taken too seriously by a good portion of the farm community. Either the complaints were summarily dismissed or an adage all too familiar among farmers would crop up – “there’s a not damned thing we can do about it anyway” – which resulted in complacency or, worse, a willingness or even eagerness to play the agricultural game with little thought of the long-term implications.

That may be beginning to change, something members of the NFU have recognized with their report released just last month: Tackling the Farm Crisis and the Climate Change Crisis.

“The Farm Crisis is real, as is the climate crisis. Left unchecked the climate crisis will deepen the income crisis on Canada’s farms … but it also represents an opportunity.”

I don’t think there are many farmers left in Canada, even within Ontario’s Great Lakes agricultural region, who have failed to recognize the growing erratic nature of what Mother Nature has delivered in recent years.

Familiar, too, have been the economic challenges – making the farm pay – given the numbers the NFU report uses. Here are just a few of the highlights: • In the 33-year period from 1985

to 2018, input costs consumed more than 95 per cent of farm revenue.

• This empowered ‘extractivist’ corporations to pocket nearly $1.5 trillion dollars of the value created by Canadian farmers.

• Canadian farm debt is just over $106 billion, a record high, having nearly doubled since 2000. The amount farmers pay annually in interest to banks and other lenders has been roughly equal to the amount that Canadian citizens each year pay to farmers by way of farm-support programs.

• Even with the so-called ‘up times’ for Canadian farmers that began in 2007, non-farm and offfarm income was needed to keep operations afloat.

In the past, fact-based data like this has been expounded upon – remember “Compare the Share” – but little was done to address the fundamental inequities.

That may be changing. It’s not just farmers who are concerned with climate change and how agriculture as a whole has been going about its business.

Members of the scientific community, at least those operating independently of “Big Ag”, have been raising the alarm and there’s growing concern within the wider society that something is wrong – and not just when it comes to agriculture and the climate.

Crises of all kinds are abundant, the gun crisis, the migrant crisis, the opioid crisis, the homeless crisis, the crisis of indigenous peoples, the growing disparity between rich and poor, sea level rise, the loss of species and more.

The climate crisis and farm income are indeed connected and, so too, are the rest. Perhaps the term to describe it all might simply be, The Crisis.

As a hopeful person – what other choice is there? There are bits of good news and, better yet, people are beginning to take action.

That’s begun within the ranks of the NFU, many of members which have adopted a low-input approach to their livelihoods. Given the growing desire for change, real change, from within the broad sweep of society, their chances of success have indeed been enhanced. ◊

Our Priorities for 2020 OFA continues to work on four key areas that have a direct impact on the sustainability, competitiveness and profitability of our 38,000 farm members.

Here’s where we are focusing our advocacy work this year: • • • •

Complete access to affordable natural gas across Ontario Reliable, high speed internet in rural and northern communities Stable rural school network Improvements in rural infrastructure for roads and bridges

We are encouraged by the proposed new legislation Security from Trespass and Protecting Food Safety Act that will protect farmers, livestock and the food supply from unwanted trespassers and activists. We look forward to following this new act as it moves through the legislature.

Thank you for your continued support of OFA. We look forward to working on your behalf in 2020. Watch for updates on all OFA issues at ofa.on.ca and through our social media channels.

ofa.on.ca

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@OntarioFarms @OFABenefits

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OntarioFarms

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OntarioFarms

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ontariofarms

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The Rural Voice and your local monthly newsletter are provided to farmers in Bruce, Grey, Huron and Perth Counties by your local County Federation as part of your OFA membership.

January 2020 11

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

“Well I’m not sorry to see 2019 behind me,” said Dave Winston as the gang gathered at Mabel’s Grill the other morning.

“Yeah, rotten spring weather for planting, rotten fall weather for harvest,” sighed George McKenzie.

“During hunting season, I actually had a hunter who had the nerve to come to the house and complain to me because I hadn’t got the corn off so the deer were able to hide in the middle of the corn field”, said Dave Winston. “As if I wouldn’t have had the crop off if I could have!”

“He should be grateful to you,” said George. “You’re feeding up the does so that come next spring there should be a healthy crop of fawns so he’ll have good hunting for years.”

“Yeah, and my reward is a reduced yield from all the corn they

eat,” said Dave.

“And maybe a pranged fender – or worse – if your truck gets hit by one of the extra deer there’ll be around,” said Dave.

“Well if misery loves company, we’ve got lots of company this year,” said Cliff. “I see a lot of potato farmers out west had a good part of their crop frozen before they could get it off because of the bad weather.”

“Mabel’s already had her supplier warning her the price of potatoes may be rising,” said Molly Whiteside as she arrived with the coffee pot for refills all ’round.

“And I suppose farmers will take the blame if the price of French fries goes up,” grumbled George.

“Why not?” teased Molly, “Most people don’t know any farmers so it’s easy to blame somebody you don’t know.”

“Well I guess there will be a lot of farmers who won’t be paying tax this year,” said Dave.

“Aren’t there always?” smirked Molly, then beat a quick retreat to the kitchen before anyone could retort.

“Oh, I think the government

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should be understanding if we farmers say we’ve lost money,” smiled Cliff. “After all, I hear they lost $42 million on selling pot last year!”

“Lost money? Selling pot?”, said George in amazement. “What, are they sampling too much of their own product instead of selling it?”

“That would explain so much about so many government decisions,” said Dave, shaking his head.

“How could you possibly lose money selling pot?” wondered George.

“I was reading that they figured people who were already using marijuana would start buying it legally in the government stores, but a lot of people just kept buying from the dealers they were used to dealing with,” said Cliff.

“Private enterprise outdoes government once again,” muttered Dave.

“And then the black-market stuff is cheaper than the government stores, too,” said Cliff. “Not to mention there are only a handful of stores and you have to drive miles to get to one.”

“Who knew those remnants of the hippy-dippy 1960s anti-capitalist counter culture would become free enterprise heroes?” said Dave.

“Well I think somebody at the PETA office must be getting high on something,” said George. “Why else would they be sending a fundraising letter to me, a beef farmer? Like I’m going to give those guys a donation!”

“What? Really?” said Dave as he doubled over laughing. “You sure somebody’s not pulling an early April Fools’ joke on you?”

“So what did you do?” asked Cliff.

“I sent back the envelope they sent with a note that said ‘If you buy two tickets to the county Beef Producers’ barbecue, I’ll buy a PETA membership.’”

“You didn’t!”

“No, I didn’t,” admitted George.

“I only thought of it after I used their letter to start the fire in my workshop wood stove. It didn’t do a very good job of that, either. I had to use a good fat-soaked wrapper from a take-out hamburger to really get it going.” ◊

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Amanda Brodhagen Amanda Brodhagen farms and is a councillor in Perth East.

Barn fires: pitch in or stay home As I was mulling over what to write about, I was sitting on a recliner chair in the living room of our farmhouse scrolling through my smartphone (like most millennials) when I saw a tweet that my Fire Chief, Bill Hunter serving West Perth and Perth East retweeted from OPP West Region. The tweet showed a scene of a cattle barn fire in my township. I took a long pause because it triggered memories from when my family experienced a barn fire in November of 2011.

I can still remember the call that I got from my mom as I was about to head to my 8:30 a.m. university

class. She said, “The barn is on fire, the cattle are saved.” I started to cry and she said, If you’re going to cry stay put or come home and help.”

I fought back tears and drove the hour from Guelph to my family’s farm near Rostock. When I arrived, there were flames everywhere and our historic barn was gone. My dad had burns on his arms from trying to rescue the cattle and was in a state of panic. It was like a nightmare. The volunteer firefighters were at the scene trying to save the surrounding buildings and our house, which they miraculously managed to do.

Neighbours were gathered on the front lawn and many had offered us food and help to get through. God bless them. It was one of the hardest events that our family has ever gone through. The event itself was tragic, but it was the months afterwards that were the most difficult. As a farmer you wake up and go to the barn, but we would wake up and there was no barn to go to. Looking back, I realize now that our family’s mental health suffered, especially my dad’s. Mental health wasn’t talked about then (and

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that wasn’t that long ago) or even something I could verbalize. But we pulled through. My parents are resilient people, as most farm people are. It was thanks to our community who helped us get through.

The point is, barn fires are horrific events.

Statistically speaking, the number of barn fires has decreased in Ontario, but unlike a decade ago, they are receiving more media attention. And the media attention can sometimes cause more harm than good with increased attention from the pubic that may have concerns about animal welfare if animals perish. There are lots of good resources that the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and Farm and Food Care have provided on how to prevent barn fires, but there’s no kit that I’ve found at least on how to deal with the social and mental impact following the aftermath of a barn fire.

I asked my dad what some of the things were that really helped us get through: 1) Friends and neighbours brought us food 2) We had a neighbour get coffee and donuts for the firefighters that had to spend the night fighting the fire 3) Neighbours offered us hay and straw 4) People offered their help to sort cattle and truck them My dad said that after the barn fire you find out in a hurry which neighbours really care. We also found that the neighbours who they themselves had experienced a barn fire at point or another were the most helpful, because they could relate and knew exactly what to do.

These disastrous events are tragic for farm families with often livestock and equipment being lost. With all those factors and the loss of income it can take its toll. It took our family years to fully get back on our feet even with good insurance coverage.

When I see events like these in the media, my heart goes out to the families. I also think that barn fires can bring the farming community together. It really shows our strength and resiliency. I am thankful for our outstanding volunteer firefighters

A. Brodhagen who serve our rural communities. If you are a firefighter reading this, thank you for your service. It truly doesn’t go unnoticed.

My advice to someone who has gone through a barn fire is to be kind and helpful or stay away. My brother is high-functioning autistic and he was remarkably the most calm of us all (besides my mother who held the family together). What he wrote on Facebook in 2011 still resonates: “I feel I need to journal my thoughts, feelings, and facts about this disaster. When I got to the farm some of the ruins of the barn were still burning, and since it was dark by the time I was there, it truly looked like a cruel hellish disaster. The firefighters were keeping watch to make sure it couldn’t flame back up and engulf any other buildings for the rest of the night. If any firefighter from that blaze is reading this, I thank you very much. The cause of the fire is unknown, and it lit up so quickly and burned the barn with such intensity, that we will likely never know.”

It was a lengthy note on Facebook and we, as his family, were all amazed that he could articulate so well what had happened. Being a feline lover, he was really worried about the barn cats but he also had this good advice for us all (especially those of us who are nosy): “You can drive in and chat, but don’t slink by and say nothing to us, it’s very cruel.”

Either pitch in and help or stay at home. With that, I’m going to take my own piece of advice and drop off a pie to that family who just lost their barn and some cattle. It’s the least I can do. ◊

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Farming News Proposed legislation to protect farmers and guard food safety is met with relief and thanks by farm leaders

Farmers need to feel safe working in their barns

Ernie Hardeman Minister of Agriculture and Food

A

Eric Schwindt Chair, Ontario Pork

fter hearing reports of farm families being worried and scared to be on their own yards plus receiving hundreds of letters about aggressive trespassing at food processing plants, it was time to introduce legislation to protect Ontario farmers says Ernie Hardeman, the Ontario Minister of Agriculture and Food.

“We were convinced as a government that we had to do something to make sure we have a standard of safety for our animals and for our farm families. Also, we wanted to protect the safety of our food,” says Hardeman.

The Agriculture and Food Minister is passionate in his support of farm families as part of the Security from Trespass and Protecting Food Safety Act, 2019 which he introduced as legislation on December 2.

The proposed legislation addresses the unique risks and challenges associated with trespass onto a farm or a food processing facility. These include: • The risk trespassers pose to the safety of farmers, their families and employees • Exposing farm animals to stress and disease, and, • Introducing contaminants into the food supply.

Ed Benjamins Chair, Chicken Farmers of Ontario

Keith Currie President, Ontario Federation of Agriculture

If the act is passed, trespassers on farms will face escalating fines of up to $15,000 for a first offence and $25,000 for subsequent offences.

Also, if animals become ill or a farmers loses income when farm biosecurity is breached by a trespasser, courts will be able to order restitution for damage.

Since making the announcement, Ontario’s various farm commodity groups, many of whom lobbied for the legislation, came forward in full support.

“The important aspect of this law is that it provides balance. People will still be free to have their views and talk about them on public property, but not on private property,” says Eric Schwindt, chair of Ontario Pork.

He says animal rights activists host weekly vigils at meat processing plants. Trespassing is sporadic at the farm level, but does happen. Schwindt referenced an incident that happened last year on a pig farm in Ontario where an activist broke into a barn and stole piglets. The activist then posted the theft on social media as a positive act. What he

• By Lisa B. Pot • January 2020 17

didn’t realize, was that he caused a health break in the barn afterwards.

“I think most people would agree that you cannot just walk in to someone’s barn and steal a pig in the same way that you cannot walk into someone’s living room and steal a television,” says Schwindt.

The new legislation will give farmers confidence under the law that police will come and lay charges when activists trespass on their farms, he added.

Hardeman agrees. “No farmers should be nervous or scared to be in their workplace because of what other people will do to them,” he told The Rural Voice days after introducing the legislation.

The legislation centres around the creation of an Animal Protection Zone on the farm.

Currently, most Ontario farms have biosecurity systems in place which include signage to prevent people from entering their barns. The new Animal Protection Zones will be more encompassing.

Hardeman explains that barns are natural Animal Protection Zones.

Pastures, fenced in areas, processing plants and transport trucks will also be considered protection zones.

“We can also expand the zone to include the area between the house and the barn, where the family needs to be protected,” he said. oreover, the legislation extends its reach to protect food processing businesses and livestock transporters.

The proposed legislation addresses the safety risks of people interfering with livestock in transport. Video of a woman trying to give pigs water at a Burlington abattoir in 2015 went viral after she was charged with criminal mischief, revealing the escalating tensions between the animals rights movements and the livestock industry. She was later acquitted.

However, incidences like that have direct consequences on food safety and truck driver safety.

The legislation will prohibit activists from stopping, hindering, obstructing or interfering with a motor vehicle transporting livestock.

Also, it will prohibit interacting with animals in trucks.

M

18 The Rural Voice

It also keeps activists safe, points out Schwindt.

“The last thing we want is for protestors to get hurt or fall underneath our trucks,” he says.

Safety is the key word throughout out the legislation. As farmers and transporter need to be protected, so do farm animals. Hardeman said the proposed trespassing legislation coincides with the new law, named the Provincial Animal Welfare Services Act which came into effect on January 1. That law also increases penalities for cruelty offences. There will be 100 inspectors across the province, ensuring animals are well cared for.

“I have great faith in the agriculture community that they want to do right by their animals. They do not make a living when they do not take good care of their animals,” said Hardeman. “That’s the message we need to get out ... we need to do a better job of reducing the need for

people thinking they have to storm in the barn to see what is going on.”

Ontario Sheep Farmers are fully supportive of this idea. “Ontario sheep farmers are committed to the highest standards of animal care,” states Marc Carere, Chair of Ontario Sheep Farmers. “This legislation includes a much-needed emphasis on biosecurity. It is critical to ensure the highest standards of animal care and ensuring that farms are safe places to work and live for our farm families.”

Chicken Farmers of Ontario chair, Ed Benjamins said on behalf of Ontario’s 1,300 chicken farmers, he thanks the Minister’s extensive consultation process before creating the proposed legislation.

Hardeman stated the government held over 20 roundtables, meetings and conference calls with the agrifood industry, rural municipalities and representatives of animal advocacy organizations, though he admits the proposed legislation did

The Details The proposed Security From Trespass and Protecting Food Safety Act, 2019, has several specific components designed to protect farmers, animals and food safety.

• The proposed act would apply to animal enclosures regardless of whether there is any signage related to trespass or security.

• It increases protection for farmers against civil liability from people who were hurt while trespassing or contravening the act as long as there was no intent to do harm.

