The Rural Voice - March, 2021

March 2021

Rural Voice

The

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

GENERATING PRIDE Going off-grid with solar power is part of Lindsay Tribe’s move toward financial independence and environmental sustainability

BARN BEAM THERAPY Making furniture out of barn beams is good therapy after brain surgery says Shelley Dorssers

SAVING LABOUR Technology, pasture and homemade feeders offer laboursaving solutions for sheep farmers

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Contents The

Rural Voice THE MAGAZINE OF AGRICULTURAL LIFE

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

18 28

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

25 Columns Lisa B. Pot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Keith Roulston . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Kate Procter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Jeffrey Carter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Mabel’s Grill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Viewpoint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Recipes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45 Gardening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48 Markets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55 Woodlots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58 Agrilaw . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60

Departments Feedback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Ruralite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 News & Advice . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50 Business Centre . . . . . . . . . . . . .69 Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71 Advertisers Index . . . . . . . . . . . .79

Newsletters National Farmers Union . . . . . . .74 Perth County Pork . . . . . . . . . . .75 Grey County Federation . . . . . . .76 Bruce County Federation . . . . .77 Perth County Federation . . . . . .78 Huron County Federation . . . . . .80

MARCH 2021 • Cover Photo Lindsay Tribe Photo by Jeff Tribe

• Deadlines: April Issue

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

Mailed by: McLaren Press Graphics Bracebridge, ON

– March 9

May Issue – April 13

18 Going Off-Grid with Solar Energy It took a team to design Lindsay Tribe’s new solar-powered home

25 Saving Labour on Sheep Farms Go simple or buy technology to reduce manhours when raising hundreds of sheep

28 Huge Market for Direct Sales Beef farmers say direct sales have risen dramatically during the pandemic

33 Amphitheatre Restoration Dry stone construction makes for a gorgeous arch at Saugeen First Nations Ampitheatre

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

38 Crop Predictions for 2021 Panelists talk crops and goals for cropping this spring

42 Barn Beam Benches Shelley Dorssers makes home furniture out of barn beams

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

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

NH

ORTH URON

PUBLISHING COMPANY INC.

A division of North Huron Publishing Company Inc.

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

Dangerous image shared on advertisement The Editor, The Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario (CFFO) advertisement on the inside cover page of the January 2021 issue of The Rural Voice is concerning. It depicts an older male holding a young boy and a female toddler on his knees on a tractor.

There’s no indication whether the tractor is standing still or moving.

This scenario plays out many times in Ontario and it’s usually okay until the moment it isn’t and someone gets hurt

         

or worse. Kids and farm equipment just don’t mix. Maybe the worst example I’ve seen was the young father holding his toddler on his lap while mowing the roadside ditch embankment with the riding mower – an accident waiting to happen. I believe this advertisement portrays the opposite of farm safety guidelines and should not be promoted to the farm community. I hope the CFFO will do the right thing and correct its mistake. ◊ – D. Jamieson London, ON

Magazine should portray farming accurately The Editor I am writing to express my disappointment that your magazine would accept and run the CFFO ad “Your farm. More than just a business.” As a farm magazine it is incumbent upon you to portray

House & Barn Painting Pressure Washing Asphalt Coatings Sand & Air Blasting Roofs & Walls Elevator Legs Lightning Rod Systems Heavy Duty Seamless Eavestroughing Fully Insured Free Estimates

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farming and rural living accurately and appropriately. The picture of an older gentleman holding two children on a tractor does none of that! I (and apparently others) have notified CFFO of my concern and they have responded by pulling the ad but I feel you as the magazine should have seen the potential for mixed messaging in this ad. Whether the tractor is moving or old does not matter. It should not be promoted that children on tractors is part of farming. Farm safety is an incredibly important issue on farms and in rural Ontario with deaths occurring every year in the industry.

Your magazine should not be supporting the romanticizing of tractors and machinery. They are not for children. They are for one driver.

Please consider this in your selection of advertising in the future.

– Leslie Hastie RR 3, Elmwood

Deadline for the April issue of The Rural Voice is March 9

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March 2021 3

BEEKEEPING Bees, Equipment & Supplies

Harriston, ON 519-994-4400 info@cedarwoodhoney.com www.cedarwoodhoney.com

Cedarwood Honey • Pollinating Services • Nucs • Bee Hive Wooden Wares Liquid, creamed, combed, pure raw and flavoured honey; bee’s wax and food wraps, candles, bee pollen.

Visit us at St. Jacobs Farmers’ Market New Market Building or by appointment on-farm

Martin’s Nursery

Hydrangea Trees

Shade & flowering trees, Large selection of Fruit trees (fruit bearing age) Spruce, pine, cedars, hedging & windbreaks, We sell a complete line of Bee Supplies; shrubs, grasses including Extracting Equipment, & much more!

BEE Supplies Etc.

Nucs

jars, pails, Varroa mite treatments and Bees, Nucs, Queens.

c/o EMANUEL E.M. MARTIN 42661 Orangehill Road RR #1 Wroxeter, ON N0G 2X0 ~ 1 Concession North of Wroxeter on Belmore Line Mon. - Sat. 7 am - 6 pm

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY COMPLETE HONEY BUSINESS FOR SALE 130 double deep hives with 400 medium honey supers, complete extraction line, 54 medium frame LEGA radial extractor, Maxant 7000 Model spin float, Dakota Gunness uncapper Model 200 with 6’ moving chain table extension, Cowen 3” PC main pump, 2 honey pumps, heated storage tank with hot water tank circulating pump & plumbing, heated bottling tank, heated 36” Maxant sump, woodware hot wax dip tank, wax processing tank, complementary equipment and supplies, hive stands, electric bear fencing for 6 yards, hives stands, 18’ aluminum trailer, Wellington winter wraps, queen rearing gear with 35 mini mating nucs and 30 wooden 5 frame nucs. All equipment in excellent condition.

To be sold complete.

Serious enquiries only.

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4 The Rural Voice

Monday - Saturday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm 238 E. County Rd. 14, RR 1 Cottam, ON

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BUILD YOUR OWN BEEKEEPING EQUIPMENT Learn how to construct your own equipment as an inexpensive introduction to keeping bees. Step-by-step, illustrated instructions on how to build hives, equipment for catching swarms and more. $29.95

HIVE MANAGEMENT: A Seasonal Guide for Beekeepers The importance of bees in pollinating crops has become more recognized in recent years. Beekeeping can also be a source of additional income. This book can guide your management. $19.95

Check out huroncitizen.ca under Marketplace for more books Call 519-523-4311 to order by phone

“

Ruralite

•

Door to door delivery

is a trend and we see that growing.

”

Door to Door

Ontario is a huge, untapped market

“When you make that leap and

right at our doorstep.”

can justify being home full time it makes a world of difference.

~ Mike Dougherty of Wild Meadows Farms

You may have more animals but

near Conn on direct marketing of beef

{

MARCH INSPIRATION

}

"When tillage begins, other arts follow.

The farmers, therefore, are the founders of human civilization.". ~ Daniel Webster

you can do the job better because you are at home. When you are pulled in too many directions, it takes the fun out of it and you will not do well at it. ~Markus Wand of Wand Family Farms speaking to sheep farmers about labour savings on the farm~

Lexophile Lovers • Did you hear about the fella whose entire left side was cut off?

He’s all right now.

• Police were called to a daycare centre where a three-year-old was resisting a rest.

• When chemists die, they barium.

• A dentist and a manicurist married. The fought tooth and nail.

Morning sojourners Melt off winter calories While farm fields slumber

By Lisa Boonstoppel-Pot

•

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

• You cannot push anyone up the ladder unless they are willing to climb themselves.

•

March 2021 5

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

Don’t stand so close to me We all have that friend, don’t we.

The one that stands so close when they talk that you can feel tiny flecks of spittle hit your face. You take a step back to reestablish your comfort zone but they take a step forward to reconnect.

This space and how much distance we set between ourselves and others is called proxemics and, boy, do we have proximity issues today.

Being Canadian and of European background, my personal space is about three feet. Your culture affects your personal space with studies revealing people in Argentina, Peru and Bulgaria have less personal space requirements than people who live in Romania, Hungary and Saudi Arabia

6 The Rural Voice

who tend to have the largest personal space proxemics. Canadians are somewhere in between.

Edward Hall, an anthropologist who coined the term proxemics, has labelled four types of distance: Public space is how close we sit or stand to a public figure, about 12-25 feet. Social space is a little closer at 4-12 feet while personal space is 1-4 feet. The closest type of distance is intimate space which is less than a foot away, such as between you and your romantic partner.

Safe distance is the phrase of the day with physical distance requirements and mask-wearing the new norm in public spaces. In the North Huron Publishing building, my office is upstairs located near the editor of The Citizen, who just had a baby. When I’m at work, he keeps his door closed and out of respect, so do I. I get it. It’s smart. But that closed door is rattling my sense of proxemics and feels (though it isn’t intended) as a form of distance rejection.

Then I visit my parents and because they are older with some

health issues, I sit on the couch more than six feet away. We don’t hug and we don’t touch and while we aren’t a particularly “huggy” family, I feel I’m being cold and unkind when I leave without a close goodbye.

Proxemics affects all sorts of areas in our lives. It can affect how we decorate because bold, bright colours feel overwhelming for people who prefer light, calm, open spaces.

Proxemics give us visual clues in a movie revealing how close and connected characters are.

It also plays a role in planning villages and roadways. Have you ever driven in downtown Stratford?

The four lanes are so tight, I feel uncomfortably close to other drivers.

The study of proxemics is valuable when understanding that “close friend” who doesn’t seem to respect your personal space.

Culturally or familially, they may have grown up with a lot of physical contact and closeness. It’s just their way and isn’t meant to be an intrusion of your personal space.

As we progress though the various colours of COVID-19 safety, entering and leaving lockdown states, we are dealing with new levels of proxemics. Just like my co-worker protecting his family, or visits with my parents, our culture of space is changing. We are becoming more distant and more used to distance.

Proxemic cues that were used in the past to determine closeness of relationships aren’t reliable or accurate right now. We have to push aside feelings of rejection or loneliness from increased space and learn new methods of sharing love, friendship and care to our personal, social and public connections.

It means taking time to use more words in kinder tones – saying what we are thinking instead of relying on smiles or frowns which are hidden by masks. We can’t be close so our words need to be the connectors right now.

It’s important that we ask questions to ensure clarity as we rely on texts, videoconferences and social media to connect. Words have never been more vital and will remain so until we can touch, hug and shorten our personal proxemics. ◊

Locations ~ Blyth and Walton

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HURON FEEDING SYSTEMS

1-833-229-6834 Email: perthcountyfedofag@gmail.com Web: www.perthcountyfarmers.ca

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March 2021 7

Keith Roulston Keith is former publisher of The Rural Voice.

He lives near Blyth, ON.

Another invader is taking over Over the next few weeks thousands of Canadians will abet the infiltration of a foreign invader which is ultimately undermining the very identity of what it is to be a Canadian.

That sounds pretty dramatic but it’s pretty much the gist of an article in the Globe and Mail last year by Peter Kuitenbrouwer, who holds a master’s degree in forest conservation from the University of Toronto. He was writing about the detrimental spread of the Norway Maple, often replacing our native sugar maple.

In a way this is another of those urban versus rural divide stories.

Years ago the managers of city

8 The Rural Voice

forestry departments realized that the hardy Norway Maple, tolerates concrete, soil compaction, pollution, salt and other indignities of urban life better than our sugar maples. Now, if you see a maple tree in the city, it’s probably a Norway maple.

But like many foreign plants, birds and animals imported to a new continent, the downside of the Norway Maple was discovered too late.

Kuitenbrouwer notes: “The tree takes over forests, spreading thick leaves that open first and fall last. In its shade other species, such as native oaks, pines or maples, cannot establish themselves or grow. Studies show that native insects, birds and mammals do not thrive in Norway maple forests, which become green deserts. In a crowning indignity, the leaves of green Norway maples do not turn red in the fall; typically they develop black spots before they turn yellow and fall off.”

Having assisted the invader to get a head start, many foresters are now trying to bring it under control.

Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia

has tried to rid its campus of the species while the City of Montreal is trying to remove it from the city’s iconic Mount Royal. In New York, gardeners from the Central Park Conservancy root out Norway Maple seedlings whenever they see them.

But the intriguing, and insidious, thing about the tree is how it is reshaping our very image of what it is to be Canadian. Most graphic designers live in cities and so when they look at a maple leaf, they see a Norway Maple not a sugar maple.

The leaf of a sugar maple features three wider lobes (or main points) each with a few irregular wavy teeth, plus two one-point lobes near the stem. The bigger Norway maple leaf has seven lobes.

Our flag shows a stylized sugar maple leaf, but many of the symbols used to represent Canadian things are Norway Maple leaves. The Bank of Canada first raised alarm years ago when people noticed that the new polymer banknotes featured Norway Maple leaves. It was just one of many similar blunders. Canada Post has featured Norway maple leaves on its stamps. Beer cases from the St. John, New Brunswick brewer Moosehead boast its long history with the statement: “Founded in 1867, we were born with Canada,” below a drawing of what can only be a Norway maple leaf. The National Post newspaper uses a Norway maple leaf in its logo.

Irritating as these symbolic errors may be, they pale in comparison to other repercussions of this invasive species. Urban foresters planted Norway Maple because caterpillars wouldn’t feed on their waxy leaves.

But birds like chickadees, according to Doug Tallamy, a professor of entomology at the University of Delaware, feed up to 6,000 caterpillars to their chicks, all foraged within 50 metres of their nest. If there are only Norway Maples, they have to nest elsewhere.

Once again the problems caused by an invasive species show human fallibility in concentrating on one or two advantages of the import, while ignoring possible dangerous consequences. When humans think they’re smarter than nature we’re often riding for a fall.◊

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March 2021 9

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

Homelessness is very real in rural counties “We walk humbly, realizing that anyone can lose their footing and then lose everything else. The Coldest Night of the Year is a moment when tens of thousands of Canadians step outside the warmth and comfort of home and shine a light of welcome and inclusion.”

Coldest Night of the Year, 2021 (cnoy.org).

As participants in the Coldest Night of the Year (CNOY) are getting ready to walk for the eleventh year, raising money to support people experiencing homelessness, you may find yourself picturing images from big cities of people sleeping in doorways and on warm air vents. It may feel far removed from our rural life here in Huron County. The first time I was asked about it, I instantly thought “that isn’t a thing here. We don’t have homelessness.” But then I opened my eyes and realized I was wrong. A closer look reveals that we actually have a higher per capita rate of homeless here than is found in London (huroncounty.ca).

Homelessness is one of those

issues that is easy to ignore. It is largely hidden, and not even that easy to define. In 2018, the Province of Ontario, as part of the Provincial Poverty Reduction Strategy, sought to define what it means to be homeless. It seems like a fairly basic step – just coming up with a definition. “Homelessness describes a situation of an individual or family without stable, permanent, appropriate housing, or the immediate prospect, means and ability of acquiring it. Most people do not choose to be homeless, and the experience is generally negative, unpleasant, stressful, and distressing” (huroncounty.ca).

It is a misconception that homelessness is only about sleeping on the streets. Homelessness also includes those who are “couch surfing” with family and friends, those in temporary shelter, and those who are incarcerated with no place to go once they are released.

The issue is also easy to ignore because it is difficult to get a number on how many people are dealing with this. People feel afraid and ashamed to admit this is affecting them, making it harder to raise awareness and get help. The study conducted in Huron County found that “nearly 80 per cent of homelessness is hidden, with only the 20 per cent visible in shelters or on the street representing the tip of the iceberg” (huroncounty.ca).

Any attempt to count the number of people without a home is also a snapshot in time. The situation changes by the day as people’s circumstances change. While 35,000 people experience homelessness on

any given night in Canada, 235,000 people experience it every year.

The CNOY is hosted by the United Way Perth Huron’s Goderich and Area Community Committee in support of Goderich Homelessness and Urgent Needs Fund initiatives.

There are a number of local teams and individuals participating. 2021’s walk is different due to COVID-19 health restrictions, with participants not actually gathering, but walking two to five kilometres on a route of their choice sometime between February 20 and 28. Money can be donated up until the end of March for this initiative.

While the CNOY initiative is national, Goderich and area has its own branch of dedicated volunteers and donors. Last year more than 200 people participated in our area.

Trevor Bazinet of Strictly Business interviewed Bernice Glenn, and this interview is available on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/10093055 8340573/videos/1442878576050617.

Bernice’s family has been impacted directly by homelessness.

In 2021, United Way Perth-Huron has a goal of raising more than $40,000 through Coldest Night of the Year. The money raised stays in the community and supports four specific initiatives: Huron Turning Point, a transition home for men; Supportive Housing Advocate, Huron County staff; Emergency Shelter, prevention and support services for youth and women; and the United Way Urgent Needs Fund, helping local residents in a time of crisis with funding for essentials like rent, groceries, and medication. This fund has helped over 660 people

Selling ONLINE ONLY March 20, 2021 at the

10 The Rural Voice

Kate Procter since May. The event is sponsored by Scotiabank, West Wawanosh Mutual Insurance, Ideal Supply, and the Township of Ashfield, Colborne, Wawanosh.

The CNOY started in 2011 in two locations and raised $111,800. Last year, across Canada, it has grown to include 26,112 participants in 144 locations and raised $6,250,000.

“We’re excited to welcome CNOY back to Goderich,” said Beth Blowes, United Way Perth Huron (UWPH) Board member, Goderich and Area Community Committee member, and CNOY participant who was one of the first 100 people across Canada to raise $500 for the event this year, earning a coveted CNOY hoodie.

