The Rural Voice - Nov. 2019

November 2019

Rural Voice

The

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

CLIMATE CONCERNS Can stewardship save what climate change and invasive species are stealing, wonders Geoff King?

PRECISION AG 4-H New 4-H club uses drones, satellite mapping and other precision ag strategies

FOREIGN FIXES Hog farmers find the skilled help they need from Ukraine in “winwin” foreign labour program

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Contents The

Rural Voice THE MAGAZINE OF AGRICULTURAL LIFE

23

31

Published monthly by: The Rural Voice, Box 429, Blyth, Ontario, N0M 1H0 Telephone: 519-523-4311 Fax: 519-523-9140 e-mail: info@northhuron.on.ca Publisher: Deb Sholdice Editor: Lisa B. Pot rveditorlisa@northhuron.on.ca

16 Columns Lisa B. Pot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Keith Roulston . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Kate Procter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Jeffrey Carter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Mabel’s Grill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Viewpoint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Recipes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43 Gardening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46 Markets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52 Woodlots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54 Agrilaw . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58

Departments Feedback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Ruralite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 News & Advice . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49 Business Centre . . . . . . . . . . . . .60 Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62 Advertisers Index . . . . . . . . . . . .71

Newsletters National Farmers Union . . . . . . .66 Perth County Pork . . . . . . . . . . .67 Grey County Federation . . . . . .68 Bruce County Federation . . . . . .69 Perth County Federation . . . . . .70 Huron County Federation . . . . . .72

36 NOVEMBER 2019 • Cover Photo Geoff King of Goderich.

Photo by Lisa B. Pot.

• Deadlines: Dec. Issue – Nov.13 Jan. Issue – Dec. 11

16 Geoff King Retires with Worries Forests, land and soil need more protection than ever

23 Foreign Workers a Perfect Fix An Oxford County pig farmer says the skilled worker program solves so many problems

31 Better Together Farming Soured on economics, a city couple turns to farming as a way to add value to the world

36 Precision Ag in 4-H Drones, phones and computers take the lead in new agtech 4-H program in Perth County

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

46 Best Annuals for Dried Flowers Strawflowers,statice and gomphrena top the list

54 Shrapnel Scars and Diary Marks Grandfather’s diary tracks his progress during the war

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

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

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

A division of North Huron Publishing Company Inc.

NH

ORTH URON

PUBLISHING COMPANY INC.

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

Education needed on coyote hunting The Editor, Gary Kenny’s take-away message in his column (September issue of The Rural Voice) on coyote hunting and trespassing was surprisingly balanced – we need to get past the emotion and look to a solution that is mutually satisfactory to all involved. The Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH) strongly supports that approach.

Here’s why I found it surprising: although Mr. Kenny’s column does attempt to speak to both sides of the issue, there is a considerable slant giving an impression of inherent issues with coyote hunters, particularly those who use dogs. This

profiling is inappropriate and unfair to the coyote hunting and sporting dog communities who take great pride in promoting responsible practices and strong landowner relations.

I fully agree that blatant and repeated disregard for private property rights is unacceptable, whether by hunters or any other member of society. Trespass is not strictly a hunting issue. It is a broader societal issue driven by the near-absence of publicly accessible lands in parts of Ontario for outdoor activities like hunting. That’s not an excuse, but it is a reality.

Continued conflicts between landowners and coyote hunters taints the perception of the activity and the landowner support needed for these activities. This is why the issue of trespassing by coyote hunters has been front and centre recently with the OFAH and the hunting community.

Coyote hunters, particularly in GreyBruce, have voiced their concern about being unfairly targeted by enforcement officials, while landowners feel that their private property rights aren’t being respected.

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These conflicts have prompted the OFAH and the Ontario Sporting Dogs Association to draft a Code of Conduct that will serve as a guide for hunters.

The OFAH strongly believes that an educational approach that works with the sporting dog community to ensure adherence to best management practices will achieve much better results than a heavy-handed legal approach that will ultimately minimize important hunting traditions and the services offered to rural communities facing predation issues.

Gary’s right – we need to have an open and honest conversation about coyote hunting with all parties involved. Only then can we expect an outcome that gives due consideration to all viewpoints.◊ Mark Ryckman, OFAH Manager of Policy

Reader saddened by story on gay men The Editor, I received the October issue of The Rural Voice.

I was sadly disappointed to be involved in advertising in a paper that advocates gay marriages and promotion of sex activity between men. The Bible says that this is sin.

“For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections; for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature; and likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet {due}.”

Romans 1:26-27 As a Christian with a conscience that is free from sin because my heart has been cleansed by the Blood of Jesus, I do not want to advertise in this paper if it will advocate this sinful pleasure.

Please leave our MastersChoice advertisement out of this paper if you will continue to condone any more of this act. ◊ Dwayne Weber, Choice Seeds Inc., Tillsonburg, ON

Ruralite

“

•

“We are losing more trees than

we are planting [to help] combat climate

Skills

change.”

“These people are career people on our farm, not farmhands. They are well-educated and wellskilled to do a great job.”

”

~ Geoff King, reflecting on the past 35 years of climate change and his career, as he prepares to retire as Stewardship Services Coordinator with the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority

~ Graham Learn, discussing the foreign workers he has hired on his swine farm; workers he’s thrilled with because of their skills and work ethic.

November Space “But there is always a November space after the leaves have fallen when she felt it was almost indecent to intrude on the woods…for their glory terrestrial had departed and their glory celestial of spirit and purity and whiteness had not yet come upon them.” ― L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Windy Poplars

{ } NOVEMBER INSPIRATION

Past the coloured leaves We look to the golden sunrise Clinging to fall’s light ~Lisa B. Pot

PARADIGMS: 20 cents ECLIPSE: What a barber does for a living PHARMACIST: A helper on a farm

“The month of November makes me feel that life is passing more quickly. In an effort to slow it down, I try to fill the hours more meaningfully. ~Henry Rollins

•

How come abbreviated is such a long word?

•

November 2019 3

Lisa B. Pot

Best wishes for a safe and prosperous Harvest Season

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4 The Rural Voice

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

Have you ever heard of the Holodomor?

Everyone has heard of the Holocaust but have you ever heard of the Holodomor?

Recently, I became aware of the Holodomor in the Canadian Museum of Human Rights in Winnipeg where exhibits are fashioned to generate ideas and capture the stories of people whose human rights have been violated in Canada and across the world. From Viola Desmond who challenged racial segregation by refusing to leave a whites-only area of a Nova Scotia theatre to the Red Dress Project, an aesthetic response to the more than 1,000 murdered and missing First Nations women, one floor is dedicated to human rights struggles in Canada.

Moving upwards, another floor is dedicated to human atrocities across the globe. There are many disturbing images from the Holocaust, visuals that never fail to make one question, “how could this have happened?”

On this same floor is a panel of facts about the Holodomor, a genocide that I’d never heard of in school. Holodomor means “to kill by starvation”. It was acknowledged in 2006 that the Soviet government, under the leadership of Joseph Stalin, created a man-made famine to kill ethnic Ukrainians between 1932 and 1933. Death toll estimates vary greatly from 3-10 million people.

Other estimates say there were approximately four million famine deaths with a further six million birth deficits.

There is debate on whether it was an actual genocide versus a tragedy or poor planning during the country’s industrial revolution, suggests material I researched. What is certain

Lisa B. Pot is that millions upon millions of people died within two years in a country that would not accept foreign aid, prevented migration, enforced resettlement and exported tonnes of grain leaving none for its citizens.

With a death toll approaching the number who died during the Holocaust, the Holodomor is a horror story that is being unravelled as details kept hidden by corrupt governments come to light. Until recently, references to the famine were controlled and even forbidden.

Historians were only allowed to speak of “food difficulties”. It wasn’t until Glasnost in the late 1980s that the word Holodomor was officially used. The word didn’t become part of the Ukrainian dictionary until 2004.

The cover up has been long and sustained, which explains why the Holodomor isn’t as well known as the Holocaust.

I can’t stop thinking about it.

There are many things I don’t know, of course. Yet this seemed like one world event that should be on the radar. As the expression goes, “don’t let history repeat itself” and it’s only when these events are brought to universal light, and mourned, and researched as part of the moral development of society, that we can become aware of illogical prejudices that can lead to hatred and death.

Despite the depressing content, I want to read more about the Holodomor. Maybe think a little more about war in general as Remembrance Day approaches. I don’t always make much effort to be ceremonial on Remembrance Day; it seems so distant from my everyday life.

Perhaps that’s why this Holodomor exhibit made me pause.

It contained a photo of a family with children. Thin. They, like the Jews and the Tutsis and the Japanese and the Chinese and the First Nations (all of whose painful history was revealed in the Human Rights Museum) were just trying to live their everyday lives. Working, caring for children, enjoying nature … just wanting to live and love as we get to do here in the safety of Ontario, Canada.

The floor above the Holodomor exhibit had a counter full of Imagine

Cards with titles like: “Respect is...”, “I imagine...”, “I believe...”, and “I will...” to name a few. The idea is that you fill out a card and hang it on a wall to become a powerful visual of intentions. It’s a reminder that once we are aware of human rights issues, we can act. We can honour those who died or fought for their, and our, rights.

This is all timely, as Remembrance Day approaches. It’s good to note that since 2006, Ukraine

has officially observed a Holodomor Memorial Day on the fourth Saturday of November.

I’m not sure how I can do anything about the Holodomor but if you are Ukrainian, I want to tell you that I now KNOW. I grieve for this sadness in your history. And on this Remembrance Day, while I honour the soldiers and families who sacrificed to keep Canada safe, I will remember to honour your people too.◊

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November 2019 5

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6 The Rural Voice

Keith is former publisher of The Rural Voice.

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Make saving the earth profitable Political leaders took a terrible beating when the big marches to protest the lack of action on climate change took place earlier this fall.

One of the values of politicians is that they provide a convenient punching bag for our frustrations.

To some extent blaming politicians for not solving climate change is another example of pointing the finger of blame at everyone but ourselves. No matter what our cause is, we’d really like a benevolent dictator who thinks just like us to compel all the people who don’t think like us to do what we think should be done. In real life, however, politicians in a democracy can only do what the voter will let them do. Get too far ahead of the majority of voters and they’ll turf you out come next elections.

But the one thing that politicians can do to fight climate change is to create programs that make it financially more attractive for each of us to modify our behaviour in ways that will address the changes that must be made, not only to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but to reverse their effects.

I began thinking about this when the media storm was blowing over the fires that were burning in the Amazon rainforest and the criticism of the Brazilian government for allowing farmers and resource companies to clear the jungle that we were told were the “lungs of the world”. Nobody seemed to think about the fact the benefits the rest of the world gained from Brazil keeping the Amazon intact brought no financial reward, certainly not as much as clearing the land and planting crops. If we want to keep the rainforest intact and working for the benefit of all humanity, we need some sort of international system that

financially rewards Brazilians for maintaining it.

But you don’t have to look as far afield as the Amazon to see the same sort of reduction of carbon-holding woodlands, a knowledgeable acquaintance pointed out to me at the time of the controversy. Here in Ontario, forest is still being bulldozed and burned to create more farmland. We need to find a way to make keeping that land in forest more financially rewarding than clearing it.

The value of making needed changes financially rewarding is demonstrated by how much Ontario’s farmers have done to fight climate change without even knowing it. I remember when the idea of no-till farming was so radical that this magazine and other farm publications wrote stories on the adventurous pioneers who were trying it out.

Since it required a large investment in new equipment, it seemed unlikely that the majority of farmers would follow.

But information that no-till paid dividends relayed by crop consultants, articles in the farm press and word of mouth, convinced so many farmers to make the switch that today it’s strange to see a ploughed field.

Similarly, I’m amazed at the acreage of cover crops I see planted this fall. I remember when it was a management tool only practiced by organic farmers.

The result, according to a recent study by the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute, is that Canadian farmers have already made significant reductions in their contributions to greenhouse gas emissions compared to the 1990s.

Not only are they burning less fuel because they make fewer passes over their fields, but they’re sequestering more carbon in the soil and making the soil healthier and more resistant to the stresses of climate change.

So the evidence is clear. People will change their habits when it’s financially rewarding. What we need political leaders to do is find more ways to reward people financially for making the changes needed to fend off climate change. ◊

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November 2019 7

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

Purging home leads to new respect for Habitat for Humanity Anyone who knows me very well has had to listen to a lot of whining lately about something I’ve spent most of the summer and early fall doing. Whether you call it purging, decluttering, reverse nesting, or by some other name, I have been going through my house and farm office with a ruthless hand and just getting

rid of stuff.

I’ve never been a big shopper, and I have moved once or twice in my adult life – but still – stuff seems to accumulate. When my kids were all still living with me and in school, it often seemed like a relentless flow of paper was continually washing into the house and accumulating like detritus after a spring thaw. It doesn’t help that I’m still wearing clothes that I wore in high school. Note to self: there’s nothing like a t-shirt with a date on it to tell the world I’m not exactly a fashionista. On the other hand, my 1993 Canadian Country Music Awards t-shirt reminds me of the time my sister and I saw Shania Twain live, back when she was brand new on the music scene.

And that’s the kind of thinking that leads me to accumulate, and keep, lots of things that have limited usefulness. When I started down this path, I envisioned just getting rid of a few things that I don’t use very much, or that I couldn’t actually repair, and just cleaning up a bit.

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exercise.

Having helped a couple of friends deal with their parents’ houses had got me thinking of this a while ago so I had dipped my toe into the decluttering pond a little. One of my friends and I would actually send each other “before” and “after” photos as a way of encouraging each other on our purging journeys. And then celebrate with a little treat – no victory was too small for us!

But this summer, the exercise took on a bigger purpose – and I got down to emptying entire rooms. It made me look at myself and where I find meaning in a whole new way. It seems easy to get so wrapped up in busyness that we can look at our surroundings and not even see them any more. Sometimes we need to take a look as if we have a new set of eyes. Once I got started doing that, it became almost an obsession.

I have had a piano in my home for almost my entire life. I came to realize that I rarely played it, it takes up a lot of space, and was mostly gathering dust and mildew inside. I had to sort out why I was even keeping it. The whole process led to a lot of internal arguing – and when I realized that I couldn’t even come up with an argument that satisfied my own self, I knew the object in question had to go.

Luckily for me, there is a new Habitat for Humanity Huron County Restore in Wingham. They know me quite well by now, and have started encouraging me to buy as well as donate. On one of my trips there, I got chatting with some of the volunteers and learned a lot more about the organization and the role it plays in Huron County.

From their website, “Habitat for Humanity Huron County is a nonprofit, non-government, incorporated charitable organization dedicated to improving the lives of economically disadvantaged persons through home ownership with the belief that decent, affordable housing is a basic human need. Its mission is to eliminate poverty housing in Huron County in partnership with volunteers, donors, sponsors and the homeowners themselves,” http://www.habitat huron county.ca/index.php.

Kate Procter I learned that there are houses built throughout the county, and it is fascinating to learn more about this group that helps people find a safe space to nurture their families.

Habitat for Humanity International was founded in 1976 and has built and rehabilitated more than 300,000 houses and helped more than 1.5 million people escape the cycle of poverty. The organization developed its first Canadian affiliate in 1985 in Winkler, Manitoba, and Huron County’s branch started in 2004 with people in Exeter and Wingham coming together to address a substantial need in our rural community. “There is a real shortage of affordable housing for families in Huron County. Today, many lowincome working families are spending more than 50 per cent of their income on rental housing that’s both substandard and unsafe.

Housing and living costs are also rising much faster than family incomes,” http://www.habitathuron county.ca/index.php.

Habitat in Huron County has lots of interesting ways to get involved aside from donating and shopping at the Restore. They have a number of committees, and are looking for volunteers. No matter what your interest or skill set, there is a fulfilling role you can play within the organization. More information can be found on their website.

As for me, the summer of the Great Purge has almost concluded, leaving my home and mind much less cluttered and ready to consider those volunteer opportunities. It has led me to think even more about what I bring into my home and why I am doing that. Taking a trip to the landfill and seeing the mountains of waste there makes me ashamed and reminds my of my new mantra – “less is more”. As a society, we have been encouraged at every turn to “buy, buy, buy”. In fact, we even call ourselves “consumers” without giving the word a second thought. It is up to each of us to think a bit more deeply about that and decide if that is the best path for our long term future.◊

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November 2019 9

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

Min Piri Dokka, a test of patience It was with a bottle of scotch from the Orkneys that she was christened in the all-but-forgotten language of those isles. The bottle was not broken but a dram was sprinkled on her prow and into the waters of the Sydenham for good luck.

Little Samwise had taken a couple weekends to build, the 16-foot Radagast four years and the 20-foot Min Piri Dokka five years, working spring through fall on the weekends, on weekday evenings and as winter weather permitted.