• The legislation would be an additional tool for law enforcement to make charges.

• The legislation will make it easier for Ontario’s legal system to prosecute individuals as it requires individuals to have explicit prior consent before entering an Animal Protection Zone.

• The proposed legislation established additional offences to address risks to farmers, agri-food premises and transporters including: – entering without explicit prior consent – failing to comply promptly with a request to leave the premises or stop interacting with animals – failing to comply promptly with a request from a driver to stop hindering or obstructing a livestock transport vehicle – providing false or misleading information – defacing, altering, damaging or removing any signs that have been posted • Expanding the limitation period to which charges can be laid to two years from the day of offence or two years from the day when evidence of the offence was uncovered. This compares to a limitation of six months under the Trespass to Property Act.

not have “great acceptance” in their camp. Still, he believes it is fair.

Benjamins agrees.

“The proposed legislation is a fair and balanced approach,” stated Benjamins. “Trespassing for any reason, including animal activism, is illegal and puts the safety and wellbeing of our businesses, our families and our animals at risk.”

Benjamins says its fine to have a different viewpoint. However, animal rights activists are not really concerned about food safety. Their goal, in reality, is to completely eliminate animal agriculture.

“Their goals and our goals are diametrically opposed. They really are,” said Benjamins. “It’s okay that they have different views but you can’t suddenly trespass onto my farm, and break the law and consider that it is allowed because it is for the ‘greater good’. That is crap! I can’t break into someone else’s business and do the same thing, no matter what my opinion is.”

Benjamins says all the hard work of farmers to work closely with veterinarians, nutrition specialists, regulators and other experts to monitor the health and safety of animals can be undone by trespassers who can inadvertently bring disease into barns when they enter without permission or following biosecurity protocols.

While chicken farmers haven’t faced the same level of trespass of beef, dairy and hog farmers, Benjamins said anyone involved in animal agriculture has “a common purpose to make sure animal agriculture has the chance to thrive.” armer and animal stress are key issues, says Keith Currie, president of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture. “This act will keep farmers, livestock, and agri-food workers safe throughout the value chain – from on-farm, though transportation and at food processing facilities.”

Now that the bill has been introduced, it will be debated and then go to second and third reading.

Once it is passed (Hardeman hopes it will be in early Spring), signage will be a key part of the process.

“These animals protection zones are in reality, biosecurity zones,”

explained Hardeman. Signage, however, is a courtesy. Trespassers can still be prosecuted even without signage.

Hardeman admitted that not every trespasser is intentionally trying to hurt animals. Some of them simply do not understand the biosecurity process and are unaware of the protocol when on a farm.

The announcement follows a similar move in the province of Alberta. Albert Premier Jason Kenney said he was in favour of free speech but when protestors trespass,

create mischief and pose biohazards, then government must act.

“When you harass people who are simply going about their jobs legally, none of that constitutes a legal and legitimate protest,” Kenney stated in a National Post article. “All of that constitutes trespass and harassment.”

Benjamin’s thoughts are in alignment with that statement.

“People have to respect property and respect livestock and at the end of the day, people have to trust that the food they are eating has not been tampered with and is safe.” ◊

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Forage • By Lisa B. Pot •

We can’t control the weather, but...

Forage Focus speakers share the factors farmers can control to harvest digestible forage

Kids have far less stress than their farming parents when it comes to harvesting quality forage for their cattle. Thank goodness for their joyful spirits and the wisdom of forage experts, who shared their knowledge at the Ontario Forage Council’s Forage Focus 2019 event held December 5 in Stratford.~Photo by Dana Kieffer

M

aking hay while the sun shines is such an uplifting, catchy phrase but the actual process is risky as all get out.

How to manage the risk for forage crops (including alfalfa, grasses and corn silage) became a common theme among speakers at the Forage Focus 2019 event held December 5 in Stratford.

The conversation started with Christine O’Reilly, an OMAFRA Forage/Grazier Specialist who said last year was a nightmare of winterkill woes. The lack of snow (no insulation), untimely thaws and freezes (creating smothering ice sheets) and then standing meltwater, (which drowned plants) led to struggling alfalfa stands.

Weather cannot be controlled, however, there are five areas farmers can control when trying to grow excellent forage, she said.

1. Select varieties with good disease resistance to reduce stress on the plants 2. Feed the crop as recommended. Adequate potassium is important for winter hardiness.

3. Avoid cutting during the fall rest period so alfalfa can store energy reserves in its roots to fuel spring regrowth.

4. Plan to terminate alfalfa after nine to 12 cuts – more cuts put stress on the plants.

20 The Rural Voice

5. Scout throughout the growing season to manage insect and disease pressure.

When forage is ready is to be harvested, producer Mitch Kieffer, in his talk on making quality hay, reminded everyone to be ready.

“This may not be quite as technical but hearing what other people do can help it sink in,” said the Teeswaterarea dairy farmer. Kieffers owns Belmoral Farms Ltd., with his wife Dana and their two sons. They milk 70 cows and crop 300 acres. One of his bits of advice to reduce risk was to incorporate a maintenance schedule for your farm equipment.

“If you want to plant when conditions are right, you need to have proper maintenance on all equipment so that you are ready to go,” said Kieffer. “You don’t want to be sitting around waiting for something to get fixed. You do not get those days back.”

Key points from how Kieffer manages forage risk include: – Soil sampling. “I’m a big believer in soil sampling so that I know what I need and don’t need.”

– Know your planting rate and check often. “I just want to hop in the tractor and plant all day but every time you refill, you should check your planter. If you miss that step,

you are lowering your yield potential for that crop.”

– Spread manure post harvest. “I think a nice, uniform coverage of manure can be really beneficial.”

– Hop on your quad or go for a walk.

“You can learn a lot if you get into that field after it starts to grow. Take a good look at things rather than rest on the attitude that everything is sure to be fine.”

– Evaluate. “We can all sit here and boast of our accomplishments. It’s a little tougher to look back over the year and analyze what worked and what didn’t work.

But it’s a great way to think about what you need to change.”

Kieffer also shared that forage is stored on their farm in three Mitch Kieffer ways: upright silos, wrapped hay (upright is possible) and also Ag-Bags.

“We like to have enough storage at our farm. I feed out of one silo so the other silo can ferment. Having enough storage is one of those small steps that can make a big difference,” said Kieffer.

Joe Lawrence agreed. Lawrence was the keynote speaker at the event.

Working in the Department of Animal Science at Cornell University in New York, Lawrence serves as a Dairy Forage Systems specialist with the Cornell PRO-DAIRY team.

Lawrence said he was very impressed with Kieffer’s storage flexibility in terms of risk management.

“For a farm that size to have that many storage options is great. I think storage is huge,” said Lawrence.

Lawrence had a lot of information to share (which you can read about in the February issue of The Rural Voice) but in terms of risk management, his main points revolved around choosing short season hybrids and focussing on fibre digestibility versus choosing forage

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on varieties.

Listing the top influences on forage quality in feed, he felt varieties, while in the top six, were at the bottom of the list. More important influences for quality forage were: maturity, crop species, harvest and storage, environment (climate) and soil fertility.

“We spend a lot of time talking about varieties and we run trials and we beat up our seed salesman but historically, there is little difference in forage quality in varieties,” said Lawrence. “Certainly, there are differences in yield and pest resistance but not quality.”

Nevertheless, he did believe that choosing shorter-season hybrids for corn forages was an excellent risk management tool.

“With our more dramatic weather, we can choose shorter-season hybrids,” said Lawrence. “They can have tremendous potential.”

Dialing back hybrid selections to make sure they mature on time is far better than risking a longer-season hybrid that won’t mature on time. He said within seven days, a harvest can

go from 32 to 37 per cent dry matter. “You get more yield when you let it get to an ideal dry matter content in the field versus gambling on a hybrid with longer maturity to get more yield,” he said.

As to fibre digestibility, weather has an enormous impact on its Joe Lawrence Candace Schiestel measure, more so for corn silage than hay hybrid maturity dates would fall in crops. line with perfect weather!

In corn, much of the yield Rainfall and heat also affect fibre potential of the crop is determined digestibility. There is little farmers early in the season. Weather can do about this either. However, it conditions at pollination impact the is good to note that drier weather ear development which affects the isn’t a bane to crop development. ear to stalk ratio and starch content of Rather, “excess rainfall continues to the resulting forage, wrote Lawrence show negative impacts on fibre in his accompanying notes. digestibility,” said Lawrence.

Farmers cannot control the Once feed finally makes into the moisture at pollination but by barns to feed the cows, making sure planting different corn hybrids, they it is always available to the herd is a can space out the timing of major risk management factor, said pollination. Hopefully some of the Candace Schiestel, who spoke to the audience about increasing profitability at the feed bunk.

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January 2020 23

Farm Safety

Farmer survives scary PTO accident T.J. Klopp was tossed to the other side of the tractor when hydraulic hoses wrapped around his leg

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. J. Klopp says he is known around the family farm near Zurich as a bit rushy and “rammy”. However, on the day he was thrown from one side of the tractor to the other in a farm accident involving a power take off (PTO), he was slow and calm.

“It was a snowy day in November of last year and I was

spreading manure and thinking about getting the corn off but I wasn’t in a rush,” remembers Klopp.

Which is why he noticed that the hydraulic lines from the tanker were rubbing on the PTO. “Instead of stopping the shaft, I thought I would just move them out of the way and carry on because nothing will happen,” says Klopp, now understanding his folly. The safety shield that was supposed to be around the shaft was lying somewhere in the corner of the shed, taken off during a repair and never replaced. Klopp got out of the tractor and slowly grabbed the hydraulic lines. What happens next, he doesn’t know. Did the lines jerk? He remembers backing away, not realizing the lines were laying on the ground as well. As he stepped back, the lines wrapped around his leg and threw him over the PTO shaft to the other side of the tractor.

Then, somehow, he was released. His pants were torn but his skin was not ripped and his boots were still on. He thought he might have escaped uninjured. However, when Klopp went to stand up, he realized he could not.

Klopp called out to an employee who immediately drove Klopp to the hospital. Klopp called his wife and updated her, little realizing he was far more injured than he suspected.

“I just thought I had a broken leg and told her to keep going on with her day. It wasn’t a big deal,” remembers Klopp. However, when he got to the hospital, the doctor recognized the seriousness of the accident and rushed him to London hospital. There, he was monitored for Compartment Syndrome because his leg was swelling up dramatically.

One can imagine thematic music playing at this point and there might be, since Klopp’s story is being captured in a documentary by Bailey Regier and her film crew as part of her Bachelors of Film and Television project at Sheridan College in Oakville.

Regier and Klopp grew up in the same community and when deciding to choose a subject for the class project, Regier wanted to make one about farm safety.

“It is an issue close to my heart because my T.J. Klopp (above, with wife Jocelyn) is back to farming after a farm • Story By Lisa B. Pot • accident last year crushed his leg, requiring three surgeries and keeping him in hospital for 11 days. Klopp’s story is being told in a • Photos by Jack Madden • student documentary to teach others about farm safety.

24 The Rural Voice

grandfather was in a farming accident and almost died, says Regier, who is still in post-production. “Farming is one of the most dangerous professions in the world and I wanted to generate awareness.” (See next article for Regier’s story).

That’s also why Klopp agreed to be the subject of the documentary, though at the time of the accident, he was more worried about healing and all the work his “super woman” wife, Jocelyn, was doing to help manage the farm and take care of their two little ones, while she was pregnant with their third child.

Klopp ended up spending 11 days in London hospital.

At first, it was a waiting game. Doctors monitored his leg for 24 hours, hoping the swelling would go down. Instead, his severely crushed leg kept getting larger. Since the skin had not been lacerated, the pressure was immense.

Klopp underwent the first of three surgeries to cut open both sides of his leg to relieve the pressure and “see what was going on.” There was already some muscle necrosis which had to be removed. The swelling prevented doctors from entirely closing the wound so a second surgery was required to monitor the muscles and close it up a bit more.

A third surgery involved taking a skin graft from Klopp’s thigh in order to close the cuts.

“It looked like a raw piece of ham tied to the side of my leg,” remembers Klopp. “It was pretty bad.”

However, this was not his low point. A few weeks after he got home, the nurses opened his bandages to check on the skin graft. Klopp hadn’t seen it for a few weeks and when he did, he was horrified.

“It looked way grosser than it ever had before,” he says.

“I was weak, needed help with everything, even going to the bathroom because I could not walk on my own. When I saw that, it was so disgusting, I thought they might have to cut my leg off.”

The nurses, however, explained that the skin graft was supposed to look like that and was actually attaching quite well. Still, Klopp remembers it as his low point. “In my head, that was NOT how it was supposed to look like.”

After that, he began to see improvements and now, almost one year later, he estimates he is 97 per cent better.

“I can’t quite lift up on my foot and I need to get more strength in my tendons but I am able to do all my work now.”

The Klopp family farms 4,600 acres of land, has a 2,500 sow farrow-to-finish operation and also raises beef cows.

There are 14 employees on the farm and for this, Klopp is thankful.

“We had the employees to get all the fall work done last

T.J. Klopp of Zurich (above), a cash crop, swine and beef farmer, was spreading manure when he noticed hydraulic lines brushing the PTO shaft. Thinking he could just move them (a decision he now regrets) he popped out of the tractor, leaving the PTO running and ended up with three surgeries to repair his crushed leg.

year. If this was a one-man show, it would have been an entirely different situation,” says Klopp.

Things are different on the farm now. Klopp and his dad went around the farm, checking all the machinery, repairing equipment and replacing safety shields.

Reflecting on his farm accident, Klopp is hoping to shed his “rammy” reputation and be more cautious. “I definitely am more aware of my surroundings and take an extra second to shut something off and do what whatever I need to do to make the situation safer,” he says. “I have little kids now. After the accident I thought about what could have happened.”

Thinking of kids, he felt it was important to speak to school-aged children at a farm safety day in Clinton this summer.

“Hopefully, when they are 18 and working on the farm, they will remember back to when they were in school and some guy came in with a scarred leg because he did not shut the PTO off and got caught. I really hope I can turn this bad situation into helping someone else.” ◊ January 2020 25

Farm Safety

Film project focusses on farm safety Bailey Regier takes her classmates home to Huron County to document farm accident story • Story By Lisa B. Pot • • Photos by Jack Madden •

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oing this documentary, Regier says Klopp admitted to her that what he did “was really stupid” and he is lucky to be alive.

As producer and writer of the documentary, this is part of the message she hopes to capture in the six-minute documentary she is creating with six other classmates. She hopes it will earn her and the team high marks and a potential pickup from TVO and film festivals.

First, though, two days worth of filming has to be edited together into a six-minute film.

“I really loved the chance to take what I’ve learned in an urban environment back home with me,” says Regier. Currently living in Oakville, Regier has had varied experiences to date including working in the family greenhouses (her parents are Chris and Sandra Regier of Zurich with a Steckle connection) and volunteering as a youth minister in Ireland.

After taking one year to study general media which confirmed her interest and skill in computer-based arts, she decided to pursue her Bachelor of Film and Television at Sheridan College.

Most of her classmates will choose urbanrelated themes because the school rarely allows equipment to travel more than 100 kilometres from the school. Regier had to get special permission for this project.

However, she feels it was important to see “stories like mine [rural] on the big screen.” She also wanted to give back to her community and Bailey Regier, (top) formerly of Zurich and now studying film and television at Sheridan do a project that was College, checks plans while on site for the farm safety documentary being created by outside the box. (above, left to right) Neal Shakyaver (Sound), James Italiano (1st Assistant Camera), Stuart While filming, Regier Perkes (Picture Editor / Digital Media Technician), Bailey Regier (Producer/Writer), was anxious that she Samantha van der Bent (Director), Jack Madden (Set Photographer / 2nd Assistant Camera), was doing the story and Jade McKenna (Director of Photography) justice. “I wanted to 26 The Rural Voice

treat them with respect and dignity and bring everything they want said to the table,” says Regier. Despite her worries, she felt the process went very well.

