The Rural Voice - November 2020

November 2020

Rural Voice

The

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

DOUBLE SYSTEMS The Signer family combines a bedding pack with an innovative liquid aeration system in new dairy barn

NATIVE GARDENING Canadian gardeners need to become patriotic about native plants, says native-plant expert

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Contents The

18

THE MAGAZINE OF AGRICULTURAL LIFE

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

24 30

Columns Lisa B. Pot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Keith Roulston . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Kate Procter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Jeffrey Carter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Mabel’s Grill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Viewpoint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Recipes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42 Gardening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44 Markets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54 Woodlots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56 Agrilaw . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58

Departments Feedback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Ruralite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 News & Advice . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46 Business Centre . . . . . . . . . . . . .60 Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62 Advertisers Index . . . . . . . . . . . .71

Newsletters National Farmers Union . . . . . . .65 Grey County Federation . . . . . . .66 Bruce County Federation . . . . .67 Perth County Pork . . . . . . . . . . .68 Perth County Federation . . . . . .69 Huron County Federation . . . . . .70

Rural Voice

NOVEMBER 2020 • Cover Photo The Signer family, Moorefield.

Photo by Lisa Boonstoppel-Pot

• Deadlines: Dec. Issue

Publisher: Deb Sholdice Editor: Lisa B. Pot rveditorlisa@northhuron.on.ca Contributing writers: Keith Roulston, Kate Procter, Jeffrey Carter, Rhea Hamilton Seeger, Arnold Mathers, Donna Lacey, Melisa Luymes, Anne Mann, Nancy Fisher, Dorothy Henderson, Bonnie Sitter, Gary Kenny, Jeff Tribe, Amanda Brodhagen, Bob Reid and Geoff Dale Mailed by: McLaren Press Graphics Bracebridge, ON

– Nov. 10

Jan. Issue – Dec. 08

18 Innovations at Sigview Farms New, dual manure system first of its kind in North America.

24 Native Plants in the Landscape Jessica Smeekens is a keen environmentalist who encourages gardeners to plant native species

28 Butterfly Collector Mike Ward attracts live butterflies by planting native species in his gardens

30 The Last Tractor It was the “back and forth” tractor and served the Rundles well but it’s time to sell

Sales representative: Shelley Kroes rvads@northhuron.on.ca Production co-ordinator & Telemarketing: Joan Caldwell Advertising & editorial production: Dianne Josling PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40037593 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO CIRCULATION DEPT. PO BOX 429 BLYTH ON N0M 1H0 email: info@northhuron.on.ca Subscriptions: $20 (12 issues) $35 (24 issues), includes HST Back copies $2.75 each,U.S. rates, $65.00

32 Kid Goat Mortality Research suggests being better is more important than being bigger

46 Legacy Fund Scholarships Local students win thousands thanks to 2017 plowing match

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.

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ORTH URON

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

Stop perpetuating negativity towards educators The Editor, I enjoy reading The Rural Voice magazine and have a comment regarding Mabel’s Grill in the October 2020 issue.

The column usually brings a smile, but I would ask your writer to not perpetuate the negative feelings towards educators that may seem present in rural thinking.

Why does she have the character say, “Maybe because you’re a farmer, not some professor making 100 grand a year?” She could have said any profession, including a farmer or named none. Later in the story, a book background is seen as something to be derided and there’s even a poke at environmentalists and trees.

Education is the key to a productive and pleasant society; books open your mind. Let’s support our educators and the books. Our next generations are at stake. ◊ – C. Seidle, Meaford, ON

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November 2020 3

Celebrating 4-H! Become a Leader Age 18

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Huron County 4-H would like to thank the sponsors of our Virtual Judging Competition Excalibur Insurance ABC Investments Hurontel Hay Communications Huron Perth Holstein Clubs

“

Ruralite

We need to create patriotic pride in our Canadian plants and create a culture of Canadian gardening.

”

~ Jessica Smeekers, owner of Auxsable Forestry, on growing native versus imported plants ~

•

Thankfulness “Experienced folks can anticipate things before they go wrong and often have ideas for solutions when they do.

But it is also good to have new eyes who just might see a solution that has never been thought of before because we are too busy doing things the way they’ve always been done.” ~ Kate Proctor on choosing thankfulness during long hours in the field ~

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{

November INSPIRATION “Gratitude can transform

}

common days into thanksgivings,

Is any creature More content than a fat pig Wallowing in mud? ~ Lisa. B. Pot

•

turn routine jobs into joy, and

change ordinary opportunities into blessings.” ~William Arthur Ward

For the Lexophiles • This girl today said she recognized me from the Vegetarian’s club but I’d swear I never met herbivore.

• When you get a bladder infection urine in trouble.

•

November 2020 5

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

Practical is pretty The pair of buff-coloured hens (we think they are Orpingtons) were purchased for their stunning good looks. The former owners assured me they were consistent layers but even after giving them a few weeks to adjust to the move, their egg-laying is sporadic at best.

A few months before that, I picked up a trio of spent Rhode Island Red hens from a small laying operation – ugliest things I’ve ever seen. With missing feathers, combs that looked like raw meat flapping on their heads and skinny bodies, they needed some space and feed.

However, once they settled in and grew feathers, they started laying an egg a day every single day.

Funny how those ugly chickens have grown more attractive in my eyes. They are so productive!

Meanwhile, the fat, “pretty chickens” eat piles of feed with little reward.

They don’t seem as attractive anymore.

Practicality is a highly persuasive feature.

This month, The Rural Voice is featuring the voices of native plant gardeners. One has a goal of growing 80 per cent natives in his gardens allowing room for non-native favourites. The other, Jessica Smeekens, is an environmentalist who advocates for 100 per cent natives. In fact, when her Dutch dad plants tulips, she yanks them out.

Why? Because imported plants do not support native bees, butterflies, moths and other pollinators the way our native plants do. Our native plants and insects have adapted to each other, whereby insect’s mouthparts and body shapes match perfectly with their host plant’s structure. There are of course, generalists that can thrive on multiple 6 The Rural Voice

plants. However, some of our imported garden favourites such as hostas are of little use to our native insects. Others, like the butterfly bush, are so attractive, they lure insects away from the plants they should be pollinating.

The problem is most people don’t know a lot about Canadian natives and most nurseries don’t carry a big selection of native plants. Many gardeners think natives are weeds for indeed, they will thrive in the right growing conditions and can multiply quite rapidly.

However, we DO have gorgeous native perennials, shrubs and trees says Smeekens. Instead of borrowing plants from around the world, why aren’t we cultivating our own?

“When you go to Japan, you don’t see plants from Africa growing there,” she exclaims. Yet Canadian gardens are full of plants from Africa, Asia and Europe.

Is that so bad? Perhaps not for the gardener as much for the native insects and pollinators.

Smeekens says it’s time Canadians take “patriotic pride” in their native plant species and develop a “Canadian culture of gardening” showcasing what a true Canadian garden looks like.

Given the enormity of our country and the myriad of growing

Turtlehead (Chelone lyonii) is an Ontario native plant which attracts butterflies, hummingbirds and bees and is a larval host for the Baltimore Checkerspot butterfly.

conditions, there isn’t just one type of native garden. Even within Ontario, we have multiple hardiness and life zones. We can grow Oak Savanna, Carolinian, Great Lakes or St. Lawrence vegetation and others depending on where you live.

So how does one know how to create a native garden? It takes a lot of research or using the knowledge of others who do know which plants grow where.

I created my own native plant garden after doing a LOT of research but when sharing what I’d planted with Smeekens, I learned I’d been “greenwashed.” While I usually use my phone to check if a plant is native to Ontario before buying, I did purchase three Scabiosa plants because the tags had “native” right on them. I took them home, planted them, and felt pretty good about it all. They were mixed in with purple coneflowers (not cultivars) liatris, cardinal flowers, tickseed and prairie smoke (all natives) but turns out scabiosa are NOT! Some growers and suppliers, realizing gardeners are becoming conscious of adding natives, are tacking “native” on the tags to make a fast buck.

It’s a learning process, for sure.

As I start the evolution toward growing more natives, I wonder how far I’ll take it and how my perceptions will change. Will I see the bold, showy plants (like my pretty buff hens) as pretty but useless? Will their looks lose appeal as I grow to appreciate that a turtlehead (native) is oddly cool to look at it and also feeds bumblebees?

Will plants like our humble native coneflower with its muted purple petals start to outshine the flashy coneflower cultivars which look like they should attract the bees, but are altered just enough that bees fly past in search of the real deal? Will the plants we see as common or plain become like my once-ugly Rhode Island Reds – beautiful because they are so practical?

Perception is a curious thing. The more we understand about our environment, the less attractive exotics look when compared to a plant that is beautiful because of what it does, not just how it looks. ◊

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November 2020 7

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A common theme throughout my career as a farm journalist has been regret by farm leaders that farmers dilute their strength by not sticking together. Probably few people around today know that wasn’t always true – that 100 years ago Ontario’s government was made up of farmers.

I was reminded of that fact when I recently read an old book, Farmer Citizen, by W.C. Good.

Even back in the later 1800s and early 1900s, before the population of cities exploded and mechanization reduced the farm population, rural thinkers like Good were concerned about the decline in political influence for rural Ontarians.

Since the 1870s, farmers had opposed Sir John A. Macdonald’s National Policy, which was designed to encourage the growth of Canadian industry by imposing high tariffs on imported goods. Those tariffs drove up farmers’ costs for equipment and other imports and also reduced markets for farm commodities.

Various organizations had attempted to bring farmers together, ranging from Farmers Institute, through the Patrons of Industry to the Dominion Grange. The defeat of Sir Wilfrid Laurier’s Liberals, who had promised lower tariffs in the 1911 election, convinced many farmers they needed a stronger voice. Along with the outbreak of World War I in 1914, this provided the impetus to set up the United Farmers’ Organization (UFO).

UFO had two purposes. The practical side was the creation of the United Farmers’ Co-operative Company to purchase farm supplies in bulk and save farmers money. The other side was the United Farmers’ Organization, set up to educate farmers and give them a voice.

Ontario’s political dynamics

changed dramatically in the spring of 1918 when Sir Robert Borden’s Conservative federal government suddenly cancelled the exemption he had promised for farmers’ sons from being drafted. Farmers had had enough.

When a provincial election was called in October 1919, UFOs in 64 rural ridings nominated candidates.

Come election night, 44 of them were elected. The UFO had the largest number of MPPs. But they had never contemplated forming a government. They didn’t even have a party leader and only two of their MPPs had any political experience.

Despite his reluctance, Barrie-area farmer E.C. Drury agreed to become Premier and his minority government lasted until 1923 with support from labour. They managed to improve rural education, transportation and electrical services for rural Ontarians.

But by the 1923 election, the UFO was pretty much a spent force in provincial politics. It lost most of its seats and was never a big factor provincially again.

But in the 1921 federal election, the UFO joined with farm organizations across Canada to nominate candidates under the Progressive banner. W.C. Good, himself, was one of 65 Progressives elected to Parliament, the second highest total after the Liberals with 117 (the Conservatives had 50).

Because he was technically in a minority government position, William Lyon Mackenzie King, the wily Liberal Prime Minister, set out to ensure his government’s future by winning support of the Progressives.

But in the end, farmers were never really united and they, themselves, were the undoing of the Progressives.

Though they’d come together for an election, the Progressive MPs could not agree on policies and disintegrated into several factions.

Ironically, the party created to oppose the Conservatives’ tariffs, eventually joined the Tories in the Progressive Conservative party – at least until 2003 when prairie members got rid of the hated “progressive” part of the name with the union of Conservatives with Reform Party in the new Conservative Party of Canada.◊

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Bruce: brucecounty4h@gmail.com Grey: greycounty4hsecretary@hotmail.com Huron: huron4-hsecretary@hotmail.com

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November 2020 9

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

Thankful for family, neighbours and Gorilla Tape

turning in the background.

I am always so grateful for my family. Nothing makes me feel loved like getting a text “How’s it going?

Do you need a coffee?”. I’ve loved to watch the development of my kids through harvest – those small people who used to sit on the tool box in the combine now prepare full meals with food from the garden, drive them to the field, run equipment, do battle with temperamental augers, climb high heights, and anticipate what needs to be done without being asked.

These harvest heroes are the people who drop everything when they get the call that you need an emergency part while you try to get things torn apart to put the new part back in. If you’re lucky enough to have family members who are also skilled at a variety of tasks and don’t mind jumping in during the busy times – that is an extra bonus.

My sister has run all sorts of equipment in her farming career and can hop in and do anything, always with a cheery attitude that brings the rest of us up. With rain only hours away and an equipment breakdown she has no problem stepping in to do whatever is needed to keep all the wheels turning. She knows how to find grease fittings and leaves enough time to fuel herself and equipment before heading to the field.

Having experienced people in the background to get advice and ideas from is also important. My parents are very involved – my Mom providing meals on wheels and an ear to listen, and my Dad with his patient, wise advice. My Dad’s calculator keys have the numbers well worn off – and if there is a difference in the figures, I know I better check mine.

It is great to have a mix of experienced and new members of the team. Experienced folks can anticipate things before they go wrong and often have ideas for solutions when they do. But it is also good to have new eyes who just might see a solution that has never been thought of before because we are too busy doing things the way they’ve always been done. Taking the time to listen to different ideas often benefits everyone.

Aside from family and coworkers, I am always so grateful for all of the wonderful folks we work with in our farming industry. We work long hours during harvest, and so do they. When I needed fertilizer on Thanksgiving Sunday to finish off planting the wheat, one text message

Harvest is always a stressful time of year. As we rush to get the year’s worth of work put in the bins safely, there is never a shortage of things that can go wrong. No matter how carefully I plan and try to anticipate and prepare.

We get tired. We have too many things on our minds. We say things we don’t mean, sometimes not realizing until hours later. We run on dust and fumes and never enough sleep. If you have new equipment, there is a lot of learning and possibly mistakes that can slow you down. If you have old equipment, you likely know all the things that can go wrong and try to prepare in advance, but even the old faithfuls still have the ability to surprise.

In the past couple of years, the stress of farming, and farmers’ mental health has received a lot more attention. In a Facebook farming group I belong to, I have noticed the question seems to come up regularly about how people deal with stress during harvest. There are lots of good ideas, most of which we don’t have time for when we are in the thick of it.

Like sleep.

Recognizing what we have to be thankful is one excellent way of dealing with stress. That gets a boost because Thanksgiving usually happens right in the middle of harvest. It helps bring it all front and center. I am most thankful for all the unsung harvest heroes who get their time to shine. If you’ve ever had to go through these things alone you Long days in the combine during harvest provide lots of time for selfies but not much learn to really appreciate all the time for meals. Despite the long hours, Kate Procter was still smiling, especially after people who keep the wheels being served her Thanksgiving meal in the cab (above).

10 The Rural Voice

Kate Procter had a load delivered from Brussels Agromart before the sun was up.

When we have equipment breakdowns – the mechanics come from all over to get us up and running again.