Min Piri Dokka means My Little Darling and is the third vessel the Carters have crafted as a family.

Dokka means “darling” and the term Min Piri reflects her size.

Though far larger than Samwise or Radagast, she is still small; a vessel for which maintaining sight of the shoreline is a prudent course of action.

Wooden boats have a mystique about them, and rightfully so. Wood has been the go-to material for their construction for millennia, only being displaced over the course of the 19th and 20th centuries as various metals and then fiberglass became the new standards.

Radagast, apart from the white

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With Dokka, a decision was taken to use as much wood originating in Ontario and Canada as possible.

Black spruce from Northern Ontario was used for the spars apart from the main mast which was built from an expensive 20-foot plank of Sitka pine from BC. True white oak for the keel, cleats and other parts requiring added durability, white ash for the gunnels and sassafras for much of the rest, seats, flooring, centreboard case components, mast partners and more.

Sassafras, incidentally, is an under-appreciated wood. I acquired my supply, and many of the other species, from the Goodreau Sawmill near Tilbury. It is a rot-resistant hardwood, relatively light but stiff and durable.

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However, today’s modern construction methods produce a far lighter boat with the same sturdiness as her forebears.

Construction, as with most wooden boats, didn’t begin with the boat itself but with the structure onto which the inner keel, stems and hull is laid. The hull was made from quarter-inch, four-foot-by-eight-foot plywood sheets joined or “scarfed’ together to form lengths or “strakes” long enough to reach from stem to stern. Strakes are laid in pairs, glued with marine epoxy together along their edges and once all were in the place the outer keel, stems and gunwales were attached.

At this point, the boat was about a third of the way to completion and was ready to be turned. It had been built, to this point, in an upside-down configuration.

Oughtred, like many other marine designers, has plans available and a manual for individuals with the patience and determination to build their own vessel. There are literally hundreds of steps to be completed and so the old adage – one step at a time – rings most truly.

You can buy a professionally-built Caledonia Yawl built to the demanding specifications of the design but it will cost you – around $30,000 Canadian – a price that does not include the cost of the sails, trailer or little outboard motor that fits into the motor-well near the boat’s stern.

There is far more satisfaction in having built it with your own hands and intelligence.

Min Piri Dokka – ‘My Little Darling’ – is an inch or so broader at the beam than Oughtred’s sevenstrake design and her rudder, though functional, isn’t quite as pretty as the rest of the boat.

She sails reasonably tight to the wind with her drop-down, leadweighted keel in place, can hold her course in the right circumstances without a hand on the tiller and has, on occasion, left far larger sailing vessels of the fiberglass kind behind in her wake. ◊

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

“Thanks for those parts,” Dave Winston told George Mackenzie when he sat down at the table for the morning coffee session at Mabel’s Grill.

“They work?” George asked.

“Like a charm,” Dave replied.

“What’s this about?” Molly Whiteside asked as she filled Dave’s cup and refilled George’s and Cliff Murray’s who had arrived 10 minutes earlier.

“I’m restoring a 1986 Pontiac Parisienne and I needed wheel covers,” Dave explained.

“And George had some?”

“My first new car,” George said with a touch of nostalgic pride. “The wife and I drove it on our honeymoon to PEI. I sure hated the night that deer smashed into me and I had to write it off.”

“A deer did so much damage you had to write off the whole car?”

Molly wondered.

“Well that was 1998,” George said. “It had a bit of rust by then.”

“As in you could see through the floor boards,” smirked Cliff.

“George would still be driving that car if it weren’t for that deer,” said Dave, trying to hide a smile.

“Well you’d be out those wheel coverings if I was,” growled George.

“But you still had hubcaps from it?” Molly asked.

“He’s got all the parts from it,” said Dave.

“Well I figured it was a waste just to send it to the junkyard,” said George. “Figured I could use some of it someday.”

“And have you?”

“From time to time. When people need a part, they come looking for me,” said George.

“You should see his machinery shed,” said Dave with a touch of admiration. He’s got parts from everything – old tractors, old hay balers, old manure spreaders. The place is full to the rafters!”

“I pity your wife!” Molly said.

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“She hasn’t been in there for years,” George sighed. “Says the greatest invention ever was the cellphone so she can just text me to say dinner’s ready, instead of having to come in there to find me.”

“You’re a hoarder!” said Molly.

“They make TV shows about guys like you.”

“He’s Scotch,” said Cliff.

“Hey, I’ve been hearing cracks all my life about being cheap, but not anymore. I’m an environmentalist these days. What’s that saying they have – reduce, reuse, recycle?”

“Yeah, Greta Thunberg meant to visit George when she came to Canada but there was no train to get her here,” laughed Dave.

“Good thing,” said Molly as she turned to go back to the kitchen.

“Sounds like if she’d gone into his machinery shed she might never have found her way out!”

The conversation turned to the weather and the corn crop for a while before Dave asked, “Have either of you been to a movie lately?”

“Nah, I never even know what’s on anymore,” said Cliff. “They never advertise in the newspaper and I don’t go online much.”

“It’s just easier to stay home,” said George. “Wait a couple of months and you can see the movie on Netflix.”

“Well we were visiting friends in the city on the weekend and they took us out to the movies. They’ve got recliner chairs just like your living room!” said Dave.

“Yeah, I read somewhere that the big movie theatre chains know that’s what they’re up against so they’re trying to upgrade the experience of going to the movies – make it as comfortable as home,” said Cliff.

“Yeah, but you can’t have a cold one while you’re watching,” grumbled George.

“Oh you can buy beer or wine there,” said Dave. “I haven’t a clue how much that would cost. It was bad enough paying more than four bucks for a pop. And apparently making it seem like home means showing ads before the movie. I counted nine of them! And one way they don’t make it like home is there’s no remote control to change channels to miss the ads!” ◊

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Do some people have less frantic monkeys?

14 The Rural Voice

peaceful in my own life, I inevitably bring more peace into the world at large. Meditation isn’t just so I have a better day, but it contributes to everyone having a better day.

So here I am. Breathing in and breathing out, smiling as the radio squawks, sending love to the world and most especially to my two brothers huddled at the combine and the crew in the Premier truck that has now arrived.

A quiet mind is focused. I can pay more attention to what’s going on around me and, when driving equipment, that’s a very good thing.

A quiet mind is lighter. It means dropping the mental baggage of the past and the present that I bring with me each day. I can take a joke better and I don’t beat myself up for little mistakes.

A quiet mind notices; everything is a gift. It is presents, oops, I meant to write presence.

My eyes open after a few minutes and I pull the tractor around to catch some more beans. It feels different now. My sister-in-law crosses the field with the minivan, filled with three adorable (maybe screaming) kids and dinners for us. And coffee.

I’m overwhelmed with gratitude.

The second combine thunders back to life as a full moon peeks over the horizon. As I gun it across the field, this time I focus on taking deep breaths and it’s as if the monkey sits quietly in the buddy seat looking out the window.

The moon is huge and pale, illuminating the prickly branches of long-dead trees along a fencerow.

Hauntingly beautiful. To think I might have missed it. ◊

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I’ve been chasing two combines with the grain buggy for most of the day. One of them has broken down.

It has been a long week, with not a lot of sleep and rain in the forecast.

Tensions are high on the crew – we weren’t communicating well and I keep thinking about the pile of work (including this column) that is waiting for me when I am done for the night. Then this!

I now have 15 minutes to wait for the one (functioning) combine. With this new-found time, I grab my phone to check my emails, reply to texts and, after that, I let my mind run frantically down its to-do list just to create some more stress for myself. When I reach the bottom, I start at the top again.

Then I flip to Headspace on my phone. I had made a New Year’s Resolution to meditate every day and I’ve got the Headspace app that plays guided breathing exercises and tracks if I do them each day. Usually I can find a few minutes alone at home for it but meditating in a tractor would be a first for me!

Maybe you’re wondering what the heck meditation is? Well, I think of it as training the mind to relax. Without training, our monkey minds won’t stop – they swing from limb to limb, hoot and holler, tell tall tales and start fights – and it is exhausting! I can only speak for myself here but I’ve realized that pretty much all my suffering is self-inflicted – it comes from my monkey mind. For a long time, I thought that my thoughts were true, that my assumptions were

reality, my memories real and my worries warranted. I lived as a victim to my mind until I figured out it could be trained. It could be quiet.

In my quiet mind, there are no todo lists, no stories about the past or fears about the future. There is only the breathing in and the breathing out. Then, a growing sense of awe and wonder at the miracle of everything. Then there is only love.

And…then the monkey crashes in on a vine and tells me that so-and-so must think this-and-this of me so I should do that-and-that. Sigh.

So how to train the monkey?

There are different traditions in Eastern religions, through focusing on breathing or on a phrase, and some people have their own ways to do it, like running or chopping firewood. I do wonder if some people just have naturally calmer monkeys.

But, back to the broke-down combine and getting some Headspace in the tractor. I press play on the app and a soothing English accent says a few words before having me focus on the sounds around me and on my breathing. The other combine roars past me (breathe in) and the CB radio squeals with the back-and-forth of the corn silage crew (breathe out). I smile at how ridiculous this might look and how only a few moments of deeper-focused breathing make life more amazing and less serious.

The English accent belongs to Andy Puddicombe, a mindfulness teacher and the founder of Headspace. He starts by talking about inner conflict, outer conflict and our shared human experience. What I take away is that by being more

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People

Geoff King heads in a new direction

Geoff King, left and above, shows where his heart is in an undated photo submitted by the Maitland Valley Conservation Area from which King is retiring after 35 years serving in various capacities and most recently, as Stewardship Services Coordinator.

Torn between worry for the climate and eagerness to pursue personal interests, Geoff King says he will retire but he won’t ever stop being a steward of our land, water and forests

I

t’s fitting that we are meeting for Geoff King’s “goodbye” story in the Robertson Tract near Auburn.

Back in the day, when he first starting working with the Ministry of Natural Resources, King spent many hours in the forest pruning white pine plantations. Those plantations are now filled with tall, mature, thriving trees, not unlike King himself who is retiring after 35 years serving as a steward for forests, soils and watersheds with the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority.

It’s clear from talking with King that he enjoyed those times working in the woods, but he says the most meaningful part of his career was working with landowners.

“My real interest was extension, that’s what I enjoyed doing the most,” says King, who is set to retire from his

16 The Rural Voice

role as Stewardship Services Coordinator with the MVCA the first week of December.

Unfortunately, he fears the last 35 years have been better for soil preservation, forest health and water management than the next 35 will be. The drive for profits, climate change, invasive species and reduction in government funding are all contributing to his real apprehension for the health of the planet.

“I worry what the next 30 years will look like. When I started all those years ago, it (the environment) sure was in better shape,” says King. “We had a lot of extension staff present from many other agencies and the funding was

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . By Lisa B. Pot

much easier to access to undertake better management practices (BMPs).”

Back when he started, climate change was not even an issue.

“Nobody talked about it,” says King.

During the intervening years the landscape of field and forest have dramatically changed. “Just look at what the Emerald Ash Borer has done,” he says, referencing the insect that has devastated the ash tree population across southwestern Ontario and beyond. Beech trees are being hit by America Beech Bark Disease and Oak Wilt will have a huge impact on woodlots and an additional impact on climate change.

“We are losing more trees than we are planting to help combat climate change,” says King.

Add to that the damage of invasive species such as Garlic Mustard, Giant Hogweed, European Buckthorn, Japanese Knotweed, Phragmites, Zebra Mussels and the Round Goby and King fears for the survival of native species. “The list of invasive species just keeps growing,” he says.

While tree diseases and invasive species are one kind of threat, largescale agriculture and a lack of government support for landowners trying to improve their soil and water conservation is another worry.

“In farming today, there is less cattle and more intensive row crop production,” says King. The high cost of land and expense of crop inputs has led to more marginal lands and flood-prone valley lands being worked. Wetlands have been drained and buffers between fields and watercourses have been removed.

These changes concern him greatly.

It’s why he has enjoyed working with farmers. Although there is some suspicion from landowners in regards to MVCA’s role in regulating farm and land practices in relation to protecting waterways, King says his focus on stewardship services allowed him to meet, talk and explain why the regulations were in place.

He recalls working with one landowner on a drain that was to narrow to handle water flow and being able to explain from a safety and erosion standpoint why action was necessary. A new culvert was

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installed with the aid of funding and the right permits. “When I left he was quite happy and in the long run, the project was cheaper than if it had been ignored.”

Much of King’s work focused on outreach and education to assist landowners with the development, design and funding for installing rural storm water management systems. These could include grassed waterways, berms and wetlands.

King also helped farmers do the paperwork and access funding to create windbreaks, buffer strips and reforest marginal lands.

In a watershed that contains over 470,000 acres of prime agricultural land that is worth over 4.7 billion dollars, it’s a wise investment to build and maintain municipal drains, says King. Of those 470,000 acres, 50,000 of them are considered marginal farmland that would be better reverted back to wetlands, forests and meadows, he believes.

During his career, King is particularly proud of three projects he and the MVCA have been part of: 1) The Scott Municipal Drain in North Huron, 2005: Involving 400 acres, the project used a systemsapproach to improve agricultural drainage, reduce future maintenance and improve the health of the river to the point that trout returned to the river. “It was a win-win all around,” believes King.

2) The Garvey-Glen Priority Watershed Project in AshfieldColborne-Wawanosh, 2010: This project is currently on hold until new funding can be found but for eight years, over 40 farmers were involved in improving soil health, protecting water quality and reducing storm water run off. The Healthy Lake Huron Collaborative was also part of this project. Farmers involved opted to plant cover crops, reduce tillage and incorporate nutrient management strategies. The result was a reduction in soil and nutrients being washed off the land and improved water quality.

3) Middle Maitland Headwaters Project, North Perth, 2015: This ongoing, multi-year project focused on restoring the health of the Middle Maitland River upstream of Listowel with over 20,000 acres involved. The

Starting back when no-till was a new thing (below) to being heavily involved with storm water management (above) and tree planting (left) Geoff King has been helping landowners with ideas, plans and permits in his work as a Stewardship Coordinator with the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority.

He will be retiring the first week of December. ~Photos submitted

November 2019 19

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goal is to restore over 2,000 acres of floodplain by planting stream buffers with native trees, shrubs and wildflowers; restoring floodplain and river valley slopes with natural vegetation or permanent pasture; educating the community on the need for tree cover to improve the water quality on this stretch of the Maitland River.

As he looks back over what he has learned as a Stewardship Coordinator, King says it’s always wiser to look at the bigger picture.

Individual farm projects are good but to really effect change, projects need to focus on the entire watershed.

Partnerships are very effective. In the Garvey Glen, once MVCA established a positive relationship with a community leader, more farmers followed suit and the project grew to incorporate 40 landowners and two cottage associations.

Partnerships also need to develop at the government level. Federal, provincial and local agencies are more effective working together in order to bring resources to the table to improve water quality.

Trust is another factor. Over 35 years, King hopes he has earned the trust of landowners because it’s vital for landowners who want to make change to protect the climate, but need the funding and technical expertise to do it.

Phil Beard, General Manager at the MVCA, says one of King’s greatest contribution has been rebuilding MVCA’s Watershed Stewardship Services which was decimated when provincial grants to conservation authorities were reduced in 1996. “He led the rebuilding of MVCA’s watershed stewardship staffing and services over the past 20 years,” says Beard.

“He’s just a great person to work with.”

Pat and Jim Martin agree.

Working with Geoff on the GarveyGlen watershed, the pair say King was very passionate about his work, very personable and eager to help.

“We have enjoyed working with him.

He will be missed!”

During his full-time career with the MVCA, King has also served as the drainage superintendent of the Municipality for Central Huron. He

Retirement wasn’t an easy decision for Geoff King, above, who loves his work and believes the land, forests and waterways will need lots of protection in the years ahead. However, a health scare in 2010 also made him want to find balance in his life, so he could pursue beekeeping and other environmentallyfriendly projects.

plans to continue serving in this capacity believing he can continue to make lasting improvements for landowners and the environment in this role.

In 2010, King discovered he had cancer. Talking about it is emotional for him, because it had such a large impact on his family and how he views his life. “If it wasn’t for my health, my passion for extension and working with landowners meant I would probably work many more years,” says the 58-year-old. “I’m still young! I have lots of things I still want to do.” One of his interests is raising bees and he would like to expand his small beekeeping operation.

King has been experimenting growing shiitake mushrooms in logs and is keen on the project, surprised how easy it is to cultivate these fungi. He is also growing lavender with ideas on how to market the plant’s many uses. He may yet establish a farm-gate business as his hobbies evolve once he has more time to dedicate to them.