“Chronic homelessness remains an important issue in Goderich and area.

This year’s CNOY will help us continue to support our most vulnerable residents.”

Last year’s successful event enabled the County of Huron to hire a supportive housing worker, helping find housing for vulnerable community members and ensuring successful tenancies. Three beds were also added to Huron Turning Point in Exeter, assisting men from across Huron along with support for the Out of the Cold — Hearts to Home Emergency Overnight shelter in Goderich. The Goderich shelter was opened on November 16, 2020.

Phone 519-525-5922 for more information.

“The response to last year’s walk in Goderich was tremendous,” added Jerry McDonnell, Chair of UWPH’s Goderich and Area Community Committee. “But there’s still work to be done addressing chronic homelessness locally. We want to continue building on last year’s work, supporting existing resources and collaborating with local partners to create lasting solutions moving forward.”

You can help support the initiative through the Goderich chapter, which can be found online at https://cnoy.org/location/goderich.

Carole Stinson is the local event director and she can be contacted 1877-743-3413 or e-mailed at cstinson@perthhuron.unitedway.ca ◊

HuronTractor.com Supporting #AgSafeCanada

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There’s Insurance, then there’s Mutual Insurance.

Find an Agent or Broker near you www.wwmic.com March 2021 11

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

The Colander A tool of transition. That is what a colander is. Filling the space between garden and kitchen.

It was three decades ago that we, the wife and I, began gardening with a consistent level of enthusiasm. Our children at that point could be impressed by a sunny green patch of a few square feet, especially if there were a few podded peas to be had.

Prior to that, there are but childhood memories of my own to recall, planting seed as little more than a toddler, or collecting the reward – with a colander. I still have it; a heavy aluminum-stamped example, the handles and feet attached by hand and after sixtysome years still fully functional.

Not to be confused with the finemeshed sieve, colanders are instead perforated with holes and are used for “straining” rather than “sieving’ although the two actions are of a similar nature.

Colanders also lend themselves to gathering garden produce and the initial steps in preparation.

Root vegetables need the soil removed, a process for which the colander in combination with a large bowl is most aptly suited. Just remember to return that soil back from whence it came.

It is also handy when it comes to rinsing above-ground bounty. Any garden worty of the name should contain an abundance of insect life but on the plate tiny moving objects are unwelcome by most.

This talk of colanders may seem an odd way to introduce a column concerning the food system but there’s a reason. We live in transitional times and, as a tool of transition, the colander bridges the gap between food and eating.

That gap has widened for Canadians over the past half century 12 The Rural Voice

with the industrialization and commodification of nutrition. Fewer people are producing more than ever before but the close connection most people once had with the farming community has largely been lost.

Marie and I are among the exceptions to that trend. A former farm worker advocate, Marie has maintained a relationship with both farmers and their employees and as a farm journalist with a penchant for pointing out uncomfortable truths I’ve done the same.

Then there’s our gardening habit.

Intensively managed, we’ve managed to surprise even ourselves by the quantity and quality of food that can be produced from a relatively small area.

We live in Southwestern Ontario which is favoured in terms climate and precipitation. Our home in Dresden, a small rural community, has large lots for single family dwellings and the soil in our particular spot, though heavy, is productive.

Our main food garden is roughly a 20-by-45-foot space. On top of that, there’s a rhubarb patch, a black raspberry patch, gooseberries and a variety of edible perennials spread among our ornamental and flowering plants.

It’s been in place for 30-odd years

but only in the last five or so have we come to the realization that it has evolved to be more than a mere hobby. We’ve become farmers, farmers on miniscule scale granted, but farmers nevertheless.

A day seldom passes, even in the dead of winter, that we do not consume two or three things from our garden and we supply other members of our extended family with things like dried herbs, kale and preserves.

Soil, sunshine and rainfall are the primary ingredients for success, along with what some might describe as physical labour.

There’s a meditative quality to gardening as well, one that may lead to the realization that in small things we can make a positive difference and that the world around us, even that of our own backyards, is infinitely more complex than the devices that supposedly connect us.

Now for a bit of fun.

Fannie Merritt Farmer, though she passed from this mortal realm more than a century ago, is my go-to gal for that delicate transition from garden to food-on-the-plate, or in this particular case, food-in-a-bowl. I’ve adapted her original recipe for leek and potato soup from her Boston Cooking-School cookbook, 1951 edition.

I’ve made leek and potato soup

Filling the space between garden and kitchen, a colander is used to collect garden produce then strain cooked vegetables afterwards.

Jeff Carter before but it is Fannie’s approach that takes it to another level. You’ll need a double boiler to reach it. It’s a simple kitchen utensil; water heated in the lower section to the boiling point provides the heat source for liquids placed in the upper section.

A single large leek – they’re still readily available in most grocery stories – will provide servings for about four to six individuals or a hearty meal for two.

The leek, along with a half cup of celery, should be sliced very thin and

then cooked in one and one-half tablespoons of butter for about 10 minutes, stirring constantly.

Add the leek/celery mixture, a half quart of milk (I recommend whole milk) and a pinch of cayenne to the double boiler and cook for at least 40 minutes. As you’re waiting, dice up a couple potatoes, about a cup and a half, and boil in salted water until soft.

Finally, melt a tablespoon of butter in your soup pot with same amount of flour and blend. Add the

leek/celery/milk mixture and potatoes. Mash to an even consistency or, better yet, use a handheld blender, something dear Fanny did not have access to, and then season with salt and black pepper to taste.

You can take it further. The addition of cooked carrots or parsnips, is a nice touch. With the addition of fish, I like cod, along with bay scallops and shrimp and you’ll have a chowder worth writing about – but I’ve already done that. ◊

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“Achoo!” George Mackenzie sneezed just after he removed his mask to drink his coffee the other morning when the guys got together for their morning session in Dave Winston’s heated garage.

“You couldn’t have done that before you took off your mask?” asked Dave.

“Maybe we should run George through one of those screening tests they give you when you go to the doctor since the pandemic. You know endless questions like ‘Have you any new cough or sore throat?’.”

“I had that inquisition last week when I went to the doctor for my annual check-up,” said George. “She asked me if I had been out of the country during the last two weeks and I told her ‘I came into town for this appointment.’ She didn’t see the

humour in that.”

“It was a lot easier a year ago when the only question they asked was if you’d been to China,” said Cliff, as he sipped his take-out coffee from Mabel’s Grill.

“So this sneeze,” Dave asked George, “do you think you’re getting a cold?”

“Probably just dust up my nose. I was spreading some bedding in the barn before I came here,” said George.

“If you were getting a cold it might be your claim to fame,” said Cliff. “Apparently hardly anybody is getting colds or the flu this year – one good side effect of all the physical distancing, hand washing and mask wearing. Maybe the CBC would show up to do a story on you because you were so unusual.”

“I doubt anybody from CBC would wander this far from the city,” grumbled George.

“I heard that there has been so few people with colds and coughs that a company in Prince Edward Island that makes lozenges had to lay off 30 people,” said Dave.

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pandemic, aren’t there?” said Cliff. “I mean it’s been terrible for lots of people like Mabel who run restaurants or stores but it’s not all bad news. For instance, I heard that the population of bed bugs has fallen off because not so many people are travelling so the bed bugs can’t catch rides on them.”

“Somehow to me that doesn’t make up for what’s happening to Mabel,” growled George.

“Well how about that police are reporting they’re seeing less drinking and driving out there,” said Cliff.

“Huh,” said George, “I’d have thought this pandemic would have driven more people to drinking.

Maybe they’re just not driving because there’s no place to go.”

“Maybe that lozenge factory needs a new product for times like these,” said Dave with a smirk. “I hear that Martha Stewart has done a deal with a Canadian pot company to make cannabis edibles for dogs.”

“Wouldn’t getting your dog high against its will qualify for animal abuse?” wondered George.

“No they’re taking the part that gets you high and leaving the parts that help their dogs relax,” said Dave.

“Hey, you might be interested in this Dave,” said Cliff. “I read that down in Brazil pig farmers are buying robotic feeders that play classical music to calm the pigs.”

“Ha!” said George. “Having to listen to classical music would not calm me if I was working around the barn. “ “But that’s the point of the robotic feeders,” said Cliff. “Apparently the pigs are more efficient if the people go away and leave them to be fed by robots.

“Why classical?” wondered Dave.

“Some university study down there found pigs respond better to classical music,” explained Cliff.

“Yeah, but that’s Brazilian pigs,” said Dave. “Maybe Ontario pigs would prefer country music.”

“A lot cheaper, too,” said George.

“In my barn I just turn on the radio and let my cattle listen to the local country station.”

“Yeah, but then they have to listen to the newscasts,” said Cliff. “I don’t know about cattle but the news sure makes me uptight these days.”◊

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Viewpoint Bob Reid is a writer and retired goat farmer living near Woodstock.

Taking frugal to the next level John was the only person I have known who would wear out a pair of work gloves on one side then turn them over and wear out the other side.

To say he was frugal falls far short of the mark.

When I met John Proctor he was a widower in the twilight of his farming career which resulted in my buying his 160-acre property near Kenabeek, located in the unorganized township where we both resided in Northern Ontario.

He continued to live in a tarpapered tool shed converted to living quarters on the property for years after which provided an opportunity to know him. On first entering his shack I noticed a door knob had been replaced with a spike driven into the door, secured by baler twine to another spike in the door jamb.

Similarly a missing portion of a pane of glass directly over the one wooden all-purpose table had been stuffed with remnants of a discarded shirt to keep out the weather.

The floor was rough-sawn one inch boards, covered intermittently with badly worn linoleum. As was a portion of the wooden table meals were served on.

I spent many evenings with John in the dim light from a smoking coal oil lantern, fascinated by recollections of his earlier life working in bush camps and saw mills or an underground gold mine in Kirkland Lake during winter months to supplement farm income.

The domestic smell of two burning wood stoves for heat and cooking meals was accompanied by the crackling pop of burning knotty 16 The Rural Voice

pine. The rolling blackish lantern smoke floated about the single room, cloaking us within a small circle of light and warmth.

John’s white whiskered face and vivid recollections of a time gone by drifted out of the hazy setting more like a vision than a voice.

It took little imagination on my part to see a large steel, whirling saw blade slicing fresh slabs of lumber from a white pine log or the lightedhelmet of an underground miner sitting in the semi-darkness waiting anxiously for the explosive blast of a rock face just drilled and packed with dynamite.

He spoke as fondly and passionately of the dangerous subterranean work as one might a weekend at a spa. He liked the warmth of the constant underground temperature while winter storms often raged above.

Manning one end of a cross cut saw in waist-deep snow, under blue skies in crisp, cool winter air, cutting trees into logs, sounded equally enticing. So too the camaraderie of the bunk house after a day of shared work logging with teams of horses.

The stories made me wish I had been

born a hundred years earlier.

These accounts were all the more amazing since John was not an impressive physical specimen.

Weighing hardly more than 110 pounds, he had a hunched back – which he called round-shouldered – with sinewy arms and legs. The only indication of his ability to handle hard labour was his massive hands which were rough, lined and imbedded with grit.

He expected the same work ethic from others, often stating his dislike of any IWW. That was his acronym for any person who declared “I won’t work.”

His farm life had been made harder without any indoor plumbing or electricity. He recounted how someone had once told him that if he didn’t pay his hydro bill he could lose the farm and be “put out on the road.”

His solution: “I decided to never get hydro so that would never happen.”

That single-minded purpose and dogged determination was almost incomprehensible for me. I witnessed it on many occasions seeing John walking toward 80 acres of land

Widower John Proctor of Temiskaming District in Northern Ontario shares stories of his years mining underground, bush camps and farming while he attends to laundry bubbling on top of the box stove heating his one-room shack.

Viewpoint clearing piles on the farm.

Even though he no longer owned the property he worked day after day with just a buck saw, an axe and a laundry basket to pick up even the smallest sticks to burn. Work was all he knew and when he finished clearing a section of new land you could work it with a garden tiller.

His philosophy was whatever he could get done in a day meant that much less that needed done the following day. I have since found inspiration in that when faced with a difficult task.

While John lived alone nearly all of his life he had been married briefly when he started his farming career on land he cleared close to Lake Temiskaming and the Quebec border.

His wife died young. I never met her but it had been suggested to me the rigours of farming had contributed to an early death.

Even so John would occasionally share some advice on women, since I was still single at the time. It was apparently unwise to marry a woman who would “kick over the traces” which I interpreted as not pulling her weight on the farm – a term familiar with teamsters.

Even to be avoided more was a “money spender.” This was a woman who wanted to spend money on anything not directly essential to furthering farm progress.

John’s home water water supply came from a deep ditch half a mile down the gravel sideroad, carried in a metal bucket. As such it was consumed in the form of tea from water boiled on the box stove.

Occasionally John would have a visitor stop to buy stove-length firewood excess to his needs. Some would get invited in to share a cup of tea, along with his favoured fig bar cookies.

If they were a first time visitor they would get a fresh tea bag and not previously used ones hung to dry for a second or third use, on a thin wire running between the stoves.

The fig bars were stored in the “pantry” – a tin copper-coloured container kept in the cooler underground air, accessed by removing floor boards.

Before putting boiling water in

the tea cups – stored in the open on the one wooden table – John would firmly and repeatedly swish a brittle, greyish cotton tea towel (also hung from the thin wire) inside the cup to remove any accumulated settled dust.

The cleaning process had a somewhat neutral effect.

If John knew you well enough he would, on a rare occasion, remove a bottle of John de Kuyper gin from under a steel framed bed, strategically placed beside the box stove for warmth. Emptied small glass mustard spice jars received the same cleaning process as tea cups before being filled to the brim. Clear coloured liquor would never leave one feeling ill according to John.

He and I shared just such a drink one evening during his last winter on the farm. He was talking of underground mining, explaining how timbers were placed to shore up the mine shaft. His voice became increasingly shaky and finally, choked with emotion, he stopped speaking all together.

We sat in the semi-darkness of lantern light for a suitable amount of time, the quiet only broken by a crackling wood stove fire. Eventually I asked him a question about mining as a way of helping him move on. I expect he was recalling fellow workers long gone from this earth, from the mines and the bush camps and way of life he shared with them.

Within a year we had both physically moved on. I lost the farm – should have paid more attention to the benefits of frugality – while John didn’t have the same living arrangement with the new owner.

He was allowed to build another shack, with all the same amenities, on a neighbouring bush lot property.

I moved away from the community but learned two years later that someone found John unconscious and near death laying across his outdoor pile of neatly stacked fire wood.

It was a fitting death for John, while gathering arm loads of wood with those big hands to keep warm, a square metal tub of laundry and a pot of water heating on the box stove to make a cup of tea with a used tea bag. ◊

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Solar Energy

Let the sun shine!

Young mom chooses to go off-grid with support of “earthship” dwellers, Craig and Connie Cook on how to live sustainably • By Jeff Tribe •

Earthship dwellers, Craig and Connie Cook (centre) of Norfolk County use solar power to power their off-grid home and grow an indoor garden. They shared their knowledge and experience with Lindsay Tribe (top, right) of Oxford County when she decided to go off-grid with her new home (above, left) for financial savings and a commitment to sustainable living. The panels were connected to the control and storage components in the house via a buried cable dug in by excavator operator Nick Sweazey.

18 The Rural Voice

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indsay Tribe’s investigation into the viability of off-thegrid solar power generation could be summed up in one highlyuntechnical question: “Will I be able to use my hair straightener?”

Simplistic on the face of it, the query metaphorically cuts straight to the point. Has the technology advanced to practical viability for a working single mother of two? And secondly, what level of electrical ‘normalcy’ can a household expect when exiting the predictable, virtually limitless parameters of the hydro grid in favour of generational independence?

The questions arose in conjunction with the development of a hazelnut orchard, attendant production shed and residence on a 36-acre Oxford County property.

Aesthetics combined with Minimum Distance Separation (MDS) calculations dictated a residential site at significant distance from grid connectivity.

The potential cost of that connection opened discussion on an off-the-grid alternative, facilitated through family friendship with ‘Windchasers’ Craig and Connie Cook of Clear Creek, Ontario.

Unquestionably ranking among Canada’s leading environmentalists, the couple’s decades-long progression to uniquely-sustainable living combines willingness to experiment with emerging technology, common-sense enhancements, and pragmatic assessment of functional capability.

Anchored in calmness of conviction they do not seek attention, yet are graciously willing to share valuable experience through their website www.windchasers.ca.

The Cooks’ journey began over a cup of a coffee on a breezy back porch in Cornell, Ontario, evolved into wind-powered electrical generation using homemade turbines designed by Scottish engineer Hugh Piggott, onward into solar technology and ultimately, their construction of a 3,000-square-foot earthship on their current farm property near Lake Erie.

The brainchild of visionary American designer Michael Reynolds, earthships are in basic terms living, breathing, self-sufficient residential

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March 2021 19

entities incorporating recycled materials including tires pounded full of dirt, acting as building blocks. The bermed structure is aligned perpendicular to the winter solstice, allowing solar absorption through 60degree angled windows into thermal mass, and subsequent release, requiring little or no supplemental heat. Capturing and storing water from its roof in conjunction with solar-generated power provides the Cooks a high level of independence, including freedom from familiar monthly bills. Their mindset and

building their earthship at a cost of $70,000 (Craig jokes with $930,000 worth of labour) allowed them to chart a course to early retirement and more fully embrace their chosen path.