I also have wonderful neighbours, some do some planting for us, others who are always ready with expertise and tools to help out. This year some emergency Gorilla Tape on a holiday let us keep our combine running after we had an unfortunate incident with the new draper head. Who knew a patch of tape could keep us going until we had a rainy day and the mechanics could do a proper fix?

I’m grateful for all of those who came before and through their trial and error, joys and stresses, led us to where we are today. I’m especially grateful that my commute is two minutes long and the view from my office regularly includes hawks and Bald Eagles, deer and coyotes, the beautiful Maitland River, and the chance to experience nature in a way that not everyone gets the chance to do. ◊

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November 2020 11

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

The rise of Canada’s Agri-Farm

OFF-ROAD

There have been concerted efforts, courageous even, to provide a unified voice for Canada’s farming community over the years.

They’ve never worked. The community, despite being a shadow of its former self in terms of numbers, may be more diverse today than ever before.

Think about it.

Sixty years ago, the Canadian landscape was dominated by a system of small, mixed farms operated primarily by families.

Certainly, those farms tended to be somewhat larger in the west compared to Ontario and Quebec and the type of livestock varied from one place to another but more similarities could be counted among the various operations than differences.

Not so today in the era of specialization.

Farmers, caught in their own little silos are far less knowledgeable of how many of their neighbours operate and now are at risk of losing their voice entirely as others do their talking for them or, worse, at them.

That’s increasingly the case within the Canadian media, including CBC Radio. Several times over the past few weeks I’ve heard what is to me a new term – Agri-Farm.

It was used to describe greenhouse operations reliant upon Canada’s temporary foreign migrant workers, workers who are increasingly being portrayed as being vulnerable or even exploited by the farmers who employ them.

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travel from their places of employment to shop for groceries or were being provided with culturally inappropriate foods. Just how widespread these issues may be was not discussed or their context and it’s unclear as to whether the assertions had even been fact-checked for accuracy.

One thing is clear, however. The various migrant worker advocacy groups active in Canada do not provide migrant workers with jobs, at least not beyond a few positions that may be available within or through their own organizations. Farmers do, and it’s for these positions that migrant workers come to Canada year after year, typically deriving significant benefit for doing so given that wages paid in Canada go a lot further in the Caribbean, Mexico and other countries from which the migrants originate.

Is the system just? No. Does it provide equal rights for the migrants?

Certainly not.

It is however, the best Canada has delivered so far and the shortcomings should not be laid solely the feet the farm community.

In this context, the term AgriFarm (or perhaps Agri-‘Pharm’ given the manner in which most farming is done in Canada) seems appropriate.

Canada’s food system is Canada’s Agri-Farm. We all have a stake.

We’re all responsible, even radio broadcasters and other members of the media.

The dollars the federal and provincial governments have been borrowing in recent months to prop up our Agri-Farm are appropriate.

Most recently, $26 million has been designated to support migrant workers – and other farm workers – in Ontario during COVID-19.

The money is to be used to protect the workers and conceivably their employers as well and, in the words of an October 13, joint federalprovincial release, “to ensure the continuous supply of locally grown food all year round.”

The funds, and others before them, are only a stopgap, however.

Systemic change is needed, not just in Canada but globally, if “equal rights and justice” are to become part of Canada’s Agri-Farm. ◊

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

“That must be Cliff now,” said George Mackenzie as he sat at one end of a fold-up picnic table in Dave Winston’s machinery shed.

“Sounds awfully loud, even for that old beater of a truck of his,” Dave observed.

“It’s not,” George said, sticking his head ot the door. “It’s his ATV.” “What, is your truck broken down again?” Dave asked when Cliff entered, carrying take-out containers from Mabel’s and three coffee cups.

“Left front wheel bearing,” Cliff answered. “Here’s your coffee and Danish, Dave, and your bacon, eggs and toast, George.”

“Are you only having coffee?”

George wondered.

“Gotta save money for the wheel bearing,” Cliff said.

“You know Cliff, that truck of

yours is so old you could probably take it to one of the classic truck shows and find some suck – er, some ‘collector’ who’d pay you enough for a downpayment on a new truck.”

“Which, before I knew it would be old just like the truck I already have,” said Cliff. “How many trucks have you had, Dave, since I bought mine?”

“Lots, and when I get up in the morning, my trucks are ready to go, not broken down for days at a time,” said Dave. “I don’t have to take my ATV to get take-out food.”

“Oh well, it gave me a excuse to drive the ATV,” said Cliff. “My wife claims I’d walk a quarter mile to get my ATV for a 100-yard trip.”

“And is that true?” asked George.

“No!” Cliff said indignantly.

“Only if I can’t get someone to give me a lift to the ATV!” “Well, I’ve gotta admit, walking is a highly-overrated activity,” said George. “I remember as a kid I could hardly wait to learn how to ride a bicycle so I wouldn’t have to walk.

Then I could hardly wait to drive so I didn’t have to ride a bike.”

“That explains so much,” laughed Dave and pointed to

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“What I can’t understand is all the people who are crowding the hiking trails,” said Cliff shaking his head.

“Who does that willingly?”

“Not just walking,” said Dave. “I hear you can hardly find a bike shop with any bikes for sale.”

“What gets me are these old railway rights-of-way that have been turned into trails,” said George. “I mean think about it: there weren’t enough people riding the railways for them to stay in business, but now we’ve got so many people walking the same route, that if they’d taken the train, maybe we’d still have train service!”

There was a momentary break in the conversation as George forked some of his fried eggs and bacon into his mouth.

“How’s Mabel doing, anyhow?”

Dave asked Cliff as he fished his Danish out of the little bag.

“Oh, she’s putting on a good face, but you can tell it’s getting her down.

She says you keep wanting to plan ahead but she can’t because she never knows what the rules are going to be tomorrow.”

“I suppose it’s sort of like one of those years when your crop is ready to harvest but it starts to rain and you can never be sure it will stop in time to save the crop,” said George.

“Except for Mabel and the other restaurant owners, it’s been raining since March,” said Cliff. He glanced at his coffee cup. “Damn, I should at least have bought a doughnut to help her out.”

“Say, did either of you guys hear about the bank robbery that went wrong down in the states?”

“Can’t remember hearing about it,” said George.

“Well, seems there was this guy who went into a bank to rob it. Had the gun and everything. But he was a Trump supporter so he refused to wear a mask. Well he escaped with the money but they had such nice clear pictures of his face that they arrested him an hour later.”

The smirk on his face sort of tipped Cliff and George off. “That’s not true!” George said.

“Probably not, but things are so crazy down there it could be true,” Dave laughed.◊

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Mel Luymes Mel Luymes works in agriculture and conservation and blogs at headlands.ca

Wearing a mask is an act of kindness Do you hate wearing a mask?

Yeah, me too.

I’ve got a few cute ones, but every time I put one on, I feel terrible. It’s not just because I feel suffocated and I can smell what I ate for lunch (not always a bad thing!), but to me it’s a symbol of these “unprecedented” times. Maybe for a wee moment I forget as I breathe easy and skip carefree towards the grocery store, but I have a sad, sinking feeling as I remember the pandemic and turn around to grab a mask from the vehicle.

This is also the point I remember that I had forgotten my reusable bags too.

In a mask, I feel like I can’t communicate. I can’t tell who is talking to me, or what they are saying. Some days, when I don’t feel like smiling at people, I don’t.

What’s the point? They can’t see it anyways. The only plus side is that I don’t self-consciously check my teeth for bits of spinach or black pepper.

I bought some adorable masks in South Korea when I taught English there a decade ago. It was common, all year round, for people to be wearing masks in public and for students to wear them to school. I felt offended and put off because I assumed these people were ultragermaphobes and thought the rest of us could contaminate them. Until I came to work with a cough and my Korean co-workers stayed clear of me and gave me awkward glances. A Korean friend politely explained that it is respectful to wear a mask when I’m sick or if people in my house are sick. A mask saves my potentially germy spittle from flying everywhere, especially useful when packed into subway cars like sardines!

Only then did I really get that wearing a mask is an act of kindness.

Duh. When I understood that, I saw that the masked Koreans at the grocery store were protecting me from getting sick, or worse. So what if I couldn’t see their smile, the mask was smile enough. I did a 180 in my views on masks during my time there.

But fast forward to here and now, and it is mandated that we wear masks. Mandated to be respectful and

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slow the transmission of a virus.

Somehow that changes things, doesn’t it?

This mask issue (and the pandemic itself) has now become a breeding ground for conspiracy theories and anti-government sentiment. Do masks even work? Is this virus a hoax? Is the government taking away our freedom?

I get it. Nobody likes wearing a mask or being told what to do, whether by the law or from peer pressure. This pandemic sucks. For everyone. And in different ways.

There is so much to be angry about and it is natural to want to blame someone.

The government is an easy target.

And call me naive, but these ARE the people we elected and hold responsible to make difficult decisions on our behalf for the greater good. No doubt, our leaders are losing sleep over this. We won’t know which is the “right” decision for several years. Maybe there is no right decision.

I’m thinking, though, that this goes deep to the heart of our individual rights and responsibilities living as members of a community.

A throwback to high school civics class: as Canadian citizens, we have the right to education, healthcare, justice, etc. but have a responsibility to pay taxes, obey laws, vote, etc.

On one hand, we have a right to free speech, but that really depends on what we’re saying and if it impacts the freedoms of others.

Swearing in public parks could get a fine (note to self), and stating false accusations is considered slander or libel under the Criminal Code.

Things get really muddy in times like these when we don’t know what is fact or what is fiction, but I would think twice before retweeting something if there would actually be consequences for spreading fake news.

Of course, we can (and should) challenge our politicians and lawmakers but it is a slippery slope to challenge or ignore the institution of law or government itself. These officials are the ones who are, and will be, held responsible for the greater good. Advertisers, fear-

Mel Luymes mongers or click-bait creators are not.

Communities work when each member takes personal responsibility for their contribution to that community. Being a good member of society means that I’m willing to consider that I might be part of the problem, and take action to protect people from myself.

And it is more than just spreading a virus or spreading fake news. A few months back, a truck sped past me and then sped past a few other vehicles, nearly caused a head-on, multi-vehicle collision before hitting the shoulder and somersaulting into a corn field. Thank goodness the driver and everyone else was okay. But I have been a more careful driver since seeing that. My being late for an appointment or needing to respond to a text message is not anyone else’s problem and I should not make it anyone else’s problem. I’m responsible for driving safely and paying attention, and I need to trust that others are doing the same.

But I’m not stopping there. What else am I responsible for? Recycling?

Properly disposing of old tires?

Improving soil health?

And where else could I be part of the problem? My having a bad day isn’t anyone else’s problem, and I don’t need make it theirs. I think we have a responsibility to deal with our own anger, unconscious bias or negativity and not put it into our families, onto children or into the community.

This level of kindness and responsibility can’t be mandated, can it? Imagine if we were required to hold doors open for little old ladies, or go to therapy to manage our childhood traumas?

Though I hate wearing masks, I love that moment when I catch another person’s eye and we both smile despite ourselves, creasing our eyes. As if to laugh at how ridiculous our masks are and how painful this whole pandemic is, or to acknowledge the kindness and respect of the other for wearing a mask.

It reminds me again how connected we are. And that’s why I wear a mask. ◊

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Dairy

Bedded pack and agitated liquid manure combo is first of its kind in North America Cow comfort and less labour were the primary goals of the Signer family for their new dairy barn

It’s a peaceful place in the Sigview Farms dairy barn. The new, innovative barn features a bedding pack for the herd of Brown Swiss dairy cows as well as an agitated liquid manure system from North American newcomer, Dairypower.

Enjoying the barn are owners Simon and Kristina Signer with their children (left to right): Deacon, Sawyer, Felicity and Celeste.

• By Lisa B. Pot •

T

he story is really about manure and the new bedded pack coupled with an agitated liquid manure system which Kristina and Simon Signer built into their innovative new dairy barn near Moorefield.

However, upon entering the barn, there is Kristina, running up and down the aisles with the couple’s four little kids. This barn has technology but even better, it is home to laughter, family and simple fun.

The Brown Swiss herd hardly seems to notice. A few are eating at the manger but most are lounging on the pack that runs the length of the barn. It’s an idyllic scene all around and seems a shame to talk about manure but it must be done, for the Dairypower system is new to North 18 The Rural Voice

America though it has been operational in Ireland for decades.

Approximately 70 farmers, friends and neighbours investigated the barn during a COVID-19 style open house back in late August. With a few months of experience under his belt, Simon says he couldn’t be happier with the new barn.

“It’s all working so well. We are really pleased,” he says.

Sigview Farms is a family farm started by Simon’s parents in the early 1980s. They milked Brown Swiss from the start, and are now semi-retired, with Simon’s dad doing the calf feeding and Simon’s mom helping care for the grandchildren.

The old bank barn they started farming in is still

standing, now home to heifers and calves. The new barn has been a goal “forever� laughs Simon, though he is only in his early 30s.

The barn was built to house 100 cattle so the 50 milking cows calling it home right now have loads of room. The pack is made of sawdust and is cultivated daily with a small tractor and cultivator. Simon shows me pictures of the pack steaming in the summer right after mixing.

Looking out over the cows is a real pleasure to see how comfortable the cows are. They have as much room as needed to stretch, lounge and then lunge to get up. Some get so relaxed and stretched out, Simon and Kristina have been asked if the cow is dead!

How long the pack will stay in the barn before it needs to be removed and spread is something Simon will learn as he gains experience with the bedding system. He’s hoping with daily cultivation, it can be maintained for two or three years but he just doesn’t know yet.

The pack was chosen because cow comfort and less labour were their primary goals when building the barn. Mastitis and udder health is what everyone asks about but Simon says so far, somatic cell counts are down. “That could be partly due to more frequent milkings and better pre-milk preparation,� says Simon. A Lely robot keeps all the cows milked with only five cows needing a reminder they have to go in for a second milking each day. It’s not too difficult to encourage them to walk into the robot and Simon has no plans to ship any of them.

Kristina, who used to be the one getting up early for the morning milking, said robotic milkers don’t get frustrated when the milker has to stay on for that last, slow quarter.

The barn has tunnel ventilation, a system that was favoured a few decades ago and is seeing a small resurgence. “We feel with the pack and tunnel ventilation, it’s simply the best environment for the cows,� says Simon. He has been to enough naturally-ventilated barns with large fans to see how stale air gets trapped in the barn. Tunnel ventilation can be loud but it moves a lot of air keeping

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20 The Rural Voice

the barn cool even in the hottest days of summer.

The couple was a little worried about the increased hydro costs and Simon noted the farm’s hydro bill doubled in the summer compared to last year. “It was a bit more than I thought but those fans were running 24 hours a day for a while there so I wasn’t totally surprised,” he explains.

The robotic milkers, manure agitators and upgraded equipment also contribute to energy usage.

The Signers are only the second farm in North America to install the Dairypower liquid manure system.