“They [T.J and Susanna] were so generous and kind and patient. We were seven strangers invading their space and we took 20 hours of their time,” recalls Regier.

Samantha van der Bent directed the shoot and says what stood out for her doing this piece was how dangerous farming really is. “I grew up on a farm near New Dundee and never really got the full scope of how dangerous farming is.” She said it made her want to teach her classmates about the risks farmers take.

The directing process involved interviews, sunrise shots, following Klopp around while he fed cattle, and shots with kids. “He is the seventh generation on that farm and it was important to him that we have family shots.”

As they piece the documentary together, Regier is also updating her Facebook page called AgriCulture, a culture that, unfortunately, sees farming accidents as kind of normal because they happen too often.

Perhaps documentaries like hers can educate both urban and rural audiences about how dangerous farming can be.

Anyone wanting to follow the progress of the project can check out the Facebook page. The completed documentary doesn’t have a release date just yet. ◊

Below: Bailey Regier and TJ Klopp on the first day of shooting the farm safety documentary at the Klopp farm near Zurich. Right: Producer and writer, Bailey Regier of Oakville who grew up near Zurich.

January 2020 27

Business

Transition the farm or the cash but first, make a will • By Lisa B. Pot •

I

Intergenerational wealth expert, Dr. Tom Deans, hardly takes a breath as he urges young farmers to take the emotion out of business

t’s a story of grandfathers, business transitions and wills. Plus, having the courage to transition farms into cash if your son or daughter has gifts outside of farming.

Dr. Tom Deans, an Intergenerational Wealth Expert, told young farmers at the Farm Credit Canada Young Farmers Summit that his great grandfather had a successful tire distribution business. His son, Dr. Dean’s grandfather, worked in the business but he did not love it. He sold it and started a chemical manufacturing business. It was also a very successful business but his son, (Dr. Dean’s father) sold it after inheriting his portion. He started a plastics business which became very successful. Dr. Dean joined that business when he was 37, rising to the position of CEO but, he did not love it. He sold the multinational business in 2007 and started a publishing company.

“The pattern in our family is that we start businesses, we grow them, and when the next generation does not love it and does not want to have the voting shares, we sell it and transition the cash,” said Dr. Dean. “I am here to talk to you about the transition of voting shares in the family business.”

The problem is that farming is among the most emotional businesses on the planet. The “emotion” factor makes family succession incredibly complex.

“Unlike other businesses, this business is under your nails. Literally,” said Deans, who has authored an internationally best-selling book called Every Family’s Business which was found in every participant’s swag bag

28 The Rural Voice

at the event held December 5 at Bingemans Park in Kitchener.

“Farming is a lifestyle. It is who you are. It’s what gets you up in the morning and what you are passionate about!” exclaimed Deans.

If a farm doesn’t get passed down to the next generation, parents and the children both experience a sense of failure. “This idea drives me crazy!” he exclaimed, clearly exhibiting his own passion about ideals that do not match reality.

Farms should be incorporated, he says, and when they are, a business is born. “Anything that is born, will one day die,” stated Deans.

Looking at the history of business, he says of the 100 largest firms in the United States in the 1900s, only 16 were in business in the year 2000. “They had brands and market share and wealth creation. And then they died,” he said. It happens, and it happens to farms and it’s okay.

Thinking the farm will last forever, from generation to generation, confuses things.

Dean said this is what happens. A son works for his dad

for free until he sees other boys his age, working off the farm, having money to buy things like a truck. The farmer’s son thinks he’d like a truck so he finds the courage to approach his parents and suggest he should be paid more. Then what happens? The father says, “Don’t worry, just relax.

One day this will all be yours.”

The son leaves the conversation, satisfied, until the next day when he is sitting in the tractor and he thinks, “but when will all this be mine?”

It reads crass but it was funny, when Deans says farm parents used to leave the farm to go to Florida all winter. They would come back in the spring and drive everybody nuts but at least the transition was happening.

This would go on for five years before dad had a stroke. All the farm shares would go to mom, then she had a heart attack five years later and then the shares would go to the kids.

“Things have changed. Farmers are milking cows into their 70s,” said Deans. “They still go to Florida.

They still come back in the spring and drive everybody nuts. But now dad has a heart attack, he gets a few stents and runs four marathons!

These guys are not dying! They go on forever!”

The point Deans was making, of course, is that there needs to be a plan in place long before any such scenario exists. And that plan involves the transition of voting shares so that one person is in charge.

That person should be the one who is actually managing the farm.

“Control is control. You do not have definitive control until you own most of the shares,” says Deans. haring his experience, Deans said he entered his father’s business as a labourer. He would use his income to start buying shares (in fact he started buying shares seven years before joining the company). Those shares paid dividends. He would then reinvest those dividends into buying more shares, effectively buying into the company with its own profits.

Then, when it was time and he could afford it, he bought a controlling interest of those shares.

When that time came, he could decide whether to continue to grow the business or sell his shares and

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transition the cash into a business he was passionate about.

Which doesn’t mean farmer’s sons or daughters have to sell the family farm! It just means that first the conversation and then the process has to start to create a profitable transition for both parents and children.

The one tool that can really help with this is creating a will. This is what Deans decided to focus on once he had set the stage of the farm family transition.

Without a will, the province of Ontario will create one for you.

Deans says he knew of a family of three sisters who inherited the largest family business in their town. One sister thought their mother wanted to be buried. Another believed their mother wanted to be cremated with her ashes split between two oceans.

The sister in favour of burial declared that if her sister scattered her mother’s ashes, she would never speak to her again. Fighting began and their inheritance was lost, with 100 employees losing their job.

“I believe there is not a day that goes by without families slugging it out in court over the family farm. It is the lawyers who profit from feuding families,” said Deans.

A will goes a long way to prevent such a painful and expensive fight from happening.

In it, farming parents and children can name their power of attorney, the person who will act on their behalf when they die. Also, they can create a health care direction to make clear how and when to “pull the plug.”

In the Dean family, kids who turn 18 get a will for their birthday. “They are very disappointed because they wish they got a car instead,” jokes Dean. “But they get wills.”

Share your wills, Deans advised.

“I have a copy of my parents’ will and they have a copy of mine because there is no proof they will die before I do.” Plus, it means everything is on the table. Dean knows his parents’ assets will be left equally to his brother and himself.

No surprises. It makes for healthy family relationships.

Also, change your wills as often as needed. “If I hear another lawyer say you should update your will

every five years, I will lose my mind!

One year I changed my will three times because a niece was born, an uncle died and I started a business.” ean also had this advice for families in the process of transitioning their farm business: • Start now and buy one per cent of your parents’ farm. Then next year buy two or five (shares). Don’t wait until your parents are old and dying.

• Create a family culture of business meetings. “I have not missed a family business meeting in 55 years,” he said. The parents, himself and his brother are all aware of what is happening now, and what will happen in the future. It’s an open discussion.

• Make the transition while your parents are thinking clearly. Most Canadian farms are transitioning at death but once any kind of dementia sets in, undue influence and lack of capacity become valid reasons for someone to contest a will.

• Farming is a business that rewards entrepreneurs who make timely risks and make good bets on when and where to sell. Those people

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are rewarded. Inheritance doesn’t mean much if you aren’t that kind of person. In fact, there is only a slight chance that your grandchildren will farm the family farm.

• Read his book. It was free in the bag after all, Deans reminded everyone, and asks 12 “brutal” questions to bring clarity between generations of ownership.

• Have respect. “The greatest generation of wealth creators were your parents. That generation was made up of “amazing savers with amazing work ethic.” They have given birth to a generation that is better educated and also hard working. Both generations have the capacity to think and plan and be successful farmers.

• There is only one well-worn path to making your fortune – becoming a business owner. Leveraging and growing a business, and creating something with systems and intellectual property, will make money. “Farming is exactly that. It is science and planning, strategy and tactics. It is complicated and sophisticated and incredibly rewarding.” ◊

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Business

Jerry Martens shares his business transition story

Taking advice to heart Selling Avonbank Ag Solutions was hard but former owner Jerry Martens (right, in a 2016 farm show photo) says Dr. Tom Deans helped him prepare and accept that sometimes businesses turn into cash to create new opportunities.

• By Lisa B. Pot •

T

he last time Jerry Martens heard Dr. Tom Deans speak, it helped him sell his business to transition the cash into a new venture for his sons. This time, he has decided to buy his children wills for Christmas.

A great believer is “using each other’s strengths,” Martens is a living example of how business changes, life goes on and selling the old can create new with amazing results!

Martens attended the FCC Farm Credit Canada Young Farmers Summit held December 5 in Kitchener on behalf of Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show, which helped sponsor the event. Martens, the former owner of Avonbank Ag Solutions in Granton, is now the Livestock Exhibitor Manager for Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show and Ag in Motion, a position he has held for the past six months.

He spoke up at the meeting saying last time he listened to keynote speaker, Tom Deans, it helped him sell his business. This time, it prompted an unusual Christmas gifts idea – to give his children wills (see story on Dr. Tom Deans).

It has been quite a transition for Martens who sold Avonbank in 2017, then worked for the company for 18 months, before fully exiting this year. Martens purchased Avonbank in 1983 when he was 23 years old. He grew the business from three to 47 employees, with sales climbing from $300,000 to $15 million per year.

Selling it was not an easy decision, especially since he had three grown sons working in it.

However, his 60th year was approaching, a trusted employee was eager to buy and though he loved his job, there was definitely stress and his blood pressure was a concern. But how would it affect his sons? Ryan Coward (son-in-law) now 34 and sons Justin, 28 and Lucas, 26, all worked at Avonbank.

Hearing Dr. Deans helped him organize the process.

“He got my head thinking about transition in terms of wills and insurance and topics like that,” says Martens.

The family accepted it would take time and that selling 32 The Rural Voice

one business meant they could transition into another.

Martens became the banker for Ryan and Justin to purchase a cement business in London, allowing them to branch off and become business owners versus employees.

They have since been able to pay off Marten’s loan, working hard to establish the business. Lucas chose to work for the parts department at Huron Tractor and has now moved on to another job.

The whole process took a lot of discussion.

“The original plan was that Mike Hargrave (the new owner) would partner together with Ryan and Justin,” explains Martens. “However, Mike decided he would sooner own the business without partners so that changed the evaluation of the business.”

Martens was able to buy Avonbank at the age of 23 with financing from the owner. This time, he was able to help finance the transition of Avonbank to its new owner because banks simply won’t cover that kind of evaluation.

Part of the plan was also to stay and help the new owner transition. “That worked for a little while. But it’s hard for a new owner when the staff have questions and wonder do they go to the old boss or the new boss. I finally made the decision that for the flow of the business, it was better for me to step away.”

Every owner has a different management style and in order for Avonbank to be successful, it needed its current owner to manage it.

There are absolutely no hard feelings, says Martens.

“The most important thing about any business or job is communication,” says Martens. Communication allowed the transition to remain amicable.

However, it wasn’t the easiest for Martens. It is hard to sell and relinquish control, he admits. Part of the struggle is identity. Part of it is work habit. A lot of it is relationships.

“I worked and was owner at Avonbank for over 38 years and I had amazing relationships with my customers.

Many were my friends,” says Martens. It was hard to relinquish his role with them. Plus, he was invested and

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everyday, asking three questions: 1) How are you guys doing? 2) What’s going on? 3) Are they any problems today?

• Ensure everyone has their own role. When his three sons were working for Avonbank, Justin had skills in administration and marketing, Ryan was an excellent service technician and Lucas found his role in the parts department.

“They did not get into each other’s corn flakes,” laughs Martens.

• Find your own passion. Martens originally planned to be a farmer. He worked for a farmer before transitioning to farm equipment, where he discovered he loved problem solving. “A farmer would call up and ask for advice and I’d share an idea or a piece of equipment that I thought could be helpful. I did not necessarily have to sell anything

but the natural benefit of being the guy who helped them, was that I did sell stuff.

• Take time to listen. “When you are at someone’s place fixing something, they will open up and talk to you. When you listen to a customer and hear what they say, it has the bonus of driving sales.”

• “I’ve always said if you do what you love, you never work a day in your life. Don’t run a business because it is your business, do what you love to do.”

• Sell at the right time. “It’s not always easy finding buyers for your business so when someone stands in front of you and says they want to buy, it might be time. Some owners do not sell and the business ends up going downhill because they are tired. I wanted Avonbank to survive past me.” ◊

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proud of the agriculture community.

The job at Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show couldn’t have come at a better time for a man who likes to be busy.

“I have a real passion for agriculture and I was able to come here and share that passion with everyone involved in the farm show.” says Martens. Plus, he was able to keep his connections in the farming community.

“Being busy helps,” he says. “Put your head down and work...that is how I process.”

However, he is starting to feel the benefits of being an employee versus an owner.

“I was always proud that the people who worked for me were able to buy and pay for their homes,” says Martens. “But there was the odd person we had to let go and that was always very difficult. Sometimes they were friends and it tore me apart.”

Sometimes it’s nice not to have the final say and Marten’s lowered blood pressure proves it.

Now that the transition is complete with his sons, Avonbank and himself are doing well, Martens says he feels relief.

“I see too many families broken apart, when parents pass away, over money and jealousy and the division of assets,” says Martens. Along with gifting wills this Christmas, he knows he has to update his own will to “clean up” the last details. hen asked to offer his advice as a business owner who has successfully transitioned a business into cash for the next generation, Martens had this to say: • In business, sometimes you have partners and sometimes you are the sole owner. It changes. “I would say that partnerships are good but be careful. You have to use each other’s strengths. I am still really good friends with my business partners over the years and it’s because we had strengths that allowed each other to excel.”

• “The most important thing about any business is communication. I would use Ken Blanchard’s method called the ‘One Minute Manager’ at Avonbank. I tried to talk to as many employees and managers as I could

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January 2020 33

Junior Farmers

Sing Swing comes to Grey for first time • By Amanda Brodhagen •

Junior Farmers from across the province came to Grey County this year to compete for prizes at the annual Sing Swing

A

fter winning the bid to host the provincial event called Sing Swing about a year ago, Grey County Junior Farmers have been busy planning to host members from across the province.

According to Barclay Nap of Wellington County, records show that Grey County has never hosted Sing Swing in the history of Junior Farmers. Nap, a proud Junior Farmer alumni member oversees the archives for Junior Farmers in the province, a volunteer position.

The event held annually at the end of November is a competition among Junior Farmer clubs that consist of a number of activities, including square dancing, two-stepping waltz, jive, alternative dance, public speaking, signing, musical instruments, baking, home crafting and more. In addition, there’s a popular euchre tournament, Gong show and a mystery event.

“My favourite competition would be a tossup between the baking competitions and the gong show,” said Nic Weber, president of JFAO. Clubs try and enter as many categories as possible to gain points with the hopes of winning awards at the ceremony and showcasing the top performers at the banquet.

34 The Rural Voice

Members of the Grey County Junior Farmers took time to celebrate after a year of planning Sing Swing. (Back row, left to right) Caden Martin, Christine Wyville, Simon Pennings, Aidan Dennis and (front row) Steph Vickers and Matt Magwood.

“A highlight of hosting was seeing all of the hard work of planning that went into the event and it finally coming together,” said Christine Wyville, Grey County Junior Farmer member and chair of the Sing Swing committee.

Middlesex County earned bragging rights for the year as they walked away with top club overall.

“Our club enjoys competing at Sing Swing each year as we are reminded of the talents of our members,” said Ashleigh Beacham, assistant provincial director for Middlesex County Junior Farmers.