Always a man with a great passion for the outdoors, he knew from working as a Junior Ranger in Hearst back in 1978, that he wanted to combine his interest in the environment with working with

farmers, the stewards of the land. He has planted many trees himself, in partnership with his uncle, Bill Rivett, who owns the farmland around the recreational property King owns near Goderich. “You’d be hardpressed to find a more diverse woodlot than the one I’ve planted,” states King with confidence, listing sycamores, oaks, hackberry, hickory tulip trees and other Carolinians forest species that he has planted over the years.

He has lived his life and his work protecting and trying to improve the land and waterways and feels pride in his accomplishments. Yet he approaches his retirement with mixed feelings. “I’m concerned that my job is not done. I have a lot of concern with the future that we are leaving for our children,” says the father of two adult children.

There is much to be done and within the MVCA at least, King’s role will be taken over by the new Stewardship Services Coordinator, Chris Van Esbroeck.

King doesn’t rule out the possibility that he may work as an extension consultant in the future but first, he has a month to go in his current role and he plans to make the most of it. ◊ November 2019 21

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Swine

Foreign workers are far more than labourers

Graham Learn of Oxford County says the workers he hired from the Ukraine to help manage his 850-sow farrow-to-finish operation are highly educated and skilled, in a win-win situation where he and the workers are both benefiting.

The Federal Skilled Worker Program was life changing for hog farmer who says when he advertised locally, not one person showed up • By Jeff Tribe •

G

raham Learn does not hold back in his support for the Canadian Federal Skilled Worker Program.

“Honestly, it was life changing,” said the Oxford County pork producer. “I’ve got to meet great people from a different country and learn about their culture, and on top of that, bring highly-skilled workers to the Ontario workforce.

“And because of that, our business has been able to grow and prosper.”

Husband and wife Richard and Marlene Learn and sons Adam and Graham are the partnership group for Richmar Farms, an 850-sow farrow to finish operation located between Norwich and Mt. Elgin. The swine side of the business is supported by November 2019 23

800 acres of wheat, corn and soybean production, with grain dried, stored and milled on-site.

Richmar also has three full-time employees, one from nearby Mt. Elgin, two from central Ukraine – all three are employees, not farmhands – a term Graham bristles at due to the fact it lacks the connotation of “a person working in agriculture as a career.”

“These people are career people on our farm, not farmhands. They are well-educated and well-skilled to do a great job.”

Learn views the term “farmhand” as indicative of a broader lack of societal respect and understanding for agriculturally-based careers, exacerbated in his opinion by the government’s and education system’s failure to adequately support their potential.

“It can be there, we’ve been focussed on industrial jobs and the idea you had to move into a city for a better life. Now, generations later, there is opportunity for a better life in rural areas.

“The honest truth is, no one understands agriculture any more,

and you know how that works, what people don’t know, they fear. And that is a problem, we haven’t changed that perspective over generations and now we have a workforce problem.”

Factoring in agricultural’s aging population and the lack of an adequate number of young replacements as indicated by the fact Learn says there are four agriculturalrelated jobs for each graduate from the combined University of Guelph’s home and Ridgetown campus’s cohorts, helps underline a shortage of skilled agricultural labour.

Learn would like to see governmental promotion of agricultural as a place for both jobs and careers, eventually helping bridge a problematic gap. anadian Agricultural Human Resource Council (CAHRC) data indicates farmers across Canada’s agriculture sector reported $2.9 billion in lost sales because of unfilled vacancies – an increase from $1.5 billion in 2014. Forty-six per cent of farmers who reported vacancies delayed or cancelled expansion plans and many reported

C

The Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council (CAHRC) data indicates farmers across Canada's agriculture sector reported $2.9 billion in lost sales because of unfilled vacancies – an increase from $1.5 billion in 2014. The labour shortage also delays or cancels expansion plans and contributes to extreme stress for farm owners like Graham Learn, above, and other workers.

24 The Rural Voice

extreme stress for themselves and their workers.

There are signs of improvement over the last four years. Most noteworthy is that total job vacancies in agriculture have declined to 16,500 from 26,400, largely as a result of the adoption of technology, and an increase in the number of international workers who fill jobs where no Canadians can be found.

Vacancy rates in agriculture are among the highest of any sector in Canada at 5.4 per cent (compared to the national average of just under 2.9 per cent), although have decreased from the 2014 rate of seven per cent.

“Labour shortages in Canadian agriculture can only be addressed by taking decisive action,” said Portia MacDonald-Dewhirst, Executive Director of CAHRC in a press release. “By working together, we can find meaningful, creative solutions to increase the supply of labour and improve the skills of the sector’s workforce for the continued success and growth of agriculture across Canada.”

Richmar’s firsthand experience was highlighted by a planned farm expansion.

“I spent eight months putting job ads out and interviewing people,” said Graham, who ultimately conducted four interviews and made three job offers. “And not one showed up.”

Throughout, Learn continued to receive international applications.

Curious, he approached other producers who had sourced labour from abroad, and encouraged by their response, selected one applicant from a qualified list of 10, hiring a thirdparty service to handle required paperwork.

“A few months later, Yuliya (Kravchenko) showed up at Pearson airport.”

The government of Canada allows foreign workers to fill gaps in the workforce through several venues, including the Temporary Foreign Workers Program, best known perhaps for welcoming Caribbean residents for a limited period per year to assist seasonally with Ontario’s fresh fruit and produce production and harvest.

In contrast, the Federal Skilled

Trades Program and Federal Skilled Worker Program applies to skilled trade or technical occupations requiring at least a one-year position at a minimum of 30 hours per week.

Additionally, qualified participants achieving performance and experience benchmarks may consider applying for permanent residency.

In recognition of the fact an increasing number of producers are sourcing international labour, the Ontario Pork Industry Council (OPIC) has created a foreign workers guide booklet and hosted workshops designed to assist farmers in understanding rules, expenses and concerns through an extensive process. Those seeking more information are invited to contact the OPIC’s Andrea De Groot at Andrea.opic@gmail.com.

In broad terms says Learn, applicants through Job Banks Canada must have appropriate education, work experience and command of the English language.

“From there, it’s a lot of emailing and a couple of phone calls,” said Learn, who considers the hiring of a third party service a worthwhile investment.

“Like everything, there is a lot of paperwork, but I suppose there’s a purpose to it, so I shouldn’t complain.”

The unfamiliarity of a new process, up-front costs including transportation, and work performance across a two-year contract integral to the future of a family farm operation, were the hardest parts says Learn.

“You are putting out significant money to bring a person here. Will it work out – and will they be happy?

“You try and make the environment so they’ll be happy.”

Making an effort to ensure the latter was cautiously balanced by the desire to not encroach on personal space.

“It’s important they are doing their own thing.”

Program participants must be compensated comparably to Canadian counterparts. For Learn, this translates into an hourly wage of $18 plus living accommodations plus transportation; for Richmar the purchase and insuring of individual vehicles. It’s a rough equivalency of

Graham Learn went through the Federal Skilled Trades Program and Federal Skilled Worker Program to hire three workers with skilled trade or technical occupations requiring at least a one-year position at a minimum of 30 hours per week. He couldn’t be more pleased, saying the program has allowed his farm to prosper while he also gets to learn about other cultures.

over $20 an hour says Learn, if he were to hire Canadian contemporaries. “I can’t find them, they aren’t out there.”

Based on Kravchenko’s performance and through a personal connection, Learn added a second program participant, Yevhenii Marchenko. Their responsibilities include managing sow barns, daily health, well-being and production.

The work schedule is 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily with two breaks and a lunch, plus every other weekend.

“They have never showed up late or anything,” Learn praised. “They are there every day, and if needed, they’ll stay and get the job done.

“I haven’t found anybody to meet their level of skill and commitment who actually wants to make a career on a swine farm.”

International work permits are tied to the farm, and Learn presumes there are resolution mechanisms in place for both farmer and employees based around a failure to fulfill contractual obligations, should the need arise. “We’ve never had to worry about it.”

It has proven a working and personal relationship Learn sees as jointly productive and symbiotic, part of the operation and, in a sense, part of the family.

“You are giving a person the opportunity for a better life in Canada, and the positive side is, we get highly-skilled labour we can trust.”

He would like nothing better than some day, “when we’re all long gone,” for a descendent of the program’s participants going through an archive, to point to Richmar as the bridgehead for what followed, a new life built on the highly-appreciated, highly-skilled labour of their ancestors.

“Because of them, we can keep growing our business,” concluded Learn, whose shared operation recently added capacity. “If we were already struggling at the size we were, there would be no way we could keep growing.

“We couldn’t have done it without our skilled workers, no question.” ◊ November 2019 25

Rural Voice December Issue Deadline is November 13

Woodstock Santa Claus Parade Saturday, November 16 6:00 pm Christmas begins in Downtown Woodstock with the Annual Night-time Parade.

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Exeter Santa Claus Parade Saturday, November 16 6:00 pm Enjoy the music & lights of the holiday parade along Main Street. The parade travels from Huron to Victoria Street, ending at the Rec Centre for a visit with Santa! Drop off your letters to Santa here - he'll be taking them back to the North Pole!

Learn more about the parade & other Christmas Festival events: www.experienceexeter.ca Brought to you by the Exeter BIA & Lions Club

Come to the Annual Wroxeter Parade

Listowel Santa Claus Parade

Friday, November 29

Saturday, November 30

6:30 pm.

Following the parade at the Wroxeter Hall join us for: • A visit with Santa as he hands out candy bags.

• Pub night and karaoke from 8 pm - 12 midnight upstairs Come out and enjoy this community family event.

Anyone interested in taking part in the parade contact: Cam Edgar at 519-335-3245 The Hall Board thanks the many local businesses and community members for their donations towards the parade and the treats for the children.

26 The Rural Voice

11:00 am Kids can visit Santa at the Legion’s Parkview Gardens from 12:30 - 2:30 pm If interested in entering a float call Sharon at the Chamber office, 519-291-1551

Goderich Santa Claus Parade Saturday, November 23 7:15 pm Enjoy a delightful evening on Courthouse Square with “Jack Frost’s Art” Festive music at 6:30 pm and lighting of Courthouse Park at 7 pm Parade to follow at 7:15 pm Contact: Tourism Goderich 519-524-6600 or 1-800-280-7637

Brussels Santa Claus Parade Saturday, November 30 5:00 p.m.

Theme: Christmas in the Barn Meet Santa Claus at the Brussels arena following the parade and enjoy free public skating, free face painting, colouring contest For more information call Sherrie Oliver 519-527-0160 email: soliver@huroneast.com Food Bank Donations collected along the route by Brussels Optimist Club

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Clinton Santa Claus Parade Friday, December 6 7:00 p.m.

Bring the family out to the Annual Santa Claus Parade.

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Non-Motorized Holstein Santa Claus Parade Saturday, December 14 1:00 p.m.

The Holstein Santa Claus Parade Committe welcomes you....

Lunches available Holstein Presbyterian Church and Optimist Hall starting at 11:00 a.m.

Visit with Santa at Optimist Hall following parade.

Contact Holstein Santa Claus Parade Committee: Dennis Boychuk 519-334-3823 and Manda Boychuk/Bender 519-323-7688

Kincardine Santa Claus Parade

Chesley Kinsmen Santa Claus Parade

Friday, November 22

Friday, December 6

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7:00 p.m.

Come out and enjoy the floats and festivities as Chesley welcomes Santa to town.

Sponsored by the Chesley Kinsmen Club.

Mitchell Santa Claus Parade

Blyth Christmas Parade

Friday, December 6

11:00 am Saturday December 7th

7:00 pm Bring the family, enjoy the parade.

Used eyeglasses and donations to the Food Bank will be collected during the parade. Meet Santa after the parade at the Friendship Centre.

Floats welcomed, call 519-348-8229 Sponsored by the Mitchell Lions Club

Shakespeare Santa Claus Parade Saturday, December 14 See Santa and his reindeer parade through the streets of Shakespeare Parade starts at 1 pm, Hot refreshments and food available after parade at Shakespeare Presbyterian Church. Have pictures with Santa, and receive a free goody bag! Don't miss the Church Ladies’ bake sale!

Call Barry at 519-276-9849 to be part of the parade.

Everyone welcome - no registration fee!

Details/parade route: www.shakespearemensclub.com

Come out and see Santa and friends as part of Blyth’s Hometown Holiday Weekend 519-357-3550 ext. 150 www.blythnow.ca

Chatsworth Santa Claus Parade Saturday, December 14 10:30 am Christmas Toys Parade begins at the Community Centre and ends at the Legion. Activities continue throughout the day as we celebrate “Christmas in the Village”.

For more information, or to register a float, contact Sharrie 226-974-0334 sbrickonelderlane@gbtel.ca

NOVEMBER 2017 27

Swine

Life is better in Canada say workers Ukrainian workers working on a hog farm say the life, the pay and the opportunities drew them to Canada

Yuliya Kravchenko (above) and Yevhenii Marchenko (below), both of the Ukraine, live and work at Richmar Farms, filling a much-needed labour gap and meeting their own dreams of earning good wages for skilled work.

28 The Rural Voice

• By Jeff Tribe •

T

he beauty of cleaning a pig barn is just one thing dependent on the eye of the beholder.

“It’s something different,” explained Yevhenii Marchenko with a shrug. “You can, let’s say meditate, listen to your music and be working.”

“You can come to my barn and wash on Friday,” Ukrainian compatriot Yuliya Kravchenko responded skeptically.

The two central-Ukrainian natives have varying outlooks on life as well as the benefits of barn washing. But they have been united far from home through Canada’s Federal Skilled Trades Program at an Oxford County swine operation in a search for economic advantage.

Kravchenko’s template for international employment was set by her parents, who work at a hotel eight months of the year in Italy, returning home for four.

“And then go back to Italy and make money again.”

The 25-year-old attended postsecondary school, receiving certificates in accounting from college, and as a veterinarian from university. Her first international work experience was an enjoyable two-year stint on a swine operation in Denmark, returning home before deciding to come to Canada and the Learn family farm. She is 18 months into a two-year contract, responsible for animal care including vaccination, castration, breeding, moving and shipping, and data entry, enjoying the latter the most, washing rooms and moving sows the least.

“Especially if the sow is crazy.”

Her first three months were the most difficult. Travel and communication were subsequently enhanced by a driver’s licence and vehicular access facilitating contact with friends and fellow expatriates.

“Most live in the big cities.”

Kravchenko’s economic situation is definitely better in Canada than the Ukraine.

“I can buy everything I want,” she smiled, a list including clothes, perfume, makeup, ‘LCBO’, as well

agriculture, and there certainly are Performance is important in the jobs at home. sense if a Canadian worker is let go, “But it’s not very good money in they can simply search for the Ukraine.” employment at another farm, a Marchenko’s enhanced economic foreign worker will return home, position in Canada means access to losing access to the program’s travel (to the broader potential benefits.

United States and a “They come for a reason,” planned trip to Marchenko explained.

Montreal with his Like Kravchenko, he misses father and sister), family and friends, although as well as the electronic contact including Skype or opportunity to WhatsApp helps considerably. save.

“They have their problems too,” “But you Marchenko pointed out. know, you’ll never Asked to describe the best part have enough,” he about life here, he responded smiled. “You get “everything”, but qualified while it’s more wishes and an opportunity embraced by he and you need more Kravchenko, it might not be for money.” everybody.

Life in Canada “We can say ‘yes, it’s better’. A is easier than the friend might say ‘It’s better for you, Things are looking up for Ukrainian workers who have Ukraine, says but not for me.’” found a good life working at Richmar Farms.

Marchenko, who But in closing, he is fully admittedly would appreciative of “a better life, an as trips to Cuba and a cottage, and a enjoy more time to do the many easier life”, and “more quiet”. planned second jaunt south this things he enjoys.

“I want to change my life and winter, either to Cuba or the “But you have to work, you can’t stay here,” Marchenko concluded.

Dominican Republic. get money from the sky.”

“Here is a better life.” ◊ “No, I can’t save – never! It’s my problem,” she admitted with a laugh.

“I’m young, I want to live my life this second.”

She has not reached a final decision on where work and life will take her, whether to continue in Canada toward permanent residency, HIGH CAPACITY ROLLER MILL RENTALS or another country.

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November 2019 29

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Careers

From Bay Street to the barnyard: Rob and Patricia Campbell believe farming creates better value for humanity than “impoverishing” economics • By Gary W. Kenny •

W

hat would compel a Bay Street actuary, someone who once

managed a billion dollars of reserve liabilities, to abandon a secure, wellpaying job with the potential for upward mobility for the precarious life of small-scale mixed farming?

When asked why he chose laidback, rural Grey County over the fast -paced, glitzy office tower milieu of cosmopolitan Bay Street, Rob Campbell’s response is not what an interviewer might expect. Yes, there was the eventual mention of what one might anticipate: a hankering for the simple things in life. But Rob’s reasoning is peppered with actuarial terms like analytics, quantification, risk management, evaluation and perhaps most characteristic of a numbers guy, value.