Adam Steward is the Canadian face of Dairypower, a Irish company which just launched the company into the Canadian market in late 2019. Dairypower systems are in barns across Europe, Russia, and the Scandinavian countries.

Steward explains that by pumping air into the liquid manure tanks under the pack three to four times a day for a minute each time keeps the manure liquid and ready for removal anytime the farmer is ready. “The farmers don't need to hook up a tractor and agitate first,” explains Steward.

The benefit of the injected air is that the added oxygen allows aerobic bacteria to thrive creating an aerobic system. The aerobic bacteria eat the anaerobic bacteria which reduce odours and dangerous gases.

As to the pack in the back of the barn spilling solids into the slats above the liquid system, Steward says it isn't a worry.

“There is such a high-volume of air that the bacteria will be able to break down the bedding material very quickly,” says Steward.

It is something Simon says he will keep an eye on, though. If he had to change anything about the barn, it might be to have constructed a raceway between the pack and the slatted floors.

“The spillover gets heavy for the Discovery (scraper),” says Simon Other technology in the barn includes the Lely robot (with room for a second when cow numbers increase) and a Juno sweeper.

“When we first got one, my friend described it as a $15,000 broom,” laughs Simon. “But it does push the feed in every hour which makes a

The new dairy barn has worked out better than expected, says Simon Signer. The cows are content at the manger (above) being milked in the Lely robotic milker (below) and resting on the sawdust-bedded pack (bottom). The pack is cultivated once a day and is seen steaming (left) in a photo taken

by Simon this summer.

November 2020 21

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huge difference to the cows.”

The barn has been designed for expansion, should the family decide to do that. As they look to the future, the couple believes the system would allow them to market “free-range

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When asked what advice he has for other dairy farmers considering a new build, Simon says if you want to

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Seeing the cows so relaxed, saving on labour and having a bright, open barn for the kids to enjoy have made the build a positive experience for the couple. ◊

For the Signer children, the new barn is a marvellous playground. Sisters Felicity and Celeste pose on the bulk tank (right) while, earlier, mom Kristina had the whole gang out for a run down the manger (middle). Simon (bottom) checks out a pamphlet from Dairypower which installed the liquid manure aeration system.

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November 2020 23

Gardening

Native plants for native pollinators

Jessica Smeekens (centre) says Canadians lack pride in their own native plant species and borrow plants from around the world instead of planting the species our own pollinators need to survive. She’s eager to promote a Canadian gardening culture by teaching and encouraging gardeners and landowners to plant native perennials, shrubs and tree species via her business, Auxsable Forestry located near Thedford. Pictured with Jessica are two employees, Derek Spruce and Danielle Rickman. The trio were selling native species at the Friends of Pinery Native Plant Sale held at the Lambton Museum in October.

T

here is a shift in thinking about how Ontario gardeners garden.

Instead of planting ornamentals from Europe, Asia and Africa, gardeners and nature-enthusiasts are thinking about what plants serve our own native pollinators.

“I see it every day,” says Jessica Smeekens, native-gardening purist and owner of Auxsable Forestry near Grand Bend which has three business streams: forest management, native plant landscaping for residences, and tree planting. “However, we still don’t have a strong Canadian heritage of gardening. We are an immigrant country and our gardens reflect that.”

She says you won’t likely find Canadian plants in an Asian garden because they have a distinctive gardening culture. It’s time Canadians, and Ontario gardeners, created one. “We need to create patriotic pride in our Canadian plants and create a culture of Canadian gardening,” 24 The Rural Voice

It’s time to promote patriotic pride in Canadian plants to create a Canadian gardening culture, says environmentalist and native plant expert.

• By Lisa Boonstoppel-Pot •

believes Smeekens.

She’s so passionate about the environment and the need to sustain it that she freely admits when her Dutch father plants tulips, she pulls them out. “I just can’t do it (grow imports),” she laughs.

It is very rare to find a truly native garden, where all the plants grown are Ontario natives. Not imported.

Not cultivars. Just plants grown from native stock in Ontario by horticultural or conservation experts.

Having just planted a native garden myself, I listed some of the plants I’ve installed.

“You’ve been greenwashed!” she exclaimed. Turns out I had planted scabiosa because it said “native” on the tag. However scabiosa, otherwise known as pincushion flower, is native to Africa and Europe. So how did native come to be on the tag?

“Well, companies are starting to see the shift towards planting natives for our pollinators so they are trying to make money off of it without the integrity to ensure they are true, Ontario natives,” explains Smeekens.

There are companies which do, including Smeekens and Verbinnen’s Nursery (wholesalers) who provided many of the native plants at the recent Friends of the Pinery Native Plant Sale. Native trees, shrubs and perennials were on offer in outside tents, with a distance-protocol, for native plant enthusiasts to pick up for fall planting.

“The money goes to Friends of the Pinery which works in close relationship with naturalists to improve habitat for skinks, protect the delicate ecosystem and make boardwalks to keep people off the dunes,” explained Friends of the Pinery member, Susan McAlpine.

They’ve also been involved in a three-year study on bats.

“I find people are really interested in learning to grow natives,” said McAlpine. Although she doesn't grow many herself, she directed me to another booth where Ginny Loeb sat shivering in her jacket and mitts.

Loeb inherited her mother’s house when she died and learned her mother had created a native garden of which Loeb knew very little. “It was growing in prairie meadow conditions (hot, dry and sandy) with

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Carolinian species,” explains Loeb.

Key to helping the garden (and any garden) thrive is to understand what vegetation is native to the area.

Ontario, much less Canada, is so vast that certain plants only grow in certain areas. Plants that thrive in southern Ontario’s Oak savanna or Carolinian landscape may not fare so well in Bruce and Grey’s Great Lakes/St. Lawrence vegetation group.

Loeb found that a combination of native grasses and prairie meadow perennials works very well in her location. Specifically, little bluestem grass, Indian grass, switchgrass, asters, tall coreopsis and black-eyed susans.

“It’s a challenge to get good information and good native plant stock,” admits Loeb. Having done some research and gained understanding how pollinators have evolved to feed on certain plants, even planting cultivars can disrupt the natural biological processes.

Most greenhouses sell cultivars (a plant variety that has been produced in cultivation by selective breeding).

Her goal is to return to pure natives and create a garden that is both wild, but pleasing to the neighbours. “It can be done. We can have the best of both worlds.”

Smeekens is in full agreement.

“Native gardens can be absolutely beautiful,” she says. She shares Loeb’s understanding about the need for natives.

“Relationships between native plants and their insects have developed over thousands upon thousands of years and it’s connected to the mouthparts of insects and how insects observe colours radiating from the plants,” explains Smeekens.

“The more you change a plant, the less interesting to insects it will be.” here are generalist plants and insects that will feed on anything. Butterfly bush is an example and Smeekens just sighs when she talks about its popularity.

“The plant we have the hardest time repealing is the butterfly bush. It is covered with butterflies and insects but it does not provide the appropriate proteins at the appropriate time of year. As insects flock to it, the plants they need to

T

26 The Rural Voice

Friends of the Pinery hosted a native plant sale at the Lambton Museum where customers Janet and Michael Kurasc of Grand Bend purchased plants from native gardener, Ginny Loeb (top). Susan McAlpine (above) was also selling native plants as was Jessica Smeekens (above, right) of Auxsable Forestry. Trees, shrubs and perennials such as American Cranberrybush (right) were available at the event.

pollinate are declining because they do not get pollinated. I compare it to McDonalds. Anyone coming to Canada would see how busy McDonalds is and think it's the best food to eat in Canada. But is that true? It’s not. The best way to feed our insects is to offer a higher diversity of native plants.”

While Smeekens is an avidenvironmentalist and very vocal about protecting our native biodiversity, she also gives kudos to anyone trying to grow natives, even if they add just a few to their

gardens. “Anyone who thinks about sustainability and stops abusing our resources is to be credited,” she says.

“I am a purist because I want to lead by example.”

She prefers green and silvers in her own gardens. This includes ferns of which there are many Ontario natives for all sorts of conditions. For native flowers, she thinks cardinal flower, obedient plant and blue lobelia are “fun and amazing flowers.” Canada yews (produce red berries) and common juniper

(produce blue berries) are also high on her list.

Growing native also helps her business, which has grown from one person to five staff for 10 months of the year. “When I started this company, everyone in my life thought I was crazy. We are now in our fifth year and people want to receive our information.” For ideas on replacing imported ornamentals with native Ontario species, see the sidebar for Smeeken’s recommendations. ◊

Native plants to solve garden problems Problem – Garlic Mustard: Pull it out and replace with: • Native columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) • Violet sp • Pennsylvania sedge (Carex pensylvanica) “Plant carex and it will be like tufts of Donald Trump’s hair sprouting out of your garden.

Which sounds awful but it's actually really pretty,” laughs Smeekens.

Problem – Hostas: (Smeekens hates them because they are “biologically inert”).

• Ferns (they are so many native ferns for all sites and conditions) • Prairie Smoke (Geum triflorum)

Problem – Boxwood:

Saturday & Sunday November 28th & 29th

• Globe cedar (it is actually a cultivar but a useful one, according to Smeekens) • Shrubby St. John’s hypericum prolificum • Pearly everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea)

Native columbine

November 2020 27

Gardens

• By Lisa B. Pot •

Planting to attract and host butterflies Mike Ward has transformed his Clinton home into a Monarch waystation and pollinator habitat

W

alking with Mike Ward through his native garden in Clinton, is to learn which native plants attract native butterflies. He is enthralled with lepidopteran species and native plants in equal measure, and has started the popular Huron County Native Plant Garden site on Facebook as well as being a regular contributor to Ontario Native Plants.

Mike Ward (above) moderates the Huron County Native Plant Garden site on Facebook and is active on the popular Ontario Native Plants Facebook page as he seeks to learn, grow and promote native plant gardening to attract butterflies and other wildlife in an effort to save the pollinators. Above, Pearly everlasting seed pods and New England asters look attractive in the late fall garden.

28 The Rural Voice

“There’s cup plant (Silphium perfoliatum),” he says, pointing to the tall, yellow-flowered perennial in the backyard. “Insects like to drink out of the water that collects between the leaves and the stem.” Holding onto a stem of spicebush (Lindera benzoin), Ward tells me he grows this shrub to attract the spicebush swallowtail butterfly. There are milkweeds to attract monarchs and pearly everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea) for American lady (Vanessa virginiensis) and Painted lady (Vanessa cardui) butterflies. There is also common rue (Ruta graveolens) which is not a native but he can’t resist planting it because it does attract swallowtail butterflies.

Not a purist but working hard to create gardens that are 80 per cent native, Ward says he has been gardening his whole life. He moved to Clinton from the Staffa area when he found a job as labourer in Seaforth and is now employed at Stackpole International in Stratford. He has always admired butterflies and one year, he raised 30 monarchs by collecting milkweed leaves. The process was transformational for the caterpillars and Ward, who decided he wanted to raise native plants to attract butterflies, protect Ontario’s native plant diversity and promote use of natives in residential gardens.

He has signs in his garden proclaiming his place as Monarch Way-station 14070 and a native plant site, via the Canadian Wildlife Federation.

“I’ve seen the decline in pollinators and the destruction of native habitat everywhere. If I can help a little bit with my native gardens, then I will,” says Ward who is interview-shy but keen to promote native species.

When encouraging fellow gardeners to try natives, you often have to “trick” them, he says. If you say a plant is native, they are worried it will be weedy.

However, if you explain it's a flower that attracts butterflies, they are often willing to try it.

“I gave my older neighbour a swamp milkweed to attract monarchs and she just loves it,” says Ward.

Monarchs are very attracted to this plant which is better behaved than common milkweed, produces pretty pink flowers, and feeds monarch larvae ensuring you’ll have monarch caterpillars and chrysalis on your property to enjoy.

Hummingbird moths are another lepidoptera Ward likes to attract by planting snowberry (Symphoricarpos) shrubs.

Adult hummingbird moths drink flower nectar from a wide variety of plants including bee balm and bergamot, red clover, lilac, phlox, snowberry,

cranberry, blueberry, vetch and thistles. Young (larvae/caterpillars) eat the leaves of honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.), snowberry (Symphoricarpos spp.), hawthorns (Crataegus spp.), cherries and plums (Prunus spp.)

Ward kindly shared three cuttings from his snowberry shrub which I’m trying to get rooted to plant in my own gardens this coming spring.

As he looks around his garden, Ward says his prized plants are: • Common hop tree to attract giant swallowtail butterflies • Common rue, for the same reason • Purple coneflower (native species, not cultivars) for attracting bees and general attractiveness • Jack-in-the-pulpit for its

“cool” factor • Trilliums (for spring beauty).

Trilliums are pollinated by Hymenoptera insects, including honey bees, bumblebees, and wasps.

To start a native plant garden, Ward recommends doing your research and trying these easy-togrow natives: • Purple coneflowers (Echinacea purpurea) • Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) • Anise hyssop (Agastache foeniculum) • Meadow rue (Thalictrum family) As to his gardens, he still hopes to add Culver’s root, ironweed and Virginia bower. He’s not done collecting yet! ◊

Mike Ward (below) holds a Spicebush shrub, host to the Spicebush swallowtail butterfly and has been intentional about planting native shrubs and perennials such as coneflowers (above). The Clinton gardener has been recognised for creating wildlife habitat via signage he proudly displays at his home.

November 2020 29

Farming

Purchased for $3,500, selling for $3,500 Allan and Marlene Rundle have farmed their whole lives and their favourite tractor, the MF35, bought brand new in the 1960s, is the last to go

• By Bonnie Sitter •

A

Allan Rundle has lived and farmed for 81 years on the same farm. His wife, Marlene, has worked alongside him for 60 years. Seven years ago, they sold off the rest of the cattle and most of the machinery but kept their favourite: a Massey Ferguson 35 which still starts on the first go.

30 The Rural Voice

llan and Marlene Rundle’s picturesque farm is on the edge of the town of Exeter in Huron County. Allan has lived and farmed here his entire life, leaving school after grade eight to help his dad farm their 150 acres. Allan's parents, Arthur and Alma Rundle, purchased the farm from Arthur's father in 1928. Going back even further they trace their history to the land being purchased from the Canada Company in 1854 with their brick home being built in 1866.

In 1961, Allan purchased his new Massey Ferguson 35 SO 234963 from the local Massey Ferguson dealer, H.R. Sherwood in Exeter. A new MF 66 3F plow was purchased at the same time. Total price? $3,500. The MF 35 was kept when all the rest of the machinery was sold seven years ago to cut the grass, a chore both Allan and Marlene love to do.

“Neighbours tell me I was the first person in Huron County to start cutting the ditches,” laughs Marlene.

“I don’t like the weeds.”

Marlene and Allan were married in 1962 and Marlene saved all the paperwork regarding the new tractor, including the note from Chas. H. Chapman, the Credit Manager for Massey-Ferguson, Toronto Branch, acknowledging their final payment.