With most provincial events, members carpool with their clubs to events, dances and competitions.

While in the area, Middlesex County went roller skating in Neustadt. “I love going to Junior Farmer events across Ontario as we get to see small towns across the province and go places we wouldn't otherwise have,” said Beacham.

After the Junior Farmers’ Association of Ontario lost provincial funding in the 1990s it’s been solely funded by sponsorships and donations. “None of our events provincially or locally would be possible without the generous donations of our community members and businesses,” said Wyville.

Wyville says that Junior Farmers is full of opportunities not only locally but provincially and abroad through their exchange program.

“Junior Farmers is not only an organization that strives to give back to our community but also strives to educate people about agriculture and have a little bit of fun along the way,” she said.

Bids to host next year’s Sing Swing event are being accepted this month. The next big events for JFAO include the Past President’s Roast held January 4 in Elmira for Erich Weber and the Winter Games held

February 8 in Woodstock.

Junior Farmers’ Association of Ontario is a youth organization that welcomes people between the ages of 15 and 29. While members tend to be rural youth, anyone can join. For more information visit http://www.jfao.on.ca/about-jfao.

Overall winners: 1st place, Middlesex; 2nd place, Carleton and 3rd place, Wellington.

Category winners: Carleton: baking, dancing and woodworking University of Guelph: vocal, instrumental, public speaking and gong show Middlesex: spelling b, lip-sync battle, photography and sewing Waterloo: quilting Wellington: metalworking, needle work and visual arts. â—Š

Above: Gents from the University of Guelph square dancing set having fun after the competition. Left to right Will Carson, John Brown, Evan Krebs and Matt Blazecka. Below, Female solo Emma Pullen from Oxford and Derrick Leclair from Essex Kent tries his luck in the public speaking competition. Bottom Celie Diebold leading members of her club in the contemporary dance category.

The Wellington Ladies in pink were, left to right Arin Douglas, Riley Bauman, Amelia Judge and Janna Dally. Below, the Carleton winning square dance set in action. Left to right Celie Diebold, Sam Cleary, Marissa Mulligan and Patrick Sullivan.

January 2020 35

Rural Living A Country Guide for the Rural Homestead

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Recipes by Nancy Fisher

Plants are the foundation of nutrition

P

lant-based eating is suddenly popular. Fast-food outlets seem caught up in out-doing each other for new products.

When The Rural Voice profiles so many beef, pork and poultry farms, is it heresy to write a column on plantbased eating? I realized, however, that many farmers grow only plants.

Plants are the foundation for nutrition, world-wide.

Colin and Thomas Campbell, the authors of The China Study make a compelling argument for the health and ecological benefits of plantbased eating. They have an amusing and simple way to describe our eating habits: we can eat plants or we can eat animals. Most of us opt to combine plants and animals.

Recently we had a houseguest who eats only plants. It made me wonder what our family meals would look like if we did too. We set ourselves a challenge to cook three meals a day for two weeks with only plant-based materials.

It was more difficult than I anticipated but, in this column, I share with you some recipes that will be repeated because they were so tasty. None of these recipes contain animals, although some do suggest animal products such as cream and eggs.

There are many plant-based substitutes for animal products: soy, rice and almond milks, for instance.

A quarter cup of unsweetened applesauce plus ½ tsp baking powder may be substituted for one egg.

Some ingredients in these recipes may not be in your pantry but all are readily available from a bulk food store.

Breakfast Pumpkin Quinoa Pancakes These pancakes are soft, fluffy and tasty.

Dry ingredients 1 ½ cups quinoa flour ¼ cup brown sugar 2 tsp baking powder 1 tsp baking soda 1 tsp allspice

Potato-Leek soup is easy, tasty and equally good served cold in summer as it is warm in winter. Pair it with Cottage Cheese Dill Bread (above) for a comforting lunch. For a plant based supper, try Lentil Shepherd’s Pie (right) which is touted as every bit as tasty as a meat dish.

1 tsp cinnamon ½ tsp ground ginger ½ tsp salt Wet ingredients 1 ¾ cups buttermilk or kefir 1 cup pumpkin purée 2 large eggs 2 tbsp vegetable oil Directions: • Whisk dry ingredients together in mixing bowl.

• In second bowl, whisk together wet ingredients.

• Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and stir until blended.

• Grease a fry pan with margarine or oil over medium heat.

• Use a ¼ cup to scoop batter into fry pan. Fry until bubbles appear on edge and bottom is brown. Flip and cook for another 20 or 25 seconds.

Makes about 18 pancakes.

Serve with maple syrup. They can be turned into “dessert pancakes” by

topping with pecans and whipped cream.

Lunch Slow-cooker Vichyssoise (Potato-leek soup) This soup is easy and tasty. It is equally good served cold in summer and comforting as hot soup in winter.

Ingredients 5 leeks, white part only (or substitute 1 cooking onion), chopped 2 tbsp margarine 3-6 garlic cloves, peeled 2 large potatoes, peeled and chopped 4 cups vegetable stock ½ cup cream or soy cream Salt and pepper to taste Snipped fresh chives or parsley Directions: • Prepare and add leeks, margarine, garlic, potatoes and stock to a slow cooker. Cook for 4-6 hours on low, 2-3 hours on high.

January 2020 37

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Recipes • Add cream and salt and pepper to taste. Cook another 30 minutes.

• Allow to cool slightly and purée using a blender, food processor or immersion blender.

To serve, sprinkle with chives or parsley.

Lunch Cottage Cheese Dill Bread I have made this tasty gluten-free, no-knead bread many times. Before starting to mix the dough, pre-heat the oven to 200°, then turn off the oven heat and let the dough rise there until doubled. (Gently remove raised loaves and set on counter until you pre-heat the oven at 350° for baking.)

I find this bread cooks more evenly when divided into two small greased loaf pans.

Dry ingredients 1 ½ cups rice flour ½ cup potato starch ¼ cup tapioca starch 2 ½ tsp xantham gum 2 tsp instant yeast 1 ½ tsp salt 1 tbsp fresh dill, snipped Wet ingredients 1 cup water 1 tsp cider vinegar ½ cup lactose-free cottage cheese 2 tbsp vegetable oil 3 tbsp liquid honey or sugar 3 eggs Directions • Put dry ingredients in mixer bowl and stir to blend well.

• Into another bowl or 4-cup measuring cup, add the wet ingredients. Whisk until well blended.

• Slowly pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients until well combined, using a bread hook on low speed.

Stop the mixer, scrape down bowl with rubber spatula and beat for 4 minutes on medium speed.

• Spoon into well-greased loaf baking pans. Smooth top. Let rise in a warm, draft-free place for about an hour or until the dough has doubled in size.

• Bake in 350° oven for about 40 minutes. Baste top of baked bread with margarine.

Pasta with carrot-ginger sauce Cook any shape of pasta, toss with this unique and tasty sauce, then top

with sautéed vegetables (peppers, mushrooms, green beans) and/or parmesan cheese. This recipe makes 1 ½ cups, enough for 4-6 portions of pasta and is a great alternative to tomato sauce.

About 1 cup carrots (2 large or 1 cup baby carrots), peeled, chopped 1 small cooking onion, peeled, coarsely chopped 1 ½ cups vegetable stock ¼ cup orange juice concentrate 1 tsp peeled, minced fresh gingerroot 2 tbsp plain yogurt, kefir or sour cream Salt and pepper to taste.

Directions: • Cook the carrots and onion in vegetable stock until tender (about 15 minutes) • Add the orange juice concentrate, gingerroot. Cook for another 5 minutes.

• Purée the mixture, then stir in yogurt, kefir or sour cream.

Supper Lentil Shepherd’s Pie This dinner dish, paired with a crisp salad, is every bit as tasty as a meat dish.

For the bottom layer: 1 cup brown or green lentils 5 cups water 1 cooking onion, diced 1 tbsp vegetable oil 1 cup mushrooms, chopped 1 cup vegetable broth 1 tbsp poultry seasoning ½ tsp each of dried thyme, garlic powder and black pepper 2 tbsp tomato paste or catsup For the middle layer: 3 cups cooked vegetables (peas, carrots, broccoli, and/or corn) For the top layer: 3-4 medium to large potatoes, peeled, quartered 4-6 cloves garlic (optional) 2 tbsp margarine Salt to taste Directions: 1. Bring the lentils to a boil in 5 cups water. Simmer until tender but not mushy (about 25 minutes).

2. Bring the potatoes and garlic to a boil in salted water. Simmer until tender.

3. Meanwhile, cook the vegetables

in the middle layer if necessary. (You may have leftovers in the fridge.)

4. In a large pot, heat the vegetable oil, add the onion and mushrooms. Cook and stir for 5 minutes, then add the vegetable broth, seasonings and tomato paste.

Cook for another 5 minutes and set off the burner.

5.

Drain the potatoes, reserving the cooking water. Mash with margarine, adding in some of the potato water until the mixture is soft. Add salt to taste.

6.

Drain lentils. Add to the cooking pot with the onionmushroom-broth mixture. Stir.

7.

To assemble, pour the lentil mixture into a greased 2 litre casserole dish. Add the vegetable layer, then smooth warm potatoes over the vegetables.

If desired, dot with a little margarine and sprinkle with parsley.

Bake for 30 minutes in 350° oven and if you like a brown crispy top, pop under the broiler for 2 minutes to finish. Serves 4-6. ◊

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January 2020 39

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

It takes a lot of vegetables to feed one family My seed catalogue arrived early and I have already spent some dreamy time going over what I would like to see growing in our wee vegetable plot. Once I mark all the vegetables I would like to try, I turn to the annuals and even some interesting perennials. Last summer we harvested nothing from our garden due to the free ranging creatures that have no boundaries.

At one point Klaus thought he saw a ground hog. The cherry tomatoes on the patio did produce but it was a test to see how many would ripen without the chipmunks eating half and leaving the rest on the ground or dangling from the plant.

Growing your own food is becoming more and more popular. If you don’t have a piece of land you can utilize barrels and large pots to effectively grow some of your favourite vegetables, herbs or fruit.

We have old beams around our vegetable garden that are starting to return to the soil. I like working in this area but I think I would do better with a higher raised bed. One the bunnies cannot jump into.

Raised beds make gardening more accessible for those with physical challenges. Our raised garden is only six inches high, not big enough to deter anything. Garden heights can vary from 12 inches on the ground to ten-inch deep boxes mounted on sturdy legs adjusted to wheel chair height or for someone standing.

I went to talk to Nancy Fisher who has a lovely set of raised beds that I admire every time I drive by. Her 40 The Rural Voice

partner Dave Snedden is a very during garden season they would have left to store: talented carpenter and built two beds • Beets, 180 feet, with 20 to 30 quarts about five years ago as a trial. Four to be pickled or canned; more were built the following year.

• Broccoli, 40-50 plants to yield 35While the raised beds are on the side of a sloped hill, visually they all look 75 1-pound packages for the freezer; level. Dave is a detail guy. So some • Carrots, 200 to 300 feet to produce up to one bushel for storage in the beds are 12 inches and some are 14 cellar or mulched in ground; inches or higher. They have a path of • Cucumber, 30 hills to produce 30 to stone dust around the boxes. The 50 pints of relish or pickles; weeds still grow in the stone dust but are fairly easy to pull out.

• Early cabbage, 60 feet to produce two bushels plus 15 to 20 quarts of They filled the boxes with topsoil sauerkraut; and compost and top dress with leaves in the fall and manure when • Peas, 150-foot row with enough to freeze 25 packages; they can find some. The gardens produce well and they enjoy all the • Summer squash, 70 foot row with 10 to 15 to store in a root cellar or standard crops like tomatoes, leeks, cool room; eggplant, carrots, kale, peppers, • Tomatoes, 140-foot row, with beans, and assorted greens. enough to do up 100 quarts for Nancy has a narrow box dedicated winter. to perennial herbs like sage and The list was pretty complete and tarragon. included soybeans, snap beans, They practice crop rotation from potatoes and turnips. one bed to the next and some If you have the space to plant and companion plantings to deter insect maintain such a huge garden, hats off damage and disease.

Aside from the advantage of to you. A friend of mine who grows quite a lot of vegetables for their gardening at a height that is most comfortable for the gardener, these plots warm up faster than the ground and can be planted earlier. Some eager gardeners use special covers on the beds that heat them up quicker and you can plant even sooner. But eager beavers have to be careful and protect these crops from frost.

As I was cleaning out some papers and old magazines this winter, I came across a suggested list of what one family of four could grow to provide them food for a whole year. Quite a formidable list. Far too much for raised beds but it is certainly an argument to support local farmer’s markets.

Here are a few of the Tomatoes, leeks, eggplant, carrots, kale, peppers vegetables this family and beans thrive in raised beds built by Dave would grow and how Snedden for his partner, Nancy Fisher, who much after consumption garden near Benmiller.

Gardening Sleigh Ride Photo Shots

family once remarked that she chooses to grow only what takes a minimum of space and a healthy yield. In the garden corn and potatoes take a lot of space and you can buy both at the roadside or farmers’ markets for a reasonable price. Beans and peas on the other hand produce quite well for the space they need and work out well in her garden.

Good advice.

My mind is already on the spring season. I have my steel stakes ready to pound into the four corners of the garden and a roll of chicken fencing handy. We will try planting seeds again and hope for the best. I was a bit frustrated last summer and did take over a third of the wee garden for iris that needed a new home.

They may be moving if the fencing works!

The next challenge will be to persuade someone to build me another raised bed like Nancy’s so we can grow a few more of the fresh veggies that we so enjoy in the summer and through the winter.◊

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Advice • By Linaya Pot •

Colostrum: More than just passive transfer Improving nutrient supply to young calves significantly increases their future milk yields

A

successful dairy producer not only has to worry about nutritional management in the current lactating herd, but also needs to optimize nutrition for the future herd – the young dairy calves destined for replacement heifers.

Data compiled from over 10 research studies which analyzed the relationship between pre-weaning nutrition and lactation performance found that improving the nutrient supply to young calves resulted in increases in first lactation milk yields that ranged anywhere from 300 to 1,300 kg.

The producers and industry professionals at the 2019 Smart Calf Rearing Conference Producer’s Day at the University of Guelph were clearly aware of the importance of calf nutrition. During the registration process, attendees were asked for their input to help shape the main themes for the conference. This feedback resulted in seven main topics of calf management; three of which were focused on nutritional management strategies for dairy calves. First and foremost among these nutritional concerns was colostrum management.

Thankfully, the speakers at the conference were well equipped to help educate and disseminate the latest research in calf nutrition. In particular, Dr. Michael Steele, a professor at the Ontario Agricultural College who specializes in the health, production efficiency, and development of dairy calves, was on hand to discuss the importance of colostrum management.

When it comes to colostrum management, producers are usually concerned about the efficiency of passive transfer of the colostrum’s antibodies into the young calf - and rightly so. Without these antibodies, the young calf has very limited

resistance to disease.

It’s recommended that producers use a Brix Refractometer to ensure they are providing good quality colostrum, aiming for over 50 grams of IgG per litre to ensure a successful antibody transfer. However, Dr. Steele wants producers not to ignore other aspects of colostrum feeding.

“I think there is a lot more to colostrum than just passive transfer,” he said, citing other important factors of colostrum management, such as amount and timing of the feedings.

He highlighted a study comparing the success of calves fed four litres at first feeding, versus a standard two litres, which resulted in improved growth rates, younger age at conception, higher survival in the herd and improved milk yield.

“These effects go all the way into the second lactation milk yield,” he said, stressing the idea that how farmers manage the calves now will have impacts much beyond that first lactation. “Inadequate colostrum intake will reduce the lifetime production of your cattle,” he emphasized.