As an actuary, “I’ve always focussed on creating value,” Rob says. “Sometime around 2009 I realized economics is no longer creating value for humanity and is in fact systematically impoverishing humanity to create notional value for corporations.”

Rob also found that, increasingly, “Our current [capitalist] economic model’s addiction to perpetual growth” was bumping up against its inherent limitations. According to that model, he says, if the potential for economic growth ever ends, then the whole economic system collapses, money loses all value, and corporations and banking systems go bankrupt.”

The corporate culture in Toronto isn’t viable for humanity or for themselves say Rob and Patricia Campbell, who decided to leave the city to become farmers. Rob took an internship at two farms before buying a farm near Williamsford to raise cows, pigs and vegetables.

November 2019 31

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It seemed prudent to try to minimize our need for money and dependence on corporations, Rob says of himself and Patricia, his wife. So they began to consider the options.

In her blog, aptly titled Bay Street to Barnyard, Patricia, who holds a PhD in world religions, elaborates on Rob’s explanation. “It wasn’t working,� she says of their professional lives in Toronto. “Rob was feeling the pressures of working day-to-day in corporate culture, and I was learning that I had little chance of finding any academic work� in Toronto.

In 2010, Patricia took a limitedterm teaching contract in New Brunswick causing the two to live apart for two years. “Rob called me up once day,� she says. He had six words: “I want to be a farmer.� hose six words put fear into her heart, Patricia adds.

Despite his long-term interest in food, food security and sustainability, Rob had no farming experience. He was used to sitting in front of a computer, not on a tractor.

But Patricia, familiar with the depth of Rob’s thoughtful conviction, bought into the idea.

Rob soon entered into a fullseason internship at Everdale, the agricultural organization near Hillsburgh that trains aspiring farmers. A subsequent internship at Green Being Farm near Neustadt further deepened Rob’s farming knowledge.

In the interim, Patricia landed a job teaching at the University of Waterloo. She and Rob decided it made sense to find a farm within reasonable commuting distance.

Rob drew a series of concentric circles – he calls them donuts – around Waterloo, assessing the cost of farmland within each donut according to what the couple could afford. “Prices continued to be inflated until you got more than [90 minutes] out of Waterloo,� he says.

The Campbells decided that a two-hour commute was the maximum distance reasonable for Patricia, and so “we shopped in [that] donut,� Rob says. Rob knew and liked central Grey County.

T

When Patricia visited the area, she fell in love with it, too.

The couple purchased a 100-acre property just north of Williamsford, 40 acres of which is workable.

The property appealed to the Campbells because it has been farmed organically, so the usual three-year waiting period for organic certification could be waived.

Rob, a student of how on-farm biodiversity is linked to and can enhance agricultural practices and make them more sustainable, also was attracted to the farm’s natural biodiversity: a cold-water stream, a flood plain, a lowland cedar bush, an upland deciduous forest, lush fence lines and hedgerows, and lots of wildlife. Infrastructure – the barn and fencing in particular – needed some work but nothing daunting. A tractor and other equipment would need to be purchased.

And so began Better Together Farm and the Campbells’ adventures in real-time agriculture.

Seven years on, they are managing a vibrant mixed-farm operation including a vegetable market garden, and pastured cattle, pigs and chickens.

There have been a few challenges along the way Rob says, smiling drolly. But to the journalistic observer, each of those challenges has been met with the determined, evaluative and keen analytical focus that someone with the acumen of an actuary would bring to farming’s many vagaries.

Soil biology and health has become the Campbell’s main focus.

The farm’s soil was depleted and tired, Rob says. The previous owners had worked at rehabilitating the soil using strategies including fallowing, cover cropping, and overseeding with legumes. But fertility had continued to wane.

Fortunately, detailed records have been kept of the various soil rehabilitation efforts. “That saved me years,” Rob says happily. “I could see that all the usual or easy rehabilitation efforts didn’t work.”

While the sandy soil responds quickly to nutrient amendments, it doesn’t retain them,” he adds.

Different strategies were needed.

When the Campbells, members

Better Together Farm started with three cow/calf pairs in a mixed farm operation which includes a vegetable market garden, pastured cattle, pigs and chickens. Owner Rob Campbell (above) worked as an economist but predicting the downfall of current financial practices and large corporations, believes farming has more value for humanity.

of the National Farmers UnionOntario attended a NFU annual convention, the theme of which was soil health, Rob says his education about soil began in earnest. He learned about cation exchange and the soil food web.

Soil health was also the focus of the Ecological Farmer’s Organization of Ontario’s annual conference held soon after. There Rob learned about humates, soil carbon, soil microbes, and the importance of a holistic approach to soil health. “I think this is when I started hearing about regenerative, as opposed to merely sustainable, agriculture,” Rob adds. espite the challenges of the farm’s sandy, infertile soil, Rob was optimistic. Central east Grey County is Niagara escarpment land and the parent material in the subsoil is rich with dolomitic limestone. That, Rob says, suggested to him that his soils could be productive for centuries with a biology that could access the calcium.

The Campbell’s initial plan was to grow and market vegetables. Part of their vision for the farm was to build local community, and market gardening is one way to achieve that goal. A soil profile was contracted “to quantify what we were working

D

with,” Rob says. On the advice of a soil consultant, compost was plowed into the plot designated for vegetable production at the rate of 10 tonnes per acre. Quips Rob, “When we added that much fertility the species and densities of perennial weeds exploded and we have been fighting them ever since!”

“You have got to manage weed pressure before you expand crop offerings or finesse your mix of varieties,” Rob says. Using various weed-control strategies including cover cropping combined with tarping appears to have eliminated the worst of the weed pressure, Rob hopes.

The following year Rob seeded multi-cut red clover and began pasturing broiler chickens in the vegetable field as part of a crop rotation strategy and to enhance soil fertility. Other fields were rented for hay production. In the meantime the Campbells took a holistic farm management course offered by Huron County farmers, Tony and Fran McQuail. “We were introduced to holistic grazing and acquired some great tools for managing the farm and our lives as farmers in general,” Rob says.

“Our heads were filled with new ideas,” Rob adds. “I realized that our November 2019 33

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sandy soils had to have perennial plants for regenerative agriculture, and that meant grazing ruminants on most of the farm. I had heard enough horror stories about goats to eliminate them straight off, and I was not fond of working sheep … so I laid the ground work for beef cattle.”

Local farmers offered their help.

One selected three pregnant threeyear-old cows for the Campbells to begin building a herd. “I asked for cows that had already had one or two calves,” Rob Says. “Because, as I said to my farmer friend, when calving time comes, I want one of us [me or the cows] to know what is going on!”

The following year , he made additional investments to enhance the farm’s soil health. “I was hearing different messages on what was required to start the [regenerative] process in a depleted ecosystem: holistic grazing; nutrient loading; and killing what you don’t want, adding the nutrients you do want, and then sowing desirable plants so as not to feed weeds.

So, always open to calculated experiment, Rob began managing each of his three fields according to one of the three strategies. The underlying paradigm was always holistic, Rob says. “You need to get the chemistry mostly right to feed the biology, and then the biology should access nutrients in the soil and subsoil” and make them available to plants. It is still too early to tell if any strategy completely succeeded, Rob says. The soil will be tested soon to see how things have changed.

Local cattle farmers always smiled when they saw our three cowcalf pairs,” Rob says, “but we were right to start small.” The pasture was so depleted that stocking density was only 10 percent of what the experts said he should assume. Now, with more robust pasture land available the Campbells have expanded their herd.

Rob and Patricia also introduced some pigs into their pasturing plans.

But “never again” will he pasture pigs in fields, Rob says. While their manure, high in phosphorus, produced lush pasture grasses, compulsive rooting formed

Farmers will always have to force nature out of her equilibrium to get her to grow something for humans to eat, believe Rob and Patricia Campbell who left the city to become farmers. Patricia (above) also works as a teacher near Waterloo.

hummocks that are “spine-jarring” for a farmer on a tractor. It’s easier to restrict the pigs to the fence lines, Rob adds.

While Rob shoulders most of the outdoor work, it’s clear that the farm is a joint enterprise. It’s “better together,” he and Patricia like to say, suggestive of the origin of their farm’s name. As committed as ever to when they started seven years ago, the couple has decided that four separate enterprises – vegetables, cattle, pigs and chickens, especially given the different channels of distribution and marketing – is onerous. They’ve downsized the market garden and number of meat chickens they raise to lighten the load.

The Campbell’s most important learning thus far? Growing only plants for humans to eat can never be sustainable, Rob believes. He bases his belief on holistic management’s observation that an ecosystem is an unending process; a continuous biological movement from simplicity and instability, following a disturbance, to increasing, complex stability.

The problem, he continues, is that annuals comprise almost every plant that humans eat. That means that farmers have to periodically

knock back the ecosystem to produce abundant annuals. There are lots of ways to make this more sustainable – permaculture, cover cropping (particularly with perennials like hay), and no-till – but sooner or later farmers always have to force nature out of her equilibrium to get her to grow something we can eat, Rob says Conversely, perennial grasslands are a stable complex ecosystem, Rob adds. “We can mimic nature by managing grasslands with herds of ruminants like cattle to convert all that grass to something humans can eat, and even put a fraction of it into annual crops periodically.”

But ultimately, Rob adds, plants need animals (or synthetic fertilizers to replace animal inputs) to close the nutrient cycle, and intensive communities of plants in a cropping system need more animals than wildlife can provide.

They applaud the ethics of vegetarianism – the Campbells were vegetarians themselves for 10 years – “but they are inconsistent with biology on this planet,” Rob believes.

If there were only one billion humans to feed, then we might not have to eat ruminants, he adds. “But we would still need to manage their population which means harvesting them to keep the ecosystem in equilibrium.” ◊ November 2019 35

Technology

New 4-H Club embraces Precision Ag • Geoff Dale •

W

hile working in Palmerston with Felix Weber, the first recipient of the Precision Ag Builders Award, independent consulting agronomist Brian Hall quickly grasped the growing importance of drones and other technological tools to the agriculture and agribusiness sectors.

Deciding it was time to involve youth in a more tangible way he contacted Sharon Vogels, certified crop advisor with Thompsons Limited in Mitchell, a local producer and experienced 4-H leader.

He also spoke with OMAFRA student Kayla Veldman, now with a South Perth County farm, who came onboard.

“Sharon was very interested in a

Kids will be able to fly drones, use mapping technologies and learn digital monitoring systems project that would offer technological challenges to a new 4-H club,” Hall said. “Operating a family farm with husband Jason, she has a young family, the necessary resources and her club experience is simply invaluable.”

Following an exhaustive research, the 4-H Perth County Precision Ag Club became a reality. Initially comprised of 16 members aged 1221 the inaugural meeting was held March 21. Subsequent sessions were

held monthly from spring to the end of summer.

“After leaving OMAFRA where I worked as canola and edible bean specialist, I connected with Felix, a recognized leader in using drones for scouting and related crop work,” he said. “Production of digital field maps using imagery was first-rate so I knew this was a great fit for young people who are really into technology. “They’ve grown up with it, learn quickly and often show their

Displaying their communication devices, members of the Precision Ag 4-H Club are (left to right) founder Brian Hall, Jeromy Vandewalle, Devin Johnston, Mark Knill, Ryan Mayes, Jakob Bitzer, Johannes Renecker (President) and Benjamin Fluttert. ~Photo by Geoff Dale

36 The Rural Voice

fathers how it can work in various applications. Agtech is growing at a remarkable rate, often helping with the creation of new jobs while assisting producers in terms of efficiency and profitability.”

The club’s second meeting featuring guest speaker Angela Karstens, a product specialist with Climate Fieldview™, proved to be both educational and entertaining because it introduced the young members to the much-talked-about multi-purpose software. She highlighted several integral facets including: • Usage as a data partner supporting producers’ every-day decisionmaking.

• Creating digital maps for the better analysis of seed performances.

• Notifications on a single mobile device with respect to changing field conditions and ultimately for more effective planning.

“We did a scouting exercise in the field,” said Hall. “Members quickly adapted to this fascinating new software, finding it easy to use the app and the satellite field imagery to identify areas of lower plant biomass – potential plant stress. They walked, continuously using the app on their iPhones or iPads.

“Making digital notes or taking photos, the group came up with a diagnosis so leaders and other members could easily see this and share the account right then and there on-the-spot. It proved to be a fun and interactive learning tool.”

While he had never used satellite mapping software before, Club president Johannes Renecker, currently studying animal science in the four-year program offered at Red Deer College in Alberta, described Climate Fieldview™ as “easy to operate for the most part.”

“What I really liked about it was that you can look at the image and immediately locate problems in some high-vegetated areas of a field,” he said. “This reflected on the type of soil in that particular section. You can see where there was a need for correction, for example places with water issues or where too little manure had been applied, resulting in a lower fertilizer ratio.

“The app was like a GPS for

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driving. Only here we were walking.

It highlighted your exact location so you could drop a pin at point A or B. You classify it and give an explanation of the specific problem like water or bad soil. Later you can report on necessary improvement and what had been prescribed. It certainly wasn’t this easy for our parents and grandparents.”

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Devin Johnston, 4-H Perth County Precision Ag Club member and cousin Ben Rothwell, studying to be an ag engineer, are pictured with one of their favourite technological devices, a drone. ~Photo by Doug Johnston

one, asking questions about specific issues and bringing up subjects relevant to the increased importance of technology in agricultural pursuits.

“They discussed what their parents used on the family farm,” he said. “Topics included variable rate manure and tracking manure applications. We did an early poll with impressive results centering on using GPS for strip tillage, soil testing and automated soil testing, precision applications, auto steer, digital field data, yield monitoring,

drones, imagery and to map fields.

“I asked what precision ag meant to them and was surprised how much they already knew and how many were already involved in that, many of the senior members. Our focus is on field crops, examining the acceleration of adopting, then advancing technology on the farm.

They see the benefits and how data collecting and decision making becomes easier and more effective.”

Reaching out to the agribusiness community for expertise, Hall said the response was both immediate and positive with several company representatives participating in meetings as speakers dealing with technological subject matter pertinent to agriculture and agribusiness.

“Our approach has been learning how to do it by simply doing it,” he explained. “A researcher from Pioneer in Tavistock spoke specifically on how companies use precision agriculture to help growers.

That was perfect because this is our focus.”

Timothy DeWeerd, a Stratford Farm Equipment Advanced Farming Systems specialist (AFS) jumped at the opportunity to address the newly formed club.

“When I heard about the club, I was pretty excited,” he said.

“Establishing this group was a very important move because over the last few years the continuing transition has meant agriculture and technology have almost merged into each other in many ways.

“It’s encouraging to see that people aren’t just going along with new technology because they’re told to but are actually excited about it.

My night with the club was rewarding. They posed many wellthought-out questions. An age range from 12-21 is good. Some have skills and are really into it while others are learning so everyone can learn from one another.”

He described technological changes as a “vital part of agriculture”, pointing out that instruments like computers have been rapidly incorporated into virtually every aspect of the business so running an enterprise can be a

Sharon Vogels took members of the club into the pit in a field on her family farm for a session of soil testing while Brian Hall stayed above ground. ~Photo by Geoff Dale

smoother and more effective process.

“To some, ignorance may still be bliss but when you’re looking at your crop as a pay cheque you want to make sure all your rows are 100 per cent in order,” he added. “I’d be delighted to be part of club activities next year and beyond.

“I wanted to get out more often but this year just got away from us. I was out before spring started but the season proved to be tough. Some producers were planting second week of July. Weather permitting, I hope 2020 will be better for me in terms of participation.”

As well as the enjoyment of interaction within fellow young

farmers, Devin Johnston said greater familiarity with technological tools proved useful when he brought his newly-learned skills back to the family’s 1,200-acre dairy/grain operation Maplevue Farms near Listowel.

The enterprise, operated by his father Doug, in partnership with his brother Dave, utilizes high-tech devices like the DeLaval robotic manure isle cleaner, one of only a handful currently used in Canada.

“It’s heart-warming to see Devin taking technology to greater levels,” said Doug. “It’s a boon for him and all of us. He’s very excited and, with his cousin Ben Rothwell, he loves November 2019 39

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40 The Rural Voice

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Technology lets us identify and better see what is actually going on here. Then we investigate.”

For Hall, the first year for the 4-H Perth County Precision Ag Club was a success. Now trimmed down to 12 members, the club collected field data from their home farms using iPads, iPhones, home computers and other communication devices.

Digitally they recorded and documented variability on their properties.

“We did well with all this and utilizing Climate Fieldview™. I’m pleased they learned and adapted so well,” he said. “Sponsorship and support from the business community was an integral part of our success.

There will be changes next year.