For approximately the first five years of their marriage, the M35 (as they call it) was their only tractor. It was used for cultivating, plowing, pulling the forage harvester and then hauling forage wagons to the silo. “Back and forth, back and forth”, is how Marlene describes the process as she was often the driver.

The couple upgraded to other Massey tractors when more horsepower was needed but the M35 was always there to complete the smaller jobs.

Allan smiles when he describes the Massey 270 having a cab on it that he didn’t like, so he removed it.

He also has good memories about working during the winter months for the Massey Ferguson dealership in Exeter. He had the knowledge and a talent for assembling farm equipment and other little mechanical jobs as needed.

Marlene also worked off the farm, first as a schoolteacher. When two children arrived, she stayed home and ran the farm with Allan, taking part-time jobs at retail locations in Exeter throughout the years.

Her joy has always been outside.

Part of this interview was in the evening via phone, after she’d come in from replacing torn plastic on some barn windows. “I used to rush through the house chores so I could get outside,” she admits. Still does.

The farm they live on (plus others they owned) has been bought by the Strang family, a family they have worked with for decades. However, Allan and Marlene can stay living in the farmhouse as long as they like.

“We are just five minutes from town so it makes no sense to move.

As long as I can cut the grass, we’ll stay here,” she says. “If I see weeds I can’t handle that. Then I’d have to move.”

Looking back over the years, the farm has been home to Angus cattle, some of which Allan showed at the prestigious Royal Winter Fair in Toronto. The couple had a dairy operation at one time as well as chickens and pigs. Later years it was crop farming growing white and soy beans, corn and wheat.

Now in their 80s they are downsizing. It is time for the M35 to find a new home. Asking price? $3,500. When Marlene went to the barn to drive it into the barnyard, there was no hesitation. It started on the first try. She reminded me it doesn’t have power steering! She was grinning!

Over the years this farm has seen a lot of changes and the M35 has seen them all since 1961. ◊

Alllan and Marlene Rundle have about done it all on their Exeter farm: cows, beef, chickens and cash crop. They are retired now and the farm is sold, with a promise they can live on the farm as long as they like.

November 2020 31

Goats • By Linaya Pot •

Investigating mortality in dairy goat kids When it comes to improving kid goat mortality, it is more important to be better than it is to be bigger

I

f you sit down at your computer, pull up the Google Scholar search bar and plug-in “dairy calf mortality”, over 49,400 research articles will swiftly generate. After opening a few of them, you will quickly find out that pre-weaning mortality among dairy heifers in North America tends to hover between five to eight per cent.

If you use the same search engine and the same keywords, but sub out the word “calf” for “kid”, the new search will generate less than 16 per cent of the results of the previous search. Yet when you peruse these articles, you will find out that the average pre-weaning mortality levels for kids on dairy goat operations averages between 20 - 30 per cent over four times higher than that of dairy calves.

This highlights two major problems: A very high level of preweaning kid mortality and a lack of academic research to understand why this is happening, or how dairy goat producers can work to improve it.

Thankfully, Dr. Cathy Bauman, an assistant professor of Applied Clinical Research from the Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph is not only eager to tackle this problem – she is also very competent. She is a Doctor in Veterinary Medicine, has a Master’s in Public Health, a Ph.D. in Epidemiology and even has her own small herd of goats.

Her small ruminant research is much needed by the Ontario dairy goat industry, which has experienced rapid growth in the past decade. Goat milk has expanded from a niche, specialty product into an international, mainstream industry.

From 2007 to 2018, dairy goat production increased from 22.1 million to 62.2 million litres (Stats Canada). Ontario is responsible for 32 The Rural Voice

A study on goat kid mortality reveals the greatest death rates occur while kids are still on milk, with 60 per cent of deaths occurring between one and eight weeks of age, reveals Dr. Cathy Bauman, an epidemiologist and goat farmer.

over 80 per cent of Canada’s total milk production since this province hosts the vast majority of dairy goats and dairy goat producers.

Dr. Bauman is not intimidated by the lack of research in the industry – in fact, it is one of the things she enjoys most about her field. “What I love about studying small ruminants,” she says, iIs that there are so many opportunities to do things or target new areas of research that can have such a huge impact for goat producers.”

Compared to the amount of research that exists for dairy cattle, which has allowed us to fine-tune cattle health and production, research in goat and sheep health is more scarce and can therefore feel more

Dr. Cathy Bauman, Professor, Ontario Veterinary College (with her dog Brody)

needed. “Right off the bat I know that my work can have such a huge impact on improving kid mortality,” she says “Whereas with dairy cattle, sometimes it can feel like we are no longer making such rapid progress.”

And the need definitely exists on Ontario goat farms. Initial inspiration for the study came from “anecdotal evidence from goat producers that indicated that they were really struggling with kid mortality and that on some of these farms, mortality

Goats could be as high as 40 - 50 per cent,” says Dr. Bauman.

One of the reasons that mortality is such a huge issue on goat farms is the sheer number of animals that the producer needs to care for. “With dairy cows, we tend to calve all year round to have a continual supply of fresh cows” Dr. Bauman explains.

“However, with dairy goats, we tend to do a massive kidding of does at certain times in the year. So you can have up to 200 does all kidding in 30 days, and then each doe can have two to three babies, which just exponentially increases the workload and the amount of intervention needed when these kids inevitably get sick.”

Unfortunately, there just are not enough resources, research, industry support and even feed products to support the goat producers when these illnesses occur.

“For example, coccidia is a big problem with goat kids, especially near three months of age when they start to go through the weaning process, yet you cannot get an offthe-shelf feed product that contains Rumensin (a medicated ingredient) in it,” says Dr. Bauman.

Unfortunately, the products and knowledge that currently exists for dairy cattle cannot always be applied to goats either. Dr. Bauman emphasized that “As veterinarians, we tend to deal more often with cows, so we want to extrapolate this knowledge to sheep and goats – and that really can’t be done. The industries are just too different. We really need more money and more research to fill these knowledge gaps that exist within the goat industry.”

Dr. Bauman’s research investigating kid goat mortality was fortunate to be funded through OMAFRA, alongside funding from three major industry stakeholders – Saputo, Gay Lea and Ontario Dairy Goat Cooperative.

OMAFRA also anonymously provided the list of goat producers that were used for this study, from their listings of licensed goat milk producers in Ontario. The initial phase of the project involved sending a questionnaire to over 100 producers, to quantify their perceived

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Goats herd-level mortality and assess onfarm parameters such as ventilation, hygiene, and stocking density.

From this list, 30 producers were then selected to submit all the carcasses of kids who died between birth and up to four months of age.

“We didn’t include any abortions or stillbirths,” Dr. Bauman mentions, “as we wanted to look at things that the producer could directly intervene with to improve kid mortality.”

The researchers were able to pull several interesting results from their data. They collected 819 kid carcasses for post-mortem analysis and found that the majority of these deaths occur when the kids were between one and eight weeks old.

“We saw the greatest death rates when the kids were still on milk,” explained Dr. Bauman, “So there was about 10 per cent mortality in the first 48 hours, about 15 per cent in that first week of life and then between one week and weaning at about eight weeks of age, that’s when the majority (over 60 per cent) of deaths occurred.”

Pneumonia was the main cause of of these deaths, which was responsible for 36 per cent of fatalities, followed by 20 per cent due to diarrhea, 17 per cent due to septicemia (an infection that has spread widely throughout the body, often due to bacterial causes) and 14 per cent due to starvation.

When it came to elucidating how management factors impacted the rates of these diseases and health events on-farm, Dr. Bauman cautioned that they were still working through the data provided by the questionnaire before she could make more definitive conclusions. The amount of variability between management practices on dairy goat farms may also make the data a bit hard to interpret.

“The problem in the Ontario goat industry is that everyone does everything differently – so it's really hard to make a blanket statement regarding raising practices. I came in with a blank slate and an open mind to try to be able to identify the things that people were doing really well,

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and then the things they were not doing so well in, in regards to raising kids” she explained after I asked if she came into this study with any preconceived notions of what producers might be doing to impact the rate of kid mortality.

“However, one thing that we did find, is that the rate of abortions onfarm, even though we did not include abortions in our count for kid mortality, had a huge impact on a herd’s rate of kid death,” she commented. “If a kid is born prematurely due to an abortion disease, they end up with immature lungs and die really quickly from pneumonia.” Animals born during abortion events tend to be smaller and weaker, so even if they survive the weaning period they tend not to produce well throughout the rest of their lives.

Dr. Bauman followed up with three farms that had issues with abortions to see if they could improve mortality by improving their abortion rate. “We found that once these farms started to tackle their abortion issue, for example, by starting vaccination protocols for diseases such as Q-fever which can often induce abortions, their mortality rate went from 40 per cent to almost nothing. It was like turning a tap off,” she says. She was surprised to see such a strong result.

“We weren’t expecting this to have the impact that it had on the kids or that we so quickly could improve it.”

“The next thing we found, similar to dairy calves, is that getting a good amount of high-quality colostrum into these kids is so very important,” says Dr. Bauman. If the kids are nursing their dam for colostrum it is important that the doe is healthy, infection-free and has a clean udder without mastitis.

“There are also infectious diseases that the kids can get from consuming their mother’s colostrum, such as caprine arthritis encephalitis. Many producers are removing their kids at birth to prevent them from being infected from their mothers,” mentions Dr. Bauman. However, this means that the producer must then rely on a replacement product for their milk source and there aren’t a

Goats lot of products on the market. Most farms feed kids artificially using bovine milk-based replacers, and Dr. Bauman doesn’t fully believe that bovine replacement is an adequate substitute for goats.

“We don’t really know if cow milk or milk replacer is a good substitute for goat milk, or if it is missing an essential mineral or nutritional component. So a few questions arose from this study: Is bovine colostrum and milk replacer providing the correct nutrition for dairy goats? How do we keep it clean? Are they getting enough?”

She believes that future research tackling these questions will also help address the high rate of diarrhea in goats. Within the industry, many producers think that it is normal for kids to have soft stools or diarrhea.

Dr. Bauman herself noted the high prevalence of diarrhea, especially on farms using bovine milk or milk replacers. However, with good hygiene, clean milk feeding systems and high-quality colostrum, solid pelleted feces are attainable and should be a goal for producers.

It is also very important to get this colostrum to the kids as soon as possible – which again can be a struggle for producers when you take into account the large number of kids that will all need to be fed colostrum within a very short window.

Dr. Bauman’s advice to producers to prevent this problem was to make sure that they didn’t have a herd size that exceeds their management capacity.

“For me, I would like to see things be done on a smaller level– for producers to scale back and worry about milking a smaller amount of quality animals. They should focus on having on a high-health milking herd instead of just a large herd – and this will carry over into the number of kids, and also improve their health.”

Producers can also reduce their kidding workloads by not only by reducing their herd size but also by managing their lactations differently.

“Goats are really amazing animals in that they excel at extended lactations,” she says. “Some goats can milk well for up to two years

without needing to have another kid.

So it’s possible to milk our highproducing does for a longer period and to not to be in such a hurry to have every animal reproducing so frequently.”

Since the dairy goat industry operates on tight margins, a lot of producers come into the industry with a certain mentality – and it isn’t always the right one. “We need to come back to valuing the individual animal and be less worried about

maximizing production. A lot of goat producers come into the industry with the mindset of ‘I’m going to milk as many goats as I can,’ and they don’t really acknowledge the fact that about 25 per cent of their herd has very low milk production.”

She encourages producers to shift their focus from milking hundreds of mediocre or low-quality animals, to managing a lesser number of highquality ones. This ensures they have the time to focus on improving

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Goats management factors that impact herd health. “I really want to put an emphasis on valuing the health status of each one of these kids,” she stressed. “Each one of those kids matters.”

There are several reasons why producers should be concerned about the health status of their animals.

“First and foremost, it’s a huge animal welfare issue,” Dr. Bauman warns. “There is unnecessary suffering any time an animal is sick or dying.”

Additionally, and especially since this a newer market, improving kid mortality is very important to preserve and improve the consumer’s perception of the industry. Thirdly, keeping the new kids alive and healthy is crucial to allow the producer to grow and succeed.

“The number one factor allowing producers to grow is to ensure that they have a good kid crop coming up.

If you don’t have enough kids staying alive, you cannot cull and you cannot expand. The overall health status of the herd is driven by the health of the dairy goat kid. If the kids aren’t getting off to a good start, they will struggle for the rest of their life,” she points out.

When asked what she would advise a new dairy goat producer, she says, “Buy animals from someone reputable who doesn’t have disease and infections in their herd – and start off at a manageable level. I know that everyone wants to start big because it's only profitable if you are milking over 150 goats. Don’t be afraid to start smaller and build your way up there. Please recognize that you may not be profitable for a few years while you learn how to manage and care for goats.”

And it will take a few years to learn how to care for them. “One thing that we picked out early from the questionnaire is that producers who have not been in the industry for long (less than three years) are really struggling. The learning curve is really steep – so it's very important that we provide education and support for those new farmers,” cautions Dr. Bauman. Even if you have previous farm experience, it’s a whole new ballgame when it comes to goats. “A lot of people getting into

dairy goats are from the dairy cattle industry – but it’s totally different when it comes to kids.”

However, that’s not to discourage new producers from entering the industry. Dr. Bauman and her team are working to publish and disseminate the findings from the research study to help support producers who want to improve their kid health, as well as making other research more accessible for new producers.

“The three producers (in this study) that had the worst mortality were all new to the industry. We gave them information to help accelerate their learning, which helped them bring their mortality down to less than five percent the year after,” she says. For producers to be able to use and benefit from her academic research is the best reward.

“I get chills just thinking about it,” Dr. Bauman said. “Our goal is to always effect change – but to actually see such a drastic change is so rewarding.” ◊

November 2020 37

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November 2020 41

Recipes by Anne Mann

Apple preserves for the holidays

W

hen you still have apples it is nice to preserve some for the months ahead and to share with family and friends over the holidays. The smell of apples and spice will fill your house and lift your spirits as the grey days of fall become shorter. In the cold of winter you can bake your mincemeat into muffins or spread your apple butter on toast or pour warmed apple jam over ice cream and you will remember the lovely flavours of fall.

Slow Cooker Apple Butter Many years ago I made apple butter on the stove top and it was lovely but it took a very long time to boil it on the stove as I was being watchful not to burn it. Last year someone told me how easy it was to make apple butter in the crock pot and they were right. It worked out beautifully. They recommended you start it at night so you could watch it when it was getting close to being finished and that was a good suggestion.

You can use however many apples you have as long as they fit in the slow cooker. For every four cups of apples I used 1/4 cup of sugar, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1 tsp of vanilla and a pinch of salt. You get the best cider or pie or apple preserves using a variety of apples, each lending its unique characteristics to the mix so if you have several kinds of apples use some of each.

Ingredients: 16 cups apples, peeled and chopped, about 6 - 7 lbs 1/2 cup white sugar 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed 1 - 1 1/2 Tbsp cinnamon 1 Tbsp vanilla 1/2 tsp salt Directions: Place chopped apples in slow cooker with both sugars, cinnamon, salt and vanilla.