Steele also discussed how the timing of first colostrum feeding is vitally important to calf health, referring to a graph showing the decrease in calves’ circulating antibody concentration as colostrum feeding dropped from 0 to 6 hours post calving. “There’s a pretty big difference in the efficiency of transfer compared to calves fed at zero hours compared to those at 6 hours” he said. “Now, you may be thinking ‘We never take 6 hours to get colostrum in a calf’, but the reality is that calves that are born late at night and in the early morning are not getting this colostrum quick enough.”

And it’s not just passive transfer of antibodies that is negatively

Dr. Michael Steele

impacted by late colostrum feeding, Steele warned, saying that a late feeding will also compromise gut development. “Colostrum contains a lot more than just antibodies,” he said, while listing other bioactive compounds contained in colostrum that are essential for proper development, such as growth factors, hormones, and oligosaccharides.

“When you feed calves colostrum early, you benefit the microbiomes of these calves – and the establishment of this microbiome is very critical for the development of the young calf,” he said. Data shows that healthy gut bacteria is established at much higher levels in early fed calves, with the quantity of gut bacteria strongly decreasing with delayed feedings.

For these reasons, Steele recommended to get this colostrum to the calf “as a soon as possible”, preferably within the first hour of life.

It may be some relief to some that while the quality, quantity and timing of colostrum are of vital importance, the method of feeding is not.

January 2020 43

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“To our surprise, there was no difference,” said Steele, referring to the data showing that the efficiency of transfer is comparable between bottle and tube-fed calves. He suggested using tube feeding if bottle feeding is not working. “Our recommendation is to get the colostrum into these calves as soon as possible. So if the bottle is becoming cumbersome, tube feeding will do, especially on large farms where labour can be an issue,” he advised.

Steele also discussed on-farm pasteurization of colostrum. “There is some evidence that pasteurization – if it is done properly - can have some health benefits,” he said.

Pasteurization has the potential to improve the quality of colostrum by reducing its bacterial count, though Steele heavily cautioned against using it improperly.

“Even deviations of one to two degrees can have a profound impact on the bioactivity of that colostrum,” he warned. Ensure the system is being utilized properly and regularly check using a validation system to ensure everything is in working order. Both the system’s time and heat parameters must be followed closely to get the desired results.

Regular maintenance and calibration is also a must.

One cannot relax after the first colostrum feedings are taken care of.

Despite an industry standard of a quick transition to milk after the first colostrum feeding is achieved, Steele recommended a much more gradual transition into milk or milk replacer.

“Make sure you have a really sound nutrition program so you can go from colostrum to milk over a couple of days,” he said, recommending a three-day transition period. “There are a lot of beneficial compounds still existing in that transition milk till the fourth and fifth milking that are very important for calf health.”

To conclude, Steele highlighted that a successful colostrum program will be focused on four things: cleanliness, quantity, quality and quickness. This will promote a healthy calf and her successful maturation into the milking herd. ◊

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January 2020 45

Perth Gala

Piles of Presidents pose at Perth Gala

Past Presidents of the Perth County Federation of Agriculture posed at the Harvest Gala. They are (standing) Tim Halliday (current president), Darryl Terpstra (2012-2014), Brent Royce (2010-2012), Bert Vorstenbosch (2009-2010), Tim Shute (2002-2004), Mary McIntosh (1994-1996), Ed Danen (2006-2008), Bill DenHam (1986-1988), Robert Martin (2004-2006, 2016-2018) Paul Verkley (1988-1990) and Kenneth Green (1976-1977). Sitting is Joanne Foster (20142016) and Bernice Kelly (2008). John Drummond (1992-1994) was at the gala but missed out on the photo.

The annual Harvest Gala is a time to celebrate farmers, recognize leaders and promote education, all while feasting on local foods.

PHOTOS & STORY BY AMANDA BRODHAGEN

The Perth County Federation of Agriculture (PCFA) handed out continuing education scholarships which were awarded to brothers from Listowel, Clayton and Jayden Terpstra (above).

Bernadine and Warren Wolfe of Mitchell (right) grow more than 3,000 acres of kidney beans and other crops each year and were the recipients of the PCFA 2019 Agriculture Recognition Award.

46 The Rural Voice

T

he Perth County Federation of Agriculture held its annual Harvest Gala event at the Stratford Rotary Complex on November 16th to celebrate agriculture in the county. But 2019 was special, with the PCFA

celebrating its 75th anniversary. Over 350 tickets were sold for the anniversary event.

“The turnout for our 2019 Gala was excellent,” said Tim Halliday, PCFA President. “We prepared for extra ticket sales as a result of the 75th anniversary celebration and were very happy with the response.”

Attendees enjoyed a dinner spread with Ontario-produced agriculture products including, beer and cheddar soup, a variety of salads and pastas, roasted vegetables, beef and chicken, a selection of pies and cakes, and wine from Dark Horse Estate Winery.

The tradition of handing out the PCFA Agriculture Recognition Award and the continuing education scholarships continued.

Bernadine and Warren Wolfe of Mitchell won the 2019 Agriculture Recognition Award.

Given the difficult harvest situation, it took some coordination to get Warren Wolfe to be in attendance that evening to receive the award. He would otherwise have been on the combine.

“The Wolfe’s involvement in farming, developing the Ontario Coloured Bean Growers Association and helping to lead the Farmers Feed Cities campaign in the early 2000s was what made their nomination stand out,” said Halliday.

The winners of the 2019 scholarships to support students Top Photo: Keith Currie, OFA’s president, awards Tim pursuing continuing education in agriculture Halliday (right), PCFA president, with a certificate for and supporting fields the 75th anniversary. Bottom Photo: Paul Nairn (left) were Clayton and Jayden was presented the PCFA 75th Anniversary special Terpstra and Carissa Agricultural Award, by Cathy Lennon, the OFA’s Marshall. general manager.

A new feature this year was table displays featuring the history of local farm politics throughout the years.

Tables featured old photos, news clippings, signs and buttons. Mary McIntosh, PCFA Past President and Paul Nairn, Western Region Manager for the OFA spent months gathering and compiling the history to showcase that evening.

Nairn and McIntosh spent time at the Stratford Perth Archives and The Rural Voice office reading through the history and making note of key snippets of information throughout the years.

One issue that has remained is farmland property tax. “The lobbying on this issue goes back to the beginning of the PCFA and the OFA,” said Nairn. “Both levels of the organization became increasingly active on the issue in the late 60s early 70s and unfortunately, it is still an issue today to get an understanding that taxes on farmland needs to reflect the services used by farmland,” he noted.

“There are so many things that made me proud of the Perth Federation’s history,” said Halliday.

“I think it was the accumulation of the steady commitment to improving agriculture from decade to decade that impressed me. This shows the resilience and success of agriculture in Perth County,” he explained.

Nairn was presented with the PCFA 75th anniversary special Agricultural Award – not included in the printed program. Nairn has been trailblazer in Ontario agriculture dating back to when he was President of Junior Farmers’ Association of Ontario and has worked for the OFA. It was Nairn who pitched the idea to hold a Harvest Gala celebration for farmers in Perth County.

“I was surprised,” said Nairn. “It is both humbling and gratifying, to be recognised for the work one does is a special thing – any recognition I receive within the job is a reflection of the people I work with, both OFA Staff and the OFA Members, especially those Members who I’ve worked closely with in the leadership roles on the County Boards,” he added. ◊ January 2020 47

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

Uncertainty lingers as politics hold up trade deal Trade deals don’t seem to come easy these days. The U.S., Mexico, Canada trade deal (USMCA agreement) has finally been approved by the U.S. House of Representatives. This trade deal, which has been in the works for about three years, is a replacement for the 1994 NAFTA trade deal. The deal was originally negotiated by President Trump’s team, with the intention of ratifying it before the U.S. elections for the House of Representatives. Nevertheless the trade deal wasn’t completed before these elections and the house went from Republican party control to Democratic party control. Insisting on changes to the deal, the Democrats held up and delayed the trade deal ratification until early December, when they announced the deal would be approved. This proclamation occurred on the same day that they released articles of impeachment against President Trump. Once approved in the house the deal would then move on to the U.S. senate for approval. Ironically

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this time, the Republican controlled senate will hold up the deal, stating that they will not move forward with the proposed agreement while the U.S. President is potentially impeached. Due to the interworking (or lack thereof) in U.S. politics the trade deal seems to have come full circle, only to be held up again.

Canada, too, seems to be potentially running into a similar issue politically. The original deal was negotiated and agreed upon by the Trudeau government, back when the Liberals had a majority government. Since much time has passed since this original agreement was formed, there may not be enough political support for it to be ratified here at home as well. Since the election the Liberals lost their majority government and therefore need support from a minority party.

As of this writing the NDP leader has stated that they cannot support the deal as it stands, and I’ve yet to hear the position of the opposition conservative party. Therefore ratification of the deal isn’t certain here at home either.

There’s also the long drawn out trade dispute with China. Currently the market chatter is one of progress toward a deal… but in the seesaw of news on this front, if the past few years have been any indication, there is a good chance the news will swing towards no deal to end 2019. Trade deals don’t seem to come easy these days!

China has been buying more U.S. beans than once anticipated.

Recently China announced further tariff free waivers for two million more tonnes of U.S. beans. While this has increased the demand in the nearby time period, suspicions are that China buying from the U.S. will shortly come to an end, trade deal or no trade deal. Brazil will begin harvesting in February and expectations are for a record crop of over 121 million metric tonnes this growing season. With Brazilian production estimates so high, once shipments begin it is likely that China will not have demand for U.S. beans until September 2020. That is unless, political pressures change the buying situation.

Argentina continues to have its challenges politically too. Because of the large price inflation and debt issues in Argentina there continue to be worries throughout Argentine producers that the newly elected government will introduce higher export taxes on agricultural products.

In a move to calm these fears a government representative has recently stated that the government will not unfairly target the ag sector as they want to see the ag sector grow, to inject more dollars into their economy. Other debt ssues are causing problems in Argentina too.

A large soy crusher, Vincentin, is reported to have a cash crunch to the tune of $350 million dollars. This crusher is a significant player in the Argentine market as they crush 500,000 metric tonnes of beans per month, or six million tonnes per year.

The December USDA report didn’t have anything that the farmer was looking for in its numbers. This year harvest delays and light test weights are wide spread, not only here in Ontario but also across wide swaths of the U.S. as well. From this, many growers speculated that the USDA would start to drop U.S. production, to account for harvest losses and low test weights. You don’t have to look too far within the news to find evidence in some areas that would lead you to think along these lines. A good example is the corn crop in North Dakota. At this time, only about 43 per cent of the North Dakotan crop is harvested and standability in some fields is horrible.

So the question remains as to where areas like this example’s final production numbers will be. It can’t be determined how much corn can be salvaged off poor standing fields or even if those acres will be harvested at all, especially in November when the USDA data was gathered for the December report. That being said it may be the January 10 report, or possibly subsequent reports before we have a better handle on U.S. corn production. Also, keep in mind that while horrible production reports abound, like in North Dakota as we discussed, North Dakota only represents about three per cent of the nation’s corn crop. ◊

Woodlots Steve Bowers is a forester, forest owner and member of the Ontario Woodlot Assoc.

GMOs might be the answer to save diversity in our forests The December 2019 Rural Voice was a great read as is every issue (maybe I’m slightly biased). Some of the topics covered generated a few thoughts for me that are hopefully worth sharing in this column.

During the various roles I filled in my working career, without question the greatest highlight was the positive working relationships and acquaintances developed with coworkers and other agency staff, and in particular the many landowners

and community members I worked with. Susan Chan is certainly among many others near the top of that list.

She was featured in the December issue of The Rural Voice in an article

by Lisa B. Pot highlighting Susan’s family farm near Goderich that has a conservation easement in place to protect both farmland and natural areas.

Susan’s father, John Hindmarsh was a good land steward and left a lasting natural heritage legacy in our area. Susan has certainly followed in his footsteps. While I was Stewardship Coordinator with the Huron Stewardship Council, she was a council member for many years and actively participated in many projects.

As noted in Lisa’s article, the Hindmarsh farm is protected by an easement with the Ontario Farmland Trust. Landowners who are interested in long term protection of the natural features of their properties, past their term of ownership, have a number of other options they might consider (and there could even be income tax Growers of quality Native Tree Seedlings since 1950

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benefits). One option is the Huron Tract Land Trust Conservancy (www.htltc.ca) which has several properties in the Huron / Middlesex area that are being managed to protect their natural features in perpetuity (in the interest of full disclosure, I am one of their board members). There are many other options such as Nature Conservancy Canada (NCC) and the Thames Talbot Land Trust. For a provincial list of land trusts check out the Ontario Land Trust Alliance (www.olta.ca).

The NCC actually owns a number of properties along the Maitland River between Goderich and Wingham. I believe the first property they acquired locally (in 1996) is the Morris Tract, just upstream from Goderich. At the time the Morris Tract was owned by the County of Huron and managed by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources under the Agreement Forest Program.

There had been some controversy about proposed management activities on the property. The Morris Tract is a truly special area and purchase of the property by NCC to resolve the issue was largely enabled by local fundraising efforts. Few people know that the local community interest was quietly initiated by Dave Kilgour and Gerry Fremlin, who made a few calls and pushed a few buttons to get things going, but then largely stayed in the background. Dave was a lawyer with a practice on Bay Street in Toronto who fell in love with the Maitland Valley, eventually acquired a few properties along the river and lived here in his retirement. I spent many days working with Dave on quite a number of projects.

If you read Lisa B. Pot’s editorial and Reg Thompson’s article in the December Rural Voice (both about Nobel prize-winning author Alice Munro) you’ll know that Gerry Fremlin was Alice Munro’s husband.

I think the Morris Tract (which is now a Provincial Nature Reserve) was possibly one of the first properties in the area to be acquired by a land trust. The community interest slyly initiated by these two fellows no doubt had an impact on NCC realizing the Maitland Valley January 2020 49

Woodlots

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was a significant natural area that should be targeted for protection efforts. This has resulted in a number of property acquisitions and a significant natural heritage legacy in the area.

Also in the December Rural Voice, Gary Kenny wrote about the issue of GMO (Genetically Modified) foods and concerns about the unknown, i.e. do they present any health risks to consumers and what

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50 The Rural Voice

might the impacts be if GMO organisms such as salmon escape into the wild? In forestry there are somewhat similar concerns. We are losing species due to impacts of invasive (i.e. non-native) organisms.

Some of the tree species affected by invasive diseases include American chestnut, elm, beech, butternut, eastern flowering dogwood, etc.

While there are many efforts underway such as breeding programs to try and develop resistant trees, I don’t know of any that have yet been successful. Syracruse University in New York State did develop a GMO version of the American chestnut that may provide a solution for that species, but there has been much resistance due to the concern over potential impacts of these GMO trees (i.e. “the unknown”).

While I can understand the concerns, we are in a real crisis due to the reduction of diversity in our forests. I wonder if GMO technology may be the most practical solution for bringing these species back into our forests. We’ve screwed things up royally by introducing all these invasives, but there’s hesitance to use science to help correct the issue. I don’t know what the right answer is.

Keith Roulson’s column about birds in the December Rural Voice presents another quandary for me.

Similarly to Keith, I grew up on a farm and recall seeing meadow larks and bobolinks in our pasture fields as a boy. With changes in agricultural and other land use practices, there’s been a reduction in meadow habitat, so less suitable areas available for meadow species. On the other hand, depending on where you are in the province, many areas may have been densely forested before settlement, so the meadow habitat was actually artificially created by clearing forests for agriculture. Now if reforestation is proposed to return marginal land to forest cover, it may be viewed negatively as destroying meadow habitat. Of course if the area is left fallow, with no disturbance, Mother Nature will eventually reforest it on her own. As usual, the answer is likely in a reasonable and balanced approach. I’m just not sure what that is. ◊

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

Omnibus Bill 132 – Better for farmers and smarter for farms?