“Going forward we may split up juniors and seniors depending on the total number of members. I want more hands-on involvement when collecting data on home fields, viewing imagery and talking about the results. This has been a promising year and we’re all eagerly awaiting 2020.” ◊

✂

Guelph in 2008.

Holding the club’s final 2019 session at the family farm in August afforded Sharon Vogels the opportunity of demonstrating the compatibility of technology and practical agronomic skills while conducting up-close and personal soil testing in a pit of the field.

“We look at different horizons in soil planting to understand what is going on beneath the surface,” she said. “Soil is formed in different layers called horizons – different levels of fertility, texture and capability for drainage. Today’s technology is a very core part of agronomy.

“It has allowed us to direct what we do, pinpoint issues, look clearly at the best yielding areas and places with drainage or disease issues. That way we don’t treat every field with a blanket approach.

“What I wanted to share with them was that technology is very useful but agronomy skills like getting down here in the pit are still an integral part of the whole process.

✂

working with drones which I feel are very underutilized now.

“We just don’t know much more they can do. Drones have virtually limitless potential like satellite imagery detecting disease, predicting field problems and a lot more without expending additional labour. Young people are really into technology so this is a natural for Devin. The club is ideal because 4-H takes a lead assisting them and they then pass it along to the family.

“Devin is like a little sponge who can’t get enough of technology like drones and computers. This is far reaching with satellite imagery becoming increasingly important in the ag community. He’ll be a senior member in 2020 so I see him helping others and 4H is all about exchanging ideas. This club is doing a great service to the entire community.”

Due to the Johnstons’ innovative approach to manure, on August 2627, 2020, Maplevue Farms will host the North American Manure Expo, only the second time the event will be held in Canada. The first was in

November 2019 41

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Recipes by Anne Mann

New ways with familiar vegetables

F

resh green beans from the garden cooked until they are just tender then served with some butter and salt and pepper ...mmmm ... there is nothing better.

Unless it is new potatoes dug in the afternoon and served at dinner with just a little salt and pepper and butter.

Or maybe roasted squash with onion and salt and pepper.

Vegetables do not need a lot of help in the kitchen to be spectacular but after the tenth serving we do crave variety so we start looking for a way to change it up a little. Tossing your blanched green beans in a pan with some sautéed onions and butter gives them a new twist. Similarly, I love frozen corn served as is but when I tasted Claudia’s Corn Pudding a decade ago I knew I would be making it again and again. Here are a few variations using winter vegetables to satisfy that craving for something new and to brighten up a winter meal.

Corn Pudding Many recipes for corn pudding use Cream Style Corn that contains modified corn starch which I avoid on my gluten-free diet. At first I tried to make my own “cream style” corn but that was a lot of extra work so when I found this recipe using fresh or frozen corn in the Barefoot Contessa Family Style cookbook I stuck with it. I used milk instead of light cream and cut the recipe in half so it is suitable for a smaller family so do not hesitate to double this recipe if you are sharing with a crowd. I do not always have ricotta in the fridge so I substituted cream cheese and thought it worked well.

Ingredients: 1/4 cup butter 1/2 cup onion, chopped 2 1/2 cups frozen corn (or fresh) 1/2 pkg (250 g) cream cheese or 1/2 cup ricotta 1/4 cup cornmeal 2 eggs 3/4 cup milk, may use some cream if you like 1 tsp white sugar

Stamppot (top) is a Dutch dish that allows you to mash any manner of vegetables with potatoes. Turnip puff (above, left) makes uses of turnips while Butternut Squash Risotto (above, right) works as a vegetable entrée.

1 tsp salt 1/4 tsp black pepper 1 Tbsp fresh basil or chives (optional) 1/4 cup grated old Cheddar plus some to sprinkle on top Directions: Melt butter in a frying pan over medium heat, add onion and cook for several minutes, until soft.

Add corn and continue to cook for a few more minutes and let cool slightly.

Beat cream cheese with corn meal until soft then beat in eggs one at a time, then milk, sugar,

salt and pepper.

Stir in basil, if using, and cheese.

Pour into a greased casserole dish, sprinkle a little more cheese on top and bake at 375°F for 40 - 50 minutes until top begins to brown and a knife inserted in the centre comes out clean. Serves 5-6 Butternut Squash Risotto I also found the inspiration for this recipe in Ina Garten’s Family Style cookbook and I am surprised I did not try it sooner (I did have a post-it note marking the page!). It is a lovely way to enjoy the rich flavour of butternut squash and works as a November 2019 43

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Recipes vegetarian entrée with just a few simple alterations. I made this the first time with the full complement of butter, salt and cheese just to see how good it could be then I cut it back to see if the squash could stand on its own and of course it did. Even the vegetarian version without bacon and chicken stock was excellent and well received at our Thanksgiving celebration.

Ingredients: 1 butternut squash (about 2 lb or about 6 cups chopped) 1 Tbsp olive oil 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper 6 cups chicken or vegetable stock, preferably homemade 1 - 2 Tbsp butter, margarine or chicken fat or combination 2 - 4 slices bacon or 2 oz pancetta, diced (omit for vegetarian version) 1/2 cup red onion or shallots, chopped 1 1/2 cups Arborio rice 1/2 cup dry white wine 1 tsp salt 1 tsp saffron threads (optional) freshly ground black pepper 1/2 -1 cup grated old cheddar or Parmesan cheese Directions: Peel, remove seeds and cut squash into 3/4 inch cubes and toss with oil.

Place on a baking sheet and sprinkle with salt and pepper and bake at 400°F for about 30 minutes until soft.

Meanwhile heat stock in a covered saucepan and keep warm.

In a dutch oven or large frying pan cook bacon or pancetta with butter and onion until onions are soft.

Add rice and stir to coat with fat then add wine and cook for 2 minutes until mostly absorbed.

Stir in a couple of ladles full of warm stock along with a tsp of salt.

Simmer, stirring occasionally until liquid is absorbed and continue in this way until all the stock is used and rice is cooked.

Stir in cooked squash, saffron threads and grated cheese. Mix and serve. Risotto is supposed to be enjoyed right out of the pan but I have made it ahead and reheated it in the oven later for easy entertaining and it was still excellent.

Serves 4 - 6

Dutch Stamppot If you have Dutch heritage this will not be a new way to you but rather good old-fashioned comfort food. I gather there are as many combinations of vegetables for this winter favourite as there are people making it. Mashed potatoes are great. Mashed rutabaga is delicious, but when you start combining these flavours you seem to get a synergistic effect with flavour and with all the different possibilities you will never get bored.

Adjust the selection of vegetables to suit your taste or what is in the refrigerator. You can be sure my stamppot will always include some form of onion!

For a little extra colour you may throw in some chives or parsley when you are mashing the vegetables if you did not have any kale. These vegetables are a sample of what you might use but may be omitted if you do not have them. Frequently I just boil carrots, potatoes and onions together for a change. I have not listed sweet potato or squash or celery root but they definitely can contribute to the pot also!

When Ellen Nyland first introduced me to this twist on mashed potatoes she brought it to a Scouting event in a crock pot and it was a big hit with young and old!

Ingredients: 4 medium potatoes, chopped, peeled and cut in half 2 carrots, cut in chunks 2 parsnips, cut in chunks or 1 cup rutabaga, cubed 1 medium or small onion, cut in eighths or 1 small leek, chopped coarsely 1 - 2 cloves garlic (optional) 2 - 4 large kale leaves with stem removed, chopped (optional) 1 - 2 Tbsp margarine or butter pinch of nutmeg salt & pepper to taste Directions: Boil all vegetables, except kale, together in a covered saucepan until tender.

Add kale and boil another couple of minutes.

Strain, add butter, salt and pepper and mash together, leaving some chunks.

Enjoy as an accompaniment to any meal but it is often served with sausages along side or sliced and fried and stirred right in with the vegetables! Serves 4 Turnip Puff I was trying to replicate a recipe for Carrot Souffle from my youth, that an extraordinary math teacher used to make, but I found the recipes online were much sweeter than I remembered. Then I thought I would just use Cathy Staehli’s Turnip Puff recipe from my cookbook and substitute a mixture of root vegetables for the rutabaga and it turned out great!

Whether you make this with rutabaga or a mixture of carrots and parsnips and rutabaga I think you will love it. I have found even people that are not really fond of “turnip” enjoy this side dish. As a bonus it can be made ahead of time and reheated.

Ingredients: 1 rutabaga peeled and chopped* 1 tsp white sugar, in cooking liquid For every 2 cups of mashed rutabaga add: 2 eggs, separated 2 Tbsp butter, melted 2 Tbsp potato starch or flour 1 Tbsp brown sugar, packed 1 tsp baking powder salt and pepper 1/2 cup bread crumbs, fine (optional) Directions: Cook rutabaga in water with sugar until soft, then drain and mash.

Measure rutabaga so you can adjust the quantities of the other ingredients or just use 2 cups and save the remainder for tomorrow’s dinner.

Whip egg whites until stiff peaks form.

Stir flour, brown sugar and baking powder together then add to butter and egg yolks.

Mix rutabaga with egg yolk mixture then fold in egg whites.

Sprinkle with salt and pepper and pour into a casserole dish.

Cover with bread crumbs if desired.

Cook at 350°F about 25 - 30 minutes until golden. * We often refer to rutabaga as turnip Serves 6. ◊ November 2018 45

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Sea oats and everlasting annual flowers are perfect for drying As I was cutting back some plant material in the garden this week I started thinking about all the flowers and seed heads I had dried over the years. Bringing the garden indoors for the winter involved more than potting up geraniums and marigolds.

Yes I used to pot up marigolds and put them on the hearth until they finished blooming. I put them in the compost once they started looking tired.

You can do so much with plant materials like making cards, arrangements, and of course drying herbs for cooking. But you cannot wait until fall to do this. Collecting for winter begins in June for some plants and finishes in September. So this is about planning for next year, which I believe all gardeners are constantly doing. Be ready when your seed catalogues arrive to start making lists for more additions to the garden.

The most common use of dried material is herbs for cooking. I pick the fresh leaves of oregano, tarragon and thyme as well as peppermint for tea. I arrange them in small bundles and then into a paper bag, one for each herb. Don’t pack them in, as you want the air to circulate around them. I set them out in the laundry room, and give the bags a gentle shake every day. Check for mold regularly and discard bad pieces. I have never had this problem but humidity may build up if too much plant material is in the bag.

Lavender is one herb that you simply bundle and hang in the open to dry. I love wands of this tucked between sheets in the linen closet.

Gardening It’s best if you put them into small cotton or linen bags. My bundles of lavender were loose and broke up amid the sheets creating a bit of a mess.

One year I cut an armload of peonies just as the buds were opening. I hung them individually with string, and put about four or five on a hanger. It was quite a big deal and the end result was quite striking.

I was surprised at the colour and they lasted for a few of years in a couple of arrangements.

A really popular flower for drying, especially if you have children, is strawflower (Helichrysum bracteatum). It is part of the group of plants called everlasting. As the name indicates the blooms are quite stiff like straw.

They come in a lovely variety of colours, white to rosy pink or purple and hot yellow to gold. The colour remains true after drying. You don’t often see the plants among the other annuals in garden centres but the seed is easy to order and grow.

Strawflowers thrive quite well in average soil. The seed is sprinkled on the surface of the soil and you water carefully with a spray attachment.

No covering with soil required.

Strawflowers love the dry heat and lots of sun but do require some watering during the season. With regular deadheading or, in this case, harvesting of flowers, they will continue blooming until a hard frost does them in.

Other members of the everlasting group are Gomphrena or Globe Amaranth, drumstick flower or Craspedia, and, one of my favourites, Statice. All annuals, they all love the heat and sunshine.

Each is great as a cutflower and will dry well for arrangements. The colours of Gomphrena almost glow.

The blooms are about an inch and a half on long stems. The name Drumstick flower is a bit misleading.

Its shape is really a solid golden yellow ball on a stiff stem. Statice has a wide range of colours from soft yellow to deep purple and adds volume to any bouquet.

Other plants one does not automatically think of for drying are

Celosia and Nigella. You may think they are on opposite sides of a spectrum. Celosia blooms are two to six inches across and solid. Nigella, also called Love in a Mist, is a delicate bloom and the dried portion is the finely-ribbed seedpod surrounded by delicate green webbing.

Another annual to seek out is Salvia. Pick it for drying when the bracts are fully coloured or when the bottom three or four flowers open.

We dried dark blue ones for wedding bouquets and they held their colour quite well.

All of the above plants will tolerate heat and poor soil. But a bit of compost added to the soil certainly goes a long way in harvesting a larger, healthy crop.

We have used pressed blooms for stationary and for small framed projects. The kids used plant materials in the making of Christmas cards. Sea Oats is wonderful for working on paper. The wee, flat, pointed, ovals can be easily moved around to create a larger design.

Other activities going on at this household include accessing assorted bulbs that were forgotten in the back of the garden shed. All looked well dried and my approach was to

moisten and let them sit for 24 hours.

The tulips were soggy and not viable.

The Asiatic and Oriental lily bulbs, as a rule, should not be allowed to dry out. Even when transplanting in the garden, experts caution about letting the bulb petals dry out and recommend keeping them covered with soil between moves. After 24 hours these lily bulbs were still so dried up they resembled very hard prunes. So all got composted. The hyacinth and Easter lilies were protected in their pots and are now in the ground. It is so easy to buy bulbs and then set them aside until you get time to plant. I have planted spring bulbs as late as November 11 and they were none the worse for wear. If you cannot get into the garden consider a large pot. Potting them is better than letting them dry to the point of lifelessness.

December is coming. Oh my.

Enjoy the fall weather! ◊

Sea oats (above) are a perennial with flat, oval flowers that can be dried for arrangements or making crafts while strawflowers (above,right) are rounder but very popular for the variety of colours they bloom in.

November 2019 47

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News

Post shared values to connect with consumers

W

hen planning a chicken farmer promotional campaign, farmers prefer to have have photos of their clean egg rooms stacked with eggs.

“However, when the consumer sees it, they don’t like it because it feels industrial,” says Bruce Sargent of Farm Boy Productions. “That is really good insight for me.”

Sargent is a self-described “visual storyteller” or marketing specialist focusing on agricultural media for agricultural businesses. He spoke on the best way to market farming at the Grey Federation of Agriculture’s annual meeting and banquet held October 11 at the Durham Legion.

He says everyone approaches stories with their own unique perceptions. Understanding those perceptions is the key to good marketing. So is knowing the client.

Having grown up on a dairy farm, Sargent says farms make sense to him. For instance, one time he had a photoshoot a dairy farm after it had rained. Everything was wet and the dairy cows were dirty from walking through the field. He didn’t want photos of dirty cows. Thinking ahead, he decided to hop the fence and try the heifer barn where the animals were clean and dry in fresh bedding.

“The difference I offer from someone who comes from the city is that I know where to look for the shot,” says Sargent.

For the Egg Farmers 50th anniversary, he interviewed and photographed over 200 egg farmers for a compilation of stories. Bruce won a marketing award for the book, which he is very proud of.

Adding family members’ names and town names helps people connect with the subjects and places in the book. It also encourages people to share the photos, which grows views and market reach. These little things can be used by everyone to extend their reach.

When building a campaign, Sargent uses a brand logo, photos and taglines in different combinations to create interest. He

then runs these combinations in front of test groups to determine which visuals in which combination resonate with the public. The results are distilled into the final result to choose an approach that is most meaningful to the consumer.

This creates a “positive image” which farmers need to capitalize on.

Anytime farmers “argue” or speak negatively about one another, they

Bruce Sargent of Farm Boy Productions based near Enniskillen spoke at the annual meeting of the Grey Federation of Agriculture to offer tips on how farmers can best market themelves in the media.

lose the traction these positive images are creating, advised Sargent.

Functions like Breakfast on the Farm and The Royal Agriculture Winter Fair are ideal events to collect promotional material, says Sargent.

Where to post the material is an often-asked question. According to his research, Facebook is still the primary way to reach people who use social media. Daily use of Facebook is at 75 per cent compared to 40 per cent for Twitter, says Sargent.

“However, social media alters like the wind so that can change,” he says.

When posting on social media, share often but be careful what you share. Some cute videos (such as ones posted about Esther the Wonder Pig) are actually decoys leading to vegan sites. Know the source.

Also, don’t overwhelm your followers. Facebook readers will accept about one post per day.

Twitter users can tolerate about 14 posts a day. “You don’t want to chase away your followers,” says Sargent.

When you have made a post that resonates with your followers, take a minute to reflect on why and what worked. “Evaluating yourself is one way to be successful,” he said.

Ultimately, consumers and followers are looking for people they can connect with. Post things where you can connect via shared values: family, stability and general comforts.