Cook on low for about 10 hours, stirring every few hours. It should be thick and dark brown.

If desired smooth with immersion blender until evenly pureed.

Once the apples are pureed, you

42 The Rural Voice

Making mincemeat (top) can involve some trial and error but using applesauce makes it easier. Above, apple pie jam is excellent on ice cream while apple pear chutney (right) goes well with grilled cheese. can adjust the thickness by leaving the apples in the crock pot on LOW and uncovering it. It will slowly thicken that way. Stir occasionally, to prevent sticking to the sides of the crockpot. (You may want to simmer that way anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours.)

Ladle into sterilized jars and process in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes or refrigerate or freeze.

Makes about 4 or 5- 250 ml jars

Apple Pear Chutney Chutney is an aromatic fruit preserve that is spicy, sweet and tangy. I use it to make curried beef and as a condiment with pork or grilled cheese sandwiches. If you do not have pears substitute plums or two more cups of apples. This year apple cider vinegar was in short supply so I substituted homemade apple wine for some of the vinegar and added a teaspoon of citric acid to

Recipes keep the pH down.

Ingredients: 6 cups apples, peeled and chopped, any variety or mixture 2 cups pears, peeled and chopped 3/4 cup candied ginger, chopped or 3 Tbsp fresh ginger, grated 4 cups onions, chopped, including one sweet 1 1/2 cups raisins of choice 1/2 cup fresh or dried cranberries 2 Tbsp hot peppers, minced* 2 Tbsp pickling salt 1 Tbsp mustard seed 2 cloves garlic, crushed 3 cups brown sugar, packed 4 cups cider vinegar Directions: Peel and chop fruit using whatever mixture you prefer. Note, that if you use all McIntosh the chutney will be smoother, where a Northern Spy will provide a little bit of texture even with the long cooking time.

Place apples, pears, ginger, onions, raisins, cranberries, hot peppers, salt, mustard seed, garlic, brown sugar and vinegar in a large saucepan and bring to a boil.

Simmer, covered, for one hour.

Remove lid and simmer for another hour until desired consistency, stirring occasionally.

Pour into hot, sterilized jars and seal according to manufacturers instructions.

Makes 5 or 6 - 500 ml jars *The seeds in hot peppers add a significant amount of heat so decide for yourself if you want to include them or not.

Apple Pie Jam In 2019 the Lucknow Agricultural Society shared a recipe for Apple Pie Jam for members to make and enter in the fall fair. I did not make it myself last year but a friend shared a jar and suggested we try it over ice cream. It was a big hit so I adapted the recipe to suit myself, adding a little ginger and brandy. It is great to have on hand when you crave something sweet to finish off the meal.

Ingredients: 6 cups apples, peeled and chopped 3 Tbsp lemon juice 1 tsp lemon rind, finely grated 5 cups white sugar, you may substitute one cup with brown sugar

if desired 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon 1/4 tsp nutmeg 1/4 tsp ginger 1 pkg liquid pectin 1 tsp butter 1 - 2 tsp brandy (optional) Directions: Bring apples, lemon juice and rind to a boil and simmer until apples are tender, about five minutes.

Stir in sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and butter.

Bring to a full rolling boil and boil for one minute. Remove from heat and stir in pectin and brandy, if using.

Cool, skimming off any impurities for five minutes.

Ladle into sterilized jars and seal according to manufacturers instructions.

Makes 5 or 6 - 250 ml jars Apple Mincemeat When I was first married I tried making mincemeat using ground round steak and the recipe from Food that Really Schmecks and because the steak was twice as large as needed we made a double batch. It took a lot of bought mincemeat and apples to use up that mincemeat in the freezer!

Another year I thought I would try the green tomato mincemeat because we had so many green tomatoes. That was so salty it never froze solid and it also took a lot of bought mincemeat and apples to use up but still I kept trying because I love mincemeat! For a while I started with a jar of bought mincemeat and added the extras to make it my own until I saw Wilma Blake’s recipe in the Trinity Treasures cookbook using applesauce. I thought I would try again and I have not bought a jar of mincemeat since!

Inspired by the success of the apple butter I thought I would adapt Wilma’s recipe for the slow cooker. I think you could peel all your apples and let them cook down instead of using applesauce but you would want to start with almost twice as much fresh fruit. I had six cups of frozen pear puree and two cups of fresh applesauce with the skins so that is what I used this year. Mincemeat is a little like soup or stew – use a little more of one and less of another

depending on what you have and like best. I love citrus peel so I used an orange and lemon for some of the juice. Although I love the large raisins they are not easy to find anymore so I use dried cranberries and golden raisins for a little variety Ingredients: 1/2 pkg (375 g) suet or 1/4 - 1/2 cup butter or margarine 1 1/2 lb raisins, about 4 cups 1/2 lb currants, about 2 cups 1/2 lb large raisins or 1/2 lb dried cranberries, about 2 cups 6 cups unsweetened applesauce, I use sauce made with the food mill and skin on 2 cups pears, peeled and chopped or you can use a can of pears with the juice 3 cups brown sugar, packed (less would be fine) 1 cup apple juice or apple wine or 2 cups frozen sour cherries 1 lemon, juice and finely grated rind, about ¼ cup juice 1 orange, juice and finely grated rind, about ¼ cup juice 1 cup mixed candied fruit or your choice of cherries, peel or ginger 1 Tbsp cinnamon 1 Tbsp allspice, ground 1 tsp nutmeg 1 1/4 tsp cloves 1 1/2 tsp salt Fresh apples, peeled and chopped to combine with mincemeat when making a pie (optional) Directions: Combine everything in the slow cooker and cook on low for several hours until desired consistency.

Ladle into clean 2 cup containers and freeze.

Makes about 14 cups - Use in pie or muffins or crisp.

You may add more fresh apples or pears to the mincemeat when you use it for a pie if you like it fruitier. In the Rural Voice November 2017 I shared a recipe for Apple Mincemeat Crisp.

This year someone shared Rose Murray’s recipe for Pumpkin Mincemeat Pie that simply used 1 ¾ cups mincemeat on the bottom and half a recipe of pumpkin pie on top.

If you haven’t tried mincemeat muffins I highly recommend ‘Mincemeat Delights’ on my blog www.annesfavourites.ca ◊ November 2020 43

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

Oaks, willows and dogwoods also attract butterflies We are always fascinated with butterflies, bees and moths in our gardens and plant both perennials and annuals with an eye to attracting these wonderful creatures. There has been a lot of promotion around milkweed to sustain the iconic monarch butterflies and of course the butterfly bush is a butterfly magnet in the late summer. My favourite, monarda or bee balm, always has a cloud of insects around it. All plants attract a number of insects, both good and bad, but have you ever considered the benefit of trees to the insect world?

I stumbled upon the attraction of trees by accident. We keep pocket guides for butterflies and moths as well as guides for amphibians and Ontario native plants just inside the back door for quick reference. We have sighted several Black Swallowtails, Eastern Tiger Swallowtails, Mourning Cloaks and a number of Monarchs and Admirals.

I was looking around the garden to see what was attracting them and to assess what we needed to add to the landscape to satisfy our floating jewels. It was after a bit of reading I realized that our wide variety of trees and shrubs was not only visually interesting to us but offered a wide variety of inviting plants for interesting insects.

Of course when you think of trees and insects, the first insect that springs to my mind is the gypsy moth, which so many of us have been battling with this past year. But consider the value of trees to other beneficial insects. Trees offer nectar and pollen and are host plants for caterpillars. A host plant is a specific plant that provides food for 44 The Rural Voice

developing larvae, which is why choke cherries. But donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t overlook planting native plants is so important. the hop tree, tulip tree, basswoods Trees also provide butterflies and small leafed linden trees. You protection during bad weather as well donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to plant trees in your as a place for them to perch during small garden that would dominate the day and to roost during the night. and take over. There are some Picture butterflies resting up in the smaller choices. The scrub oak, treetops during the night like wee Quercus ilicifolia, of southeastern chickens in the hen house.

Canada is a small shrub and Like your perennial selection in Mourning cloak butterflies love to the garden, you need to consider sip on its sap. which trees and shrubs bloom early Most oaks grow to be massive but and which then extend that bloom are considered among the keystone through the season. My favourite trees for a multiple number of early bloomer is the Eastern redbud. butterflies. So if you have room a It is a slender Carolinian species that native oak species would fit the bill takes up little room in the garden and and contribute greatly to the support offers a spectacular show of brilliant of our essential pollinators. pink pea-like flowers early in the spring before the leaves unfurl.

Among the attractors are the Swallowtails and Silvery blues.

Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget the wonderful selection of early b l o o m i n g dogwoods. We have a pagoda dogwood, Cornus alternifolia, that blooms profusely and is covered in a variety of pollinators that keep us busy identifying them.

Consider the benefit of planning for early blooms in the spring. This early attraction ensures the beneficial insects will be around when the fruit trees, berry plants and vegetable gardens offer them more reasons to stay and pollinate.

Some of the most popular Goldenrod and other native wildflowers attract pollinators trees for this area and butterflies such as Monarchs (top) and Swallowtails are varieties of (above) but so do native trees and shrubs such as oaks, oaks, willows and willows, dogwoods and choke cherries.

Gardening Choke cherries, Prunus virginiana, used to populate the roadsides but have been replaced with the noxious buckthorn. The choke cherry tree is a host for a number of caterpillars and their blooms attract a wide variety of butterflies. Look for Lorquin admiral, the Tiger swallowtail and the Coral hairstreak to visit your garden.

Not all willows are like the brilliantly coloured giants we used to play in and around down by the creek when we were kids. There are a number of locally appropriate native species to be had. The majority of them do grow to a good size so you might want to look at the pussy willow, Salix discolour Muhl, which is a small tree but you usually find them in clumps. It blooms early too.

All of these can be planted now.

Fall is a good time as it allows the plants to settle their roots before the demand of leaves takes over in the spring. We have been moving an assortment of small (and I do mean small) trees, and perennials. We have two 20-inch tall Japanese maples and an 18-inch tall European beech tree. I know none are native but they add to the garden amid the real champions.

Our struggle this fall has been keeping the plants in the ground. I plant one day and have to replant the next morning as something has been digging things up. I know it is the bone meal in the bottom of the holes that is the attraction and have sprinkled “critter ridder” around each plant and that seems to be doing the trick.

Oh the joys and challenges of gardening; would we have it any other way? ◊

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November 2020 45

News • By Shawn Loughlin •

Students awarded Legacy Fund scholarships Seven teenagers earn $2,000 each for their studies thanks to 2017 International Plowing Match fund

Three years later, the 2017 International Plowing Match (IPM) Legacy Fund is supporting students by granting scholarships to seven applicants. Receiving the scholarships at Jack Ryan’s Walton-area farm, the site of the 2017 IPM, are (left to right) Natalie Fear, Loretta Higgins, Lexi Smith, Haden Flood, Quinn Driscoll, Sarah Mitchell and Clarissa Gordon.

T

he 2017 International Plowing Match (IPM) Legacy Fund continues to have an impact on the community with seven scholarships being handed out over in October.

Quinn Driscoll, Clarissa Gordon, Lexi Smith, Loretta Higgins, Sarah Mitchell, Haden Flood and Natalie Fear were all honoured as successful scholarship applicants over the weekend as part of a special ceremony held at Jack Ryan’s Walton-area farm, the site of the 2017 IPM. While past scholarship classes had been honoured at the Huron County

46 The Rural Voice

Plowing Match, with no match this year, 2017 IPM Chair Jacquie Bishop held a special afternoon to honour this year’s seven teenagers.

• Driscoll, the son of Ben Driscoll and Crystal White, is studying Agricultural Science at the University of Guelph. His community involvement includes the Londesborough United Church’s Sunday School, the Seaforth Agricultural Society, Camp Bimini, being a cadet leader for a local church and working on the IPM educational display. Driscoll is also a member of the University of Guelph’s 2023 executive.

• Gordon is the daughter of Rob and Lori Gordon. She is attending the University of Waterloo and studying a double major in Therapeutic Recreation and Psychology.

Her community involvement includes five years at Camp Menesetung, playing minor hockey, local 4-H Clubs, the Elementary School Fair and the Reach for the Top competition.

• Smith is the daughter of Chris and Shelly Smith. She is attending the University of Western Ontario and studying a Bachelor of Health Science with an Honours specialization in Rehabilitation

News Sciences and a Bachelor of Education.

Smith has given back to her community as a soccer coach, as a member of the Mustang Athletic Student Council, a Huron County Princess at the Huron County Plowing Match and volunteering to read and entertain the region’s older residents at local nursing homes and through OneCare.

• Higgins is the daughter of Greg and Betty Jane Higgins. She is attending the University of Guelph to study Nutritional and Nutraceutical Sciences.

The long-time member of the Wawanosh 4-H Club, Higgins has also been the Huron County Queen of the Furrow, has played minor hockey and soccer, served on the children’s liturgy for Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Wingham and volunteered at the Wingham Knights of Columbus Centre.

• Mitchell is the daughter of Neil and Marie Mitchell. She is attending the University of Guelph to study Accounting and earn a Bachelor of Commerce.

Mitchell has served with the Avon Maitland District School Board as a student senator, as well as serving on the Central Huron Secondary School’s student council. She was a Lions Club Youth Exchange delegate, as well as a member of the Brussels Leo Club and a youth recruitment co-ordinator with Canadian Blood Services. She has worked as a tutor and a mentor, while volunteering at Camp Kintail, as a student event leader at Central Huron Secondary School and participated in many local minor sports leagues.

• Flood is the son of Calvin and Dianne Flood. He is attending the University of Guelph to study Accounting.

Flood has spent time as a member of the Central Huron Secondary School band as well as volunteering with the United Church Youth Camp, numerous 4-H Clubs and at the Seaforth Agriplex.

• Fear is the daughter of Paul and Ann Marie Fear. She has completed her time at the University of Guelph, earning a Bachelor of Applied Science in Child Youth and Family

Studies, and is now at King’s University College at the University of Western Ontario to earn her Master of Social Work.

Fear worked in peer counselling at the University of Guelph and volunteered with the Big Brothers and Big Sisters program, St. Ambrose Catholic Church in Brussels and her school’s student accessibility office. Fear was also crowned Huron County Princess a few years ago at the Huron County Plowing Match.

Bishop said it was another good year for applications from qualified local young people. She said the impact of the Huron County plowing match community can be seen in the words of Smith in her application.

“When I became Princess of the Furrow in 2011, it was one of the most rewarding experiences that taught me so much about myself and the importance of always giving back to the community that raised you. It also gave me endless amounts of opportunities to give back and be involved in many different ways,” Smith wrote in her application. “I vividly remember the competition day like it was yesterday and one thing that I will never forget is during the interview portion, I was asked by the judges what career I was planning to pursue one day and why. Going back to that day, I responded by saying I would love to become a teacher because of the impact you can have on the life of a child and how education and learning shapes a child’s life in so many ways and I wanted to be a part of that shaping.