That level of off-the-grid lifestyle did not dovetail with Tribe’s, however the Cooks’ lived experience with solar power provided a physical example to wrap her head around, extending a theoretical concept into practical potential. Descended from the Scots on her frugal maternal grandmother’s side, the idea of solar power as a cost-effective investment in both the short and long term was attractive compared to the price of grid connection and connectivity.

Viewed as a capital investment, Tribe 20 The Rural Voice

Top: Earthship dwellers Connie Cook, Al Towers, Sally Towers and Craig Cook visit the solarpowered home they inspired.

The solar panels are aligned to the south (above), positioned beyond the shadow line of the woodlot timed on the December 21 winter solstice to capture as much sunlight as possible during the winter months.

Left: Al Towers shows off the backup diesel generator.

anticipated the initial cost of a solar system as comparable or favourable to hooking up to the grid. Through that lens, erasing a monthly hydro bill can be viewed as a financial

dividend providing an attractive ROI (return on investment) compared to contemporary investment portfolio performance. Savings are not a straight-up calculation given

maintenance, long-term equipment replacement and associated fuel requirements. However, annual hydro costs do provide a significant pool of capital to find a positive balance within, one protected against potential hydro rate increases.

Secondly, her installation equation was skewed more favourably through access to volunteer family labour along with component sourcing, design and installation guidance from the Cooks and complementary expertise from compatriot Al Towers, who along with wife Sally, live in their own earthship a kilometre north of Craig and Connie.

Finally and significantly, in an era of climate change, Tribe sees solar power’s sustainability as a tangible commitment to lowering her and her family’s environmental footprint in a positive and productive manner, while providing an example to her children and compatriots on lifestyle choices. Tribe believes the privilege of living in a wealthy and technologically-advanced nation comes with some responsibility to take advantage of emerging and advancing opportunity, where it makes sense.

“So many so-called green initiatives just don’t seem to be practical or are far too expensive for an average person,” she said. “Even if I thought it would have cost more, I still would have considered this.

“It’s hard to pencil out exactly but is something that works for the environment and hopefully will save money as well.” ystem design takes several factors into account, attempting to find the sweet spot of balance between anticipated electrical requirements and the expense of installing more panels and batteries than needed.

Solar-powered living also arguably comes with some expectation of responsible, educated consumption, and substitution of gas appliances for electrical counterparts such as stoves or dryers requiring a 220-volt draw. Power bars to eliminate phantom load of resting devices are advisable, as is the installation of LED bulbs. Not a fan of air conditioning, she incorporated

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ceiling fans into her house design. switch and turn it on, and after a charging the battery bank when and Ultimately, Tribe may also consider predetermined period of time, off if power levels fall to a pre-set limit. acquiring a DC refrigerator/freezer, again.

Not only does the generator provide whose design and direct versus Tribe’s schedule does not allow backup power when demand exceeds alternating current consumption that flexibility and her generator is capacity, battery life is also enhanced offers significant efficiencies. She set to come on automatically and run by not letting them cycle too low. also installed photo and video for a prescribed period of time to The Cooks’ and Towers’ status as monitoring equipment to safeguard fully charge the battery bank. retirees allows them to work with the her system.

Her family moved off the grid in sun, so to speak, monitoring capacity Tribe’s solar panel array is aligned September, 2020. Initial nervousness and targeting peak-consumption to the south to capture maximum about taking the plunge was replaced activities such as laundry or power during the winter months, vacuuming to peak-solar absorption with the growing comfort of a which feature less daylight hours. periods. Some generators are positive experience. Regular Some solar panels are roof-mounted operated manually, a light or other maintenance requirements include but Cook prefers land-based panels indicator alerting it’s time to flick the battery fluid level checks, ensuring for snow clearance (with a softbristled household broom) and maintenance accessibility. The array was laid out with a compass, stakes and string beyond the shade extremity of a woodlot to the south, a range identified when the sun was at its lowest point, the previous December 21st. Tribe’s 6.4-kilowatt system features 16 400-watt panels mounted on a pressure-treated wooden frame anchored by 6-by-6 posts, Cook feels is stronger than some prefabricated alternatives.

Panels are linked in series to a combiner box, DC current flowing onward through a buried cable into a charge controller inside a dedicated electrical room to an inverter. The inverter is the intelligent electrical heart and brain of the system, part intersection, part director, assessing and pushing power for storage or to meet needs while displaying and recording pertinent data.

What were several separate components when the Cooks began their offthe-grid journey years ago has evolved into one selfcontained, sealed unit. The inverter directs incoming DC current into eight sixvolt batteries and sources stored power from that 48volt bank, inverting it to AC and then onward to the Top: Craig Cook (foreground) and Al Towers during installation of the first solar panel on house’s electrical box. the wooden frame. Above, left: Lindsay Tribe’s brother Jeremy ensures a 6 X 6 pressure A 15-kilowatt backup treated solar panel base post is vertical. Top, right: ‘Windchaser’ Craig Cook inspired diesel generator acts as an Lindsay Tribe’s off-the-grid power system, whose storage and control components include, electrical insurance policy, left to right: an inverter, charge controller, (lower right) battery bank and control panel simultaneously fulfilling linking to the house (upper right). A backup generator acts as ‘insurance policy’ in the event household demands and usage exceeds capacity.

22 The Rural Voice

NATURAL ALTERNATIVE FOR SCOUR TREATMENT & PREVENTION

there’s diesel in the generator fuel tank and either she or her daughters sweeping snow off the panels.

“I’ve found it’s a nice way to get outside and greet the day,” Tribe smiled.

She has adapted the old farmer’s adage of “making hay while the sun shines” to fit a learning curve in the relationship between consumption and generation, altering her schedule where possible. Tribe has also learned the irony of increased winter demand. Running the furnace coincides with less generating capacity. She is keenly aware of how short the days and available sunlight get around December 21st and that cloudy, snowy days are not an offthe-grid friend.

A longer sample size will give Tribe a more accurate assessment of performance and capacity. Adding more panels and a separate charge controller to enhance winter generational capacity is a potential option she has considered, but not committed to. In the meantime, when required, the generator is there. ribe is not a doomsday “prepper” or anything like it.

However, she enjoys freestanding, sustainable living sans debt retirement or distribution charges.

Generating her family’s own electricity has also generated a corresponding sense of pride and independence.

“There is something almost magical about powering your house straight from the sun.”

A lifelong rural resident and mother who would much rather see her children take a hike in the woods or skate on a frozen pond than be glued to a screen, Tribe also appreciates enhanced connectivity to the natural rhythms of nature, environmental awareness and respect for sustainability the experience has provided.

And for the record, her hair straightener works just fine.

“Not everybody can consider going off the grid,” she concluded.

“But if you have the property where you can, and find yourself in a situation like I was, I don’t know why you wouldn’t give it a serious look.” ◊

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24 The Rural Voice

Sheep

Technology or simplicity?

Labour-saving solutions can be purchased or homemade reveal three sheep farmers

Mike Swidersky (right) and family take a naturalistic approach to raising sheep, relying on pasture and outdoor housing to \minimize labour on their Dundalk-area farm. ~Photos from Widersky Farms.

• By Lisa Boonstoppel-Pot •

O

ne farm has a simple approach. Another adopts new technologies while another uses home-made systems. These three sheep farm owners had entirely different farming styles but all testified to significant labour-saving on their sheep farms.

Labour saving and how to accomplish it was the topic for Mike Swidersky of Mike Swidersky Farms, Romy Schill of Circle R Livestock and Markus Wand of Wand Family Farms who made up a panel of experts at the virtual Grey Bruce Farmer’s Week held in January. The trio handle hundreds of sheep every day so it was interesting that each farm had a different approach, based on their farming goals, farming-style and housing situation ranging from raising sheep outdoors year-round to housing 800 sheep in a facility on an accelerated program.

Swidersky Farms: The conversation began with Mike Swidersky who farms near Dundalk saying low-stress handling is his number one labour-saving tip as he raises over 300 sheep and custom feeds beef cattle. Primarily a one-man show, with help from his daughter, Swidersky employs the

livestock handling tips he learned from Bud Williams, a stockmanship expert from Oregon (now deceased) who taught Swidersky about using a pressure and release method to move livestock with ease.

“It allows us to move sheep quickly without stress,” said Swidersky.

His other approach is to raise and breed sheep that are low-maintenance themselves. He doesn’t trim hooves. He doesn’t de-worm and he has a short lambing period with limited lambing assistance. “Our sheep need to have the ability to live outside stress-free all year with as little stored feed as possible.” Portable windbreaks provide shelter. Outdoor living means no bedding and no manure spreading – the sheep do it themselves!

He can manage this because as a pasture specialist, he has invested in healthy pastures. Depending on snow levels, the sheep can graze year round. They are fed hay bales in winter, which are unrolled in a fresh area of the field.

“This provides lots of feeder space so that older and younger sheep have opportunity to eat,” says Swidersky.

March 2021 25

Swidersky also uses a snack cart pulled behind the four-wheeler to feed two pounds corn per head, an easy process with that equipment.

Circle R Livestock: With 850 ewes and a layer/breeder chicken flock, there are a lot of animals to manage daily for Romy and Ryan Schill who farm near Floradale. An expansion two years ago has had the couple busy filling the space with livestock as part of their accelerated lambing system. The sheep are divided into four groups with a group lambing every other month.

The Schills make full use of technology to save labour on their farm. The sheep are on full TMR and using a mixer to create multiple rations for dispersal with a feed cart is part of the labour saving processes at Circle R. “I say get rid of forks and buckets and square bales.

That is how we started but if your ultimate goal is to Ryan and Romy Schill have a large flock and work (above) and family invest in full time on the farm we lots of gates (right) and need to get away from technology to save labour on moving things around,” their intensively-managed says Romy. sheep flock with accelerated All sheep are fed indoors lambing. A hay wagon and an old bank barn was (above) is a simple renovated so that every investment while a digital corner can be reached with weighing system and a skid steer. The purchase automatic lamb feeder are of a straw wagon was a pricier but offer significant wise labour-saving investlabour savings. ment and Romy has her ~Photos supplied by eyes on a straw chopper Circle R Livestock next. “There are lots of things on the wish list!”

They also invested in an automatic lamb feeder which eliminates the need to mix milk. That’s been a definite labour-saver. It can take a day for the lambs to get onto the system but once they do, it’s so much easier than bottle feeding. Plus, when an ewe has triplets, she’ll put one on the lamb feeder to reduce strain on the ewe.

“I don’t like to leave triplets on a ewe because it takes too much out of her and she gets too skinny. We breed a month after weaning so in the bigger picture of labour saving, I don’t want to spend time with a ewe who has a hard time catching. So the lamb feeder is for the lambs to do better but also the ewes,” says Schill.

26 The Rural Voice

Designed into the new barn is a “barn kitchen” where all lambing supplies are kept organized. “All easy and quick to find,” says Romi.

Like Swidersky, she wants sheep that can lamb themselves producing vigorous offspring that can get up and get milk. They feed the ewes well to prevent toxemia.

Handling is another area where time can easily be lost. Where Swidersky relies on stockmanship, the Schills depend on gates ...and lots of them. In particular, she recommends the Combi Clamp as an effective handling system which includes a digital weighing system.

“In the big picture, a good handling system is worth every penny,” she says. “If we bring up a big group at weaning we can weigh 100 ewes and a 100 lambs in two to three hours.

We also do blood tests and hoof trimming in there.” The system is bluetoothed so all data can be updated to software on her phone.

Overall, Schill says understanding where each person fits in the barn team is a labour-saver. “Are you a person who likes to spend time in the lambing barn or do you enjoy driving around on the feed cart?” she asks.

Markus Wand Wand Family Farm: The Wand Family Farm of Powasson is both a commodity-based farm with 650 commercial ewes and 80 cow/calf pairs along with a niche business marketing hogs, turkeys and chickens. Like the Schills, there are a lot of animals to manage and the way the Wands reduced labour was to stop cropping and turn to year-round grazing on 450 acres of owned and rented land. There is usually lots of grass though Markus Wand admits 2019 was a challenging year and more stored-hay feeding was required.

“Grazing season is typically early May to late November and cattle are rotated between sheep grazing which helps with parasite load,” says Wand, who farms with wife Jennifer and their children. Bush on the acreages provides shelter during calving and lambing.

Mature livestock are overwintered and bale grazed. The bales

are moved around the field which Wand considers an excellent method to improve soil, reduce cost and reduce labour.

Enough hay is fed to last two to three days to keep the tractor idle because every time it starts up, it costs money. There is a sheep yard where the March lamb group and replacement stock are kept. These are fed with fenceline feeders, something the Wand family designed out of reclaimed steel and neck rail from an old dairy barn. He used cable to run through the posts instead of wood to save costs. “With recycled material and concrete for the yard, I think we were down to a cost of $16 to $18 per ewe to make the yard,” he says.

The scalable nature is another advantage of the fenceline feeder.

Another 100 feet of feeder can easily be created if needed.

Free choice salt and mineral is always available because they are key to good nutrition whether in confinement or on pasture, believes Wand. “We also have a lot of underand overground water lines. If sheep have to move too far to get water their gains decrease and they don’t perform as well as they need to during hot summers,” he says.

Besides the fenceline feeders, Wand considers the permanent sheep-shearing system they created in an old barn to be incredibly efficient. A containment alley, raised deck and three shearing stations keep the process moving and is better for the shearers. Plus, sheep can be shorn at a moment’s notice.

He makes use of guard dogs to protect the sheep though he did lose 16 lambs to ravens and crows this summer. They are his flock’s worst predator. The dogs are kept with the sheep full-time and pups were born on pasture. “These dogs did super well,” says Wand. “They adapted to life in the field and turned out to be fantastic, mature dogs.”

His final thoughts on labour saving were: • Cull heavy • Establish a good relationship with your banker with a useful line of credit for flexibility.

• Tune into seminars, webinars and social media to pick up hacks for

your operation.

• Make best use of your commodity organization’s resources.

The moderator’s final question, asking the panelists to share their “best” time-saving improvements on their farms yielded these answers: Schill – “We got more sheep so both of us could be home full time and 100 per cent invested in the farm.

We do not juggle an off-farm job and

Markus and Jennifer Wand (above) use guard dogs, fenceline feeders and permanent pasture to save labour on their Powasson sheep, beef and poultry farm.

we are more efficient at what we do.

We do not have to wait until the weekend to do the two-people jobs.”

Wand – “When you make that leap and can justify being home full time it makes a world of difference for everything. You may have more animals to deal with but you can do the job better because you are at home. When you are pulled in too many directions, it takes the fun out of it and you will not do well at it.”

Swidersky – “Close to 20 years ago I took an interest in grazing and soil management. I implemented it and in the first few years I suffered economically but now I am seeing resiliency with both types of livestock in these systems.” ◊ March 2021 27

Beef

Direct beef sales up 500 per cent • By Amanda Brodhagen

Wild Meadow Farms saw increased sales during COVID-19 allowing them to increase cattle numbers and create full-time work Joan Craig and husband Elgin own and operate E & J Craig Farms marketing beef under the Blue Sky Beef label. Craig was one of three beef farmers sharing marketing tips at Beef Day during Grey Bruce Farmer’s Week in January.

B

eef Day kicked off the 55th annual Grey Bruce Farmers’ Week, which went virtual for the first time in the event’s history. The panel for the day was about direct marketing beef featuring Julie and Ethan Higginson of Higginson Farms located in Meaford, Mike Dougherty of Wild Meadows Farm of Conn and Joan Craig of Blue Sky Beef of Arthur. The panel was facilitated by OMAFRA beef cattle specialist Megan Van Schaik.

All three panelists saw an increase in sales and demand for their beef since the pandemic began.

“We saw a 500 percent growth in 2020,” said Dougherty. “COVID exploded sales and things are going really well.”

Dougherty farms alongside his mom Suzy and brother Doug. In 2018 they transitioned from a 20-head traditional cow-calf operation to a grass-finished product from their pastured cattle and pigs. In 2019 they grew the herd through replacement heifers and cattle purchases. In 2020 they rented an additional 135 acres on long-term leases, continued to grow the herd and buy yearlings to finish on grass and raise about 800 pigs and 300 chickens on pasture.

In 2020, they launched a new website and this year, Mike will start working full time on the farm and renting an additional 150 acres on long-term leases.

Mike explained that his brother’s girlfriend is a tattoo 28 The Rural Voice

artist and helped them to revamp their farm logo in an effort to boost their marketing efforts. Wild Meadows Farm encourages customers to shop online to purchase their pasture-raised products. They deliver to Barrie, Oshawa, Niagara to Windsor and everywhere in between.

“Door-to-door delivery is a trend and we see that growing,” Dougherty predicts. “Ontario is a huge untapped market right at our doorstep,” he said.

Another strategy that Dougherty has been using is creating value-added products including, pepperettes, jerky and beef bone broth to distribute at local grocery store retailers.

“There’s an appetite for contact with local farmers,” he said. he second panelist, a farm couple, Ethan and Julie Higginson of Higginson Farms will be familiar to The Rural Voice readers as they graced the cover of our September 2020 issue. The Higginsons run a 65 cowcalf operation and focus on selling freezer beef and commercial calves. In 2020, they butchered over 35 animals. They would have liked to butcher more but their butcher was booked due to increased demand for local meat during the pandemic. Dougherty and the Higginsons have booked all of their animals for 2021 with hopes that there’s little to no interruption with beef processing.