The Ontario Government’s new Bill 132 (“An Act to reduce burdens on people and businesses by enacting, amending and repealing various Acts and revoking various Regulations”, or known in short as the “Better for People, Smarter for Business Act, 2019”) proposes a number of changes to laws and regulations that affect the farming community. The bill passed second reading on November 7, 2019, and was sent back to the Legislature on December 4, 2019 for third reading with amendments proposed by the Standing Committee on General Government. Following debate on

December 5, 9, and 10, the bill passed third reading, and it is possible that the new law (or at least parts of it) will have come into effect by the time of publication of this article.

Some changes of note to farmrelated legislation under Bill 132 will include: • Agriculture Products Insurance Act, 1996: ✧ AgriCorp will be required to offer production insurance for any product designated through regulation by the Government, rather than only on request from the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs; ✧ The right of appeal to the Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Appeal Tribunal will expand to cover any decision of AgriCorp in relation to a contract of insurance, but the decision of the Tribunal on appeal will be “final and binding”; • Farm Registration and Farm Organizations Funding Act, 1993: ✧ The Government may appoint a new Crown agency to administer the farm business registration program; Livestock and Livestock Products Act and Milk Act: ✧ “Rolling incorporation” is introduced so that the regulations establishing grades, grade names,

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standards, requirements for packaging and labelling, etc. by reference to an outside document (for instance, a federal standard) will automatically incorporate any amendments made to the outside document; • Environmental Protection Act: ✧ The prohibition on discharging a contaminant into the environment will apply more narrowly, covering instances where “the discharge causes or may cause an adverse effect” instead of where “the discharge causes or is likely to cause an adverse effect”; • Nutrient Management Act, 2002: ✧ It will be specified that an administrative (monetary) penalty imposed where a person has contravened a regulation under the Act will apply even if the person has a defence of due diligence (i.e. “the person took all reasonable steps to prevent the contravention” or “at the time of the contravention, the person had an honest and reasonable belief in a mistaken set of facts that, if true, would have rendered the contravention innocent”); ✧ Provincial Officers will now be empowered in prescribed cases to issue administrative penalties, with the penalty potentially reviewable only by a Director appointed under the Act and not the Environmental Review Tribunal; • Pesticides Act: ✧ General use of products for cosmetic purposes will permitted where prescribed by regulation, not just where the use relates to golf courses, agriculture, forestry, or the promotion of public health or safety; ✧ Administrative (monetary) penalties can be imposed where the Director (or in certain prescribed cases, a Provincial Officer) is of the opinion that a person has committed a contravention prescribed by regulation under the Act, and the penalty will apply in spite of any due diligence defence; • Highway Traffic Act: ✧ Municipalities will now be able to pass by-laws permitting the January 2020 51

Agrilaw

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

operation of off-road vehicles on any highway within the municipality under the jurisdiction of the municipality (note, however, that off-road vehicles with slow moving vehicle signs driven for agricultural purposes by farmers licensed to drive are already permitted on many highways by the Off-Road Vehicles Act).

As first introduced, Bill 132 would have also repealed the Line

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52 The Rural Voice

Fences Act, which provides for the arbitration of disputes over the construction, reconstruction, repair, maintenance and up-keep of boundary fences by municipallyappointed “fence-viewers”. This proposed change was opposed by farm organizations, who submitted that the existing statutory arbitration process was better for people and smarter for business than the alternative – going to court. The Standing Committee was obviously listening, because the “Line Fences Repeal Act, 2019” was dropped from the version of Bill 132 that was sent back to the Legislature for third reading.

The Ontario Government has also recently introduced Bill 156, the “Security from Trespass and Protecting Food Safety Act, 2019”, which passed first reading in the Legislature on December 2, 2019.

According to the Government, the proposed legislation, if passed, “will better protect farmers, their animals, livestock transporters and the province’s food supply. It would also require explicit prior consent to access an animal protection zone on a farm or food proceeding facility.”

And more farm-related legislation may be on the way. According to its Bill 132 submission to the Government, the Ontario Fruit & Vegetable Growers’ Association stated its understanding that proposed changes to the Drainage Act will be communicated by the Government soon.

Farmers should stay informed about all federal, provincial, and municipal legislation and regulations that apply to their agricultural operations. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure (the cure being avoidable legal costs and penalties). ◊ ______________________________ John D. Goudy’s law practice includes real property and environmental litigation, expropriation law, energy regulation, and regulatory offences.

Agrilaw provides information of interest to the farming community, not legal advice.

Readers should consult a legal professional about their particular circumstances.

The

Rural Voice

Business Centre To place your ad call: 519-523-4311 or email: rvads@northhuron.on.ca Horse & Livestock Car, Utility & Recreational any design, hitches trade-ins welcome super after sales service

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

Est. 1991

Maitland Welding & Machining

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

63 North St. Wingham

Ph.:519-357-2727

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

PACKERS: WE BUILD RUBBER TIRE PACKER SPECIALISTS

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

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

INNIS NEW & USED TRACTOR PARTS LTD.

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

• Bulk Bags • Tote Bags • Super Sacks

Agricultural & Combines New & Used Parts Used Tractors & Machinery

1-519-291-4924 Fax: 519-291-1520 Fire No. 6142, Line 84, R.R. #2, Listowel, ON N4W 3G7 Wanted: Early and late model farm tractors, combines, crawlers and construction equipment, fuel injection pumps, starters and alternator repairs

If we don’t have it in stock, we’ll custom make it for you! info@bagsupplies.ca Tel: 1-519-271-2040

B U S I N E S S

www.bagsupplies.ca Fax: 1-519-271-2017 January 2020 53

C E N T R E

Looking to Buy or Sell A Farm or Home? Give me a Call!

Wa n t e d to buy STEVEN NIXON

Serving the area since 1999

Broker WILFRED MCINTEE & CO. LIMITED

Bus: 519-357-2222 Cell: 519-531-0252 Email: nixon@execulink.com Web: www.stevennixon.com 249 Josephine St., WINGHAM, ON N0G 2W0

B U S I N E S S

#27

91 Mary St., Wingham $629,900.

MLS# 30764527 Amazing country views on this beautiful private 14-acre property, large master bedroom with patio, 3 plus bedrooms, 1 1/2 baths, gas furnace & central air, field stone fireplace, family room with bar, partly insulated shop 64 ft x 32 ft, 9 acres workable land. Call Steve Nixon 519.357.2222

OLD BARNS FOR SALVAGE CALL STEVE

519-523-4523 Galvanized Roofing For Sale

MANUFACTURING STEEL ROOFING SIDING & TRIMS

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

519-363-3757 2051 Bruce Rd. 19, R.R. 1 Chesley, ON N0G 1L0

Also Supplying Other Building Accessories

TF: 1-877-509-2847

C E N T R E

RODENT PROBLEMS? WE CAN HELP!

Ph: 519-799-5000 Web: ruralroutespestcontrol.com Email: info@ruralroutespestcontrol.com

Agricultural Residential Commercial • Unmarked Vehicles • Fully Insured • MOE Licensed Technicians

WE WANT YOUR GRAIN! • Corn • Wheat • Soybeans • Feed Grains • Feed Ingredients • Food Quality Soybeans

CASH & FORWARD CONTRACTS Call us today for Quotes Dave Gordon 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

54 The Rural Voice

The deadline for the February issue of The Rural Voice is January 14, 2020

CLASSIFIED AUCTION -------------------------------------------------Elmira Produce Auction – Hay and Straw Sales every Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. Consignors and buyers welcome. Call Noah Gingrich, 519669-3884. 7400 Reid Woods Drive, Elmira.

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

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

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

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

-------------------------------------------------FARM EQUIPMENT FOR SALE -------------------------------------------------Show cattle equipment. Blowers, clippers, fans and end panels. Will sell separately or as a package. 519831-4672.

-------------------------------------------------FIREWOOD -------------------------------------------------Bodywood • Slabwood Quantity Discounts 519-441-2085 519-656-2057

Serving Southwestern Ontario for over 10 years!

-------------------------------------------------FOR SALE -------------------------------------------------Martin’s Nursery & Bee Supplies Etc. Large selection of flowering trees, shade trees, fruit trees and hydrangeas and other shrubs. We have the plants you need to make a living “privacy hedge” or snow fence, Blue spruce, pine, cedars, etc. Also…

Complete line of Bee Supplies for the commercial or hobby beekeepers.

We sell Bees (Nucs) in spring and early summer. Come see our selection Monday to Saturday at Emanuel E.M. Martin, 42661 Orangehill Rd., Wroxeter, ON N0G 2X0, one concession north of Wroxeter on Belmore Line.

-------------------------------------------------Soybean seed for sale – Absolute RR, Altitude R2, Mahony R2 and Xtend varieties. Treatments and inoculants available. Call Mitch at Courtney Grain & Seed (2015) Ltd. 519-440-6712.

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

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

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

-------------------------------------------------For 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.

-------------------------------------------------Hay and straw and individually wrapped baleage, nice, clean, rotary, combined, good for TMR, 3x3x7' bales and silage bales individually wrapped. Huron East, 519-292-0138.

-------------------------------------------------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 your résumé by February 14 to the Huron Research Station, 911# 70257 Airport Line, RR 1, Exeter, ON N0M 1S4 or huronresearchstation@ gmail.com --------------------------------------------------

CLASSIFIED FOR SALE --------------------------------------------------

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

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

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

Closed Sundays, 519-338-3920.

-------------------------------------------------Inventory Sale until Feb. 1/2020 – up to 70% off ladies’ designer, casual and western clothing. All giftware 50% off. Wedding apparel and accessories 50% off. Caralot Country Clothier, Parkhill 519-294-0494. Open Thurs., Fri., Sat. 9:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

-------------------------------------------------Siberian Husky Pups – book now!

Available mid-January.

First vaccinations, micro-chipped. Gentle temperament. Pure bred. 519-2940494.

-------------------------------------------------HELP WANTED --------------------------------------------------

S & C Clark TRANSPORT INC. PART-TIME MECHANIC FULL/PART-TIME AZ DRIVERS Owner & Operators

Runs between Canada & U.S. - Competitive Wages - Paid Picks & Drops - Benefits - Wait Time - 2 year experience preferred - Home most weekends 111 PINE STREET, WINGHAM • 519-357-3346

We are a leading local ready-mix concrete producer and are currently seeking customer-oriented people for a variety of duties including: concrete delivery, maintenance, truck driving and loader operating.

Full time and seasonal work is available.

A team environment, health benefits, excellent renumeration and home evenings and weekends are just some of the benefits available to qualified candidates.

Please stop in at one of our plants in Clinton, Teeswater and Tiverton or send your résumé to:

Teeswater Concrete Ltd. P.O Box 24 1201 Bruce County Road 6 Teeswater ON, N0G 2S0 Phone# 519-392-6776 Fax# 519-392-6998 Email kayla@teeswaterconcrete.com

January 2020 55

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CLASSIFIED

FOR SALE -------------------------------------------------Books: The Ebersol Shop Story J.R. Ebersol made his first self feeders in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania before they moved to the Milverton, Ontario community in early 1908. John manufactured his feeders and later also grain throwers.

Still later his son, Aaron manufactured straw shredders, all for threshing machines. Other farm equipment was also manufactured in their shop. Wellexplained in our spiral bound 64-page book with many illustrations, etc.

Other subjects of interest also included. Books available at 4922 Line 67, Milverton, Ontario N0K 1M0 and at Ezra Streicher Harness Shop, first farm north of Milverton. $15 each.

Add $7 shipping and handling to have a book sent by mail.

-------------------------------------------------LIVESTOCK BEDDING -------------------------------------------------Bedding pack compost starter for dairy and veal barns. 1-877-7738004. Sittler Grinding. Rick Sittler.

-------------------------------------------------MIRACLE FIBER Livestock Bedding.

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

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

-------------------------------------------------LIVESTOCK FOR SALE -------------------------------------------------LIMOUSIN – Bred cows and heifers, 4H prospects and breeding age bulls for sale. Smart Limousin 519-3727459. www.smartlimousin.com -------------------------------------------------LIMOUSIN-quality breeding bulls and breeding females for sale.

Delivery included. Posthaven Limousin, John Post 519-766-7178. www.posthavenlimousin.com -------------------------------------------------RESTORATION -------------------------------------------------The Olde Tyme Radio Centre – antique radios, clocks, gramophones, telephone and vintage auto clock radio. Speedometer, tachometer sales–restorations. Belgrave 519-3574304, www.oldtymeradio.ca -------------------------------------------------RETAIL & GIFTS -------------------------------------------------Stitches with a Twist – 404 Queen St., Blyth, 519-523-9449. Yarns, knit and crochet instruction. Chainmaille supplies. Alterations and repairs, including leather.

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

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

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

Cell 519-274-5000. www.cronin pouredconcrete.ca --------------------------------------------------

56 The Rural Voice

GLAVIN BARN & COMMERCIAL PAINTING FARMERS repaint your faded coloured steel FREE QUOTES ~ FULLY INSURED

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

Call: Jim Glavin 1-800-465-4725 519-228-6247 Specializing in on Farm Pest Management Serving Southwestern ON, Golden Horseshoe, GTA Email: info@sgsltd.ca

519-692-4232 www.sgspestmanagement.ca

All farm buildings & houses, seamless eavestroughing, liquid rubber coatings, waterproofing, metal, concrete, wood, foam and bin flooring sealing.

519-859-0097 or 519-871-0300 info@townsleybarnpainting.com

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

Ph. 519-528-3019 SEAMLESS EAVESTROUGHING

 Roofs & Walls  Elevator Legs  Air Blasting  Pressure Washing  Fully Insured  Free Estimates

London 519-268-8500

GRANT GNAY Chartered Professional Accountant Accounting & Tax Services 133 South St., Goderich

519-524-5113

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

-------------------------------------------------Firearms and hunting training.

PAL & HUNTER ED. Ongoing courses available.

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

-------------------------------------------------STANDING TIMBER -------------------------------------------------STANDING TIMBER - hardwood and softwoods. Quality workmanship guaranteed. B. Kropf Forestry Service Ltd., Bruce Kropf, RR 1, Shakespeare, ON, N0B 2P0. 519-748-7422.

-------------------------------------------------TRAVEL -------------------------------------------------AGRICULTURAL & UNIQUE TOURS – India - Enhanced Itinerary – Egypt/Jordan – Portugal/Spain – Ukraine & Romania – Poland & Ukraine – UK, Scotland & Ireland – Alberta Farm Tour & Calgary Stampede – Alaska Land and Cruise – Yukon and Northwest Territories – Australia & New Zealand – Peru/Brazil/Argentina/Chile Portion of Tours may be Tax Deductible.

Contact Select Holidays at 1-800-6614326 or visit www.selectholidays.com -------------------------------------------------UPCOMING EVENTS -------------------------------------------------South Western Ontario Dairy Symposium, February 20, 2020, Woodstock Fairgrounds. www.dairysympoisum.com -------------------------------------------------The Chatsworth Agricultural Society Annual Meeting is scheduled for January 20, 2020, rain date January 27. Coffee at 7:00 p.m., meeting starts promptly at 7:30 p.m. at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church, Chatsworth, ON. --------------------------------------------------

CLASSIFIED

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CLASSIFIED

UPCOMING EVENTS -------------------------------------------------PA DAY ADVENTURES – On January 31, join Grey Roots for a full day of KidsCamp with Chasing Rainbows! Visit greyroots.com or call 519-367-3690 for details.

-------------------------------------------------Neustadt and District Lions Club presents The Twist Tops, music and entertainment (50s and 60s) and Country Clem (Don Vair - comedian).