“Now, nine years later, I am pursuing my dreams of becoming a teacher and I am constantly reminded about the day I was asked that question ... one of the most important things I learned was to never give up and always put forth your best effort and eventually your dreams will come true.

“All in all, I want to thank you for taking the time to read my application and it would be a great honour to be a recipient of this scholarship because it would continue to benefit my education journey and continue to make my dreams come true.” ◊

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November 2020 47

News • By Lisa B. Pot •

Agriculture Economic forum comes to Huron The 12th annual Municipal Agriculture Economic Development & Planning Forum offer tour of Huron agricultural projects

C

ycling from county to to county, the two-day Municipal Agriculture Economic Development & Planning Forum is coming to Huron County November 18-19 in a virtual format.

Targetted to those who work in municipal government, the forum is also open to the agricultural community to learn about planning in regards to agriculture. Also, to hear from industry experts as they share their experience in marketing, exporting products and partnering for diversification.

“It is geared to a government audience but when looking at the speakers for the event, they are mostly people from the agricultural industry,” says Alex Ripley, the Economic Development Officer at County of Huron. “There is definitely revelance for producers at the conferences. Especially around the planning side, along with directselling and innovation.”

In fact, he recommends the agriculture community attend so that farmers and goverment have a better understanding of each other.

“This will be a challenging decade and we’ll get ahead if we play well together,” says Ripley.

The two half-day sessions will be supplemented with a virtual tour of some of the businesses highlighted in the sessions.

The conference begins November 18 with three sessions: • Session 1: How Agriculture Exports Can Build Your Rural Community In 2019, Ontario’s agricultural exports totaled $16.6 billion. Export brings new revenue opportunities to agri-food businesses in agriculture communities through opportunities for increased sales/profits, stabilization of market fluctuations and enhancing competitiveness.

Local business leaders, Martin Vanderloo, president of Huron

48 The Rural Voice

An event designed for municipal leaders and a government audience could help those in the agriculture industry better understand the planning side of municipal governments. The Municipal Agriculture Economic Development and Planning Forum is going virtual this year and features industry speakers, such as Teresa Van Raay, owner of The Whole Pig, who will share her experience with direct selling and promoting agriculture in a COVID-19 world. ~Rural Voice stock photo

Commodities and Mancrest Manufacturing, home of the Bale Baron, will speak on their experience in export markets. They will explain how municipal planning and economic development is setting the stage for their success.

• Session 2: Direct Selling & Promoting Ag in a COVID World COVID-19 impacted farmers in many ways, one of the most significant being an immediate change in sales channels. Businesses had to pivot to brand and sell in this new distanced reality. Speakers will discuss lessons learned and the tools and resources available to municipalities to support and promote agricultural sales locally and beyond. Speakers include: — The Whole Pig, Teresa Van Raay, Owner Operator — Eat Local Grey Bruce, Jeannine Kralt, Executive Director — Northern Ontario Farm Innovation Alliance, Emily Potter, Executive

Director NOFIA — Always in Season, OFA Local Food Tool Kit, Danielle Collins, Economic Development and Policy Analyst OFA • Session 3: Partnering for Diversification Along the Ag Value Chain Diversification helps to expand business opportunities from growing new crops, operating agriculturerelated operations to adopting innovative new technologies. The panel members will discuss why they chose to diversify and how they were supported by their municipal partners in planning and economic development. Speakers include: – Maelstrom Winery, Brian Landsborough, Winemaker – Huronview Demonstration Farm, Jim Ginn, Huron County Warden – Edgar’s Feed and Seed, Elliot Miller, Owner Operator Day #2 • Session 1: Ag Innovation –

News How to Inspire Innovation in Your Municipality How can municipal economic developers encourage innovation in the agriculture sector? Huron County’s AgPrize introduces an element of competitive excitement to the process. Hear about the design, development and execution of this innovative program.

Speakers for this session will be Alex Ripley, EDO Huron County; AgPrize 2020 Round 1 Winners Kate Ayers, Julie Marocha, Yohannes Wondimu, Gokulan Thedchana and Minh Nguyen • Session 2: Municipal Capacity Research – University of Guelph Rural communities and the agrifood sector depend on knowledgeable and supportive municipal councils and staff to thrive. Municipalities need capacity (staff/expertise/time) to respond to new and emerging agricultural issues. Elected officials should understand the needs of rural communities and the agri-food sector to make timely decisions that foster vibrant rural communities and businesses. The research team will present findings from surveying municipalities within the Greater Golden Horseshoe.

For this session, speakers include: Wayne Caldwell, School of Environmental Design and Rural Development, University of Guelph along with Elise Geschiere, Emily Sousa and Regan Zink • Session 3: Embracing the Agricultural Systems Approach This panel will share the successes, challenges and inspiration around taking an ag system approach in a municipality. Its speakers are: – A new paradigm for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, Jennifer Best and Meena Hassanali, York Region – Early implementation outside the Greater Golden Horseshoe, Denise Van Amersfoort, Huron County – Agri-food asset mapping to support ag system Implementation, Marilyn Bidgood, Project Manager, ConnectON, GHFFA • Session 4: World Café COVID-19 has put many aspects of agriculture on the public radar in new and unexpected ways. How can municipalities and those along the ag

value chain collaborate to drive positive change in these issue areas?

Peers will discuss current topics to examine trends, impacts and solutions.

Topics will be finalized based on interest of participants and may include: – Food security – Partnering with conservation authorities – Loss and importance of the Rural Third Space – Lot creation and severances in

prime agricultural areas – Engaging local youth in agriculture – Cannabis as an agriculture product Participants can choose to attend for one or both days. Registration for both days is $75. You can register at https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/day-1-2municipal-agriculture-ec-dev-andplanning-forum-2020-tickets121386328777. ◊ ~ Sourced from the Updated Agenda -2020 Virtual Municipal Agriculture Economic Development and Planning Forum.

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News • By Shawn Loughlin •

Rural to Rural talks moving ahead virtually Organizers asking farm neighbours to contribute “End of the Lane” video conversations to the conference

T

his November’s Rural Talks to R ural (R2R) conference,

organized by the Canadian Centre for Rural Creativity, will be moving ahead virtually and organizers are asking for participation from across the country.

The virtual conference is planned from November 16-28. Peter Smith, event organizer, says he is scheduling lunchtime and nightly sessions with hope for daily sessions by the time November arrives.

Smith said many of the panels and speakers are still being organized and finalized. He is hoping members of the community and beyond will help provide some content to round out the subjects discussed.

First and foremost is the “End of the Lane” conversations, which came about as a result of an exchange between Smith and Keith Roulston, founder of The Rural Voice, cofounder of the Blyth Festival and a driving force behind the conference when it was first held in 2016.

Smith said that, in speaking with Roulston, the idea of two neighbours speaking at the end of their laneways when they go to retrieve their mail proved to be fruitful. Smith, quoting Roulston, said that while there are a million different ways to be in touch with neighbours and friends now, there will always be something special about a face-to-face conversation like those at the end of the lane. So, Smith is hoping people will record conversations with their neighbours asking simple questions like how they’re doing and submit those videos to being featured in the conference.

The COVID-19 pandemic has hit people in many different ways, Smith said, so checking in with a friend or a neighbour is more important than ever. In rural areas of Canada, the challenges can be different, he said, and he’s hoping those conversations, as part of the

Organizers of the Rural Talks to Rural Conference to be held November 1618 hope neighbours will chat with each other to connect during these trying times. Consider videotaping the conversations and submitting them to the “End of the Lane” conversations segments of the Rural Talks event.

conference, can help tell the story.

Smith says he, through University of Guelph Professor, Al Lauzon, who has been at both conferences thus far, has enlisted the help of university students to help determine the form and direction of this year’s conference.

One of the prevailing questions that came out of those discussions is what the future will be for rural communities. That will be something the conference will seek to explore in its two-week run.

From the inception of the conference, Smith said, the University of Guelph has been a great supporter of R2R. Smith said the virtual format will open the conference to many new opportunities, including the recording of seminars so they can be watched live or later by participants. He also said it will make it possible for people from all over the world to take part for minimal cost.

The lunchtime sessions being planned for the conference will be compiled under the title, “This Rural Life” and they will explore numerous aspects of rural life

in 2020 and beyond, Smith said.

Those discussions will mimic conversations around the lunch table, while another aspect of the conference will be food-oriented with the help of Exeter chef and restaurateur James Eddington.

Smith’s hope is that Eddington will make available a recipe that utilizes locally-sourced ingredients early in one of the weeks of the conference, allowing people time to gather what they need. Eddington will then release a video of him making the recipe and then finally there will be a set time to have the recipe completed so that everyone can have dinner together, virtually.

More information on the conference, including panels and panelists, will be released in the coming weeks. To take part in the “End of the Lane” project, simply record a video between three and five minutes in length of a conversation between you and a neighbour, friend or family member and e-mail it to Smith at peter@ruralcreativity.org.

Smith is hoping to find unique stories of life during a pandemic in rural Canada. ◊

November 2020 51

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News

Environmental farm plan updates made easier Farmers can now update third or fourth edition Environmental Farm Plans with one-day workshop

T

he Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA) has made it easier for producers to update their Environmental Farm Plan (EFP).

Farms with a third or fourth edition EFP are now eligible to renew through a new, one-day workshop.

“Farmers requested an efficient way to update their EFP and take their best management practice learning to the next level. This new option allows that,” says Paul Reeds, OSCIA Regional Program Lead.

Since 1993, farm families have participated in the voluntary assessment to increase their environmental awareness in a twoday format. Through the EFP process, producers highlight their farm's environmental strengths, identify areas of environmental concern, and set action plans to improve environmental conditions.

Workshops are held across the province throughout the year and are fully funded by federal and provincial governments. Led by an experienced OSCIA workshop leader, the format is interactive with a combination of lectures and smalltable discussions with no more than 20 participants. The sessions cover five key areas, including: pest

management, soil management, surface water quality, nutrient management for growing crops; and manure management.

OSCIA encourages farmers to renew their EFP every five years.

According to Reeds, there are many advantages to renewing. “First, there is more than 20 percent new material in the latest edition. A lot can change in five years. For example, environmental laws and regulations

have been updated. Farming practices have evolved and the people on the farm may have changed too.”

Workshops also provide participants with the latest information on funding programs to assist with on-farm improvements.

“If you're going to apply for a costshare grant, many funders require you to have the latest version of EFP,” says Reeds. ◊

Making it easier for farmers to update their environmental farm plans, the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association is offering multiple, one-day workshops to renew the plan.

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

Despite political tensions, China needs corn and soybeans As we moved into the fall season the grain markets demonstrated a dramatic sentiment change. Through most of the year, the expectation had been one of large and high-yielding crops that would see limited demand due to declining ethanol usage and limited export demand. These were the expectations because the U.S./China relationship was uncertain and seemingly combative.

Also, end users bought little coverage into the fall as the COVID-19 situation left them unsure what their requirements might be and likewise from this, concerns were present about what their demand might be.

Well it turned out that regardless of what worries might be out there in respect to the political relationship between China and the U.S., it doesn’t negate the fact that they need corn and soys in a big way. China’s seemingly insatiable demand for soys has been the major reason that U.S. export sales have been extremely strong. Recently sales have been pushed to a much faster pace than the five-year average. Further adding to the upside and bullish momentum for beans was talk of extreme dryness in Brazil causing planting delays. The pace of Brazil’s soy plantings are the lowest in 10 years, reaching only about 3.5 per cent completion as opposed to 11 per cent planted at this time last year. From the delayed planting the market fears a later-thannormal harvest in South America, resulting in a longer U.S. shipping season to China before they switch to

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Further complicating the soy market is the concern that U.S. soy yields aren’t necessarily as great as everyone expected them to be during the growing season. All of these changing dynamics have been great for Ontario growers. As early harvest came on growers have been able to receive great prices off the combine.

In the October 9 USDA crop report, soybean yields are forecast to be record high average yields in the U.S., at 51.9 bushels per acre.

Currently the speculative traders are very long the market and therefore it will take a larger surge in Chinese demand or deteriorating conditions in Brazil to add strength to the soy market.

Dryness in major wheat-producing countries also got the market jumping on possible production issues into next year’s crop. The U.S. plains where they grow huge amounts of Hard Red Winter is dry and crops are waiting for rain to get the crop up and established before winter. It is the exact same situation in Russia and the Ukraine, where moisture is needed to get seeded acres germinated. While the crop isn’t necessarily going to experience issues the market added risk premium quickly, pushing wheat prices to levels not seen for over five years.

Fears are mounting that Russia may enact a wheat export ban if their crop seems to be moving towards a production failure, to maintain local supplies. The recent momentum in wheat prices was not caused by countries buying physical supplies, but rather commodity fund traders.

Big money rolled into the wheat market to cause prices to explode higher and, as with soys, the timing for growers couldn’t have been better. Ontario growers were able to sell nice prices into 2021 for wheat, helping to ensure large acreage in Ontario once again into the 2021 harvest year. Ontario is not the only region where the wheat crop should be large again this season, both Michigan and Wisconsin are seeing some growers plant wheat for the first time in years, as prevented planting has limited wheat sowing multiple years in a row. So will the drought in stricken regions be

Markets significant enough keep the market continuing to the upside? It may take more than just a dry fall at seeding time to do this. The old saying is: plant in the dust and your bins will bust.

Reports are that China has issued corn import quotas of over seven million tonnes, with some estimating these new quotas to exceed over 10 million tonnes and up. Chinese domestic corn supplies have fallen to rather low levels and because of this, corn prices in China are making new highs.

In the October 9 USDA report, Chinese corn demand was left unchanged from previous reports.

The rationale for this is that China has yet to issue higher import quotas, and therefore the USDA decided to leave this number unchanged until China issues further allowances.

Until this demand outlook changes South American weather will be the main driver of corn prices. The expectation of a La NiĂąa year suggests that Brazil and Argentina will see dry weather for the growing season. This is occurring as we discussed earlier, and Argentina is beginning to have worries about dryness affecting their upcoming corn crop.

From these considerations: growing export demand and production worries in major regions, the corn market should be supported past harvest. â&#x2014;&#x160;

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November 2020 55

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

Take a hike Have you ever noticed that when you walk in a forest with different people you see different things? Each and every one of us has a different perspective that jumps into gear when observing a forest. Regardless of age, education or profession we all

see forests differently.

When walking with young children I am always reminded of the little creatures that I have forgotten to give my attention to. “Big deal,” I think. “It is another fat worm.” But really, when was the last time you stopped to check out all of the frogs that are leaping to safety in the middle of that puddle? Sometimes it is nice to be reminded of those smaller creatures as they are equally as important to the larger animals in the health of the forest. Please don’t misunderstand, when I am inventorying a forest, I am looking for everything that is there including the small creatures, but when just out

Depending on who you are walking with, the wisdom of young and old, hunter or naturalist, professional or woodlot owner, can open your eyes to the wonders of the trees and wildlife living in the woods.