T

“Locally raised processed beef is in high demand but bottlenecks in the supply chain due to processing capacity issues are preventing our sector from contributing to economic growth in the province, Rob Lipsett, president of Beef Farmers of Ontario, said during an industry update prior to the panel discussion.

“Word of mouth and social media has been huge for us,” said Julie Higginson. “We show people what we are doing on our farm through Instagram and Facebook stories as it builds the connection with our consumers and increases the chances that people will be return customers.”

To show their dedication to telling the story of how beef ends up on the dinner plate, the Higginsons have dedicated a tab on their website that show the different stages of beef production on their farm. The Higginsons sell their beef online through their website, several local grocery stores in Grey County and a local restaurant.

Through interacting with their customers online, the Higginsons did a poll on social media asking customers if they would prefer butcher wrapped or vacuum sealed meat. Much to their surprise, more people said they would prefer meat butcher wrapped. However, when selling their beef at the store, people want to see the beef and what the marbling looks like, therefore Higginsons will continue getting their beef vacuum sealed. he third panelist was Joan Craig. She and her husband Elgin own and operate E & J Craig Farms. They market their beef under “Blue Sky Beef.” They established their herd of Speckle Park cattle in 2015 following Joan’s retirement as an elementary teacher and Elgin’s first career as a dairy farmer.

Joan explained that they chose Speckle Park cattle for their seed stock for a number of attributes including, naturally polled, good temperament and easy fleshing on grass.

The Craigs have converted 100 acres of crop land into pasture as they focus on regenerative farming and rotational pastures. Currently, they’re marketing about 10 head a year and

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growing. Along with their son James, they visited butcher shops and grocery stores to help them create their framework for direct marketing.

In fall of 2018 they started with two boxed specials and reached out to family and friends and started selling beef from their farm. In 2019 the Craigs launched their Blue Sky Beef brand, highlighting the fact that their best days are under blue skies which is good for the farmer, good for the environment, and good for the cattle.

“Most people wanted to interact with us to learn how to prepare the beef or tell us what they wanted to do

with the meat,” said Craig. She said one thing that was surprising is how many people didn’t know how to cook a roast. Once she realized this she searched for materials that were consumer friendly and found some great resources with Canada Beef and Beef Farmers of Ontario for producers to help bridge that gap with consumers and offer some cooking inspiration.

Craig engages with her customers through social media, networking events, hosting events on the farm (pre-COVID) and writing a monthly newsletter on happenings on the farm and providing an updated price list.

“Be aware of what you’re producing,” Craig said. “Put value on what you’re doing and your product.” ◊

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Community

Restoring Walls: Restoring Community Natives and locals work together to restore the dry stone construction of the Saugeen First Nation Amphitheatre

Dale Kewageship and Andy Cameron stand proudly in front of the arch they built as part of a major restoration project of the Saugeen First Nation Amphitheatre, a landmark found on Highway 21 north of Southampton.

I

n a recent issue of The Rural Voice, the article “The Future of Rural Is…” ended by Ashleigh Wheedon stating hopefully: “Ask yourself what seems impossible to do in your community; the thing that would fundamentally change it for the better? Essentially…do that.” A crew of men in Southampton are doing exactly that by building walls using the art of dry stone construction while simultaneously building a cohesive society within the local community.

This crew of Indigenous men are working diligently on repairing one of North America’s largest dry stone projects – the Saugeen First Nation Amphitheatre – the local landmark found on Highway 21 in the community just north of Southampton. Not only does this park bolster tourism for the area, it is a venue for outdoor weddings, annual fireworks displays, and a variety of musical community events.

A yellow brick church used to stand on the corner of this property. It once served as the meeting place where peace treaties were signed with the native community across the road at the reserve. As well, a stone cairn had

been built in front of the church, used as a marker for the annual marches that take place to honour the the missing and murdered Indigenous women. History has woven Native and non-Natives alike in this little 20-acre plot of a park.

The mortarless walls of this park, otherwise known as dry stone walls, are beautiful in a timeless sort of way.

Stone is collected from fields and with no processed binding material, and little cutting, are arranged and wedged together to form constructions that are durable.

When the stones are laid, they are always counter-balanced against one another, keeping the weight back so they don’t topple. In this amphitheatre, the satisfying end-product starts with the outer walls of the entrance, named appropriately from the Ojibwa language as “Creator’s Garden”, and a grand stoned archway that opens down to the amphitheatre.

The ravages of time have worked against the integrity of the stone structures. The amphitheatre has deteriorated

• By Hetty Stuart • March 2021 33

since its construction in the 1970s and is in need of significant repairs.

Almost a decade ago, Jennifer Kewageshig, manager of employment and training at Saugeen First Nation, coordinated a team of construction experts to evaluate the condition of the amphitheatre’s stonework. They found the seating area sat precariously on sand and rubble on the side of a hill. When the walls were opened up, it was discovered that spaces in-between the stones were filled with sand, allowing them to shift.

Kewageshig formed a team of construction experts to repair the stonework. Richard Nancarrow, the civil engineer who had been the project manager on the water system for Saugeen Indian Affairs became her first team member. “Right away,” he said, “I saw the need for an expert to replicate dry-stone masonry.”

Nancarrow located Dean McLellan, from Holstein, a presentday custodian of this building technique, to join their team to restore the stonework. McLelland is a dry stone walling master craftsman, with the Dry Stone Walling Association of Great Britain, as well as being Canada’s only examiner and instructor. Nancarow admits that “It is because of McLellan’s expertise that the rebuilding can commence on such a vast project.”

Initially, the amphitheatre had been built by Saugeen First Nation members led by Chief James Mason, along with Reverend Stotesbury of the Wesley United Church, the yellow church on the property.

Both these men had a vision to create a place for First Nations and non-First Nations people to gather, demonstrating the strong relationship between the church

and the community.

Very little of this beautiful amphitheatre can be seen from the highway: beyond the walls of carefully fitted stones, curved rows of stone seats flow down a hillside, overlooking the central performance area. These stone slabs seat over a thousand people. Outlined in large white letters on the grassy slope below the gardens is the word “FRIENDSHIP”, underlining the focus of this quiet and tranquil park.

A regal Princess Staircase adds dramatic flair, leading to the Saugeen River, winding its way in the valley below, and creating a peaceful backdrop. Little wonder that visitors from all over North America and Europe come, annually, to enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of this historical site. Even for them, time stands still in the midst of this ancient-old place.

It took 10 years to complete

Clockwise: The Dream Team organizing the restoration are Dean McLelland, Richard Nancarrow and Jennifer Kewageshig. The process of laying dry stone involves a lot of hammering. Rodney Richard’s Thunderbird motif graces the front walls while the Princess Staircase meanders down to the river.

34 The Rural Voice

construction: almost a million tons of limestone formed the walkways and stairs – all procured and transported to the area by the very committed Reverend Stotesbury. A plaque stands squarely in the midst of the amphitheatre grounds, commemorating the minister’s hard work with the people of Saugeen First Nation. “Unfortunately,” said McLellan, “even though Rev. Stotesbury had great intentions, and did a tremendous labour of love, he lacked the precise skill to make the amphitheatre viable, long term.”

Kewageshig also has a vision, one that echoes the initial dream of Rev. Stotesbury – to rebuild not only stone walls, but also to reinforce a sense of community. By hiring men from the reserve for a training program, she has created sustainable opportunities for these men to gain skills and to support themselves and their families.

The walls were taken apart about six years ago with all the stones removed to a huge pile before the reconstruction could begin. “The amphitheatre is being rebuilt on its old footprint, using a solid base, and proper techniques,” stated McLellan.

“It was a huge job just to remove the existing stones and start the rebuild.

But once it’s done right, the walls will outlast any structures built with mortar. Mortar is meant to be “sacrificial” – every century, the structures with mortar need repointing. Not so with dry stone.”

Over 500 tons of stone has been donated for this project by Upper Canada Stone, a quarry in Madoc, Ontario. This company has been very generous in donating to other projects, supporting them with the best building materials in Ontario.

“Building with the dry stone method is a very green way to go,” says McLellan. “Walls can be built, taken down, reused or rebuilt. There is no cement used, and very little equipment - just a few different types of dry stone hammers”. McLellan learned the dry stone trade from his grandfather, and still owns the mortar hammer that had been used to train him.

“There is also a growing interest with landscapers,” claims McLellan.

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“I have taught thousands of people, and tested hundreds of them.” The ancient art of dry stone walls seems to be coming back into fashion with a growing interest. One example of the artistic beauty that can be created with the stone is the Thunderbird motif at the front gate of the amphitheatre. It was built by Ronnie Ritchie, one of the highest certified people in Canada. Ronnie began working with the program in 2015, and has been working with McLellan towards certification. Already, he holds a Level Three certificate in dry stone masonry; soon he will be a master craftsman, too.

Besides having an attractive look to dry stone walls, there is an environmental advantage.

“Thousands of different life forms are sustained within the dry stone walls,” said McLellan. “Anything from birds to algae, snakes, mice, bugs ... it’s equivalent to a farmer leaving a pile of brush in the corner of a field. A whole ecology system flourishes there.”

McLellan added, “I have about 10 men from the Reserve working

directly for me, a very tight-knit group. I hire them directly, so there is more accountability, and I can keep close tabs on them. If we need a break from the amphitheatre, we can work together on other projects outside Saugeen, making their work sustainable. The goal is to create fulltime businesses for them.” And the men bring their positive outlook – as well as their wages – to their families and community.

Both Nancarrow and McLellan agree that “where there is training, there will be jobs; and where there are jobs, there is hope.” Nancarrow is currently “in the process of working with architects in Toronto, who will produce a professional master plan from which other ideas will flow.

There will be exciting new gardens to honour the Seven Grandfathers’ Teaching (wisdom, love, respect, bravery, honesty, humility, and truth). A stone oven and ceremonial fire pit have also been added to the site. Plans are in the making for a dry stone wall wedding pavilion on the church grounds”.

“There is no downside to this

project…it will be stunning upon completion!” says Nancarrow with great pride. He is anticipating that it will take three years to complete the work.

Sadly, last September, arsonists had set fire to the historic church, leaving nothing but a charred memory. “It knocked us flat,” Nancarrow said, sadly. “It is a setback of huge proportions that is very upsetting. Plans for the church lie with the insurance company at this point. There have been a couple more copy-cat fires on other reserves as well. This is a senseless tragedy!”

Regardless of the eyesore-church, the amphitheatre will always be a source of great pride for the band members of the reserve. They continue to work with amazing zeal, in keeping with the dreams of three visionaries before them: their former Chief James Mason, the Reverend Stotesbury, and Jennifer Kewageshig. The amphitheatre work will continue to transform and unite the community in Southampton and beyond. ◊

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Crops

Prediction and plans for 2021 crops Panelists advised on planting rates and urged growers to stick to their crop rotations, despite soybean prices

• By Lisa Boonstoppel-Pot •

D

Agronomists, researchers and crop experts shared their “crystal ball” predictions on 2021 crops during a Grey Bruce Farmer’s Week Crop Day Panel. Offering advice were (clockwise) Deb Campbell, Andrew Barrie, Luke Hartung, Dr. David Hooker and Meghan Moran.

on’t be afraid to plant high seed populations or plant ultra-early, even into snow, advised a panel of crop experts offering ways to maximize yield and soil health in 2021.

“I hear so much talk in the spring from farmers wondering if they should plant early or not and then, if they lose some bushels to the acre, they think they should have waited a week or two,” recalls Dr. David Hooker, Associate Professor of Plant Agriculture at the University of Guelph, Ridgetown Campus. “It is very rare to hear a result of the yield impact on the last fields planted … to hear those comparisons. But I think the data is quite clear – planting early may not attain the highest yields but those crops are right on top of the yield plateau.”

Hooker was one of four crop experts speaking on agronomy plans for 2021 as part of the Crystal Ball on Crops Panel during Crop Day at Grey Bruce Farmer’s Week, a yearly event hosted by Grey Bruce Farm Services that offers a week-long program of speakers. January 12 was Crops Day and Andrew Barrie of OMAFRA facilitated the panel.

Fellow panelist Deb Campbell of Grey County Soil and Crop was even more direct. She showed a slide of 38 The Rural Voice

soybeans planted into snowy ground in Wellington County, laughingly calling them “snow beans”.

“These were planted in early May into clay loam soil near Arthur on a high-yielding farm,” explains Campbell.

“I was on the fence because I knew there was snow in the forecast but he decided to throw caution to the wind and get at it.” The concern is emergence. Will the seeds rot from the moisture? Will they germinate or sustain cold injury? Months later, that same field yielded an average of 70 bushels to the acre with highs of 83 bushels.

“At the end of the day, it proved the right thing to do,” says Campbell. In fact, she says it’s time crop farmers changed their mindset about cold injury being a reason to hold off planting. While it is true that soybeans imbibing cold water is not a good thing, the past decade has proven that pushing planting boundaries by seeding into the last week of April and first week of May is more often than not a good choice.

“I have to be honest, I have not seen a single time where that (planting soybeans early) has let us down,” says Campbell. Even if seed emergence is affected and the plot is thinner, that’s okay, she advises, because the primary point of planting early is to get additional branching and

additional nodes per plant before the flowering stage. “Fewer plants is not a big factor if you can capture 50 to 60 days pre-flower,” says Campbell.

She is not encouraging planting into muddy, sloppy fields creating compaction. Rather, if the field is fit, it’s time to plant.

Carryover Herbicide When growers find a system that works, they like to stick with it.

However, dry beans cannot handle additive stresses and showed it with plant damage in 2020. What dry bean growers saw in 2020 was carryover herbicide damage as late sprays from 2019 caused Group 27 injury symptoms such as bleaching.

“Soil pH and type is a factor, then add compaction and you really start to see more stress,” states Meghan Moran, a Canola and Edible Bean Specialist with OMAFRA. She recommends growers have fresh eyes for their crop plans each year.

Analyze what worked the year prior but make choices based on the conditions of the current growing year.

Seeding Rates A trial done on seeding rate for white and black beans proved lower seeding rates can still be profitable but higher seeding rates are still advised.

Moran monitored a trial with hundreds of plots with some planted as low as 75,000 seeds per acre. “We did not lose profitability but the way I look at it, seed is cheap insurance and gives us a buffer against losses,” says Moran.

Traditional seeding rates of 110,000 seeds per acre on 30-inch rows and 125,000 seeds per acre on 15-inch rows are “solid recommendations” that consistently offer strong yields and good profitability.

Luke Hartung, a Field Crop and Horticulture Specialist with North Wellington Co-operative is also a fan of higher seeding rates. In terms of germination in corn, he says if you drop 36,000 seeds and achieve 84 per cent germination (an average for seed emergence last year) then you have a good stand. If you plant 32,000 seeds and have 84 per cent emergence, then “you are going to run into yield loss.”

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Stick to Your Rotation The message Hartung really wanted listeners to take home with them as they plan for the 2021 year is to stick to their rotation.

“It’s very tempting to plant beans on beans and even corn is a good price right now,” says Hartung. “But don’t abandon the rotation to try and chase soybeans.” He said there are more and more fields in the area with significant soybean cyst nematode populations. “That used to be a southern Ontario problem but we are seeing it here in Grey and Bruce counties. We are seeing fields with 10,000 eggs per sample and that is extremely high.”

While growers can plant resistant varieties, the best line of defence is to stick to a rotation. “Please, please, please keep to your rotation,” begged Hartung.

Pests and Diseases The best way to control any pest is to implement integrated pest management practices immediately.

It’s time to think of creative strategies, such as swapping fields with neighbours to allow for greater crop rotation, advises Hooker.

Campbell agrees, adding that cultural practices should be examined first. “Going to the sprayer and the jug should be at the end of the proactive list you are looking at,” she advises. “Blanket spraying pesticides is a risky scenario in the long-term.”

Soybean cyst nematodes are becoming a real issue and need a minimum crop rotation of three years though four is better. Soybean resistant varieties are not 100 per cent effective so crops need to be layered with a nematicide if there is a nematode issue, which can only be determined with testing, advises Hartung.

Weeds are also advancing northward with water hemp showing its face in the Clifford area.

Resembling pigweed in its early stages, water hemp can be hard to identify so Campbell recommends taking steps to get weeds analyzed and tested for herbicide resistance at the same time.

“It’s just a matter of time before it becomes widely dispersed,” says Campbell. Killing it is hard. The

water hemp found in Clifford was resistant to three chemistries: Group 2, Group 5 and Group 9. “The first weed we found and it had three-way resistance!” exclaims Campbell, with worry.

The secondary worry is that killing these resistant weeds requires older, pre-emergent chemistries which come with a higher degree of risk for crop injury in certain conditions. “Most of the time, the injury is cosmetic and the plant grows back but sometimes these older chemistries cause real injury and we have to be cognizant of that fact,” says Campbell.

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“Please, please, please keep to your rotation,” begged Luke Hartung.

More Cropping Advice New black bean varieties will soon be on the market and when data is available on those varieties, check closely for maturity dates. “Some mature a day or two longer and in the short growing season of Grey/Bruce, you really don’t want to add a day or two of maturity,” advised Moran.

Dry spells over the past few growing years have convinced many growers to pull canola out of their rotation. Plus, ongoing pest damage from Swede Midge is a continuing problem. Those who choose to grow it should plant early because early growth “gives us a jump” on Swede Midge, says Moran.