If and when you have an issue with an extremist or even another farmer, don’t post it online, stresses Sargent. “Instead, move into private messaging or make a phone call. We don’t need readers turned off our positive imaging by our negative comments,” says Sargent. ◊

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News

Hugh Simpson acclaimed as Grey Federation president

H

ugh Simpson has been voted in to continue his role as president of the Grey County Federation of Agriculture at their annual meeting held October 11 in Durham.

Keith Ried was acclaimed as vicepresident and Paul Wettlaufer as second vice-president.

Speaking to members of the federation at the annual meeting and banquet, Simpson said the board had three main goals last year: 1) To campaign for fair property tax rates for farmers.

2) To reach out and have more connection with local politicians.

3) To focus on environmental stewardship.

“People are watching how we take care of the water and the land,” said Simpson.

Then he opened the floor to farmers, asking for comments on what they believe are the main issues agriculture is facing in Grey County.

Issues raised were: • Road safety for farmers and the public while farmers are driving equipment on the roads • Awareness of the rules of transports while moving equipment on highways • Increasing the number of processing plants in Grey and the

Directors in attendance at the Grey County Federation of Agriculture AGM were: Paul McQueen, Allen Hughes, Bill Herron, Kevin Raszmann, Hugh Simpson, Jackie Pennings, Paul Wettlaufer, Dianne Booker and Paul Vickers.

province • Creating a mentor or advisory program for young farmers trying to enter the agriculture industry Simpson encouraged everyone to pay close attention to Bruce Sargent’s presentation (see story on page 49) and when tweeting about the meeting or their farms, use the hashtag #GreyCountyFarms plus tagging @GreyFed Ag. Robert Emerson was called to the stage to highlight the value of the Building Careers and Futures in Agriculture bursary. The bursary grants $1,000 scholarships to second-year students from agriculture backgrounds pursuing agriculture or ag-related studies.

The hope, said Emerson, is that students will return to Grey County in Robert Emerson was able to give a $1,000 cheque to the future.

Savanna Pennings of Southgate for winning the This year, three Building Careers and Futures in Agriculture bursary. winners earned the

$1,000 bursary. Savanna Pennings of Southgate was present to receive her cheque. Also winning but not present at the meeting were Cole HenricksBecker of Durham and Allison Curry of Holland Centre.

Mike Swidersky provided an update on the success of the GreyDufferin Community Pasture, one of 11 pastures across Ontario that were established 40 or more years ago.

The Grey-Dufferin pasture is about 790 acres in total and was established as a way to support young farmers getting into the beef industry as well as showcase land stewardship and innovation.

Swidersky has been managing the Grey-Dufferin pasture for eight years and says just under 200 patrons have participated in the pasture, grazing 6,300 head of cattle. Currently, 15 active patrons use the pasture.

Community pastures serve as a starting point for young farmers and are a labour saver.

“They also give farmers an opportunity to compare their stock to others,” said Swidersky. Cattle are moved every one to two days. The land is fertilized with municipal compost which has been very effective, said Swidersky. ◊ November 2019 51

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

Soybean stocks and inventories falling What would a grain commentary be without reporting the questions and rhetoric about trade deal announcements!

Headlines emerged in midOctober, saying that the U.S. and China had agreed to “Phase 1” of a trade deal. This announcement, reported to be only one of a multiple phase deal, was enormous in terms of trade volumes. U.S. President Donald Trump announced that China has agreed to secure $40-50 billion of

U.S agricultural goods. This amount of agricultural trade would be extremely large if accurate; in 2017 China bought 27 billion dollars of U.S. ag products with normal trade relations, before the trade war began.

Chinese authorities have not confirmed the reported trade volumes, rather they stated their stance is that before negotiations are continued intentions for U.S. December tariffs increases must be dropped. China’s goal is to gain more concessions from the U.S., including dropping of the December tariff increases of 15 per cent on $156 billion of consumer goods before proceeding further. The US is pushing for negotiations to happen quickly and has not yet dropped their intended tariff increases. It is reported that Trump and Xi (China’s premier) will sign the Phase 1 deal at the APEC summit November 16-17.

This political situation and reported trade progress negotiations have been supportive to U.S. grain and oilseed markets. Increasing demand from China, concurrent with

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declining expectations for U.S. production have underpinned market prices and supported values.

Recent USDA reports have shown that U.S. soybean ending stocks and inventories have been falling substantially.

With current production estimates, 2019/2020 ending stocks are estimated to be 460 million bushels, down significantly from last year. This carryout estimate could fall further in subsequent reports.

U.S crops, similar to our crops, are noticeably behind for the time of year. As of mid-October, U.S soy harvest is running about two to three weeks behind the average pace, with only 25 per cent harvested versus the average 50 per cent usually harvested by this date. The late maturity and therefore late harvest has made a large amount of the U.S. soy harvest susceptible to winter damage.

The early snow storm in Western Canada, the great plains and parts of the U.S. corn belt had the ability to impact harvested acres and yields over vast acreage. It is estimated that 15 million acres were impacted by freezing and snow – most notably in North and South Dakota, but also in parts of Iowa, Minnesota and Nebraska. North Dakota, the fourth largest soy producing state in the U.S., with 5.7 million acres of beans, was only 13 per cent harvested when a substantial winter storm hit.

Because of the anticipated severe impact of the storm, the USDA announced that they will re-survey both corn and soybean acres in two states: North Dakota and Minnesota.

If significant production changes are found the USDA will release these results on November 8, in the November Crop Production Report.

South America has been off to a slow start, with dry conditions slowing plantings of soy in both Brazil and Argentina. Long term the forecasts are for dryness to continue in South America, and from this there are concerns of production estimates being trimmed lower. The take away from this conversation is that soybean prices will likely be sensitive to South American production estimates as we head into the new year. U.S. soy stocks are not

Markets going to be sufficient to buffer large South American production losses if they were to occur.

Local soybean harvest has been making good progress as we cruise through October. With the late planting earlier this year, everyone was hopeful that we would not see an early frost – luckily this exactly what we got – no frost until late in the season. Soybean yields in Ontario are generally lower than last year. Last season we saw great yields, well above trend line, while this year yields are likely to return to trend at best. With the price outlook generally favorable as we discussed previously, producers are shipping against contracted beans and largely storing the balance.

Compared to last year, Ontario beans do not see the extraordinary export demand that we experienced during the 2018 harvest. The big difference is China. Last year China was scrambling to buy all the soybeans they could from non-U.S. sources, as the trade dispute was ramping up. This year we do not have this opportunity, as Canada also has trade issues with China. This year the U.S. has greater opportunity with China than we do. They have delegations meeting with China, working towards resolution. Canada isn’t even invited to the table.

While there are concerns that the winter storm impacted U.S. corn production in some regions, the market generally shrugged off the concerns, choosing rather to wait for actual harvest yields before becoming too anxious. There are some estimates that the storm may have caused a yield reduction of about 200 million bushels of U.S. corn, as the overall crop was only rated about 73 per cent mature versus the average maturity of 92 per cent for this time of year.

U.S. corn demand continues to suffer as Brazil and Argentina continue to be aggressive shippers.

Brazil is on pace to match record October shipments, over five-million tonnes this month. Likewise Argentina is likely to break their October export record by an estimated 1.3 million tonnes, for a total export of 3.5 million metric tonnes during the month.â—Š

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

Of wartime scars and shrapnel finds I actually wrote this column a year ago, on November 11, 2018 after my wife Rita and I attended the Remembrance Day ceremony in nearby Brussels (and past the deadline for the November 2018 issue of The Rural Voice). The ceremony commemorated the 100th anniversary of the Armistice ending World War One (WW1) and made me think of my grandfather, George Bowers, who 100 years prior, on November 11, 1918, was in Crespin, France en route towards Mons, Belgium.

A few years ago I acquired my grandfather’s service records from Ottawa and spent weeks interpreting them, reading war diaries and other references; trying to learn as much as possible about his wartime service (partly in preparation for a trip to France and Belgium in early 2017).

Until my early teens we lived on a farm with my grandparents in a big old farm house that was split into two apartments. As a result I spent a lot of time with my grandfather doing daily chores in the barn or working in the fields. I have many memories from that period, including some from stories about his experiences in the war. I wish I had paid more attention as the details have faded with time, but I do remember mention of places like the Dardenelles, Egypt, Salonica, France and Belgium and comments about malaria and dysentery. One day I must have been particularly persuasive, because I remember him sitting down on a bale of straw in the barn to take off his rubber boot, roll up his pant leg and show me a shrapnel scar on his lower leg.

Woodlots On July 15, 1915, when George Bowers signed his Attestation Papers joining the Canadian Over-Seas Expeditionary Force, as young farmer from Fairbank, Ontario (now swallowed up by the city of Toronto), he was similar to thousands of other rural men signing up and having no idea what the next few years would bring.

Within three months of enlisting, by mid-October of 1915, he was with the Canadian Army Medical Corps assigned to the No. 1 Canadian Stationary Hospital located on the island of Lemnos, Greece in the Aegean Sea near the harbour of Moudros that served as a marshalling point for the fighting going on in the nearby Dardanelles. I do remember Grandad talking about being in the Dardanelles. I’m not sure what his role was, but I recall him mentioning driving a doctor around (by horse and buggy or wagon) at times. I suppose there were many jobs and large numbers of men and women involved with treating wounds or other health issues near the front and transporting those who needed hospital care. There were no Canadians involved in the fighting there, so they were supporting the British, Australians, New Zealanders and others.

While the Mediterranean Front is a somewhat forgotten area of WW1, I believe there was similar fighting and trench warfare in this Salonika Front as on the Western Front; however, apparently as many or more men were casualties of disease as were lost from battle wounds.

Malaria was the main issue, but there were other problems like dysentery, scurvy, Beriberi disease and trench foot. My grandfather was briefly hospitalized with malaria in August of 1916 and took quinine daily for quite a while afterwards. He periodically had recurrences of symptoms. I recall when I was in my early teens he would attribute periodic weak spells to recurrence of malaria, although I suppose it may very well have been something else.

He talked about having dysentery while there also.

In early 1916 they travelled to Alexandria, Egypt and then on to

The notebook calendar says 1914, but the content is actually my grandfather’s notes from when they travelled from Salonika through Italy and back to England in August and early September 1917. If you look closely you can see they had to turn back on September 4 due to air raids over London. I didn’t realize that happened in WW1, so I looked into it. Turns out September 4, 1917 was the first night time air attack on London by the Germans. They uses planes called Gotha bombers. Top right: George Bowers on horseback. Date unknown but it may have been Siegburg Germany, as the war diaries for the 13th Brigade mention that the soldiers were keeping German photographers busy.

Above: Hangard Wood in the background of this April 2017 photo with Hangard Wood Cemetery in front of it. Canadian troops were through this area within the first couple of hours of the start of the Battle of Amiens on August 8, 1918. George Bowers would have passed through this area.

Woodlots were often used as defensive positions and thus were usually heavily attacked by artillery.

Most were totally destroyed and some like Hangard Wood have at least partially regrown.

Left: Steve Bowers picked up this piece of shrapnel in a cultivated field beside a battlefied site he visited and suspects it is similar to what caused the scar on his grandather’s leg.

November 2019 55

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56 The Rural Voice

519-270-2938 www.jhkeeso.com Listowel, ON

Salonika Greece (now known as Thessaloniki) where the No. 1 Canadian Stationary Hospital was reestablished.

In August of 1917 my grandfather embarked for Taranto, Italy, likely along with the rest of the hospital staff, en route to Hastings, England to re-establish as the 13th Canadian General Hospital. They travelled by train through Italy and France before crossing the English Channel.

Apparently as the war progressed, much of the travel between England and the Mediterranean was done overland to avoid the danger of German U-Boats. In fact, all three of the ships my grandfather travelled on in his moves about the Mediterranean were later sunk by German U-boats (the Dover Castle, Lanfranc and Aragon).

Shortly after arriving in England he transferred to the Canadian Field Artillery, and after some training in Witley in late 1917, travelled to France in April of 1918 and eventually ended up with the 13th Brigade of the Canadian Field Artillery. The 13th Brigade was part of the 5th Canadian Divisional Artillery. The 13th included roughly 800 personnel (depending on casualties and available reinforcements). It was composed of Brigade Headquarters and four Batteries. The 52nd, 53rd and 55th Batteries used 18-pounder field guns.

The 51st was a Howitzer Battery, using 4.5-inch howitzers. There could be four to six guns per battery, depending on the availability of personnel, equipment, ammunition and horses. From what I’ve read, the field artillery was one of the key elements of success in WWI. They provided support for the infantry and in turn were supported by many others including Divisional Ammunition Columns, those providing supplies, Canadian Army Veterinary Corps, etc.

Grandad held the rank of Gunner.

In the Artillery, I believe Gunner was the equivalent to Private in other parts of the army. He was attached to headquarters and I believe may have been a signaller, dispatch rider or messenger, but I’m not 100 per cent certain.

Woodlots Early August of 1918, when he joined, the 13th Brigade was a critical time in the war. The Germans had mounted a major offensive in the spring of 1918 and had almost won the war. The Allies regrouped and now were ready to counterattack.

The Battle of Amiens that started on August 8, 1918 was a turning point in the war and the beginning of what is often referred to as the Hundred Days Offensive or the Last Hundred Days.

One of the German commanders called the opening day of the Battle of Amiens the “black day” of the German army.

The 13th Brigade Canadian Field Artillery was in the thick of things throughout this period, participating actively in many of the main battles, including the Battle of Amiens, the 2nd Battle of Arras, the Battle of the Drocourt-Queant Line, Battle of Canal du Nord, Battle of Cambria, Battle of Valenciennes and passage of the Grande Honelle. En route towards Mons, when they got to Crespin on the France / Belgium border they found out their support wasn’t needed and that is where they were when Armistice was signed on November 11th. heir service wasn’t over. After November 11 the Allies war mandate changed from combat to occupation. Apparently they felt the need for a presence to help with transition to peace and also in case hostilities recommenced. The 13th Brigade along with many others marched into Belgium to meet with the other Canadian troops and then on November 21 started marching towards Germany. On December 6, they crossed into Germany and on December 12 arrived near their destination of Siegburg in time for the Allied parade across the Rhine on December 13. The march across Belgium and Germany was a welcome relief from the fighting, but it wasn’t a walk in the park either.

There were many challenges such as a lack of supplies (e.g. particularly rations and horse shoes), varying billet conditions, inclement weather at times and also the very challenging topography in some areas.

The Canadian forces remained in Germany until almost the end

T

January when they travelled by train to Jauche Belgium, not too far from Brussels. It appears from the war diaries that the almost three months spent in Jauche were somewhat monotonous. A lot of time was spent polishing harness and being inspected by officers. There were also sports like baseball, soccer or boxing and dances or other entertainment from time to time.

Dispersal of horses and equipment was initiated also. There is also frequent mention in the war diaries of the concern about venereal disease.

Of course it was a problem throughout the war. I guess there were a number of ways soldiers could be “injured in action”.

Finally, On May 7, 1919 they left

Jauche for Le Havre, France and crossed the channel to England on May 10th. He embarked from Liverpool on June 13th, arriving in Toronto on June 23, 1919 being discharged from His Majesty’s Service within an hour of arrival, just three weeks short of four years after he signed up at the same location.

My grandfather’s story is just one of more than 600,000 that could be told of the Canadian men and women who enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force in WW1.

Roughly 10 per cent were killed in action. Approximately another 30 per cent were wounded. The lives of all who survived were changed forever.

They are all gone now.

We will remember them. ◊

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November 2019 57

Agrilaw that they are a double or split person – one part being a physical human being and the other being a nonphysical legal person or “juristic person”. The physical human beings give notice to governments, creditors, and the Courts that they have relinquished and are separate from their non-physical legal persons and, therefore, are not responsible to follow government regulations, pay taxes, pay debts, etc.

In an oft-cited case called Meads v. Meads, Associate Chief Justice J.D. Rooke of the Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench took it upon himself in his reasons for decision to explore and challenge the OPCA movement, which he viewed as an abuse of Canada’s legal system. Rooke A.C.J. explained: This Court has developed a new awareness and understanding of a category of vexatious litigant. As we shall see, while there is often a lack of homogeneity, and some individuals or groups have no name or special identity, they (by their own admission or by

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

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58 The Rural Voice

descriptions given by others) often fall into the following descriptions: Detaxers; Freemen or Freemen-on-the-Land; Sovereign Men or Sovereign Citizens; Church of the Ecumenical Redemption International (CERI); Moorish Law; and other labels - there is no closed list. In the absence of a better moniker, I have collectively labelled them as Organized Pseudolegal Commercial Argument litigants [“OPCA litigants”], to functionally define them collectively for what they literally are. These persons employ a collection of techniques and arguments promoted and sold by ‘gurus’ (as hereafter defined) to disrupt court operations and to attempt to frustrate the legal rights of governments, corporations, and individuals.