702 MAIN ST. SAUBLE BEACH (519) 422-ATVS (2887) sbm.on@sympatico.ca

56 The Rural Voice

enjoying the forest they are not at the top of my “hope to see” list.

Enter a forest with an avid hunter and I often leave wondering how I could spend so much time in the forest and not see the “now obvious” signs of wildlife. Once the signs are pointed out to me I am in awe and a little jealous of the knowledge that I did not have. To the hunters reading, I am sure that it is a big eye roll, because who wouldn’t know that a buck would stamp the center of their bed? The bigger the buck the bigger the tree that they rub against. That deer will lay down next to a log to avoid being spotted.

Walking a forest with a longtime landowner often offers a perspective of admiration for all that the forest has provided. The provision of firewood, wildlife observation, shady places to walk or ATV, and a reliable revenue source. For many landowners with a long history on their property, visits to the forest may have been largely limited to firewood removal once a year. Many would be quick to think that there would not be a lot to chat about with this type of forest work. However, it is pretty awesome to hear the stories that are associated with each stump, each area of forest, and each residual tree.

Sometimes it is the story of the battle to get a tree down that got hung up.

Sometimes it is just a note about how one patch doesn’t seem to grow the same as the rest. Or maybe just a fond reflection of a family experience in the forest.

Joining a recent forestry graduate or young forest professional on a forest walk, well, first thing it does is make me feel old. Then I am reminded of my younger years.

Conversations on present forest conditions and the possibilities for the future are full of big scientific words and enthusiasm. Our understanding of forests is forever improving. Young forest professionals are keen to find the facts that reinforce their education. When I graduated there was no such thing as climate change, invasive species, or species at risk. These terms often reflect new understanding and science and occasionally are just new terms for an older subject. I believe that the idea of climate change was as

Woodlots big of a change for me as a cellular phone is for my Grandma. Walking the forest with a young professional is educational for both parties, or at least I hope it is.

I have often said, and continue to believe, that I would not have the knowledge of the forest that I do if I would not have listened to those that worked in the forest before me.

While my education in forestry was pretty awesome, it set the stage for further learning. I had the pleasure of working with two very knowledgeable ladies in conservation education. These two ladies patiently took the time to help me to see the forest for more than the trees. They taught me about frogs, plants, furbearers, aquatic invertebrates, tracks, birds, and yes, even snakes.

They passed this knowledge on to me by walking the forest and watercourses with me and showing me. I am a visual and experiential learner, so it is my belief that the best way to learn is to work with someone that knows.

The last perspective that I am going to mention is that of longtime forest practitioners. These loggers, forest technicians, and foresters are so full of information. I find the hardest part of visiting a forest with them is getting them to start talking.

It always seems as if they enter the forest and just silently take it all in.

In some ways this should be expected, as many forest practitioners spend a lot of time working alone in the forest. Once you can get one of these vaults of information open, be prepared to listen and learn. These practitioners have been observing the forest over many inventory periods, harvest cycles, and natural disasters.

I believe that I am a better forest manager for having worked with enthusiastic people of all backgrounds, as they have all given me different perspectives of the forest. I always welcome a walk in anyone’s forest at any stage of growth with any species mix. I will hardly ever be in the lead, as I like to take the time to observe, and if I lead we will never get out of the forest.

No, not lost, just slow and enjoying myself unless the mosquitoes are too thick! ◊

Marvin L. Smith Guns, Ammo, Hunting accessories & more 10 Huron Street Clinton, ON N0M 1L0 519-606-3006 info@clintonsporting.com

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

1563 Hwy#9 Mildmay, ON N0G 2J0 Ph: 519-367-3215 Fax: 519-367-3214 www.southbruceflooring.com

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November 2020 57

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

Supreme Court weighs in on Ontario’s Anti-SLAPP Legislation What is a SLAPP? It’s a “Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation”: a lawsuit commenced not in pursuit of any true claim but rather as a tool to silence public discourse on matters of public interest under the guise of a civil claim. The lawsuit targets an individual or organization whose public statements run counter to the interests of the claimant with a view to silencing that particular individual or organization, though the deterrent effect can extend to other would-be commenters as well. SLAPPs are real, and in 2015 the Ontario Government amended the Courts of Justice Act to implement anti-SLAPP provisions which allow for the pretrial dismissal of the improper claims.

The stated purposes of the antiSLAPP legislation are: a. to encourage individuals to express themselves on matters of public interest; b. to promote broad participation in debates on matters of public interest; c. to discourage the use of litigation as a means of unduly limiting expression on matters of public interest; and d. to reduce the risk that participation by the public in debates on matters of public interest will be hampered by fear of legal action.

A judge must dismiss a proceeding if the person against whom the proceeding is brought satisfies the judge that “the proceeding arises from an expression made by the person that relates to a matter of public interest.” However, the judge cannot dismiss a proceeding where the claimant satisfies the judge that there are grounds to believe that the proceeding has substantial merit and that the moving party (the defendant asking for the dismissal of the proceeding) has no valid defence, and also satisfies the judge that that the harm suffered or to be suffered by the claimant as a result of the defendant’s public expression “is sufficiently serious that the public interest in permitting the proceeding to continue outweighs the public interest in protecting that expression.”

Once a motion to dismiss a SLAPP is brought, no further steps in

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the proceeding may be taken until the motion is “finally disposed of”, including any appeals. And unless a judge orders otherwise, a claimant cannot amend its claim to try to avoid dismissal. Where a SLAPP is dismissed, the moving party is entitled to its full costs of the motion and of the proceeding as a whole unless the judge decides full recovery would not be appropriate in circumstances. If the judge finds that the claimant brought its proceeding in bad faith or for an improper purpose, the judge can even award damages to the moving party defendant.

The Supreme Court of Canada recently pronounced its views on the anti-SLAPP legislation and the test for dismissal in a case where a motion to dismiss an alleged SLAPP failed at first instance but was allowed by the Ontario Court of Appeal. The case involved a proposed subdivision in the City of Sault Ste. Marie. Beginning in 2006, a developer made various applications for approval of the development including an application to the local Conservation Authority related to a wetland. Some area residents incorporated a not-for-profit association to oppose the development on environmental grounds. The Conservation Authority approved the development, and the Association sought judicial review of the approval before the Divisional Court. In 2013, the Association settled the judicial review matter with the developer and agreed on certain limitations on future participation of the Association and its executive members in the development approvals process.

In 2015, the developer lost an appeal to the Ontario Municipal Board over the Official Plan Amendment it needed from Sault Ste. Marie for the development.

During the hearing of the appeal, the OMB heard evidence from the President of the Association that the development would result in significant coastal wetland loss. The OMB ruled that the development was not in the public interest including because it would cause loss of coastal wetland. Following its defeat before

Agrilaw the OMB, the developer sued the Association and its executive members for breach of the settlement agreement they had made in 2013 in connection with Association’s judicial review application, alleging that the President’s testimony was prohibited by the agreement.

The Supreme Court agreed with the Court of Appeal that the antiSLAPP motion satisfied the threshold test: that the Association’s “expression” – the testimony of its President before the OMB – related to a matter of public interest and that the developer’s lawsuit arose from that “expression”. The Supreme Court also agreed that the lawsuit could not be saved under the two-part “saving provision”. The developer’s claim did not have substantial merit (and the Association did have a valid defence), and the harm to the developer did not outweigh the public interest in the “expression” being made.

With respect to that public interest part of the test, the Supreme Court found that there was significant public interest in protecting the Association President’s testimony before the OMB because of both its content and its form. The content related to a matter of local and ecological significance for the community, and also related to “matters of provincial interest” since the OMB was making a decision under Ontario’s Planning Act. The form of the President’s expression – testimony before an adjudicative tribunal – was also important for the Court, which noted: “Strengthening the integrity of the justice system by encouraging truthful and open testimony is inextricably linked to the freedom of participants to express themselves in the forums concerned without fear of retribution.” ◊ ______________________________ 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.

November 2020 59

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

ARGYLE Marine & Small Engines Inc.

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

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

Proud sponsor of Grey Bruce Farmers’ Week Mark your calendars for the virtual event!

JANUARY 5-12, 2021 Visit their website for more information https://greybrucefarmersweek.ca/

If you or someone you know has thought about selling, give me a call!

Not intended to solicit properties currently listed.

Steacy Den Haan, Broker, Royal LePage RCR Realty steacydenhaan@royallepage.ca • 226-668-3242 November 2020 61

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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.

-------------------------------------------------CUSTOM WORK -------------------------------------------------Custom big square baling, rotocut, $1.10 per foot, no knives; $1.20 per foot with knives. Also custom combining, 519-377-2303.

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

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

-------------------------------------------------FARM FRESH -------------------------------------------------Arranhill Garlic Farm, Table Garlic, Scapes and Shallots plus Garlic Seed for fall planting. 110-12 Conc. East, Allenford. 519-270-0022. Email: acowan@gbtel.ca -------------------------------------------------FIREWOOD -------------------------------------------------Debarked Hardwood Slabs – 16" cut $30 face cord, $10 cord deliveries or pickup in Auburn. huronfirewood.com Call 519-5243493.

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

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

Closed Sundays, 519-338-3920.

-------------------------------------------------Mixed grain, bin run, Kincardine area, 519-368-5581.

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

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

-------------------------------------------------CORN SEED pricing starting at $129/bag (before discounts). De Dell Seeds, the Leaders in Non-GMO corn. 519-264-CORN. --------------------------------------------------

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

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

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

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

-------------------------------------------------LIVESTOCK FOR SALE -------------------------------------------------Hypharm Genetics rabbits breeding stock now available in Ontario. Order your PS19 does and PS40 bucks. CuniON@tcc.on.ca --------------------------------------------------

Discount Steel

Nov. 13th at 9:00 a.m.

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

Custom Welding & Machine Shop Custom Stabling Mfg. Bodywood • Slabwood Quantity Discounts 519-441-2085 519-656-2057

Serving Southwestern Ontario for over 10 years!

Tell them you saw their ad in The Rural Voice 62 The Rural Voice

Open Tues. & Thurs. ~ other days by chance John A.M. Martin 1467 Grey Ox Ave., Lucknow

KEADY LIVESTOCK MARKET R.R. 4, Tara, ON N0H 2N0 519-934-2339

Regular Sales every Tuesday at 9:00 a.m.

Special Yearling Sale

Presort Calf Sales Thurs., Oct. 29th and Sat., Oct. 31st at 9:00 a.m.

Special Calf Sales Fri., Nov. 6th, Nov. 20th at 9:00 a.m.

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

Special Bred Cow & Heifer Sales

S & C Clark TRANSPORT INC.

Fri., Nov. 27th & Dec. 4th at 5:00 p.m.

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

Visit www.keadylivestock.com For: Sale Catalogue/Sale Results, Early Consignments, Upcoming Special Livestock Auctions

CLASSIFIED LIVESTOCK FOR SALE -------------------------------------------------LIMOUSIN – quality fall born young breeding bulls for sale. Delivery included. Posthaven Limousin, John Post 519-766-7178. www.posthavenlimousin.com -------------------------------------------------Limousin bulls, open and bred females available. Smart Limousin, Meaford 519-372-7459. smartlimo@ bmts.com www.smartlimousin.com -------------------------------------------------Red Angus, Simmental Heifers bred to a Red Angus bull. Silver Springs Farms. James and Joan McKinlay 519-599-6236. jmckinlay@bmts.com -------------------------------------------------RESTORATION -------------------------------------------------The Olde Tyme Radio Centre – antique radios, clocks, gramophones, telephones; sold/restored. (vintage autoclock radio, speedometer, tachometer repaired). Belgrave 519357-4304, www.oldtymeradio.ca -------------------------------------------------RETAIL & GIFTS -------------------------------------------------Stitches with a Twist – 404 Queen St., Blyth, 519-523-9449. Yarns, needles, notions, patterns, books and lots more yarn.

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

PAL & HUNTER ED. Ongoing courses available.

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

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

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

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

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SERVICES -------------------------------------------------Barnhem Farm Services. Solid manure spreading; variable rate precision application (optional).

Serving Bruce, Grey, North Huron and North Wellington. Contact for info: Herman Vinckx at 519-881-7663 or Dylan Vinckx at 519-881-8957.

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

519-692-4232 www.sgspestmanagement.ca

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

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

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

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

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

London 519-268-8500

Ph. 519-528-3019 Sales Service Installation Free Estimates

519-364-4026 eod@persona.ca

Eastern Overhead Doors (Bruce-Grey) Ltd.

WILD GAME

PROCESSING Sausage • Pepperettes • Bologna Summer Sausage Bring your boneless wild game and have it processed Call: 519-848-5201 For carcass cutting and wrapping Call: 519-323-2864 Wesley G. Bauman 519-848-5201

9349 Conc. 2, RR#2 Kenilworth, ON N0G 2E0

-------------------------------------------------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 2020 63

CLASSIFIED UPCOMING EVENTS -------------------------------------------------VIRTUAL FALL LECTURE SERIES – Taking place Tuesdays in November at GreyRoots.com. Topics include Rich History of Old Houses, Memory and Commemoration in Early Medieval Britain, Birds of Ontario and Wild and Scenic Imagery of Grey County. Visit greyroots.com for details.

-------------------------------------------------Flesherton and District Farmers’ Market Christmas Online Market – Visit www.fleshertonfarmersmarket.ca to place your order anytime in November. Then pickup your order at Leela’s Villa Inn, 774107 Highway 10, Flesherton. Your choice of three pickup dates: November 14, 21 and 28 between 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Great local one-of-a-kind hand-crafted gifts and seasonal goodies.

-------------------------------------------------WANTED -------------------------------------------------Seeking farmland for rent in Huron and Bruce Counties. Maximize financial return while improving your land. Call Caleb Ringgenberg 226920-3147 cringgen@gmail.com -------------------------------------------------Round bales of horse or cattle quality hay picked up. Call Riley Gorman 519-321-1012.

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Rural Voice welcomes letters and will publish as many as space permits.

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

% 20 Off Complete

Chimney Pkgs.

6", 7" and 8" in stock Sale ends November 28th, 2020

SENTINEL, a ULC listed to Limited 2100° F chimney.

Lifetime Your best choice. Warranty

WELBECK SAWMILL LTD. Tuesday to Saturday 8 am to 4 pm Closed Sunday & Monday

RR 2 Durham ON N0G 1R0

519-369-2144 Email: sk@bmts.com

64 The Rural Voice

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

Perry Farm’s community-built food pantry This article is part of our series profiling our members’ response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

While social media does not replace our need for in-person contact while in pandemic isolation, sometimes surprising communities can arise from it. Dave and Kim Perry’s community-built food pantry started when Kim saw a few Facebook posts early in the pandemic of people who were in need.