Check for compaction. The easiest way is to look at above ground symptoms but the structure of roots will tell you a lot too. Then develop a strategy for nutritional needs that is coupled with compaction ratings by zone to build information on your fields, recommends Campbell. ◊

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March 2021 41

Old Barns

Preserving history is therapeutic Making barn beam benches helps Shelley Dorssers manage pain after brain surgery Afer rescuing a beam from a burn pile during a bank barn renovation, Shelley Dorssers of Staffa-area saw potential to create something useful and beautiful. She made her first barn beam bench and that rescue has turned into a hobby/business allowing others to add history to their own homes.

W

hen the last pigs left Shelley and Lee Dorssers farm near Staffa, it was decided to renovate the bank barn into a shed to store equipment. Their youngest son was helping tear stuff out of the bank barn when his fiancée paused and asked if they could get married in the space.

Shelley looked around and she could see the possibilities.

Turns out that question led to a string of events which ended up giving Shelley a purpose, a way to cope with chronic pain due to Trigeminal neuralgia (TN), also known as “suicide disease” and offers her customers a chance to decorate their home with a piece of Ontario farm history.

As the family renovated the barn, a lot of material was torn out. Shelley remembers coming home one day to a burn pile already started with a big barn beam in the flames. “I made my husband get the forks on the front end loader so he could save it,” remembers Shelley. Admiring the look, craftsmanship and history of the beam, she sanded it, added legs and installed it in her home. In fact, it became the bench where photos were taken at her youngest son’s wedding.

Next, she made barn beam benches for their children. Then 42 The Rural Voice

• By Lisa Boonstoppel-Pot

friends started requesting the benches for their own homes.

Suddenly, Shelley found herself with a hobby/business that was filling her time...time she was worried about filling in the lull after the busy year renovating the barn followed by the wedding.

Four years ago, Shelley was diagnosed with Trigeminal neuralgia. It’s a very rare neuropathic disorder characterized by episodes of intense pain in the face, originating from the trigeminal nerve. Shelley’s TN was so bad she could barely eat or speak. While TN often remains undiagnosed because doctors can’t see it on an MRI, Shelley’s was visible, allowing for surgery which has helped alleviate some of the pain.

Still, the disease has changed her life. Following surgery, the long recovery time led Shelley to make the decision to give up her successful real estate career and stay home. It was a big change because she had always worked off the farm, in real estate and accounting. Keeping busy, says Shelley, is very important when you have chronic pain because sitting and stillness makes the pain feel worse.

“Going to the barn and making the beam benches became

therapy for me,” says Shelley. She discovered a passion for art, something very new for a person who worked with numbers every day. Her tools are a chainsaw, palm sander and paint brush. Husband Lee “plays along” says Shelley. He made the original legs for the benches.

She’s still surprised how much she enjoys going to the barn to work every day. “I had never built anything but I’ve found I’m happier now, in a different way. I have a purpose at home. We have an easier way of life now and I really enjoy it.”

The couple even built a showroom in the old barn to display the barn beam benches and Shelley recently named the business Barn Door Decor and markets through Facebook. One gets to walk through the barn to visit the showroom but she notes the barn is

not available for rent, though many people ask to! Shelley hesitates to call Barn Door Decor a business because she doesn't keep track of her hours. It’s more a profitable hobby that pays for materials but she finds real satisfaction in creating and preserving these pieces of bank barn history.

“I grew up in town but my dad owned the farm my grandparents lived on. I remember being in the haymow and crawling around the beams,” says Shelley. “I like preserving that history and I think people like having these pieces of history in their house … it reminds them of their childhood.” ◊

Top: A drawing of the original homestead.

Middle: Before and after pictures of the bank barn renovation for the Dorsser wedding. Bottom: The first bench Shelley Dorssers (right, with husband Lee) made was used for a photo booth at the wedding.

March 2021 43

Rural Living A Country Guide for the Rural Homestead

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Recipes by Anne Mann

Maple Syrup – Harbinger of Spring

B

efore the daffodils and chives are peeking through the snow the trees are waking up in the bush and we make maple syrup, a Canadian promise that spring is coming, and this year we are all looking forward to spring! The flavour of maple inspires these recipes and reminds us that nice weather is around the corner, even if it takes its time getting here.

Maple Pecan Fudge I have been making maple fudge for Halloween for a long time but Easter seems a good excuse to make a batch with real maple syrup. My tried and true recipe uses brown sugar for the maple flavour but when we made our own syrup last year I found a recipe with real maple from Food Network’s Chuck Hughes. It uses toasted pecans and Maldon salt, (I had to look that up to see what it was) flaked salt, which I could not source, so I salted my pecans instead.

It is fine to leave the pecan topping off, since many prefer it plain. I adapted the recipe somewhat to get a thicker piece of fudge and a more “foolproof” set. If you are a fudge fan then I recommend you try this one - just be sure you have someone to share with so you do not eat it all yourself!

Ingredients: 1 1/4 cup whipping cream 2 1/4 cups brown sugar, packed 3/4 cup white sugar 3/4 cup maple syrup 1 1/2 Tbsp butter pinch of salt 1 tsp vanilla extract Topping: 1/2 cup pecans halves 1 Tbsp maple syrup Freshly grated sea salt Directions: Mix cream, both sugars, maple syrup, salt and butter in a heavy pot and bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon until sugar is completely dissolved.

Reduce heat slightly, stop stirring and continue to boil until it reaches the soft ball stage or 237°F. This will

take anywhere from 10 to 20 minutes (mine takes between 15 and 20) depending on the day and the heat of your burner.

Immediately remove from heat and add vanilla without stirring and let cool in cold water bath about 20 minutes or to 113°F. Meanwhile, toast pecans with

maple syrup and salt for about 10 minutes, stirring every few minutes in a 350°F oven. Let cool and chop coarsely. Prepare 8 x 8 pan by buttering sides and lining bottom with parchment coming up over 2 ends so you can remove the fudge easily.

Remove from water bath and beat

Maple-inspired recipes include (clockwise) maple-glazed sausage and squash, maple pecan fudge, maple chicken served with beans and potatoes, and maple vinaigrette which is fruity and perfect poured on fresh spring greens, avocado and blueberries.

March 2021 45

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5 - 10 minutes, until fudge begins to stiffen and lose its gloss. I like to start pouring it just before it loses its gloss or I cannot get it spread properly. When I made this for the photo I did not get it out soon enough but it is still good!

Quickly pour into prepared pan, smooth slightly and garnish with pecan topping, pushing lightly so it sets in the fudge.

When cool lift from pan using the edges of the paper and place on a flat board and cut into squares with a sharp knife.

Maple Glazed Sausage & Squash This is a nice one pan meal with some sauerkraut or cabbage salad.

The mustard, maple and rosemary combination brings a delightful punch to this dish, especially when it is finished with the pure maple glaze.

I love squash of all varieties and done many different ways and butternut is probably my favourite of all because of the intense orange colour, sweet flavour, great storage qualities and ease of peeling and cutting so this would be my first choice here. I have also used delicata squash when it is just harvested so you can eat it with the skin still on and I tried pepper squash but it is difficult to peel. I have not found the kabocha style that is recommended in the original recipe from Canadian Living.

Ingredients: 5 -6 garlic or Italian sausage (about 500g) 1 Butternut or Kabocha squash, peeled and cut in 1 inch wedges 2 tsp olive oil pinch salt and pepper 1 -2 Tbsp maple syrup for basting Basting Sauce: 2 Tbsp Dijon mustard 1 Tbsp maple syrup 1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar 1 tsp fresh rosemary, chopped or 1/2 tsp dry Directions: On a large greased or parchment lined baking sheet toss the squash with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper and bake at 425°F for 15 minutes.

Meanwhile boil sausage for five minutes and drain.

Whisk together mustard, maple

Recipes syrup, vinegar and rosemary.

Brush 1/2 of the maple mixture over roasted squash, turn over and add sausages and finish brushing with sauce.

Continue to bake at 350°F for 40 50 minutes, basting several times towards end of cooking time with reserved maple syrup, until sausage is browned and squash is tender.

Serves 3 - 4 Maple Chicken Claudia’s maple chicken is another great way to showcase our local syrup. Serve this chicken with corn pudding (Rural Voice November 2019 or on my blog) and it may quickly become one or your family’s favourites. I wish I had this simple recipe for chicken when the kids were still at home. It is so inexpensive, quick to get in the oven....and delicious!

Ingredients: 2 - 3 lbs chicken legs and thighs 2 Tbsp potato starch 1/4 tsp salt 1 tsp fresh ginger, grated or 1/4 tsp dry 1/4 tsp cardamom 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper or paprika 1 clove garlic, crushed or grated 2 Tbsp soya sauce 1/4 cup maple syrup Directions: Shake chicken with potato starch, salt, ginger, cardamom and cayenne pepper.

Place in a single layer in a 10 x 14 oven proof dish.

Drizzle with soya sauce and maple syrup.

Cover with foil or a lid and bake at 325 F for about 1 1/2 hours.

Uncover, baste and continue cooking for another half hour to finish browning.

Serve 4 - 6 Maple Vinaigrette This vinaigrette is fruity and perfect for fresh spring greens, avocado and blueberries. Use it to marinate some chicken breasts for the grill and throw on a sweet potato to bake and you have a dinner to inspire dreams of warm weather to come.

Ingredients: 2 Tbsp balsamic vinegar 2 Tbsp cider or wine vinegar 2 Tbsp maple syrup

1/4 cup cranberry juice or apple cider 1 tsp Dijon mustard 3/4 cup olive oil 1/4 tsp salt 1/8 tsp pepper Directions: Shake all ingredients together in a jar and enjoy.

Apple Pancakes Of course the best way to enjoy maple syrup is on a stack of your favourite pancakes. If you like a little applesauce with your pancakes then you will be sure to enjoy these pancakes with the apples right inside.

Adapted from Danette Martin’s recipe, in “A Celebration of Harvest – the Martin Family’s Favourite Recipes” it works very well with gluten-free substitutions (original recipe can be found on their website).

Martin recommends Honeycrisp, Ida Red or Crispin but I had Golden Delicious and they worked well. Do not worry if you have more than you can eat - they are delicious for lunch cold or even as a wrap around a piece of Cheddar!

Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups gluten-free bread flour* 1/2 tsp xanthan gum 1 Tbsp baking powder 2 Tbsp white sugar 1/2 tsp salt 1 egg 1 2/3 cup milk 3 Tbsp melted butter 1 apple, peeled, cored and grated *Gluten-free bread flour mix can be found on my blog www.annesfavourites.ca Directions: Sift flour, xanthan gum, baking powder, sugar and salt into a bowl.

Whisk together milk, egg and melted butter in another bowl then stir into flour mixture.

Fold in grated apple.

Pour 1/4 cup of batter onto hot griddle or frying pan, brushed lightly with oil and cook until full of bubbles that have popped then turn and cook until nicely browned on the other side.

Serve immediately with butter and maple syrup.

Makes 12 – 13 pancakes about 5 inches in size. ◊

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March 2021 47

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

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48 The Rural Voice

Yes, you can start seeds now Yes you can start seeds now.

I want to say right from the top that like so many others I start seeds way too early and then struggle with poor leggy seedlings that continue to struggle when planted out. This poor planning/timing is simply brought on by an eagerness to run full tilt into spring with armloads of plants ready to go.

My last endeavour with starting seeds was actually my best attempt.

My timing was right, my lighting was right; my seedlings were ready to go at the right time. I even had a portable three-shelf greenhouse set up on the deck in the filtered light to harden the seedlings off in. All good or so I thought. I had not taken into account the chipmunks and raccoons.

They were also looking for a taste of spring and I had set a buffet for them.

They made short work of the whole set up, scattering wee pots and trampling what they did not eat. I was crushed, but salvaged some of the seedlings, which worked out.

After a spring of disappointment, my ardour was dampened and I took a year or two off from starting seeds and simply purchased what I needed from the wonderful garden centres in the area.

That does not mean I have not learned a few tricks along the way.

Right now we are in new digs and I am eagerly waiting to see what bulbs are hiding in the ground cover. We have to create a new garden for a few vegetables and I have been making lists all winter of what needs to happen and resources needed. I will take photos and keep you posted on the project.

There has been another run on seeds this winter. Thanks to Covid19, there are a lot more of us getting

our hands dirty. Remember to grow what you like to eat and maybe check with the neighbours and possibly share crops: i.e. I will grow zucchini if you grow squash.

In the meantime, it is March and time to start calculating when to start your seeds. Coleus and geranium are ones to start really early in January.

Oops.

If you bought too many seeds last year and carefully stored them in a cool dark spot they will most likely be fine. I read of a recipe for homemade desiccant to put into your container of seeds. It involves two tablespoons of powdered milk wrapped in the centre of three sheets of facial tissue. As a sidebar here, my mom used to make us milk from skim milk powder. We always had it

Poppy seeds can be scattered in the garden for a festive display in summer.

in the house. I used to keep it as a back up in my pantry until one day I realized the price was just too much If in doubt you can check for their germination rate with a simple test.

Set out two thicknesses of paper towel on top of a sheet of wax paper.

Mist the towels until damp but not sopping. Place 10 seeds equal distance from each other on one half of the towel. Fold the other half over the first and gently place into a plastic bag; don’t seal it closed, simply fold the top over. Place on a plate in a warm spot. After five or seven days, check for germination.

Gardening The most obvious sign is a small white root, or any kind of green tissue. If you have seven or eight of the seeds showing life your seeds are good to go. If five or less, toss the seeds and buy a new package. I will admit here that I have seeds from decades ago, and seeds from my mother-in-law’s stash of seeds. She was a great collector. I also planted purple beans from my step dad’s stash (20 years in storage) and had a few meals off them despite the chipmunks. So seeds, if stored properly, can surprise you.

Soil warmth is another factor. You can take the temperature with a soil thermometer or simply dig a hole and take off your socks and put your foot in the hole. If way too cold for you, might be way too cold for seeds requiring heat to get started. Spinach, lettuce, peas don’t mind the cooler temperatures.

One last tip that I thought was pretty good was how to deal with small seeds like carrots and onions.

Make a generous furrow for your seeds and fill it with soilless mix. It will give the wee seedlings an easier time of pushing through hardened garden soil. Mind you if you are fortunate to have wonderful soil you won’t need to do this. You know who you are. Your soil is loose and rich and drains without hesitation.

There is a movement to a wider variety of tomato, kale, and other assorted vegetables being offered in your local garden centre. Shop early and shop often. I know from experience working at a garden centre that there are plants coming in several times a week. I was always surprised how quickly the onions and leeks sold out and how particular growers were about their tomatoes. If the regular beefsteak tomato plants were not available they were hesitant to try a new variety. But trying a new variety can be a good thing. And some new varieties we had one year would be quickly sold out the next year as gardeners appreciated the results.

I am looking forward to simply scattering poppy seeds in the garden to see what happens. Yes they will be new seeds!◊

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March 2021 49

Advice • By Lisa Boonstoppel-Pot •

Keep your eye out for long-horned ticks Farmers can help prevent virus-borne diseases by monitoring ticks, increasing biosecurity and reporting anything “weird”

H

umans can’t control what viruses we will get from wildlife but we can mitigate the risks by recognizing and reporting unusual patterns.

“It’s really important to mention to your veterinarian when something is weird,” said Dr. Scott Weese, a professor at Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph.

Speaking on the subject of new disease emergence and control at Grey Bruce Farmer’s Week. Weese praised farmers for being on the front line of disease identification. He also urged farmers to practice containment, restrict imports and improve farm level security.

Reporting is crucial. “Many times, what you report will burn itself out.

But if a veterinarian hears the same thing from five other farmers that something is weird, he will start connecting the dots.”

He also wanted farming neighbours to practice grace and encourage information sharing.

“Just because you have a disease on your farm does not mean you did something wrong,” said Weese.

“When a neighbour farm gets a disease and you blame them, there is less impetus for them to get help and report ... and we need them to get help and report.” ftentimes, it’s wildlife that spreads disease into farm animals. Ticks, for instance, are becoming an increasing concern.

Weese noted he had never seen ticks on his dog until this year.

“Ticks have been marching across Ontario,” he said. Ticks cause Lyme disease in humans and are capable of spreading infectious diseases so everyone needs to be aware of ticks on their livestock. Even if the ticks don’t spread disease, an infestation causes production issues in food

O

50 The Rural Voice

Preventing the spread of disease means watching out for new invaders such as the Asian Long-Horned Tick (above) which is spreading in the United States but hasn’t reached Ontario ... yet.

animals because they irritate the skin and suck enough blood to cause serious illness, or even death.

Of real concern is the spread of Asian Long-Horned ticks. Not in Ontario yet, these ticks have been found in various parts of the United State and are worrisome because the female can reproduce without a male.

These ticks likely arrived in shipping containers (though no one is sure). Neither is it clear how far it will travel or what diseases it might spread. Recording data on this invader is critical to understanding it, said Weese.

Ticks have also been implicated in the spread of African Swine Fever in Asian countries. “We aren’t sure if our own ticks can spread it and we won’t know until it happens,” said Weese. Most pigs in Canada are raised indoors so it isn’t an issue but pigs raised outside could be at more

Dr. Scott Weese University of Guelph

risk. Also, because the wild pig population is alive and well, they can get infected and spread diseases.

An outbreak of African Swine Fever in Ontario would be devastating, creating an estimated $50 billion loss across the food chain. “This is our doomsday virus,” said Weese.

Some would say COVID-19 virus is also a doomsday virus for the human population. This virus “really

Advice likes people” as evident from its rapid spread across the world in 2020. However, it is choosy. Weese said the virus likes apes, ferrets, minks, bats, deer, dogs and cats but not chickens, cattle or horses. From a transmission standpoint, veterinarians are concerned about the virus on mink farms mutating and then spreading back to people.