Over a decade of reported cases have proven that the individual concepts advanced by OPCA litigants are invalid. What remains is to categorize these schemes and concepts, identify global defects to simplify future response to variations of identified and invalid OPCA themes, and develop court procedures and sanctions for persons who adopt and advance these vexatious litigation strategies.

One participant in this matter, the Respondent … appears to be a sophisticated and educated person, but is also an OPCA litigant. One of the purposes of these Reasons is, through this litigant, to uncover, expose, collate, and publish the tactics employed by the OPCA community, as a part of a process to eradicate the growing abuse that these litigants direct towards the justice and legal system we otherwise enjoy in Alberta and across Canada. I will respond on a point-by-point basis to the broad spectrum of OPCA schemes, concepts, and arguments advanced in this action by [the Respondent].

Meads v. Meads was decided in 2012; OPCA litigants hardly seem to have been deterred by the chastisement of Rooke A.C.J. and the consistent failure of their arguments

Agrilaw in the years following. In May of this year, the Court of Appeal for Ontario heard an appeal from the dismissal of an application by two individuals who maintained that various sections of the Income Tax Act, the Excise Tax Act, and the Ontario Business Corporations Act are of no force or effect because they infringe on the individuals’ rights to life, liberty and security of the person as guaranteed

by Section 7 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The individuals sought repayment by the government of approximately $2.9 million in “withholdings”, $447,000 in HST, and $485,000 in accounting fees. They also requested an award of “tort damages” of $1.925 million.

In its reasons dismissing the appeal, the Court of Appeal summarized the OPCA relied upon by the applicants: The appellants assert that while they are entitled to live in the geographic landmass known as Canada, they are not subject to any of the laws enacted by the Juristic Federal Unit Canada, or

presumably provinces or municipalities that also enact laws, unless they consent.

Arguably arbitrary designations or distinctions drawn by statutes, such as “residency,” or status as officers and directors of privately incorporated companies under provincial laws, do not apply to them without their consent. This, they say, flows from s. 7 of the Charter and also from their reading of Article 1 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which binds the Juristic Federal Unit Canada.

Consequently they are not subject to the provisions of the Income Tax Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. 1 (5th Supp.), the Excise Tax Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. E-15, or various other pieces of legislation such as Ontario’s Business Corporations Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. B.16.

In essence, the appellants claim the right to live in Canada, but to be free from the obligations and language of any laws they do not choose to accept. This they say is

an implication of “[t]he right to choose as guaranteed by s.7 of the Charter”.

No doubt to the disappointment of OPCA litigants everywhere, the Court of Appeal concluded that: “At least as long as they continue to live in Canada, to reside here, the appellants are subject to federal and provincial laws that apply to residents of Canada, including the Income Tax Act.” However, this decision and the many similar decisions that preceded it will likely do little to deter OPCA litigants from pushing on with the fight to live in Canada free of the burdens of law and government. ◊ ______________________________ 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.

Every operation is unique.

Your advice should be too.

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Whether you’re looking to expand your operation, pass it to the next generation or you’re focused on managing risks, we’re here to help you succeed.

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November 2019 59

The Rural Voice

Business Centre To place your ad call...519-523-4311 Horse & Livestock Car, Utility & Recreational any design, hitches trade-ins welcome super after sales service

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

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

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

Jamie Belore

• Bulk Bags • Tote Bags • Super Sacks

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

INNIS NEW & USED TRACTOR PARTS LTD. Agricultural & Combines New & Used Parts Used Tractors & Machinery

1-519-291-4924

www.bagsupplies.ca Fax: 1-519-271-2017

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

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

LLOYD COLLINS CONSTRUCTION LTD Quality and experienced workmanship at reasonable prices

• Residential, Commercial & Agricultural Heavy Equipment Services • Licensed Septic System Design and Installation • Ontario Onsite Wastewater Association Member

Fax: 519-291-1520

Chad Mann

Fire No. 6142, Line 84, R.R. #2, Listowel, ON N4W 3G7

455 Wolfe St., RR #2 Teeswater, ON N0G 2S0 519-357-3015 or 519-529-7082 Fax 519-357-3252

Wanted: Early and late model farm tractors, combines, crawlers and construction equipment, fuel injection pumps, starters and alternator repairs

60 The Rural Voice

EXCAVATION • TRENCHING • BULLDOZING • TOPSOIL • GRAVEL DUMP TRUCKS • RETAINING WALLS • EROSION CONTROL & REPAIR

PACKERS: WE BUILD RUBBER TIRE PACKER SPECIALISTS Est. 1991

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Maitland Welding & Machining

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

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

63 North St. Wingham

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

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

D OL

Wa n t e d to buy

S

Serving the area since 1999

STEVEN NIXON

#28

Broker WILFRED MCINTEE & CO. LIMITED

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

41564 Jamestown Road Bluevale $1,400,000.00 MLS# 30764369 Productive 99 acre farm with approx. 93 acres of level workable land with the remainder in mixed bush. Farm currently planted in soybeans and corn. Great farm to add to your current farming operation.

Call Steve Nixon 519.357.2222

AGRICULTURAL

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519-523-4523 Galvanized Roofing For Sale

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519-531-0355 TEESWATER, ON

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195 Wallace Avenue North, Listowel, Ontario N4W 1K8 Bus: 519-529-1167 Bus.: 519-291-2299 Fax: 519-291-1015

www.peakrealestate.com

Cathy Hendriks Sales, Rep.

519-357-5128

Whitechurch Welding - custom tubing gates - 1"x1" sq. tube and diamond gates in stock - powder coating or galvanizing option - Buy Direct and Save!

Luke Martin Half acre lot ~ 2 lots SOLD Last one still available

B U S I N E S S

60 Grey Ox Ave., Teeswater, ON N0G 2S0

Centrally located near Fisherman’s cove & Blackhorse Golf Course. Approx. 20 minutes to Kincardine, Walkerton/Wingham and short commute to Hydro & Lake Huron.

Asking $59,900 Call Cathy Hendriks 519.357.5128

November 2019 61

C E N T R E

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

MANUFACTURING STEEL ROOFING SIDING & TRIMS

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

Also Supplying Other Building Accessories

RODENT PROBLEMS? WE CAN HELP!

TF: 1-877-509-2847 Ph: 519-799-5000 Web: ruralroutespestcontrol.com info@ruralroutespestcontrol.com

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

ruralvoice.ca

CLASSIFIED

CLASSIFIED

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

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

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

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

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

-------------------------------------------------FARMS AND FARMLANDS -------------------------------------------------100 Acre Farm. Line 86 close to Listowel. About 90 acres workable, 60 acres systematically drained. 519524-9443 or 519-291-9386.

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FARM EQUIPMENT FOR SALE -------------------------------------------------Champion grain roller with a 220 volt, 3/4 horsepower motor; 3 point hitch Kongskilde 8-foot spring-toothed harrow; 900 - 1,000 lbs. high tensile electric fence wire for $0.75/lb.

Carl Noble 519-534-3988 or skylakefarms@bell.net -------------------------------------------------FARM FRESH -------------------------------------------------Arranhill Garlic Farm, Table Garlic, Scapes and Shallots plus Garlic Seed for fall planting. 110-12 Conc. East, Allenford. 519-934-2119. Email: acowan@bmts.com -------------------------------------------------FIREWOOD --------------------------------------------------

62 The Rural Voice

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

Serving Southwestern Ontario for over 10 years!

CLASSIFIED FOR RENT -------------------------------------------------Bagger hammermill for rent to bag high moisture corn up to a tonne a minute; 6 1/2 foot bags. Southwest Grain Systems, Frank cell: 519-2826861.

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

Also… Complete line of Bee Supplies for the commercial or hobby beekeepers. We sell Bees (Nucs) in spring and early summer. Come see our selection Monday to Saturday at Emanuel E.M. Martin, 42661 Orangehill Rd., Wroxeter, ON N0G 2X0, one concession north of Wroxeter on Belmore Line.

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CLASSIFIED FOR SALE -------------------------------------------------Big square bales of straw, 3x3x7.

Hanover, 519-901-0787.

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

Closed Sundays, 519-338-3920.

-------------------------------------------------HELP WANTED -------------------------------------------------J.E.M. Polydoor is looking for door installers, seasonal. OctoberFebruary. Competitive wages, prepaid full company benefits. Apply today! Send us your résumé, email: mhorrigan@polydoor.com or drop it off to: 3019 Queen St., Fordwich, ON N0G 1V0. Phone: 519-335-6366.

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

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

-------------------------------------------------LIVESTOCK BEDDING -------------------------------------------------DUST EXTRACTED straw available in coarse or fine cut. Also available in pellets, bags or bulk. Call for details.

Chopped straw and sawdust mix; bags only. Edgar Martin, 519-2916783.

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

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

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

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

-------------------------------------------------LIVESTOCK FOR SALE -------------------------------------------------LIMOUSIN – Bred cows and heifers, 4H prospects and breeding age bulls for sale. Smart Limousin 519-3727459. www.smartlimousin.com -------------------------------------------------Tell them you saw their ad in The Rural Voice

CLASSIFIED

CLASSIFIED

LIVESTOCK FOR SALE -------------------------------------------------Red Angus-Simmental, Red Angus and Simmental heifers bred Red Angus for sale. James and Joan McKinlay, 519-599-6236. jmckinlay@bmts.com -------------------------------------------------LIMOUSIN-quality breeding bulls and breeding females for sale.

Delivery included. Posthaven Limousin, John Post 519-766-7178. www.posthavenlimousin.com -------------------------------------------------Suffolks – purebred winter-born ewe lambs and ram lambs. British bloodlines M-V negative, closed flock.

519-233-7896.

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

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

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

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

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

PAL & HUNTER ED. Ongoing courses available.

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

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GLAVIN BARN & COMMERCIAL PAINTING

London 519-268-8500

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

Ph. 519-528-3019

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

Specializing in on Farm Pest Management Serving Southwestern ON, Golden Horseshoe, GTA Email: sgschris@ciaaccess.com

519-692-4232 www.sgspestmanagement.ca

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

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

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

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 -------------------------------------------------INLINE FENCING – Custom farm fencing. Page wire and horse fencing 519-934-1555.

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

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November 2019 63

CLASSIFIED

CLASSIFIED

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

Contact Select Holidays at 1-800-6614326 or visit www.selectholidays.com -------------------------------------------------UPCOMING EVENTS -------------------------------------------------Melville Presbyterian Church annual Harvest Supper, Sunday, November 10 at the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre. Barbecued beef dinner served from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.

Take-outs are available. Adults are $18, children ages 6 to 12, $8. For tickets please call Jeff or Cathy 519887-6162.

-------------------------------------------------Flesherton and District Farmers’ Market Christmas Market – one day only! Saturday, November 30, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Flesherton Kinplex, 2 Highland Drive, Flesherton. 30 vendors, free admission and parking, hourly draws, great food and unique gifts!

-------------------------------------------------Priceville Christmas Craft Show – Make plans Saturday, November 16, 2019 to attend the 25th Annual Priceville Christmas Craft Show at Priceville’s Stothart Hall from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Over 30 vendors on two floors featuring baking, all kinds of crafts, Christmas gifts and much more. Free admission. Hot lunch available.

-------------------------------------------------11th Annual Christmas Home Tour in Saugeen Shores, Friday, November 15, 6:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and Saturday, November 16, 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Cost: $20. Visit www.chantryislandchambettes.com for more information.

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UPCOMING EVENTS -------------------------------------------------Stratford 2019 IODE Yuletide Home Tour, Saturday and Sunday, November 23 and 24, 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. www.IODEFestivalJubilee Chapter.ca 519-271-8745.

-------------------------------------------------Sugar Plum Bazaar – Saturday, November 16, 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Egmondville United Church. Baking, crafts, preserves, seasonal décor.

Everyone welcome.

-------------------------------------------------FALL LECTURE SERIES – Taking place Tuesdays in November at Grey Roots Museum & Archives. Topics include Rough Justice in 19th-century Ontario, Grey County Early Land Treaties, Canadian Indigenous History & Firefighting in Grey County.

Complimentary refreshments following. Members free as always.

Visit greyroots.com or call 519-3673690 for details.

-------------------------------------------------Beechwood Pottery – Semi-retirement Christmas Sale.

Save 10% to 50%. November 9-17, by chance or appointment. Email: beechwood@cyg.net or call 519-3452184 for appointment or directions.

-------------------------------------------------Christmas In The Village Craft Show, Saturday, November 9, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Auburn Community Hall.

Many vendors and light lunch served

by River Run Restaurant.

-------------------------------------------------Hanover District Horticultural Society’s Arts and Craft Show, Saturday, November 9, 2019, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Hanover Columbus Centre. Ruth Ann 519-364-5226.

-------------------------------------------------Formosa Lions 35th Annual Craft Show, Saturday, November 9, 2019.

9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Formosa Community Centre. Adults: $2, children 12 and under: $1, preschoolers: free. 519-367-5894.

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

64 The Rural Voice

CLASSIFIED WANTED -------------------------------------------------Hay/Straw - small square bales of hay; timothy and alfalfa. Round bales of hay; timothy alfalfa or timothy grass mix. High class large square bales of hay. Call Riley Gorman 519-321-1012.

-------------------------------------------------Actively seeking farmland to rent for corn, soybeans, wheat, hay, edible beans. Contact Narva Farms Limited: 519-366-2636 or 519-881-9384 or email: sandyfitzsimmons@hotmail.com -------------------------------------------------Farmland – Long or short term.

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

Kenilworth Auto Recyclers. 519-3231113.

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

Call Peter Heinrich, 519-523-4461.

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

------------------------------------------------28x48 Dion Threshing machine with straw shredder, any condition. 905983-9331.

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

Enjoy the Country Lifestyle!

THE RURAL VOICE MAGAZINE Don't Delay – Subscribe Today The Rural Voice Produced by people with farming in their blood. Serving more than 11,000 readers in the region.

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Deadline for the December issue of The Rural Voice is November 13

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519-523-4311

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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

Provincial Policy Statement – Planning for the future Recently, the NFU-O provided feedback to the revised Provincial Policy Statement, the document which guides most municipalities on their land use planning, and at a land needs assessment methodologies workshop.

The NFU-O is pleased to see that the province continues to support an agriculture systems approach to land use planning, which looks at the entire agri-food network, including “infrastructure, services, and assets important to the viability of the agrifood sector.”

We also support the recognition of and need for addressing the impacts of a changing climate when managing land use.

There remain a number of troubling issues that need to be addressed in the revised PPS though.

Development and aggregate extraction are prioritized over farmland protection The PPS has long prioritized aggregates over land use with the note that land must be remediated after aggregate extraction occurs. The draft policies continue to assume that aggregate extraction can be an interim use and that once the aggregate is removed the land can be rehabilitated back to the same agricultural condition. Farmers, who work land on a daily basis, know this is simply not true. The aggregates under the soil contribute to the ‘soil capability’ of the specific piece of land and increase the value of the land for growing crops.

As well, the NFU-O requested that settlement boundary expansions should not occur outside of a municipal comprehensive review (MCR), which happen every five years. Allowing expansions outside of the MCR leaves municipalities open to pressure by developers and

abandons long-term planning for an ad hoc approach.

Market demand We raised concerns with the reduction of the requirement for intensification in designated growth areas. Intensification must be prioritized over increasing settlement boundaries in order to promote the other priorities of the PPS including protecting prime farmland, specialty crop areas, and natural heritage features.

We are concerned with the addition of “market demand” as a reason to expand settlement areas, which allows boundaries to be redefined based on a vague, undefined term and leaves farmland vulnerable to development.

Finally, the province revised the PPS due to concerns regarding the cost and supply of homes, yet we are disappointed that there is no corresponding inquiry or policy revision that addresses the continued rising cost of farmland, and by focusing on creating more housing, farmland prices are only going to be

driven higher to the detriment of new farmers. If we continue to put pressure on agricultural land for development, we will irreversibly take farmland out of production, causing a direct threat to our food sovereignty.

Coming Events Local 330 Renfrew – Next meeting is Monday, November 4, 7:30 p.m. at the Barr Line Community Centre. For more information, contact Connie Tabbert at rcnfu330@gmail.com or 613-646-7753.

Local 316 Frontenac, Lennox Addington's Fourth Annual Fabulous Farmers Fall Feast – Saturday, November 2, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. at the Battersea United Church Hall, 2216 Wellington St. Join friends and neighbours to celebrate the best of the local harvest with a scrumptious dinner lovingly prepared by local farmers and friends. This year’s feast highlights Sonset Farm’s organic chicken with a southern flair.

Vegetarian option available.

Tickets: $50 at www.eventbrite.com/e/ fourth-annual-fabulous-farmers-fallfeast-tickets-70984968953.