Ham and scalloped potato dinner, Saturday, February 1, 2020. Time: 6:30 p.m. at the Neustadt Community Hall, 183 Enoch Street, Neustadt, ON. Admission: $25 per person. For tickets phone 519-799-5914, 519364-4396, 519-367-2193. Email: lionbillc@wightman.ca -------------------------------------------------WANTED -------------------------------------------------Hay/Straw - small square bales of hay; timothy and alfalfa. Round bales of hay; timothy alfalfa or timothy grass mix. High class large square bales of hay. Call Riley Gorman 519-321-1012.

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

WANTED -------------------------------------------------Actively seeking farmland to rent for corn, soybeans, wheat, hay, edible beans. Contact Narva Farms Limited: 519-366-2636 or 519-881-9384 or email: sandyfitzsimmons@hotmail.com -------------------------------------------------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 -------------------------------------------------Scrap Cars Wanted – 20, 30, 40 yd. scrap metal bins available. We sell quality used auto parts. Wanted to buy – scrap cars, trucks, farm machinery, heavy equipment.

Kenilworth Auto Recyclers. 519-3231113.

-------------------------------------------------Cash cropland wanted to rent, good stewardship, competitive rates.

Call Peter Heinrich, 519-523-4461.

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

54th Annual

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

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

Short and long term. 519-200-7845 or hundt.chris@outlook.com -------------------------------------------------Farmland to rent or share crop – no-till. Monthly, quarterly, semiannual, annual rent payment options.

Please call/email Joe: 519-525-0359 or joewhitely05@gmail.com --------------------------------------------------

Advertising in The Rural Voice – A Wise Choice! – Call Today! 519-523-4311 Deadline for the February issue is January 14

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

January 3 – 9, 2020

Conference & Trade Show Tickets at the Door (No Pre-Registration Required):

Payment: Cash, Cheque or Debit All Days (Except Horse) - $30 (Includes HST) Horse Day - $25 (Includes HST) (Includes hot roast beef dinner at noon.

Goat and lamb are served on those respective days.)

Please Note the Different Day Order this Year

Goat Day - Friday, 3rd Sheep Day - Saturday, 4th Horse Day - Sunday, 5th Dairy Day - Monday, 6th Beef Day - Tuesday, 7th Eco Day - Wednesday, 8th Crops Day - Thursday, 9th An excellent line-up of speakers and trade show exhibits.

For details, please check out our website: www.gbfw.ca.

Email: info@greyagservices.ca or Phone 519-986-3756 Follow us on Twitter Facebook & Instagram @GBFarmersWeek #GBFW20

The best way to experience GBFW is in person! Can’t make it?? Live Streaming Viewing Options will be available all 7 days. This conference content will be available to live stream ticket holders for one month following the event.

Pre - Register for the day(s) of your choice at: www.gbfw.ca $20/day (Plus HST & Processing Fees) Premier Event Sponsor

GBFW2020 is going GREEN! Please bring your own water bottle.

Single use plastic water bottles will no longer be available.

CEU Accredited January 2020 57

National Farmers Union – Ontario NEWSLETTER Strong Communities.

Sound Policies.

Sustainable Farms.

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

Tackling the Farm Crisis and the Climate Crisis: a new report from the National Farmers Union “The farm crisis and the climate crisis share many of the same causes, and many of the same solutions.”

Canadian farm debt has nearly doubled since 2000, standing at a record $106 billion. An ever-increasing use of synthetic inputs, fuel, chemicals and plastics increases emissions while lowering farmers’ incomes. Between 1985 and 2018, input suppliers captured more than 95 per cent of every farm-earned dollar, leaving farmers only five per cent.

The farm crisis is a threat to Canadian farms, but also an opportunity to re-orient our farms to become more integrated, life-sustaining and community-sustaining. In this historical moment, as the changes in our climate system force us to reduce energy use and emissions, farm families have a chance to break free from approaches that extract farm wealth, decimate farm numbers, weaken communities, and force children to leave farming.

We need to incentivize low-input, low-emission agricultural approaches.

Ten thousand years of history makes one thing crystal clear: farming does not create Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions, petro-industrial inputs create GHG emissions. The core of Canada’s agricultural policy focuses on

maximizing production and exports.

But, maximizing outputs also means maximizing inputs.

The good news is that knowing that high-output, high-input agriculture is the primary cause of the farm crisis and the primary cause of increasing GHG emissions from our farms and food-production systems is also knowing that by lowering farm input use we are increasing the net farm income while reducing GHG emissions.

Both the climate crisis and the farm crisis are so complex that no single report can provide all the answers. This report, however, does have many answers—some of which could be implemented right away. Others provide a starting point to opening up the climate conversation in the agricultural sector. Options that will work for different geographic locations, soil types, or types of farms will be explored, but there is no one-size-fitsall solution. The NFU’s proposal is that we must increase soil carbon levels and embark on emission-reduction strategies simultaneously.

If you want to read the full report, please visit www.nfu.ca/wp-content/ uploads/2019/12/Tackling-the-FarmCrisis-and-the-Climate-Crisis-NFU2019.pdf

Coming Events Local 330 Renfrew – Next meeting is Monday, January 6, 7:30 p.m. at the Barr Line Community Centre. Save the date for the AGM on Monday, February 3. For more information, contact Connie Tabbert at rcnfu330@gmail.com or 613-646-7753.

Local 341 Perth Oxford – Directors’ Meeting is Wednesday, January 8, 7:30 p.m. at the home of Pam and Andy Megens, 2877 Perth Rd. 119 (Hwy. 7). All members are welcome. For more information contact Local President, Julie Fleischauer at goldenacresfarm@ hotmail.com Local 316 Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox-Addington – Annual Meeting is Thursday, January 23 at Inverary United Church Hall, Inverary. Gathering and socializing starts at 5:45 p.m. with a potluck supper at 6:15 p.m. The theme is Getting Involved in Climate Action – the NFU in international, national, regional and local climate actions. All welcome.

Bring a friend!

Local 347 Simcoe Dufferin – Annual General Meeting will be held at the Small Hall in Stayner (241 William Street, Stayner) on Saturday, February 8 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. It will be a potluck lunch, and all are invited to attend.

Register Now!

Tree Planting Project for Local 316 Members

With support from the Gosling Foundation and the McLean Foundation, the NFU-O and the Ontario Farmland Trust will be holding a series of land-matching workshops that will allow young farmers to access land and retiring farmers to identify possible successors as well as provide legal resources, conservation information and other support.

Local 316 is continuing the celebration of the NFU’s 50th anniversary in 2019, with their “50 Years, 50 Trees” project.

Saturday, January 25 Guelph Organic Conference

They will be offering up to $50 worth of tree seedlings to each of their member families or farm units for planting next spring.

The Local has arranged for 2,700 trees from the Ferguson Nursery in Kemptville – 2,000 conifers (white cedar and white spruce) and 700 deciduous trees (hard maple, high bush cranberry, chokecherry, shagbark hickory and red osier dogwood).

The first opportunity to sign up for trees will be at the Local 316 Annual General Meeting, Thursday, January 23, 2020 at Inverary United Church hall, Inverary.

Come to the annual meeting to learn more and to complete an order form for trees for planting next spring (delivery around April 1, 2020).

Monday, January 27 Ottawa/Lanark Tuesday, January 28 Kingston Wednesday, January 29 Prince Edward County Thursday, January 30 Durham/Peterborough For times and registration, visit: farm-workshops.eventbrite.ca

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

Craig Hulshof, President craig.hulshof@gmail.com / 519-301-8483

Perth, Huron, Grey and Bruce County Pork Producers

NEWSLETTER

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

Smarter, not harder Last week another Canadian pig farm was invaded by Animal Rights Activists; another family had their rights violated, their property was trespassed upon, and the health of their business was jeopardized.

There was a time when folks downplayed the rise of animal rights activism, many people in leadership positions cited activists as a minority that would disappear over time.

More often than not, agriculture fails to be proactive with potential contentious issues when they are small, waiting until the issue catches a foothold in general society before showing any real concern. This was the case with GMOs and modern crop production, and it is what has happened with animal rights activism. It is terrible strategy and much of the blame for these repeated failures should fall at the feet of our agricultural leadership. Sure folks can blame urban ignorance or biased media but no amount of finger pointing can make up for the fact that if our farm organizations chose to deal with it, they could have. Now it is too late and we will be playing defence on this for the rest of my farming career.

A common excuse coming out of organizations is that we don’t have the financial heft to fight back with anti-agriculture organizations but that just doesn’t hold water. Here in Ontario, if you total up the amount of check-off dollars being taken from the farm gate to our commodity groups and general farm organizations it is just under $500 million every year… half a billion dollars! Poor foresight, turf wars, and competing interests have led too much of this giant pot of money being wasted.

An old friend from my days in politics pointed out how badly we are faring in our PR battle with animals rights activists… they hire professionals, highly paid lawyers and marketing specialists because

they have a clear end goal and financial backing to keep working at achieving that goal. We send farmers who if they are lucky, have had a couple days of media training to ‘tell their story’, whatever that means. It is a modern day David versus Goliath but without having a deity on our side to help guide the stone from the sling.

A personal weakness of mine is that I get bored with minutiae, issues that are small in nature compared to things like animal rights activism. A case can be made that all of the tiny little details our farm organizations spend time on are important but are they worth spending all the resources we do on managing them? Perhaps grace should also be extended to these organizations given the speed that government has been introducing policies that may have potential impacts on the farm community. It seems like every meeting I attend, we are being asked to feed into government consultations; the sheer amount and rate of change is difficult to keep on top of.

It is time for our organizations to streamline to take better advantage of that big pot of money mentioned above. Agriculture likes to think we are special but many of the issues we are using check off dollars to address are issues felt by other industries and perhaps the burden could be shared.

An example, one of the top 10 issues on the Ontario Federation of Agriculture website is labour. We would be better to encourage farmers to join an organization like the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, allowing general business organizations to deal with issues like labour availability that are not specific to agriculture.

The current model does not work well, whether this ineffectiveness is tied to poor leadership or structural inefficiency is up for debate and like most things, the answer is probably a combination of the two. But if everything is stripped away, I think most producers currently contributing to that big pot of money can agree that we need to do better.◊ – Submitted by Stewart Skinner

PERTH COUNTY PORK PRODUCERS PORK PRODUCTS • Smoked Pork Chops • Fresh Pork Chops • Stuffed Loin Chops • Smoked Sausage • Smoked Cheddar Sausage • Bacon Burgers • Teriyaki Pork Steaks AVAILABLE FROM: Dave and Ruth Kloostra (Monkton) ........................................................519-347-2619 Ted and Donna Keller (Mitchell)..............................................................519-348-9836 Jerry and Sandra DeGroot (Kinkora)......................................................519-393-5237 Leis Feed (Milverton) ..............................................................................519-595-2048 Have the Perth County Pork Producers BBQ at your next event or celebration!

Phone Jerry DeGroot 519-393-5237 for more information.

January 2020 59

St., Hanover, Ontario N4N 1P9 Grey County Federation 446 10th519-364-3050 or 1-800-275-9551 grey@ofa.on.ca Website: greyfederation.ca of Agriculture * The Rural Voice is providedEmail: to OFA Members in Grey County by the GCFA

Focus on 2020 In mid-December, we were included as a participant in a day at Queens Park meeting with Ontario's Legislators and their staff.

As you’d expect the focus was on agriculture and the objective was to ensure there is awareness about what’s on the minds of farmers in Ontario.

Grey County Federation is your representation to our Provincial organization and we work to support the priorities of all farmers for Ontario but with special focus on Grey County.

Agriculture represents a significant part of the economy in Ontario; over $47 billion in GDP, $8.1 billion in wages and salaries and more than 800,000 jobs. We in Grey have a similar impact inside our local economy with over $300 million in GDP and 3,000 farms.

Our sector makes a material contribution to the prosperity of all in Grey County. We are an important part of the Grey County economy.

Ours is a business that has faced its challenges this past year; uncertain trading markets, labour issues and of course weather. We are strong and optimistic because we know that we are doing the right things. There are some areas where we need some help and part of the day at Queen’s Park was to make sure our legislators know where we need them to focus.

1) Expansion of natural gas access; energy is a top expense and the estimated savings related to conversion to natural gas is $1billion.

That’s $1billion that could be reinvested by rural residents into their local economies 2) Expansion of broad band internet; in today’s business/learning and living environment, access to internet is an essential. The necessity here has reached the status of access to electricity or transportation. It may be that we can no longer rely on private enterprise to support rural access to internet 3) Rural Schools; schools are the arteries for the rural community. We

rely on them to attract and retain a population that will sustain and grow our rural communities 4) Rural infrastructure; farmers and rural residents in general rely on our highways/bridges to bring resources into our communities and to ship out our products in a safe and efficient manner.

In Grey County, your Federation supports these provincial priorities and within these we as a Board locally have made three areas of focus: 1) Youth in farming; young farmers are the key to Agriculture’s future, we want to ensure they feel supported and welcome into the OFA farm community 2) Membership engagement; we know that our strength, our capacity to influence policy is tied to our members and their willingness to participate in policy-related debates.

Last year we had success on farm property tax rates because membership showed up. We have more work to do and hope that we will create an environment that inspires members to participate. We will publish our social calendar here monthly because, it’s not just work, it's fun and informative too.

3) Working with Conservation

Authorities; we are mindful and skilled stewards of the land/water and air that feeds us. We will work to ensure that our skills and advice are known to our partners in conservation and that our voices are heard as they develop and implement their mandate under the auspices of the new Ministerial guidelines.

Despite the challenges we remain optimistic for 2020 and we will continue to work with our members and the provincial organization to improve the competitiveness and prosperity of the Ag sector in Grey County.

If you have an interest, expertise or just a willingness to get on this bus with us to advance the interests of agriculture in Grey County, call us at the office 519-364-3050 or visit at one of our meetings, you are always welcome.

On behalf of the Board, Happy New Year.◊ – Hugh Simpson, GCFA President

GCFA Events for 2020 Jan. 9 – Directors’ Meeting – 7:00 p.m.

Feb. 15 – Curling Bonspiel February – Public Speaking Semi-Finals March – Public Speaking Finals March 12 – Directors’ Meeting - 7:00 p.m.

April 10 – Tommy Cooper Event June 11 – Directors’ Meeting - 8:00 p.m.

August – Ag Night at the Races August 13 – Directors’ Meeting - 8:00 p.m.

Sept. 10 – Directors’ Meeting - 8:00 p.m.

October – GCFA AGM Nov. 12 – Directors’ Meeting - 8:00 p.m.

November – OFA Convention/OYFF December – Christmas Social

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

60 The Rural Voice

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

NEWSLETTER

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

Predictions for farming in 2020 – almanac style!

Any opinion expressed is that of individual County Directors or Representatives and may not necessarily reflect the views of the Bruce County Federation of Agriculture or Ontario Federation of Agriculture.

Making predictions about the coming year is a common undertaking during the short days of winter. Making predictions accurately seems like a combination of wisdom and magic, but there are a few secrets involved that I will share here in making predictions for farming in 2020 and how the Bruce County Federation of Agriculture (BCFA) plans on meeting the challenges.

The most venerable predictive tool of my grandparent’s generation was the Farmer’s Almanac. With some combination of divination and folk science, the Almanac seemed to be able to accurately predict the weather more than a year into the future! My grandpa would maintain the almanac’s weather forecast was accurate within a few days. Even the best forecasts made by highly trained meteorologists of the day failed to meet this standard.

A careful examination of the weather predictions in the Almanac reveals the germane and somewhat boring secret to making accurate and successful predictions that can be applied to almost anything. The secret of the almanac is to predict average weather.

The Weather Using this standard as a guide here is my prediction for the weather in 2020.

January will have approximately 10 days of persistent below-average temperatures, followed by a few days of thaw that will include some rain.

July will have a long hot dry spell around the middle of the month.