“However, from a livestock perspective, we aren’t really worried about the virus. That being said, we don’t understand it as much as we would like to,” said Weese.

He does recommend people infected with COVID-19 stay out of pig barns. “It shouldn’t happen (virus-spread) but we don’t want to deal the fallout if it does,” he said. In fact, he recommends infected persons stay out of any barn as a cautionary measure.

“Consider your livestock like any person you would meet,” he recommended. “All we need is one farm with it and we will have huge damage control.”

There are many rules in place to contain and control disease and most farms have significant biosecurity systems in place. Still, Weese said it is good to review your system and entrench in your mind the need for prevention, containment and mitigation of impact.

A few points he offered were: • Stricter border controls on imported animals. Rules are incredibly strict for cattle but not dogs. Plus, illegal activity surrounding wildlife is a real problem.

• We can’t do much about climate change or importing insects but we can pay attention and report problems. “It’s better to over-react than under-react,” said Weese.

• Basic infection control and biosecurity measures can protect us from a range of issues.

• Don’t import food products or cross the border and bring fruit or meat over. People do get stuff past customs that can put food security at risk.

• Create a routine to check for ticks on yourself, your pets and livestock. ◊

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NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT Cleon Martin

519.591.5342 nutrientplans@gmail.com

* PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT CROP ADVISORY SERVICES * NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT PLANNING We hate doing Nutrient Management Plans and Nutrient Management Strategies as much as you do, maybe more. However they are a sign of increasing government regulations which usually lead to over regulation and increasing your costs of doing business. Costs which you can never get back out of the market place. If you need a NMS or NMP, we will do our best to do it on time and as quickly as possible. We’re all about minimizing pain.

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52 The Rural Voice

Kelly Consitt B.Sc. Ag. Bus. Mike Hunter Ripley, ON

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

Advice • By Melisa Luymes •

What is the value of livestock manure?

Manure is loaded with micronutrients, says agronomist

M

anure is more than the sum of its N-P-K parts, isn’t it?

It has micro-nutrients and organic matter that are, essentially, priceless.

“Fertilizer is great, but it will only get you so far,” says Greg Boon, an independent agronomist with AgriSolve. He works with farmers as both a Nutrient Management Planner and a Certified Crop Advisor, to make the most of their manure sources.

“If I’ve got two fields with similar soil test levels, one built without manure and one with it, I’ll often see the manure-built field have the higher yield and higher organic matter levels to withstand drought,” he observes.

Greg was one of three local panelists on The Scoop on Poultry Manure on February 5, alongside Mark Hermann (Whistlebare Poultry Farm) and Adrian Guntensperger (Guntensperger Farm Services).

Over 200 Ontario farmers attended online workshops about the value of manure in early February.

Part of the Timing Matters initiative, the five-part series involved various commodity organizations, including OSCIA. Program director, Angela Straathof also gave an update (yes, five times!) on the first-year successes of the ONFARM project.

The series was hosted by the Ontario Professional AgriContractors Association (OPACA) and focused on dairy, beef, poultry, hog and municipal organics. Each event’s panel included a farmer, an agronomist, and a manure applicator.

The workshops included plenty of audience engagement, as farmers got more comfortable with the online platform.

Of course, no workshop on manure is complete without Christine Brown, OMAFRA’s Sustainability Specialist for field crops. She introduced and demonstrated AgriSuite, a group of calculators that

are available online at agrisuite.omafra.gov.on.ca for farmers to use.

AgriSuite is decades of Ontariobased research in the palm of your hand. Up to this point, it has been used primarily by consultants, but it is now a web-based platform that works on all smart phones as well.

Farmers can input their soil tests, crop rotation, yields and manure analysis into the calculator to determine the best rate, method of application and timing to make the most of manure and fertilizer. The calculator has the N-P-K values built right in, so users can compare various scenarios to see how to make the most from their manure.

“Still, the greatest value of manure is on fields with the lowest soil tests,” says Andy de Vries, a farmer, agronomist and partner with CropQuest. “When a farmer’s soil tests get to a certain point, it just makes more economic sense to trade it or sell it to a neighbour,” says de Vries, who buys in all his manure from his neighbours.

There were a few key take-aways

from the online discussions: 1) It makes most sense to apply manure up to a field’s phosphorus requirements, sell the rest and amend the N and K needs with commercial fertilizer, 2) The most value is retained from getting manure into the soil and as close to the growing season as possible, or into a growing crop or cover crop, and 3) It is best to avoid wet field conditions and reduce tire pressure when applying manure.

“You can undo all the benefits of manure by applying it at the wrong time,” says Cliff Horst, of Country Custom Ag, a custom farming and manure application business near Shakespeare. “If you don’t have the time or equipment to do a good job, hire a contractor,” he adds.

Horst spoke at The Scoop on Hog Manure workshop and is also an OPACA board member. OPACA was formed in 2017 to connect and represent the growing number of agri-contractors in Ontario and to promote best practices in the industry.

All five sessions are available on OPACA’s Youtube channel. ◊

702 MAIN ST. SAUBLE BEACH (519) 422-ATVS (2887) sales.atvdepot@bellnet.ca

March 2021 53

54 The Rural Voice

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

China is buying crops in massive volumes The grain markets continue to revolve around China and its need to source lots of product. China continues to buy soy products, corn and ethanol from the U.S. in massive volumes.

How massive are the volumes of these agricultural purchases? In the case of soybeans they are likely to be record high. China’s import of soys are expected to be in the 110 million tonne range. This demand is, of course, fueled from the rebuilding of the swine herd in the nation which has been cut aggressively to prevent the African swine flu that swept across the nation.

This strong demand from China coincided with the late harvest in Brazil, which China would typically begin to source product from at this time of year. Brazil, due to the drought that was experienced through the growing season, and then the subsequent rains that fell in areas where the crop was ready to harvest, prevented China from getting the timely shipments they were counting on. From this, they had to come to the U.S. to buy beans to fill the void.

Consequently the market rallied sharply. So how far is Brazil behind on shipping beans versus expectations? The numbers are staggering. In January Brazil only exported 50,000 mt of beans. This compares to last January which saw exports of 1.4 million tons. The harvest didn’t improve much in February with the weather continuing to cause harvest problems – and the back log at Brazilian ports continued to grow larger still. At one point there were enough ships waiting to load a back log of a reported 10 million tonnes!

China is also shopping for ethanol.

The nation has indicated commitments to buy ethanol in the range of 200 million gallons, all for shipment in the first half of 2021. If this occurs it will be their biggest purchase ever recorded. To put this volume in context we need to consider historical purchases. In 2013 China bought about 23 million gallons, moving to progressively higher volumes until 2017 when they purchased just over 198 million gallons. If this purchase pace is realized, their purchases on an annualized basis could be double the previous record imports.

China’s corn inventory is falling also. A recent report by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization showed China’s corn inventory dropping 54 million tonnes to sit at 139 million tonnes. This, in turn, drops world ending stocks, as China carries a large volume of the world’s corn inventory. From this report world ending stocks are estimated at about 230 million tonnes – with China holding about 60 per cent of these world stocks. These estimates put the

Trust family

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world stocks to usage ratio to low levels not seen since the 2013/2014 season. These updates are bullish for grain prices, however there could be further issues develop that could derail the market strength.

The African swine flu (ASF) outbreak that rampaged China’s hog herd for the past few years is reported to be spreading throughout the nation once again. ASF is a highly contagious, high mortality disease within hogs. China had been making good progress with this disease. They took large control measures and eradicated vast amounts of infected animals. Once the virus was seemingly under control China was able to rapidly rebuild their swine herd; this herd rebuilding has helped fuel the strong upward momentum in grain prices to multi-year highs. Lots of pigs require lots of feed. The disease is stubborn and may be circulating again, most likely caused by dubious vaccines that are not only ineffective, but that also spread the disease. Long story short, there are live modified vaccines being used in China (illegally) that have been

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March 2021 55

CANADIAN CO-OPERATIVE WOOL GROWERS LIMITED

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Wool payments will not be issued until further notice.

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56 The Rural Voice

• Heavy construction, durable • Soundless in open position, reducing wear and tear • Training position guides cows to enter gate from top opening • Adjustable or fixed neck space • Can lock one cow and release others • Available from 2 to 8 cow spaces • 4-5 Bargates in heavy aluminum tubing available

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Markets modified to be less virulent, but also infective; meaning the hogs are becoming infected from the “vaccine”. It has been stated that hogs infected in this manner are asymptomatic (do not show symptoms) and therefore the disease spreads rapidly and undetected because this new variant is believed not to be clinical. Will this disease infect widespread pig herds once again in China – or for that matter in other places in the world? The ramifications to grain prices could be catastrophic if these fears are realized.

Chinese purchases of grain have brought the demand driven markets we are currently experiencing – let’s hope this disease spread is rapidly mitigated and controlled.

Wheat markets are under pressure as Russian producers look to sell wheat before the Russian Government introduces its export tax later this year. This has made Russia the cheap seller of grain once again in the old crop shipping season making the competition for old crop homes very competitive. In a recent tender Egypt had over one million tonnes offer to it, highlighting the urgency seen to ship volume before the tax window begins. The upcoming market tax does give Russian growers a great incentive to ship as much old crop wheat as possible, because the tax that will be levied is very steep.

Currently the government has stated that the tax will come into effect on June 1 and will be a 70 per cent tax on any amount more than $200/mt! As of this writing Russian wheat is offered at a main port location at about $290/mt. ◊

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Woodlots I have so many wonderful memories from growing up on our farm. One that is hard to explain to anyone who has never experienced it, is the feeling of sitting in the steamfilled shop during maple syrup season. The steam cloud would, at times, make it impossible to see who was sitting or standing beside you.

The smell and the feeling are indescribable.

We often gathered sap with our neighbour’s team and sleigh. I do not know if many of you have ever gathered sap with horses, but one of the important things to remember was not to stop them within reach of the sap buckets or they would enjoy a sweet treat. While this may Modern taplines such as these at Love’s Sweetness have been nice for need to be sanitized to prevent off-flavours in the them, what they Donna Lacey is a forester with the Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority

Tasty Memories of Home

maple syrup.

58 The Rural Voice

deposited in the bucket while drinking was not favourable for us.

Gathering by tractor did not offer the same experience. While the tractor did not steal sap, it was not as quiet and awesome as the horses.

Our operation was a simple one of open buckets hanging on spiles.

There weren’t any covers or lids on the buckets and no plastic tubing.

These open buckets were often filled with tree bits and other aspects of nature, and occasionally snow or rainwater. We would dump the buckets into pails then take the pails to the sleigh where someone would dump them into the holding tank.

The sap would then slosh around as we moved through the forest and fields to the shop.

Apparently, all of these actions that we were taking were helping to determine the flavour of our syrup.

Recently I listened to one of the virtual talks presented by the Ontario Maple Syrup Producers’ Association Information Days. Syrup consultant Joël Boutin explained the effects of sap handling, and other factors, on the flavour of maple syrup.

My view of tasty syrup differs from most. I try to buy a product similar to the syrup we made on our farm. Just like no one can make a better potato salad than my mom, the syrup we made is my standard for ideal taste. I was raised enjoying a dark syrup that was full of flavour.

To my shock and dismay, the syrup that I so cherish is the lowest of grades and is often referred to as cooking grade (now called very dark). How is it possible that our pure maple sap gathered by horses and lovingly boiled down to syrup could reach such a grade that is held in low esteem by many?

The sap that was so generously given by the tree to our buckets was mainly water, with a small portion being sucrose. It turns out there are some really important microbes that find their way into maple sap once it leaves the tree. The microbes work to convert the sugars. This conversion is called fermentation. Learning this was a shock to me. Fermented sap or sour sap sounds bad. Anyone reading this now knows how little I knew about one of my favourite products of nature.

Woodlots In fact, if we want our maple syrup to have any maple flavour, we need these microbes to convert the sugars before we boil the sap and kill the microbes. There is a balance though. It isn’t a case of more microbes, more flavour. Just like too many cooks can spoil a broth, too many microbes can create an offflavour. Therefore, the proper sanitization of sugaring equipment is very important.

The presence of off-flavours will make syrup undesirable. Off-flavours come from many different sources, some of which are hard to determine.

Off-flavours can make a syrup unmarketable. Once I was given a jar of syrup as a gift. It was quite dark so I anticipated how good it would taste.

When I sampled it, it had a very chocolatey taste. It was almost as if something had been added to it.

Thanks to Joël’s presentation, I now know that this syrup was “buddy syrup” and was possibly made from sap harvested too late in the season, when some of the trees were starting to leaf-out. Nothing has been added and there wasn’t anything wrong with the gifted syrup but the flavour was off. Maple producers make every attempt to avoid an off-flavour but sometimes the tree works against them. Sap and syrup need to be constantly tested to ensure that the time, effort, and expense in boiling only produces quality syrup.

Joël explained that the use of lids on buckets, the colour of the bucket, the colour of the tubing, the size of the tubing, the length of time sap is in storage and the colour and size of the mainline all affect the flavour of the syrup. There is a lot of research on this, and many studies are ongoing.

The Ontario Maple Syrup Producers’ Association does a wonderful job of ensuring that its members are informed of the latest research.

I will not be looking at maple syrup or its production the same way ever again. I do know that I will forever be looking for syrup that is now classed as “very dark, strong taste”. The other grades – golden, delicate taste; amber, rich taste; and dark, robust taste are completely different, and may be delicious in their own way. ◊

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

A Litigator’s Tips for Avoiding (or Minimizing) Litigation NOTE: This article was originally published in the 2021 Edition of “Cultivating Business”, which is the official magazine of the Canadian Association of Farm Advisors (“CAFA”), and has been shared with permission of CAFA and Matrix Group Publishing Inc. The full version of Cultivating Business, including a directory of CAFAcertified farm advisors, can be read online at www.cafanet.ca/aboutcafa/cultivating-business-magazine.

CAFA is a non-profit professional organization dedicated to assisting farm businesses by increasing the skills and knowledge of farm advisors across Canada. Its mission is to improve the quality of advice being given to farm producers and their families, including agribusiness.

According to Google, Mark Twain once said, “going to law is losing a cow for the sake of a cat.” Or it is a Chinese proverb? Google wasn’t sure. Either way, there is usually good reason to avoid litigation where possible.

Litigation ends relationships. And even successful litigation doesn’t always pay. Here are some tips for avoiding (or at least minimizing) litigation.

First, consult with a lawyer.

It may sound counter-intuitive to recommend consulting with a lawyer in order to avoid litigation, but getting good information and advice early can help resolve burgeoning disputes. Don’t put it off. There’s a cost to consulting with a lawyer, but

60 The Rural Voice

Agrilaw professional advice can help you avoid making legal and strategic missteps, including missing limitation dates. Sometimes just having the ability to commence a court action will allow you to achieve resolution. Your lawyer can tell you where you really stand in a dispute – whether you have leverage or not.

Be honest with your lawyer and don’t withhold information. Incomplete information can only produce an incomplete legal opinion.

Second, keep (good) records.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Documentation can be worth thousands (or tens or hundreds of thousands) of dollars because it often sets the record straight. Many legal disputes arise out of miscommunication or are prolonged because a lack of documentation allows parties to stick to their competing viewpoints in spite of the truth. When conducting business transactions, put at least all of the essential elements of the deal in writing. Oral agreements can still be legally-binding agreements, but written agreements are more certain and more likely to be enforceable.

Retain your records. If you don’t want to keep the paper, digitize your records. If you can see something is going wrong, take photos and keep notes. Having documentation that shows what really happened helps parties resolve disputes or avoid them altogether.

Third, be prepared to compromise.

“It’s a matter of principle” can be a costly phrase. Yes, there are principled positions worth fighting for, but most legal disputes come down to money.

For court proceedings, the general rule is that the successful party is entitled to recover a portion (not all) of their legal costs from the unsuccessful party. Even if you are entirely successful in your claim, you will end up bearing a portion of your legal costs. And if you refuse to accept a reasonable settlement offer from the opposing party (maybe on the basis of principle) that could avoid or shorten the litigation, you might end up having to pay some of

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your opponent’s costs. Making a fair agreement based on compromise early can be financially superior to a result achieved through lengthy litigation, not to mention the benefit of avoiding the stresses of the litigation process altogether.

Fourth, bite your tongue.

Lawyers regularly hear the following advice about sending correspondence in contentious or emotionally-charged situations: finish writing your letter, but don’t send it to the other lawyer; put it in your desk drawer and come back to it tomorrow; once you’ve calmed down, you may want to revisit the language from yesterday’s draft.

Using aggressive or inflammatory language in communications with the other party in a dispute is not likely to get you closer to a solution. And understand that everything you say and, especially, write during a dispute will find its way before the Judge if the matter goes to court.

Don’t burn bridges when you don’t have to – gather all of the information and let the facts speak for themselves.

A bonus tip.

Make a will and have powers of attorney for property and for personal care. ◊ ______________________________ 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 welcomes letters and will publish as many as space permits.

Write: The Rural Voice Box 429, BLYTH, ON N0M 1H0 62 The Rural Voice

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People

By Dorothy Henderson Brown

Agnes Macphail: A Profile in Courage Featured on the $5 bill, Macphail was Canada’s first female member of federal parliament

T

he COVID-19 pandemic has at least one silver lining — it has helped us notice and appreciate courage. We’re awed by the dedication of front-line health workers, grocery store clerks, students and teachers who had to learn in new ways. We’re respectful of seniors who endure isolation in their retirement rooms, even those who had to find the courage to die alone without family support. These people have become our heroes.