NFU’s 50th Annual Convention November 25-27, 2019 Fifty years ago, the National Farmers Union held its inaugural convention in Winnipeg, Manitoba – and this year, we’re going back! We will celebrate our achievements, honour the members whose dedication and wisdom helped us achieve so much, pass on the lessons we’ve learned along the way, and help shape a vision for what the National Farmers Union and agriculture in Canada will look like in the next 50 years.

The convention will be held at Canad Inns Destination Centre Polo Park, 1405 St. Matthews Ave., Winnipeg. Call: 1-204-775-8791 Ext. 5 (direct to hotel). Use room block #371730 If you have a piece of NFU history to share with convention-goers, whether it be a news clipping, a story to tell, memorabilia, or pictures, you are encouraged to email nfu50@nfu.ca or to call the NFU national office at 306652-9465.

A subscription to The Rural Voice is one of the benefits of being an NFU-O member 66 The Rural Voice

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

Perth, Huron, Grey and Bruce County Pork Producers

NEWSLETTER

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

A pessimistic season as trade wars impact pig prices The global Pork industry was a shining star when it came to demonstrating the power of free trade and open capitalistic markets.

Throughout my 35 years steady progress had been made to tear down global borders and, because of that, Canadian hog farmers became a global leader in exports.

Here in Ontario small, familyoperated farrow-to-finish farms outcompete global behemoths and have wrestled away retail markets in Asia from other jurisdictions like the U.S. and Brazil because of two key competitive strengths: a high-quality product and a cost of production that remains among the lowest in the world. Unfortunately, today that star is starting to dim. Its light is being stolen by politicians who treat farmers like pawns on a chessboard without stopping to consider the human cost of their misguided actions.

Rabobank, a leader in global financing of agriculture, has stated that the Chinese pig herd could be cut in half by the end of 2019 due to the massive losses from African Swine Fever. To put that in perspective, almost 25 per cent of the entire global pig herd has died in 2019 as China is home to about half the world’s pigs.

These shortages are causing the price of pork to go through the roof in China and, according to China’s National Bureau of Statistics, the price of pork in China was 69.3 per cent higher this September than it was in September 2018. And those price increases are showing no sign of slowing down.

In my first year at the University of Guelph I remember sitting in a huge lecture hall taking Introduction to Microeconomics and while the details have become hazy with time, I distinctly remember having it hammered into us that if supply drops and demand stays constant then prices increase. It was preached as law, no different than gravity. In the

past a global event like this would send our prices here in North America through the roof. 2014 was the best year for pig prices in my living memory because Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea impacted many farms and North American hog supplies got tight. The estimate of total losses from PED vary, but even the highest estimate of 10 per cent in North America represented less than one per cent of the global hog population – far from the 25 per cent figure. And yet, for farmers who were blessed to not be hit with PED, 2014 was a year of record profits. So why, in 2019 when we’re facing a 25 per cent reduction in the global supply of pork, are prices below breakeven for farmers across North America?

Adam Smith, the founder of classical microeconomics, preached about an invisible hand that guides the market. If the dance between supply and demand is left free from meddling, this invisible hand means markets will react accordingly and maximize the benefits for consumers and suppliers alike. Sadly, today’s geopolitical realities have gone far beyond meddling and are skewing the marketplace at a detriment to everyone – producers and consumers.

The trade wars between the U.S.

and China have destroyed decades of trade liberalization that saw farmers like us prosper while consumers enjoyed lower prices for food. It is a sad reality, but the meddling of rich folks in suits is causing people to go hungry and farms like ours to not get paid for the true value of our product.

The most depressing piece in all of this is the fact that these Trade Wars will have impacts long after Donald Trump has been retired to the history books. It took decades of slow progress to build the system and in a matter of a few years it was destroyed by people who have no concern for the actual impacts of their actions.

After all, they still eat well and know their continued comfort and lifestyle is more than safe.

It will take decades to fix the mess brought on by the egotistical narcissists that are occupying the most important offices around the globe. Layer in the fact that North America still has a high risk that ASF could penetrate our borders and it makes for a really uncertain time to grow pigs here in Canada. It is scary and it is not the fault of the farmer or the consumer. There don’t look to be any solutions that have rosy endings for all. Not a happy time. ◊ – Submitted by Stewart Skinner

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

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

November 2019 67

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

Grey County AGM meeting held in Durham on October 11

Directors in attendance at the Grey County Federation of Agriculture AGM were: Paul McQueen, Allen Hughes, Bill Herron, Kevin Raszmann, Hugh Simpson, Jackie Pennings, Paul Wettlaufer, Dianne Booker and Paul Vickers.

Building Careers and Futures in Agriculture director Robert Emerson presents bursary to Savanna Pennings for her continuing education in support of agriculture.

Other Grey County recipients include Cole Hendriks Becker and Allison Curry (unable to attend).

Grey County Federation of Agriculture supports Grey County 4-H.

Bruce Sargent, Farm Boy Productions speaks to the crowd

68 The Rural Voice

OFA President Keith Curry

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

446 10th St., Hanover, Ontario N4N 1P9 519-364-3050 or 1-800-275-9551

NEWSLETTER BCFA discusses Natural Gas 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.

The Bruce County Federation of Agriculture (BCFA) held a meeting concerning rural natural infrastructure in Bruce County on September 30, 2019. The meeting was attended by provincial ministers, Hon. Bill Walker, Hon. Lisa Thompson and mayors in the affected municipalities.

The focus was on connection to the pipeline in the former Brant Township, with the property owners situated immediately south of Bruce County Road 19 in the Chesley area and heading west to Vesta.

Bill Walker who is also the Ontario Associate Minister of Energy reported that progress is being made in negotiations to solve the issue of the Natural Gas mainline. Epcor has been granted the distribution rights to the municipalities of Arran Elderslie, Kincardine and Huron Kinloss by the Ontario Energy Board (OEB).

Enbridge has total jurisdiction in the Municipality of Brockton. Bruce County Federation of Agriculture (BCFA) is hopeful that fruitful negotiations will resolve the current situation and provide a foundation for further improvements to natural gas infrastructure in Bruce County and rural Ontario.◊

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

In attendance at the BCFA meeting concerning rural natural infrastructure in Bruce County held on September 30 were: Ian Nokes OFA, Les Nichols BCFA Executive Director, Heather Frook, BCFA Vice-President, Lisa Thompson MPP HuronBruce, Bill Walker MPP Grey Bruce Owen Sound and Robert Emerson BCFA Executive Director.

Save the Dates!!

Grey Bruce Farmers’ Week 2020 Elmwood Community Centre, Elmwood ON Goat Day – Friday, January 3 Sheep Day – Saturday, January 4 Horse Day – Sunday, January 5 Equine Demos following the afternoon break

Dairy Day – Monday, January 6 Beef Day – Tuesday, January 7 Ecological Day – Wednesday, January 8 Crops Day – Thursday, January 9 Please note: the Day Order changes in 2020

Registration Price (at door) Payment by Cash or Cheque Only Please

Bruce County Federation of Agriculture

DIRECTORS MEETING November 11 8:00 p.m.

Bruce Building, Walkerton

All Days Except Horse – $30 (incl. HST) Horse Day – $25 (incl. HST) (Includes a hot roast beef dinner. Goat and Lamb are also served on those respective days.)

No pre-registration is required, but pre-registration is an option this year.

Visit the website for more information Live Streaming Viewing Options Available for all 7 Days More information may be found on the GBFW Website – gbfw.ca Please call or email Grey Ag Services for more information: 519-986-3756; info@greyagservices.ca; lorie@greyagservices.ca @GBFarmersWeek #GBFW20

November 2019 69

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

Delegates chosen to attend OFA Convention The OFA Regional Meeting for Perth County was held on Tuesday, August 27, 2019.

The guest speaker for the evening was Peter Jeffery, OFA Researcher who spoke on Planning, Zoning, Official Plans and Natural Heritage.

Elections were held for three positions for OFA Policy Advisory Committee. Julie Danen, Tim Halliday and Sara Wood will represent Perth on the OFA Policy Advisory Committee for 2020.

Elections were held for nine Delegates to represent Perth at the OFA Convention. Those elected were Julie Danen, Tim Halliday, Sara Perth County Federation of Agriculture

DIRECTORS MEETING Thursday, November 21 Location and time TBD

Wood, Joanne Innes, Darryl Terpstra, Jason Follings, Sharon Weitzel, Joanne Foster, Eric McLagan, Robert Martin and Derek VandeWalle.

There is one vacancy.

Elections were held for Alternates to attend OFA Convention in the event a delegate is unable to attend.

Those elected were Bill Denham and Chris Wood.

2019 OFA Annual General Meeting and Convention November 18-19, 2019 – Hamilton Convention Centre The theme of OFA’s 2019 Annual General Meeting is Farming 2020: Adapt & Grow. The event brings together members, industry representatives and key stakeholders to discuss key issues impacting Ontario’s agriculture and food sector, rural communities, participate in progressive workshops, hear from our keynote speaker and government leaders and vote for OFA leadership. OFA’s annual meeting offers an exciting opportunity to share your thoughts, catch up with fellow Ontario farmers and take away new ideas for your farms.

For more information visit www.ofa.on.ca/agm.

Ontario Young Farmers Forum November 17 & 18 – Hamilton Convention Centre Perfect opportunity to join other young farmers ages 15 to 39 and hear top speakers, network, and advance your own ag education.

For more information and to register visit www.jfao.on.ca/oyff Perth County Federation of Agriculture will be offering a subsidy to those attending from Perth County.

Email: perthcountyfedofag@gmail.com to have your name added to the list.

5th Annual Perth County

Harvest Gala Saturday, November 16, 2019 Tickets can be ordered by emailing: perthcountyfedofag@gmail.com or calling 519-229-8866 Thank you to our Award Level Sponsor: Tradition Mutual Insurance

Thank you to our President Level Sponsors: MNP, South West Ontario Veterinary Services, Ontario Pork Congress and District 8 Chicken Producers

Thank you to our Benefactor Level Sponsors: Monteith Ritsma Phillips and Trillium Mutual Insurance * The Rural Voice is provided to OFA Members in Perth County by the PCFA.

70 The Rural Voice

Index Advantage Royal Group....................50 Artisanal Chicken Program ................6 Bag Supplies Canada Ltd ................60 BDO ....................................................5 Belore Trailers ..................................60 Bernie McGlynn/SB Flooring ............54 Bervie Supply....................................71 Bio-Ag ..............................................27 Blue Sky Marine..................................2 Blyth Brewing (Cowbell)....................40 Blyth Festival ..........Inside Back Cover Brennan Custom Poultry ..................10 Canada Cuba Farmer Tour ..............11 Canadian Co-op Wool Growers ........40 Celebrating 4-H ........................7,13,15 Chalmers Fuel ..................................65 Cliff’s Plumbing ................................40 Clinton Sporting Goods ....................56 Creek Edge Farms............................53 DeDell Seeds ....................................38 Diamond Roof ..................................65 Easy Lift Doors..................................12 Fall Harvest......................................4,9 Fawcett Tractor ................................60 Fretz Welding....................................11 Get Ready for Winter ..................17,18 Grimo Nut Nursery ............................60 Grober Nutrition........................Cover 4 Hayter Excavating ..............................8 Hill & Hill Farms ......Inside Front Cover Honda ......................................Cover 6

Hunter Steel ............................Cover 6 Huron Commodities ..........................26 Huron Dirt Works ................................6 Huron Ridge Greenhouses ..............44 Innis New & Used Tractor Parts........60 Interfarms Ontario Inc ..............Cover 5 JH Keeso & Sons Ltd........................56 Jones Harold Enterprises..................61 Layton Steve ....................................61 Legge Fitness ..........................Cover 3 Listowel Hearing Centre....................38 Lloyd Collins Construction ................60 Maitland Welding & Machining..........61 Mapleview Agri..................................54 Marquardt Drainage ..........................49 Martin’s Nursery................................57 Marvin Smith Forestry ......................56 McIntee Real Estate..........................61 Melanie B.’s Flora Designs ......Cover 5 Metzger Meat Products ....................50 Midwest Farm Systems ....................29 Mike Boven Carpentry ......................61 MNP ..................................................53 Morris Sachs Silo Construction ........27 Ontario Forage Council ....................53 Peak Realty ......................................61 Pride Seeds ......................................37 R.T. Bolton & Sons ..................Cover 4 RBC ..................................................59 Ridgeway Metals ..............................62 Rural Living ......................................42

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Rural Routes Pest Control ................62 Rural Voice Books ............................48 Rural Voice Christmas Subscription 41 Santa Claus Parades ..................26,27 Sauble Beach Motorsports ..10,50,57,58 Schmidts Farm Drainage ..................50 Schweiss Doors ................................65 Sew & Save ......................................44 Steffen Well Drilling ..........................61 Stihl ..................................................20 TC Trailers ........................................52 The Cotton Harvest ..........................44 Thies Electrical Distributing Co. Inc ..65 Triple P Consulting............................40 Trouw Nutrition ..................Back Cover WD Hopper & Sons ..........................14 Welbeck Sawmill ..............................56 Westland Greenhouses ....................46 White Carnation ................................46 Whitechurch Welding ........................61 Williams Drainage ............................50 Wrap Up Your Holiday Shopping ..........22,30,32,34

Deadline for the December issue of The Rural Voice is November 13

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HURON

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

County Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER

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

Upcoming Events November 1-10 – Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, Exhibition Place, Toronto. Visit: www.royalfair.org for details November 11 – Remembrance Day November 17 – Huron County 4-H Awards Day, 2:00 p.m., Seaforth Agriplex Building, Seaforth.

The Huron County Federation of Agriculture held an All Candidates Meeting on October 10 in Holmesville for the 2019 Federal Election. Pictured from left: Conservative Ben Lobb, Tony McQuail of the NDP, Liberal Allan Thompson and Nicholas Wendler of the Green Party. Kevin Klerks of the People’s Party of Canada was not in attendance for the meeting. (Citizen photo)

Congratulations!

Red Carpet Day

Congratulations to Lucas Townsend on his performance at the 2019 Canadian Plowing Championships in Sunderland.

Lucas won the Reserve Junior Plowman Award

169 Beech Street, Clinton, ON

Congratulations to the Fear family from the Brussels area as the recipient of the 2019 Huron County’s Farm Family Award.

The award was presented at this year’s Huron County Plowing Match.

Open House Regional Equine and Agricultural Centre of Huron (REACH)

Friday, November 8 For students interested in Equine Care and Management Diploma or the Performance Horse Handler Certificate Registration options are www.ridgetownc.com, email rcampus@uguelph.ca or phone 519-674-1500 ext 63256 (Recruitment co-ordinator) Registration by November 1, 2019 If you miss the registration deadline please call to see if there is room.

HCFA Scholarships The Huron County Federation of Agriculture is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2019 Huron County Federation of Agriculture Scholarships One award is available to each Huron County high school to a student proceeding to a higher education in an agricultural-related course.

2019 Award Winners are: Caroline Schaefer (St. Anne’s), Emily Evans (GDCI), Rochelle Franken (F.E. Madill), Angie Jones (CHSS) and Megan Morrissey (South Huron).

November 17-18 – Ontario Young Farmers’ Forum, Hamilton Convention Centre. Registration and details at: www.jfao.on.ca/oyff November 18-19 – OFA Convention, Hamilton Convention Centre.

Huron County Federation of Agriculture

BOARD MEETING November 25 – 8:00 p.m.

Vanastra Office

ROOM FOR RENT The Huron County Federation of Agriculture has a board room available for rent.

The board room rent is $40 which includes HST. Call the HCFA office at 519-482-9642 or 1-800-511-1135 to check availability and to book your meetings.

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

We are also open other days by chance 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

72 The Rural Voice

Floral Accents - Gifts - Home Décor Wednesdays to Saturdays

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Supplying the agricultural industry needs since 1977!

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* NEW * Now Stocking • Hog & Cattle Panels • Various livestock penning sizes available Services offered: • Saw cutting • Punching • Rebar cutting and bending • Custom welded columns and beams • Priming • Galvanizing OPEN: Monday - Friday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

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Contact your local Shur-Gain dealer for more information.

Belmore Feed Mill Belmore 519-392-6522 Dauphin Feed & Supply Dungannon 519-529-7951 1-800-665-5675 Walton 519-887-6023 The Hitching Post (2019) Ltd. St. Marys 519-284-2360

Hensall District Co-operative Londesboro 519-523-9606 1-800-265-9000

Nieuwland Feed & Supply Ltd. Listowel 519-291-5795 1-800-265-3229

Zurich 519-236-7155 1-800-565-7155

Drayton 519-638-3008 1-800-263-9818

Ripley 519-395-5955 1-855-895-5955

Elora 519-846-5354 1-800-265-5354

Mitchell 519-348-8752 1-800-669-3502

Yantzi Feed & Seed Ltd. Brunner 519-595-8251

Parkhill 519-294-6252

Tavistock 519-655-2033