There will be thunderstorms in the first and second week of August. I

stand by these predictions (within an accuracy of a few days).

Now for the predictions about farming in 2020 and how we plan on meeting the challenges as best we can at the BCFA. Unpredictability The weather will continue to present extraordinary events (for example one year in 100 events) that will be challenging for farmers in 2020. As well, markets will be wildly influenced by events beyond the ordinary factors of supply and demand (for example, trade disruptions or loss processing capacity). This combination and the resulting lack of control will continue to make farming one of the most stressful occupations. The BCFA will offer a “Mental Health First Aid workshop” to help manage the stress on the ground.

Affordable Energy There will be a need to tweak regulations and legislation to help farmers gain access to affordable

energy (natural gas) in Bruce County.

The BCFA will continue to work with politicians and corporations to facilitate the process.

Planning an Infrastructure There will be a need to maintain and improve our rural infrastructure as well as advocate for the interests of farmers in local planning in 2020.

The BCFA will continue to make connections with the upper-tier municipality of Bruce County to advocate for our members.

Rural Youth Rural Ontario will need to attract more young people to fill jobs in Bruce County. The BCFA will continue to make positive contact with our youth through our outreach activities.

There you have it! 2020 will be full of challenges as well as rewards.

Plan on helping us shape the future.

Make contact with your local director and get involved!◊ – Submitted by John Rodgers President BCFA

Bruce County Federation of Agriculture Events for 2020 January 27 – Directors’ Meeting February 24 – Directors’ Meeting March 23 – Directors’ Meeting April 10 – Tommy Cooper Evening April 27 – Directors’ Meeting May 25 – Directors’ Meeting June 22 – Directors’ Meeting August 24 – Directors’ Meeting September 28 – Directors’ Meeting November 9 – Directors’ Meeting

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

January 2020 61

Perth County Federation of Agriculture Email: perthcountyfedofag@gmail.com Website: www.perthcountyfarmers.ca Agnes Denham, Secretary: 519-229-8866 or 1-866-829-8866 Tim Halliday, President: thalliday33@gmail.com or 519-291-3374 Perth County Federation of Agriculture

DIRECTORS’ MEETING Thursday, January 23 7:00 p.m.

Mitchell Arena – Activity Room

PCFA launches new website The Perth County Federation of Agriculture has done an upgrade to their website

perthcountyfarmers.ca We encourage you to go to the site and give us feedback. If you have an event you would like listed on the website email the PCFA office at perthcountyfedofag@gmail.com

Perth County Federation of Agriculture

ANNUAL MEETING February (date to be determined) Elections will be held for four (4) directors for a three-year term Nominations must be received by the secretary seven (7) days prior to the annual meeting Nomination forms can be requested by emailing: perthcountyfedofag@gmail.com All OFA members in Perth County are eligible to run as a PCFA Director

County Commodity Annual Meetings District 9 Grain Farmers Friday, January 10 – Mitchell Golf Club, Mitchell 6:00 p.m. Registration and Appetizers 7:00 p.m. - Meeting Guest Speaker: Jan Westcott, Spirits Canada

Perth County Beef Farmers Wednesday, January 15 – Brodhagen Hall 6708 Perth Line 44, Brodhagen 6:00 p.m. (Dinner at 6:30 p.m.)

Perth County Soil & Crop Thursday, January 16 – Mitchell Community Centre, Mitchell 6:00 p.m.

Perth County Pork Producers Joint with Huron County Pork Producers (Date to be determined)

PCFA celebrated 75 years in 2019 Following are the presidents who served through the years 1944-1947......................Frank Bell 1948 ..........................James Corry 1949 ..................William Anderson 1950-1951 ............Clayton Bender 1952-1953 ..........Harold Patterson 1954-1955 ..........Filmore Chappel 1956-1957 ....................Lorne Roth 1958-1959 ..............Harold McKay 1960-1961 ............Edward Dearing 1962..........................Donald Grant 1962 ....................Edward Dearing 1963-1964 ............Mervyn Wenzell 1965-1966 ............Ronald Skinner 1967-1968 ................Gerald Carey 1969-1970 ....................Alex Innes 1971-1972 ............William Osborn 1973-1974 ........Ralph Hunsberger 1974-1975 ..........John VanDerEyk 1976-1977 ............Kenneth Green 1978-1981 ........Tony VanKlooster 1982-1984 ............Ronald Christie 1984-1986 ..................David Smith 1986-1988 ..................Bill Denham 1988-1990..................Paul Verkley 1990-1992 ................Matt Crowley 1992-1994 ..........John Drummond 1994-1996 ..............Mary McIntosh 1996-1997 ..................Ann Sebben 1997-2000................Andy DeVries 2000-2002 ................Burnell Kipfer 2002-2004 ....................Tim Shute 2004-2006 ................Robert Martin 2006-2008......................Ed Danen 2008 ..........................Bernice Kelly 2009-2010 ........Bert Vorstenbosch 2010-2012 ..................Brent Royce 2012-2014..............Darryl Terpstra 2014-2016 ..............Joanne Foster 2016-2018 ................Robert Martin 2019- ..........................Tim Halliday

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

62 The Rural Voice

Index A & V Kucyk Ltd ................................63 Artisanal Chicken Program ................6 Ausable Bayfield Cons. Authority......50 Bag Supplies Ltd ..............................53 BDO ..................................................50 Belore Trailers ..................................53 Bernie McGlynn//SB Flooring............49 Bio-Ag ..............................................31 Blyth Brewing (Cowbell)....................16 Brennan Custom Poultry ....................6 Canadian Co-op Wool Growers ........39 CFFO........................................Cover 3 Chalmers Fuels ................................38 Cliff’s Plumbing ................................38 Construction & Renovations ......2,5,7,9 Creek Edge Farms............................31 De Dell Seeds ..................................52 Diamond Roof ..................................27 Easy Lift Doors..................................12 Elder Enterprises ..............................27 Elma Steel ........................................10 Fawcett Tractor ................................53 FCC ..................................................51 Financial Planning ..................29,30,45 Gerber’s Workwear ..........................54 Gerrit’s Ag Service Ltd ........................8 Grey Bruce Farmers’ Week ..............57 Hanover/Owen Sound Honda ..Cover 4 Harold Jones Enterprises..................53 Hayter Excavating ............................15 Hill & Hill Farms ..Inside Front, Cover 5 Innis New & Used Tractor Parts........53 Klondike Guest Ranch ......................41 KMM Farm Drainage ........................33 LAC ..................................................54 Lakeside Shelving ............................10 Layton Steve ....................................54 Legge Fitness ..........................Cover 7 Listowel Hearing Centre....................38 Maitland Welding & Machining..........53 Maple Leaves Forever ......................16 Mapleview Agri..................................42 Marquardt Drainage ..........................23 Martin’s Nursery................................41 McIntee Realtor - Steve Nixon ..........54 Metzger Meat Products ....................22 Michael’s Stabling Developments ......4 Morris Sachs Silo Construction ........16 MVH Construction/519 Tours............21 Nuclear Waste Management ............63 OFA ..................................................11 Ontario Pesticide Training ................14 Pride Seeds ......................................44 RT Bolton & Son ......................Cover 4 RBC ..................................................22 Ridgeway Metals ..............................54 Rural Living ......................................36 Rural Routes Pest Control ................54 Rural Voice Books....................Cover 6 Schmidts Farm Drainage ..................38 Schweiss Doors ................................15 Sew & Save Centre ..........................41 Somerville Seedlings ........................49 St. Lawrence Cruise Lines ................41 Steffen Well Drilling ..........................54 Stihl Limited ......................................13 TC Trailers ........................................22 Teeswater Concrete..........................55 Triple P Consulting............................21 Trouw Nutrition ..................Back Cover Truckers Toy ....................................19 Usborne & Hibbert ............................15 WD Hopper & Sons Ltd ....................33 Williams Drainage ............................19

A & V Kucyk Ltd. Open Pollinated Corn Victor & Anna Kucyk R.R. 3 6571 Line 34 (Hwy. 8) Mitchell, ON Canada N0K 1N0

Tel: 519-348-4541 Cell: 519-272-4493

We’re scientists, engineers, safety experts.

And PROUD CANADIANS.

At the Nuclear Waste Management Organization, we’re responsible for Canada’s plan for the safe, long-term management of used nuclear fuel.

Canada’s plan involves safely containing and isolating used nuclear fuel in an area with suitable geology and informed, willing hosts.

Every day, we are conscious of our duty to be accountable to Canadians—to work and learn together, and to protect our safety, our environment and this beautiful land.

Dig deeper, learn more by visiting nwmo.ca

@NWMOCanada

January 2020 63

HURON

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

County Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER

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

Farm transition on the minds of OFA members

Upcoming Events

By Teresa Van Raay, Director Ontario Federation of Agriculture A recent survey of Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) members showed that 91 per cent of respondents are having conversations about the future of their family farms.

But none of them have a written transition plan to safeguard their farm and family. The results are startling, but align with the 2016 Census of Agriculture that indicated less than 10 per cent of Canadian farms felt they had a written plan for their farm.

The good news is Ontario’s agricultural industry recognizes the challenges that come with farm succession and conversations around transition. A recent Farm Credit Canada Ignite event focused on farm transition and how to work with young farmers interested in entering agriculture and starting their own farms. The OFA was overwhelmed with the success of a series of transition planning workshops and webinars hosted earlier in 2019. Based on an OFA member survey, and conversations directors and field staff regularly have with members, we know there is a need and willingness for farm families to have these oftenchallenging conversations and begin making plans for future succession.

To help get succession conversations started, the OFA is continuing to partner with Farm Life and Scotiabank and to offer a series of farm transition planning workshops across the province. These workshops will be hosted over the winter months and into the spring of 2020. The OFA will also be offering a farm transition webinar in partnership with Farm Life in January 2020. Watch ofa.on.ca for event details.

OFA members can also access farm transition planning services with Farm Life through the Benefit Program for a team of professional experts to help build a succession plan for Ontario

family farms. Through the transition planning process, Farm Life provides financial assessment, business planning, financial sustainability and a succession plan that protects both the family harmony and the legacy of the farm.

It takes a lot of work and tough conversations to build a successful farm transition plan. We recognize the difficulty of these conversations and understand every farm family and farm business is different, but the important aspect to remember is that it’s never too early to start thinking about this process. Even if it means starting and restarting the process multiple times. Keeping the conversation going among farm family members is what’s most important.

The OFA will continue to provide resources and tools for members to help Ontario farm families maintain their legacy and rural roots. ◊

Congratulations!

January 1 - Happy New Year!

January 9 – Huron Grain Farmers of Ontario Annual Meeting, 9:00 a.m. Holmesville Community Centre.

January 15 - Huron Beef Producers Annual Meeting, Brussels Legion.

Cost is $20. Dinner: 6:00 p.m.; Meeting 7:00 p.m. For tickets contact Harvey Hoggart at 519-4829157.

Huron County Federation of Agriculture

BOARD MEETING January 27 – 8:00 p.m.

Vanastra Office

SNOWMOBILERS The difficult fall season in 2019 has made crops, such as winter wheat, particularly vulnerable to damage from snowmobiles.

Please ensure you have landowner permission to ride your snowmobiles on farmland if you are off of the groomed trails. Please also ensure there is adequate snow cover before you enter a field.

OPP non-emergency line: 1-888-310-1122

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

We are also open other days by chance

Congratulations to Teresa Van Raay from Huron County, who has been elected as Director-at-Large for a three-year term on the OFA Board of Directors.

Follow us on Twitter twitter.com/huronfedofag and Facebook at Huron County Federation of Agriculture

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

64 The Rural Voice

Contracting for 2020 Food Grade Soybeans Fall Delivery $3.25 $3.25 $3.25 $3.50 $3.25 $3.25

OAC Strive S07-M8 Angelica S16-F5 OAC Kent OAC Marvel

2650 CHU 2725 CHU 2725 CHU 2850 CHU 3000 CHU 3050 CHU

More varieties available for contracting. Please contact Pete Rowntree pete.hillhill@tcc.on.ca

38631 Mill Rd., hillhill@tcc.on.ca RR #1 Varna, Ontario N0M 2R0 www.varnagrain.com 519-233-3218

519-233-7908 1-877-433-7908

Don’t rely on neighbours or trade shows to find your copy of the Rural Voice.

Have it delivered next month!

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The Rural Voice 405 Queen St., P.O. Box 429 Blyth, ON N0M 1H0

The Rural Reading Room Specializing in Rural Living & Local Authors

300 SENSATIONAL SOUPS A great soup nourishes the soul as well as the stomach. This book offers an incredible variety from traditional comfort food to exotic taste sensations. Recipes for everything from stock to meat, fish and vegetable soups. $27.95

The Little Book of BACKYARD BIRD SONGS Keep this enchanting introduction to backyard birds on your windowsill for the whole family to enjoy and see who becomes the bird-song expert first. $19.95

OUT OF THE WOODS: CHRONICLES AND CHARACTERS OF HURON COUNTY David's collection of stories appeals to the casual reader and history buff alike. Each short entry is filled with human interest and details that open a window to the county's past and its characters. Arranged in chronological order - from the time of the region's Indigenous people through to early settlement and finally to Canada's coming of age during the Great War - it is a book you can enjoy one story at a time or cover to cover. $25.00

BETTER LATE THAN NEVER It’s back to the barn again for Dr. Dave, with the final installment in his bestselling Adventures of a Country Vet series. Set in the rural Kootenay region of British Columbia, Dave introduces readers to a diverse mix of the funniest, cheekiest, and sometimes just plain exasperating animals—and owners— you’ll probably ever read about. $23.95

BACKROADS OF ONTARIO Ron Brown has updated and expanded this guide to hundreds of interesting places to visit throughout Ontario. Mapped out routes for daytrips let you get to know rural Ontario with interesting stories about spots along the way. $29.95

HATS, HATS, HATS Further adventures with Ralph, the cuddly, stuffed door-stop dog, this time with Erin who comes to visit her grandmother where Ralph resides.

Seaforth author Fran Hook and illustrator Patti Armstrong provide a delightful picture book where even a hat, plus a little imagination, can become fun. $10.00 Total

Qty.

300 SENSATIONAL SOUPS OUT OF THE WOODS BACKROADS OF ONTARIO THE OLD FARMER’S 2020 ALMANAC THE LITTLE BOOK OF BACKYARDS BIRD SONGS BETTER LATE THAN NEVER HATS, HATS, HATS NEVER SELL YOUR HEN ON A RAINY DAY SHIPPING & HANDLING RATES $6.00 for the first book 60¢ for each additional item to a maximum of $20.00

The Old Farmer’s 2020 Almanac This 228th edition aims once again to fulfill your expectations with its fun, facts and forecasts.

Also includes news, novelties and a little nonsense to carry you through another year. $7.99

$27.95 $25.00 $29.95 $7.99 $19.95 $23.95 $10.00 $8.95

Total for Books Shipping & Handling Add 5% GST on subtotal Order Total

NEVER SELL YOUR HEN ON A RAINY DAY Some of those old weather sayings really do make sense. This book explains why. $8.95

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.

BE

to your

Family’s Health PREMIUM CARDIO EQUIPMENT SINCE 1981

6 Reasons Why Exercising is a Good Idea: 1. SAVE YOUR HEART – Helps to strengthen the cardiac muscle (heart) and the blood delivery system.

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3. MUSCLE & JOINT CONDITIONING – Overall conditioning of over 400 skeletal muscles, and over 200 joints in the body.

4. REST & REPAIR – Simple, repetitious movements put the mind and body into the state of rest and repair (automatic mode).

5. TURN BACK THE CLOCK – A good cardio program can turn back the internal biological clock by up to 30 years!

6. LIFE-GIVING MOVEMENT – Maximizes the uptake of oxygen and other life-giving nutrients by every cell in the body.

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