Our rural history provides us with another extraordinary example of courage. Agnes Macphail, the champion of farmers, was born in 1890 in a drafty log house on poor swampy land in eastern Grey County.

She became the first female member of Federal Parliament in 1921 and was elected five times.

This is astonishing given that political life was seen as rough, competitive and certainly not something a woman should choose.

After all, women in Canada had only been granted the right to vote in federal elections four years before in 1918.

Agnes’ rural roots shaped her with intensity. In a time when Canada was increasingly urbanized and industrialized, Agnes was truly the champion of farm families. She considered them the backbone of the country. She railed constantly against an unfair tariff system which favored industry over agriculture and her vibrant speeches were full of examples of farmers selling their products cheaply and needing to buy equipment and manufactured goods at great expense.

A strong-willed, verbal child, Agnes grew up on stories of courage.

Her four grandparents were displaced and impoverished Scots when they arrived in Canada. Her grandmother Campbell, a particular hero to Agnes, instilled the value of protecting the weak and vulnerable.

She told young Agnes stories about 10 miserable weeks sailing to Canada with her young husband, the heartbreak of her baby’s death and his burial at sea, their struggle to work at anything—brickmaker, laundress, cook—until they could buy land of their own. Even then, the struggle continued. Bears raided her store house, thieves stole their food and burned down their log cabin.

Agnes was awed by the courage of each of her grandparents but especially the indomitable spirit of Grandma Campbell whose hard experiences never embittered her.

When her parents decided that Agnes could not go to high school because she was needed on the farm, she argued and pushed until, two years later, her father sent her on a train to Owen Sound. There, isolated and lonely, she worked hard before going to Stratford Normal School, having taken only two years to complete high school.

She became an admired and respected teacher at several rural schools—Gowanlocks, near Port

Agnes Macphail Member of Parliament, 1921-1940

Elgin; Kinloss in Bruce County and in Boothville and Sharon in East Gwillimbury Township, north of Newmarket.

At the age of 20, in her first school at Gowanlocks, she had 50 students, many of them almost as old and certainly as tall as she was.

In a time when the educational expectation was strict discipline, rote memorization, and corporal punishment with a strap, Agnes took a different approach. She treated children and youth with respect and dignity and discovered that engaging their minds and cooperation was more effective than strictness. Each day she brought a newspaper to class and they read and discussed an article of world interest.

Later, as a politician, her commitment to youth never wavered.

She wrote regular letters to be read aloud to school students. She clearly explained how an idea can become a law which will help move society forward in a positive way.

Once, in one of these letters, she described how the British government was participating in a damaging opium trade with China.

When a newspaper published this letter, her opponents in Parliament shouted at her, thinking it shameful that she was disloyal to the mother country, Great Britain, but when reporters travelled to Grey County to interview a high school teacher, it was discovered that Agnes got her information from a standard textbook, approved by the Ministry of Education.

Agnes learned early in life to deal with hecklers and criticism. She was a gifted speaker with a deep resonant voice. She was witty, quick thinking and a skillful writer. But it was in an organization called the United Farmers of Ontario (UFO) that Agnes “found her voice.” The UFO, founded in 1914, was a union of several smaller agricultural coMarch 2021 65

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At first an organization that stressed education and society betterment, the UFO was propelled into political action over two contentious issues: conscription and votes for women. At a time when farmers were strongly urged to grow more food products for the war effort, they were deeply angered when their young sons were enticed to fight in the First World War. These two issues cemented Agnes Macphail’s core values: she was a life-long pacifist and, although she did not call herself a suffragette, she was deeply committed to equality for all, regardless of race, religion and especially gender.

During the Ontario provincial election campaign in 1919, at a UFO rally, Agnes was surprised when someone invited her to speak. This inaugural speech lasted only ten minutes but her supporters cheered her loudly. In an astonishing victory the UFO that year elected 44 seats and formed the Ontario government.

When, in 1921, she was selected to be the UFO Independent Labor candidate for East Grey over 10 male candidates in the up-coming federal election, she was asked to step aside and let a man take the nomination, but she refused.

Months later, after an exhausting campaign, Agnes, her family and neighbors gathered in the Macphail farm house, anxiously awaiting election results. Cheers erupted when a neighbor turned from the telephone and made this terse announcement: “Friends, we have made history in South-East Grey; we have elected the first woman to the Parliament of Canada!”

As the first and only woman in the House of Commons, from the young age of 31, Agnes found the courage to fight tirelessly for many things, including prison reform. In a time when cruelty and deprivation were the norm, Agnes visited Kingston Penitentiary and had herself locked into one of the punishment cells, then returned to describe this horrifying experience to her colleagues in parliament.

In a time when politics in Canada was a competitive fight between two

People main parties—Liberals and Conservatives—for most of her years as member of parliament, Agnes dared to sit alone as an Independent member of Parliament. She believed in cooperative government and that each elected representative had prime responsibility for the people in the home riding. For this she was labelled a hillbilly from Grey County and a communist.

When the Parliament was given information about terrible conditions for coal mining families, Agnes left Ottawa and travelled to Glace Bay, Nova Scotia. Refusing to take the official tour, she visited miner’s homes instead, then returned to Ottawa to tell her astonished colleagues of the mud streets, the terrible poverty, the children with rickets wearing only scraps of clothing and the constant hunger.

Even in small things, she lived by the courage of her convictions. When criticized for not wearing a hat in public—as a lady should—she countered that she could not think well when wearing a hat.

In her personal life Agnes’ courage was evident, too, and for this she was often criticized. Although she had several male admirers and considered marriage, she felt she would surrender some of her sense of equality if she married. Although she loved children and longed to have a home of her own, she chose instead to work for the betterment of society.

Agnes Macphail was certainly not a saint—she was often bad tempered, sharp-tongued, impatient, and foolhardy with money—but her life courage was awe-inspiring.

She died of a heart attack in 1954.

Today, if you travel through the hamlet of Ceylon, west of Flesherton, in Grey County, you see a highway sign reminding you that you are entering Agnes Macphail country.

Although she fought tirelessly against national policies that favored industrialists over farmers and that supported urban over rural constituents, Agnes Macphail will always be remembered and respected in Canada—but particularly in southwestern Ontario—as the courageous friend of the farmer. ◊

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68 The Rural Voice

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.

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70 The Rural Voice

CASH & FORWARD CONTRACTS Call us today for Quotes Scott Speers Richard Smibert Scott Krakar Matt McKillop Alex Kissler 1615 NORTH ROUTLEDGE PARK UNIT 43 - LONDON, ONTARIO, N6H 5L6 519-473-9333 Toll-Free 1-800-265-1885

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Closed Sundays, 519-338-3920.

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

-------------------------------------------------Hawthorn Farm Organic Seeds – vegetable, herb and flower seeds, RR 3, 5961 5th Line, Palmerston, ON N0G 2P0. 519-343-3375, hawthornfarm.ca sales@hawthornfarm.ca -------------------------------------------------IRON & STEEL -------------------------------------------------DISCOUNT STEEL: New second grade steel sales; 1" - 8" square tubing; 7/8" - 14" round tubing; Rectangle tubing, discount plate; New and Used I-Beams; Bar grating, rebar, angles; Custom cutting, welding, punching. Listowel. Phone Aden 519595-7775.

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

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

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

-------------------------------------------------LIVESTOCK FOR SALE -------------------------------------------------LIMOUSIN breeding bulls – quiet, thick, semen tested, guaranteed breeders, delivery included. Select now for spring delivery. OPEN HOUSE – April 10, 2021. Posthaven Limousin, John Post. 519-766-7178. www.posthavenlimousin.com -------------------------------------------------Hypharm Genetics rabbits breeding stock now available in Ontario. Order your PS19 does and PS40 bucks. CuniON@tcc.on.ca --------------------------------------------------

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

888-226-6344

www.hrichardsonfarms.com

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

March 2021 71

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LIVESTOCK FOR SALE -------------------------------------------------Red Angus, Simmental, Red AngusSimmental and Charolais bulls for sale. Watch them grow at AgSights website, Bull Evaluation, Silver Spring Farms. James and Joan McKinlay 519-599-6236.

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

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

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

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

Call 519-859-0097 or 519-871-0300 townsleypainting@hotmail.com --------------------------------------------------

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.

-------------------------------------------------Custom clover seeding with GPS, $2.50/acre or $3 for pasture. Seed available. Call Kurt Beuerman 519525-0538 or 519-523-9234 (home).

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

DONALD A ANDREW ACCOUNTING

GLAVIN BARN & COMMERCIAL PAINTING

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

226-222-1469 dandhnewman@gmail.com http://dandhnewman.ca/chantecler-chickens/ Pick up in Ripley, ON Beltsville Small White Turkey Poults also available

Limousin BULLS and Open and Bred FEMALES

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

Accounting & Income Tax Services for FARMS, BUSINESSES & INDIVIDUALS 296 Ross St., Lucknow

Ph. 519-528-3019

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 Eugene Glavin 519-228-6801

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

Smart Limousin

137606 Grey Rd. 12 Meaford 519-372-7459 www.smartlimousin.com or Follow us on Facebook

-------------------------------------------------REAL ESTATE -------------------------------------------------Selling or buying farmland, residential or commercial. All properties needed. Call Greg or Dwaine Nicholls, Brokers for GA Nicholls Realty Ltd. Greg 519-2910507, Dwaine 519-492-2002.

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

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

72 The Rural Voice

Parts & Service • John Deere & New Holland small square balers • New Holland harvesters • Discbines

10% discounts on parts & service for orders placed before March 31st

James Brubacher 261 Langside Street RR 5 Lucknow, ON N0G 2H0 Also Custom Welding & General Repairs

CLASSIFIED SERVICES -------------------------------------------------Sales Service Installation Free Estimates

Marvin L. Smith 519-364-4026 eod@persona.ca

Eastern Overhead Doors (Bruce-Grey) Ltd.

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

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

519-692-4232 www.sgspestmanagement.ca

-------------------------------------------------WANTED -------------------------------------------------Dion threshing machine, 22x38 or 28x48; 7 ft. International or John Deere grain binder. Phone evenings 905-983-9331.

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

-------------------------------------------------DEALERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES are available in many areas with the Leader in Non-GMO corn. De Dell Seeds 519-264-CORN. -------------------------------------------------Looking for land to rent for upcoming year. Call Braecker Farms 519-524-0615.

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

Kenilworth Auto Recyclers. 519-3231113.

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

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

March 2021 73

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

Cultivating healthy relationships and sustainable land stewardship This year, Elmgrove Farm, situated on a beautiful 50-acre property near the shores of Lake Simcoe, is celebrating its 10th anniversary as a collective.

“Without the collective we’d be two lonely old people living on a farm by ourselves,” say Elmgrove owners and NFU-O members, Loes and Hans Pape. “Instead, our collective is helping make a better community.”

Modelling nature’s regenerative process, the Papes credit their desire to “give back” to Berta and Wilto Schortinghuis, who first purchased the land back in 1951 and practiced organic-method agriculture. Dutch pacifists and Holocaust rescuers during World War Two, the Schortinghuis hired a young Hans and taught the value of engaged citizenship and volunteerism. The Papes purchased the property in 2001 with Loes as lead grower and Hans, a former teacher, focusing on property infrastructure.

“Hans and Loes are special people,” says Daniel Hoffmann, a collective member. “They are exceptionally generous and kind.

Income generation is not their priority. They want to be involved and supportive.”

Hoffmann, a farmer and social worker, who runs The Cutting Veg, an organic vegetable farm and CSA program, was won over by the Papes’ commitment to relationship-building.

After several years at Farmstart’s McVean farm, Hoffmann purchased a nearby home and became the first to join the Elmgrove Collective in 2011.

Offering an “intentional” volunteer program, the collective soon grew to encompass four vegetable enterprises, a beehive site, a number of non-commercial garden plots, and most recently, a sheep farm run by the Papes’ son, Justin.

“As a novice farmer, it’s been an invaluable experience being part of a collective,” says Zandra Zalucky, one-time volunteer and now operator of Cultivating Opportunities. “I wasn’t initially thinking of farming as a career,” the former social worker adds, “but I fell in love with the land and felt a sense of belonging.”

Elmgrove Collective operates without any formal written contract; instead, they “proactively work on their relationships” through winter planning sessions, weekly business lunches, and almost daily coffee chats during the growing season.

“It helps that each business is financially independent,” observes Hoffmann. “Money never gets in the way.”

The Papes charge nominal rent, dependent on land use, and the collective shares some equipment, a barn space, and a produce cooler. A certain number of hours are determined annually for each member to dedicate to the farm as a whole – from infrastructure projects to weekly chore-sharing.

Mutual aid informs the collective.

“We have each other’s backs,

literally,” says Zalucky recalling a spring season when everyone pitched in when she hurt her back. “There is a beauty to how we function; we are honest and care for each other’s wellbeing.”

Collective members create a similar sustaining environment for their volunteers and workers. The Papes once hired a couple overcoming an oxycontin addiction.

Zalucky dedicates volunteer space for those struggling with mental illness.

Part-time volunteers receive the collective’s time, energy, ecological knowledge, and vegetable shares. An “intentional” and “enriching experience,” volunteers obtain tailored training and the therapeutic effects of being on the land, an escape from the urban, and, this past year, reprieve from pandemic isolation.

The Elmgrove Collective (elmgroveorganic.com) insists that being good stewards of the land goes hand-in-hand with “building honest and communicative” intergenerational relationships: “We strive to cultivate a healthy environment for all living creatures.”

You’re Invited!

Inviting all Ontario NFU members and friends to join Perth/Oxford NFU Local 341 for a discussion with Cam Goff on seed regulations and the ongoing seed regulatory modernization process. This discussion will take place ahead of our local AGM on March 25 at 7:30 p.m. via Zoom. This is a great opportunity to catch up on some of the NFU's ongoing work around seed sovereignty and to gain a better understanding of how seed regulations affect your farm.

Cam operates a grain farm with his brothers near Hanley, south of Saskatoon. He has served as NFU VP (Policy) and a director on the Canadian Wheat Board, the Western Grains Research Foundation and the Saskatchewan Barley Development Commission.

The Perth/Oxford AGM will follow with reports plus the AGM business meeting. Local members are encouraged to stay for the AGM. Contact local president, Julie Fleischauer at goldenacresfarm@hotmail.com or 519-588-5290 or local secretary, Ann Slater at aslater@quadro.net or 519-349-2448, for more information. **************************************************************************************** Local 320 Bruce County – Please join us for our Annual General Meeting on March 31, 8:00 p.m. via Zoom. Contact Linda Baumberger at sonnenrainfarms@outlook.com or 519-832-2953 for more details.

A subscription to The Rural Voice is one of the benefits of being an NFU-O member 74 The Rural Voice

Stewart Skinner, President stewart@stonaleenfarms.ca / 519-492-2990

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

Reflections on 2020 within the Ontario pork industry Any opinions expressed herein may not necessarily reflect the views of the Perth County Pork Producers’ Association.

In the past 40 years in Ontario, I have never seen the current situation where some producers have done extremely well financially and others cannot afford to pay their bills and have been forced to choose interestonly loans at the bank. Why has this happened?

It is because producers receive differing returns from the three primary sale locations for market hogs, with variances as much as $90 per hog. A load of hogs can have up to $20,000 per load price difference depending on the destination.

The solution is simple, you think — just send them to the destination paying more. However, that is not possible due to contractual obligations and limited shackle space.

One of the three packers pays based on meat value while the other two base payment off a formulated, U.S.-based price. The meat value payment has been the higher one.

While there have been some adjustments in the U.S.-based price over 2020, the gap has not been adequately filled. Does this mean the U.S. price model is broken? Does it mean some packers are “gouging” producers?

While there is little factual information to answer this question, there certainly has been a large amount of speculation. Discussion on the subject includes market differentials among packers, changing their ability to pay. It also includes changes to the Canadian market due to international tariffs that disadvantage the U.S. industry meaning Canadian packers can get more for their meat (thus this thought would suggest the U.S.-based model is broken).

It is clear that the current situation is not fair. In my view, it is not sustainable. I can understand minimal

differences (though the definition of minimal can be debated – is minimal under $10 or under $5 difference per hog?). Large differences indicate to me something is broken. Either the packer is in the wrong market or the model to determine price needs to change.

If the price difference is not fixed quickly, it will drive significant structural change within our industry (already several producers are considering their viability, only because of their contracted destination for hogs). It will unfortunately force some producers out while others will thrive and even buy the departing hog farmers out. It will, over time, force some producers to perhaps copy the model that is returning good prices to the farm (I am aware of at least three different discussions of building a producerowned packing plant) or to search for another pricing model that is based on meat values instead of U.S. hogs and meat.

It is clear that with few options to sell hogs, producers cannot simply sell to another packer. In the old days, when there were 13 packers in Ontario (40 years ago when I started), and when Ontario had more packing capacity than hogs, there were options. Today, approximately 20,000 pigs per week leave the province. There are only two major packers here. So the options to fix the problem have to be negotiated as market clout alone will not work.

The meat market packing industry is competitive so they also need to be careful they do not commit to a new pricing arrangement that at some point could threaten their viability.

They also are a business needing to make a return and perhaps they might argue that we are simply at a point in the hog cycle that will correct itself.

Packers had an extraordinarily difficult period for about three years between 2013 to 2015. During this time, one of our Ontario packers went

bankrupt. Saying that at some point their supply will be threatened if a fair solution is not found is not a good option.

Where do we as producers go from here? Initiatives across Canada are happening (this problem exists beyond Ontario to one degree or another), but they have not yet resulted in a fair solution. Producers in one province (Alberta), have voted in favour of considering returning to single desk selling. Others, through their boards, have met with the packers to consider options. New pricing models have been considered by many. Now, at the national level, there are continuing discussions coordinated to some degree across the country.

I do hope a fair solution can be found ... and found quickly. ◊ – Submitted by Craig Hulshof

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/Ruth Kloostra (Monkton) - 519-347-2619 Ted/Donna Keller (Mitchell) - 519-348-9836 Jerry/Sandra DeGroot (Kinkora) - 519-393-5237 Leis Feed (Milverton) - 519-595-2048

March 2021 75

Grey County Federation of Agriculture

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

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

Turning youth into well-rounded adults For over a century, 4-H Ontario has built youth into leaders in their communities and positive contributors to the world. With roots in rural Ontario, today 4-H Ontario is open to all youth of all backgrounds across the province.

4-H brings together youth aged six to 21 and passionate, engaged volunteer leaders to learn about selected topics through fun, hands-on activities and mentorship. There are also provincial camps, conferences, competitions and national and international travel opportunities available.

In 4-H, youth find a place they can be involved, accepted, valued and heard while developing valuable life skills in leadership, business, self-confidence and more.

Grey County Leaders Association Executive: President: Natalie Mather – natalie.a.kerr@gmail.com Vice-President: Allie Ibbotson – ayton4h@gmail.com.

Directors: Darryl Hopkins, Taylor Campbell, Melissa Harrison, Mary Lynn Lawrence, Claire Clarke, Amanda Kapteyn Secretary/treasurer: Dianne Booker – greycounty4hsecretary@hotmail.com Association Rep: Brian O’Neill – oneillsholsteins@yahoo.com Livestock Co-ordinator: Mary Lynn Lawrence – mll.lakesidefarm@gmail.com Webmaster: Mary Lynn Lawrence and 4-H Ambassador: Travis Fulford

More information about Grey County 4-H can be found at https://4-hontario.ca/association/grey-county-4-h/ or on Facebook at Grey County 4-H.

Grey County Federation of Agriculture is proud to support

Grey County 4-H and its members For 2021 GCFA will be sponsoring every 4-H member in Grey County with a donation of

$10 towards their annual membership fee.

If you have any questions, please contact grey@ofa.on.ca or greycounty4hsecretary@hotmail.com

Grey County Federation of Agriculture

2021 MEETINGS March 11 April 8 June 10 August 12

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

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

Grey Federation of Agriculture

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

76 The Rural Voice

September 9 October 14 November 11 December 9

@ GreyFedAg

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

Key points of Bill 156 reveal how it protects farmers, farm animals and food safety 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.

What are animal protection zones?

The Security from Trespass and Protecting Food Safety Act (formerly Bill 156) establishes animal protection zones: Animal protection zone: with respect to a farm, animal processing facility or prescribed premises, means an area on the farm, facility or premises on which farm animals may be kept or located and that is, • An enclosure for farm animals, whether or not it is marked as an animal protection zone, • An area that meets prescribed requirements and is marked as an animal protection zone by the owner or occupier using signs in accordance with the regulations, • An area prescribed by the regulations as an animal protection zone for the purposes of this Act. Persons are also prohibited from stopping, hindering, obstructing or otherwise interfering with a motor vehicle transporting farm animals.

What are “prescribed premises?”

The Security from Trespass and Protecting Food Safety Act (formerly Bill 156) allows for the regulations to prescribe certain premises as animal protection zones. Currently, the following are considered prescribed premises: • Premises at which farm animals are ordinarily bought or sold and in respect of which a licence has been issued under the Livestock Community Sales Act. • Premises at which farm animals are displayed for public viewing.

• Premises at which farm animals lawfully compete against one another.

What about signage?

Animal protection zones that require signage can only be marked if they meet the requirements listed in the regulations.

We understand that most farm buildings and processing plants will not require additional signage under the Act. Signs must be a minimum of 30cm x 30cm, and be orange in colour. Signs must be erected at each ordinary point of access to the animal protection zone

being signed, and must be clearly visible in daylight. The area marked will only be considered an animal protection zone when farm animals are present.

The sign serves as a warning to any person that is about to enter the animal protection zone that entry is prohibited unless the person has consent, is exercising treaty rights, or enforcement powers, or meets exemption requirements. *We know there is significant interest in the signs. Ontario’s farm groups are working closely with government to clarify sign requirements, where to get, etc. We will have updated information from government shortly.

What are considered interferences/ interactions?

Acts that are considered prohibited interferences and interactions with farm animals are listed in the regulations. They include: • Directly or indirectly having physical contact with a farm animal, whether the farm animal is dead or alive, • Providing any substance to a farm animal, including spraying or throwing any substance on or at a farm animal, • Releasing a farm animal from an animal protection zone or transport motor vehicle, • Creating conditions in which a farm animal could escape from an animal protection zone or transport motor vehicle, • Any activity that causes or is likely to cause harm to a farm animal or harm with respect to food safety.

What does “false pretences” mean?

• Consent to entry in or on an animal protection zone, or other prescribed activities which has been given to a person is considered invalid if it is obtained using duress or under false pretences.

• If consent was obtained under these conditions, the consent will be deemed to not have been given.

• The regulations (see Sections 9-12) outline the situations where false statements result in contravention of the Act, including false statements regarding employment qualifications.

Certain exemptions exist for journalists and whistleblowers. Similar conditions exist for when consent is

obtained under duress.

What does “no implied consent” mean?

• Persons are prohibited from interfering or interacting with farm animals in or on the animal protection zones or from carrying out prescribed activities in or on the animal protection zones without the prior consent of the owner or occupier of the farm, facility or premises.

• Persons are also prohibited from interfering with a motor vehicle that is transporting farm animals and from interfering or interacting with the farm animals in the motor vehicle without the prior consent of the driver.

• This applies even if the trespasser has not been told orally, or in writing, to keep out or if no signs have been posted which restrict or prohibit entry.

Offences and Penalties • Offences under the Security from Trespass and Protecting Food Safety Act (formerly Bill 156) carry higher penalties; up to $15,000 for the first offence, and up to $25,000 for subsequent offences.

• Higher penalties are introduced to serve as a deterrent from trespassing and breaching biosecurity protocols. Persons found guilty of an offence can be held responsible, and may receive a restitution order for any injury, losses or damages occurred as a result of the contravention.

• The regulations (see Section 16) list certain circumstances which increase the gravity of an offence, including whether any farm animals were harmed, killed, or whether any human harm occurred.

Penalties can be increased for a person who is found guilty of committing an offence under these listed circumstances.

• For more information on the fines under the Act, please review Schedule 82.

Limitation Period • The Security from Trespass and Protecting Food Safety Act (formerly Bill 156) introduces a two-year limitation period for the commencement of proceeding for an offence under the Act. • The two-year period begins on the later of the day the offence was committed, or the day on which evidence of the offence first came to the attention of a police officer. ◊ – Information supplied by Ontario Pork

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

March 2021 77

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

The past year has not materialized as envisioned, says President I was asked to write this month’s submission for The Rural Voice as I am completing my second, one-year term as President of the Perth County Federation of Agriculture (PCFA).

It has become customary that PCFA presidents serve two terms. I am lucky that there is interest amongst current board members to continue progressing through the “ranks” of PCFA to fill positions. We do have board members who have served for a number of years that are looking to move on to other challenges. We would encourage anyone with interest in our board to contact us. We are looking for potential new board members and people who are interested in sitting on a sub-committee.

The past year has definitely not materialized as I had envisioned. A world-wide pandemic with obvious local ramifications will do that!

While PCFA has still continued to work hard for members, the way in which we did so was dramatically different than planned. What we were able to accomplish, given the challenges, is a testament to the determination and resourcefulness of the Board members.

This year’s Perth County Harvest Gala had to be significantly modified. The Gala Committee put together the “Gala from Home” which offered Perth County-sourced food supplied in a box with cooking instructions. The concept was a great success.

The PCFA realized early in the COVID-19 pandemic that local families were struggling to put food on the table. We donated ground beef to the Stratford House of Blessing and $1,000 to the Huron County Food Bank Distribution Centre which distributes food across Perth and Huron Counties.

A strong emphasis on lobbying government by PCFA, continued this year. The annexation of over 300 acres of prime agricultural land south of Stratford, for a glass plant, has been of particular concern. The use of a Minister’s Zoning Order (MZO) to change the designation of the land is extremely concerning for neighbouring farmers. Farmers have not been given suitable answers to questions about air pollution, water usage, and noise concerns. The PCFA has written letters to many politicians but we have received little satisfaction from any of them. The letters can be viewed on our website.

It is PCFA policy that in municipalities with robust planning policies, like Perth County and Stratford, MZOs should not be used.

It was brought to our attention that a suggestion was made at a recent West Perth Council meeting for that ward to host a glass plant if the proposed plant in Stratford does not materialize. Our lobbying continues.

The County of Perth plus the towns of Stratford and St. Marys have combined resources to develop a Climate Action Plan. This plan will

The deadline to renew your

Perth County Federation of Agriculture

Farm Business Registration was March 1.

renewed, call Agricorp at 1-866-327-3678

BOARD MEETING March 25 – 7:30 p.m.

If you have not yet

become a requirement to receive provincial funding. PCFA has provided feedback and direct input.

PCFA and Perth County farm commodity groups were unable to have the annual spring meeting in person with John Nater, MP, and Randy Pettapiece, MPP, due to COVID-19. We did provide briefs outlining successes and challenges for agriculture in the county. We followed up with phone conversations with John and Randy to review the briefs. PCFA is currently planning another spring forum in 2021.

PCFA has worked with a new radio station, The Ranch 100.1, to do a weekly report about events in agriculture in Perth County. It is on the air Thursdays after the 12:00 p.m. news. COVID-19 restrictions have made it challenging to find content, but hopefully as things improve, there will be more events returning to our agricultural community in 2021.

The coming year for PCFA will again be busy with a new executive and board members. We will endeavour to reach out to our members for their involvement and insights. ◊ – Submitted by Tim Halliday, PCFA President

via Zoom Call Sue at 1-833-229-6834 to participate or have an item added to the agenda

March 8, 2021 Celebrating the women who work in Perth County Agriculture

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

78 The Rural Voice

Index Ag Safety Week ......................7,9,11 Alex Ruff MP ..................................19 Allied Associates LLP ....................70 Argyle Marine & Small Engines ....69 BDO ..............................................62 Beekeeping ..................................3,4 Belore Trailers ..............................69 Bernie McGlynn/SB Flooring ........59 Bill Walker MPP ............................67 Bio-Ag ............................................61 Boonstoppel Dave/Elly Real Estate ..41 Brian Buffinga Electrical ................79 Buddsteel Architectural ..................58 CABEF ..........................................61 Canadian Co-op Wool ..................56 Chalmers Fuels..............................17 Cliff’s Plumbing & Heating ............67 Country Wedding ......................46,49 Dancing Bee Equipment ................54 Design & Build ................13,15,30,32 Donkers Agri ..................................29 Easy Lift Doors ..............................14 Fieldwalker Agronomy ..................39 Financial Services..........................64 Gerber’s Workwear ........................69 Greenfield Global Inc ....................39 Greenville Liquid Plant Food..........41 Grober Nutrition ....................Cover 3 Hanover Honda..............................40 Hardi ..............................................51 Harold Jones Enterprises ..............69 Hayden Water Wells Co. Inc..........40

Hill & Hill Farms....Inside Front Cover Hunter Steel Sales Ltd ..........Cover 6 Huron Commodities ......................39 Huron Feeding Systems ................29 James Brubacher ..........................72 Jennifer Cook & Associates Inc ....66 JJM Concrete Grooving ................23 Kingwood Bins ................................6 KMM Farm Drainage ....................49 LAC ................................................70 Lakeside Shelving & Racking ........21 Live Landscape..............................48 Maitland Welding & Machining ......69 Maple Leaves Forever ..........Cover 4 Maple Syrup..............................35,36 Mapleview Agri ..............................24 Mark Cook Farm Drainage Inc ......70 Marquardt Farm Drainage ............66 Martin Farm Wagons ....................73 Marvin L Smith ..............................73 McIntee Real Estate ......................69 Metzger Meats ..............................47 Michael’s Stabling Developments ..56 Midwestern Ontario Bull Sale ........31 MNP LLP ......................................55 Moore Hemsworth Insurance ........21 Morris Sachs Silo Construction......70 MRC Wireless ..................................8 Nature’s Wave Inc ........................60 New Life Limousin ........................10 Nuclear Waste Management ........57 Nutrient Management ....................52

Ontario Mutual Insurance ......Cover 7 Ontario Sheep Farmers ................37 Parker & Parker ....................Cover 5 Raynbow Signs ..............................70 RBC ..............................................56 Ridgeway Metals ..........................70 Roth Drainage Ltd..........................70 RT Bolton & Son ..................Cover 4 Rural Living ....................................44 Rural Voice Books ........................68 Sauble Beach Motorsports ..19,21,41,53 Saugeen Valley Conservation ......59 Schmidt’s Farm Drainage ..............17 Schweiss Doors ............................62 Sew & Save Centre ......................60 Sharps Creek Forge ......................47 Silver Creek Nursery......................73 Somerville Seedlings ....................59 South Easthope Mutual Ins............79 St. Lawrence Cruise Lines ............48 Steffen Well Drilling ......................70 Stihl Ltd ..........................................63 Stratford Agri Analysis ..................51 Superior Barn Painting ....................2 SWO Diesel Inc ....................Cover 3 Townsley Barn Painting ................72 Triple P Consulting ........................23 Trouw Nutrition ................Back Cover Usborne & Hibbert Mutual Fire ......52 WD Hopper & Sons Ltd ................19 Williams Drainage ..........................21

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519-272-4646

Brian Buffinga General Manager Mas t er Electrician

March 2021 79

HURON

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

County Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER

What your FBR registration fee to OFA does • Lobbying: The board and staff of OFA continue to work for farm members on numerous issues faced today.

• Member Assistance: Staff from both the OFA head office and in the field work to assist members on a variety of topics.

• Farm Property Tax Rate: By having a FBR number tied to your farm properties you keep a “farm tax rate” on your farmland. The rate is currently 25 per cent of a residential rate.

• Local Level Federation Support: A portion of your membership is shared at the local level for projects.

Your local federation also works on your behalf for area specific issues.

• Benefit partner opportunities: Not only do these partnerships help

Upcoming Events March 3-5 – London Farm Show Connect: www.westernfairdistrict.com/ london-farm-show March 4 – Huron Dairy Producers Annual Meeting, 7:30 p.m.

March 22&23 – Grain Farmers of Ontario (GFO) virtual March classic: gfo.ca/about/march-classic/ March 30&31 – Modified online London Swine Conference: www.londonswine conference.ca/

save you money, they earn money to further support the activities of the OFA. These features among others cost you $0.66 per day (plus HST) in 2021 per membership.

For more information please contact your local Member Service Representative Margaret Vincent at 1-800-511-1135. ◊

HCFA has history of strong dedicated women As the HCFA celebrates its 80th Anniversary it is interesting to note that the Huron County Federation of Agriculture has a history of strong dedicated women being involved.

In November 1944 Mrs. O.G. Anderson was appointed the first female director to the HCFA executive.

The importance of Huron County women to agriculture can be seen in this excerpt from January 1946: “Mrs. O.G. Anderson spoke to meeting, explaining she was elected to Ontario Executive and this was possible due to the fact that she had been chosen as representative for Huron County. Mrs. Anderson then gave a report for Women’s Meeting in Toronto after thanking directors for electing her. Sixty members attended the Women’s section of meeting said the speaker, 22 represented Counties. Women’s Field included recreation, Education and Health. Key women as County Representatives were appointed. Mrs. Lloyd Taylor, Exeter for Huron. The

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

speaker asked for more representation by women in County.”

At the March 1946 HCFA meeting Mrs. Lloyd Taylor spoke to the HCFA directors on the place women could play in the Federation.

Since these women the HCFA has had six female Presidents: Gerry Fortune, Pat Down, Brenda MacIntosh, Carol Leeming, Joan Vincent and Erica Murray. In the last 10 years the HCFA President position has been filled by women for six years. ◊

Did you know?

Environmental Farm Plan, Biosecurity and Growing Your Farm Profits workshops are currently being offered with online options, (inperson workshops are encouraged and will be posted on the website as areas begin to open up). Please visit OSCIA.org for updates. You still need to pre-register and participants will be contacted by a workshop leader with details. ◊

April 7&8 – National Poultry Show ENGAGE virtual event: www.westernfairdistrict.com/nationalpoultry-show Huron County Federation of Agriculture

BOARD MEETING March 22 – 8:00 p.m.

Contact the office to receive the information to join this virtual meeting The HCFA celebrated Food Freedom Day on February 9 with a $1,000 donation to the Huron County Food Distribution Centre

Congratulations!

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

Winner of the February draw for a local food gift certificate was Philip Clark.

OFFICE UPDATE due to COVID-19 Please call before visiting the HCFA office to determine if the office is open. Please be assured that we are still available to address your concerns by telephone: 519-482-9642 or email: ofahuron@tcc.on.ca Follow us on Twitter twitter.com/huronfedofag and Facebook at Huron County Federation of Agriculture

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

80 The Rural Voice

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