Community is a large part of the Perry’s farming style. Dave is the President of the Frontenac Beef Farmers Association, and they’ve been actively involved in Local 316’s projects such as Food Down the Road and Feast of Fields. The Perrys feel the NFU-O supports family farms over factory farms and, through its active membership, contributes to the local community. On their farm, 20 minutes north of Kingston, they have around 100 head of Maine Anjou cattle along with Berkshire pigs, meat chickens, and turkeys, all of which they sell through their store, Local Family Farms. True to its name, the store also buys from other family farms in the area.

When the pandemic shut things down, Dave and Kim asked themselves what they could do with the ground beef they normally donate to summer camps for children. They decided to move an extra industrial fridge to a secondary entrance on their farm and filled it with ground beef. The Perrys then sent out a Facebook message that invited those in need to help themselves. If you build it, they will come.

Those who had food and resources to share also arrived. Soon neighbours contributed home-baked bread and banana bread. Fellow farmers donated eggs – at one time they were going through 10-15 dozen eggs a day. Beef Farmers of

Frontenac covered the cost of purchasing ground beef beyond what the Perrys could supply. Overall, the community-built food pantry went through approximately 500 pounds of ground beef in the four months it was open. Their son’s friend’s ice fishing hut was repurposed to accommodate the pantry’s expansion.

In addition to donations of food, local residents donated money either through a bottle drop-off program or via e-transfer. Funds were used to buy items like flour, sugar, laundry detergent, and the elusive yeast in bulk that they repackaged into family-sized portions. They also provided formula, diapers, and children’s games.

Everything in the pantry was free for the taking; no questions asked. A neighbour who had previously provided donations ended up with car trouble and relied on the pantry until she could get her vehicle fixed. The pantry also served those who couldn’t take their children into grocery stores which had limited entrance to one person per household.

Then there were the lucky ones who, if they timed it right, could get one of Kim’s fresh-baked pies!

As our long food supply chains are strained during this pandemic and

countless families are precariously employed and struggling to bring healthy food to their tables, the Perrys and their supporters offer a local and personalized antidote.

Family farmers, like the Perrys, remind us that community-building starts with compassion and generosity.

A subscription to The Rural Voice is one of the benefits of being an NFU-O member November 2020 65

Grey County Federation of Agriculture

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

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

Grey Federation looks forward to another year Editorial articles submitted and published on this page are the views of the author(s) and are not meant to represent the position of the Grey County of Ontario Federation of Agriculture.

On October 14, the Grey Federation hosted its 80th annual meeting and OFA regional meeting. Due to COVID-19, the meeting was held virtually.

As a result of this meeting, GCFA has a new President at the helm to lead us into 2020-2021 fiscal year. Dianne Booker from Meaford was acclaimed to the position. Those on the executive working with Dianne will be Hugh

Simpson, Past President; Keith Reid, First Vice President and Paul Wettlaufer, Second Vice President.

Executive directors will be chosen at the November board meeting.

Other members of the board include; Paul McQueen (Grey Highlands), Allen Hughes (Municipality of Meaford), Kevin Raszmann (West Grey) and Michael Ryan (West Grey), Christine Robinson (Grey County Rep), Paul Vickers (OFA Zone 2 Director), Joanne Hughes (OFA MSR Zone 2) and Jackie Pennings (Southgate, Office Administrator). We look forward to another year of representing the

interests of farmers in Grey County and advocating those interests to the OFA and the various levels of government. ◊ Grey County Federation of Agriculture

2020 MEETINGS November 12 – Directors’ Meeting November - OFA Convention/OYFF December - Christmas Social DUE TO COVID-19 GCFA Board Meetings have become conference/video call format. Please contact the office if you are interested in taking part.

GCFA President - Dianne Booker I grew up in a small rural town in The Region of Niagara and received my Business Administration Diploma from Niagara College and worked in the business world for a few years.

I then married my husband who was a farmer on a thirdgeneration farm. Our operation consisted of cash cropping, cow/calf and a backgrounding herd, a medium-sized sheep flock and a livestock trucking business. I am a Class 9 graduate of the Advanced Agriculture Leadership Program.

I have sat on the board of directors of Beef Farmers of Ontario and Ontario Sheep Farmers. I have chaired numerous local agricultural boards in Haldimand County including Haldimand Federation of Agriculture, Haldimand 4-H Association, Women’s Committee of Haldimand Federation of Agriculture. I was a 4-H Leader and sat on the Haldimand Agriculture Awareness Committee and loved talking to students about agriculture and where their food comes from. I was named “Farm Woman of the Year” in Haldimand County in 2002.

In 2015 our family decided it was time for a change and we moved to Grey County. We found a great farm on top of the Niagara Escarpment in Meaford and we run a cow/calf operation.

We have three children and three grandchildren and another one on the way. I continue to be involved in the agriculture and rural community. I have sat on the Grey County Federation of Agriculture board for the last few years. I am the administrator for the Grey County 4-H Association and sit as First Vice President of the Rocklyn Agricultural Society board. I am an advocate for agriculture and love talking about our operation and where our food comes from. My husband and I love to travel and of course when we are away, we usually check out the local stockyards and markets.

I look forward to serving as President of the Grey County Federation of Agriculture to the board and members.

Please feel free to contact me with any agricultural issues throughout the year. ◊ * The Rural Voice is provided to OFA Members in Grey County by the GCFA.

66 The Rural Voice

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

446 10th St., Hanover, Ontario N4N 1P9 519-364-3050 or 1-800-275-9551 * The Rural Voice is provided to OFA

Members in Bruce County by the BCFA NEWSLETTER Roots of Bruce cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic

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.

Roots of Bruce is an education in agriculture for Grades 5 and 6 students in Bruce and Grey Counties.

It takes place every April for two days at the Agriculture Buildings in Walkerton. This is a huge undertaking for many of our local farmers who donate their time, energy and expertise to educate the students on agriculture, food and nutrition, sustainability, life cycles, and so on.

But not this year! Thanks to COVID-19, and the government’s response to this pandemic, we are unable to plan for Roots of Bruce 2021 and the event was cancelled at the last minute for 2020.

However, these issues are still part of the core curriculum. Teachers will need to be able to cover changes in technology on the farm, and use of pesticides and fertilizer, for example, without the help of the farmers themselves.

Agscape is a wonderful resource available to teachers, parents and students. There are so many online opportunities to see into the life of the farmer, and this is a very valuable resource. Check this out!

Agscape : 1. Below is a link to the virtual

Camp Experience which was designed for at-home learning. The activities cover elementary and secondary grades so the educator/parent can choose the ones that fit their needs. Once registered the participant then receives eight weeks of content with different activities and links to do. https://agscape.ca/event/virtualcamp-experience 2. An online resource library is open for anyone to download. It does ask in the registration form if you are a teacher and you can put in-home

school. Again, these resources cover elementary and secondary. https://agscape.ca/resources 3. Classrooms or homeschoolers could log in for a presentation. News about these events are shared in Educator Newsletters and through social media and on the website events page. Previous sessions have been recorded and are available on YouTube channel (along with other video content). https://www.youtube.com/c/AgScape Be sure to view what Agscape has to offer! ◊

Bruce County Federation of Agriculture

2020 MEETINGS November 9 – Directors’ Meeting

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

Please contact the office if you are interested in taking part. * The Rural Voice is provided to OFA Members in Bruce County by the BCFA.

November 2020 67

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

Perth, Huron, Grey and Bruce County Pork Producers

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

NEWSLETTER

Solve a problem, don’t create a new one No Farms, No Food, No Future is emblazoned in bold red lettering across a sign that still hangs in the shop at the home farm. It hasn’t moved much in recent years but in the late 1990s and early 2000s, signs like that popped up with regularity at protests as farmers grappled with declining net farm incomes and higher debt loads. The message on that sign was nothing new at the time.

Throughout the 20th century, Canadian agriculture had many periods where farm families were asked to survive on household incomes that fell below the poverty line and commodity-wide collapses like the hog market in 1998 forced many good people out of the business. It is why those signs were waved with passion. It was our friends and neighbours who had been forced out and many who remained were being asked to raise families without a spare nickel.

The doomsday message was designed to instill urgency in our policymakers. Without government intervention the food supply could be jeopardized. It was an argument based on the thought that farm support was justified because without it, the urban population could be at risk. There was a problem and it was government’s job to fix the problem.

Today, we are seeing a rise of such messaging again, there are problems on the farm and we expect government to fix them for us. Each time our agricultural organizations go to government asking for a problem to be solved, they are demonstrating a failure to understand that there has been a fundamental shift in how to influence government policy.

In the late 20th century, agriculture was not alone in expecting government to be a problem solver. It was commonplace for trade organizations from any industry to bring their problem to government, explain why their problem impacted Canadians at large, and then ask for money to fix the 68 The Rural Voice

perceived problem.

Today, agriculture is being left in the dust by other industries that have figured out that this model is antiquated and rarely effective in modern political climates.

Whether it be federal, provincial, or municipal; governments have flipped the script. Don’t tell us about your problems, instead here are our issues and we want to know how your industry can help solve them.

The great thing about this is when all is stripped away; the main focus of the politician is to get re-elected.

Such a singular focus makes things easier as you can focus on what is important to the key demographics for any given government and tailor messaging in a way to garner support from said demographics.

Using the much-reviled Carbon Tax as an example, commodity groups can jump up and down all they want about the injustices of having to pay tax on an essential activity like grain drying. To do so ignores the political realities that a federal Liberal government has far more votes to lose by relaxing carbon taxation than it will gain. We can argue until the cows come home about the evils of governing for the next re-election but that doesn’t change the reality that this is the political environment we find ourselves in and every party is guilty of governing in this manner. A better approach is to look for avenues to

offset increased cost by finding areas where government support has a positive correlation with vote counts.

Instead of public facing communications that pine for Donald Trump and mailbox money, why not sell a message of hope to urban Canadians sharing how farmers can help alleviate their fears of climate change but to do so will take significant public investment and government partnership. That harnesses a key value of a current government and greatly enhances the ability to get government dollars flowing into the industry because it is tied to more votes.

Agriculture is well positioned to adapt to the political realities of the day. We have the tools to address many of the big ticket government concerns of the day. We can be a provider of solutions, whether they are economic, health, or environment related. There are still farmers who believe that government should pay them simply for farming and expect a mailbox cheque to do so. It will take courage on the part of our organizations to abandon the 20th century doomsday approach. Failure to adjust to modern realties will lead to further declining support, hampering the ability of our entire value chain to compete with other Canadian industries who have already adapted to modern political realities. ◊ - Submitted by Stewart Skinner

PERTH COUNTY PORK PRODUCERS PORK PRODUCTS • Smoked Pork Chops • Fresh Pork Chops • Stuffed Loin Chops • Smoked Sausage • Smoked Cheddar Sausage • Bacon Burgers • Teriyaki Pork Steaks AVAILABLE FROM:

Dave and Ruth Kloostra (Monkton) ........................................................................................519-347-2619 Ted and Donna Keller (Mitchell) ..............................................................................................519-348-9836 Jerry and Sandra DeGroot (Kinkora) ......................................................................................519-393-5237 Leis Feed (Milverton)................................................................................................................519-595-2048 Have the Perth County Pork Producers BBQ at your next event or celebration!

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

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

Harvest Gala from home – cooking with Paul and Andrew As harvest is coming to an end, let’s celebrate. This year will look different than our past galas. Do not let that fool you because we have lots of fun coming your way. COVID-19 may have changed our plans but it hasn’t dampened our spirits and we look forward to sharing our enthusiasm for Perth County’s great agricultural industry with you at our 2020 Harvest Gala from Home.

This year we didn’t hire a caterer like we normally do (although I am sure both of these gentlemen would have catered if we asked) but instead we ordered a cooking lesson. It’s not your traditional lesson and not your traditional chefs. Both Paul Finkelstein and Andrew Mavor have a lot of life experiences in and out of the kitchen that I know will shine through while we cook along with them.

Paul’s mantra is, “Food as a Tool for Change”. The creation of the Screaming Avocado Canteen at Stratford’s Northwestern High School began an exploration of food for his students and many others. The studentrun alternative eatery challenged school food norms and began a movement of chefs returning to school to teach skills and empower youth to better the food they eat.

The Screaming Avocado led to the EatFit Project, a youth led not-forprofit focused on improving the nutritional and mental wellbeing in isolated First Nation and Inuit communities. The Screaming Avocado gang appeared in Fink, a Food Network series. They have presented at Terra Madre, prepared an Arctic dinner at James Beard House, explored food internationally, dined on walrus, seal, whale and other raw treats and cooked for Prince William and Kate on their Royal tour to Canada. The Screaming Avocado / Eatfit Project youth are cross-generational tools of change Paul nudges them along the journey.

On a personal level, Paul has been recognized with numerous awards for his work with education and connecting

youth to their food sources including, amongst others, the Perth County Federation Agricultural Award, a position as a Slow Food Canada National Hero, and the Queen Elizabeth Meritorious Service Medal.

While originally from Stratford, Andrew Mavor’s culinary style is one that playfully presents the best of ingredients without pretension. In British Columbia, he opened and ran two award-winning restaurants with a heavy emphasis on locally-sourced whole animals, creative preparations and unapologetically strong flavours.

His first restaurant, Hanks *A Restaurant, was known for its aggressively rustic charm and built a strong cult following on Vancouver Island. His second restaurant, Nowhere *A Restaurant, presented a slightlymore refined version of the style of Hanks and with more of an emphasis on plants and seafood.

Nowhere found its stride immediately and was subsequently nominated for Best New Restaurant in En Route magazine in 2019. It placed fifth in the country. Mavor was nominated for “Foodie of the Year” by Western Living for 2020. He resettled in southern Ontario in late 2019 and is currently in teachers’ college at Brock

University pursuing a career teaching the culinary arts. He was a featured Canadian guest chef at the Stratford Chef School and has been the host of the Sunday Roast Sessions for the Stratford Lakeside Active Adults Association since mid-April 2020. He is currently sharing his knowledge with the students at the Screaming Avocado Café.

So, this year, we want to see how well you can cook. Your ticket includes a box of locally-sourced ingredients and access to an online video where you will follow along with chefs Paul and Andrew while they teach you how to cook it. If you are like me and this sounds daunting, please don’t fret, we ordered up the best for you, your family and friends. This year’s gala will be one to remember and I’m sure we will have lots of laughs along the way.

Please come along on this adventure with us while we explore the world of cooking with produce from the bountiful fields of Perth County and celebrate, once again, the amazing agricultural industry we are lucky to be a part of.

– Submitted by Sara Wood, Vice-President, PCFA • screamingavocado.blogspot.com

PERTH FEDERATION OF AGRICULTURE invites you to join them for its 2020

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

November 2020 69

HURON

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

County Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER

Bev Hill this year’s award winner By the time this publication is in your mailboxes, the 2020 Huron County Outstanding Contribution to Agriculture Award will have been presented. Congratulations to Bev Hill on being this year’s award winner.

Previous Award winners include: 1976, Keith Roulston; 1977, Bev Hill; 1978, John L Stafford; 1979, Simon Hallahan; 1980, Norman Alexander; 1981, Russell Bolton; 1982, Philip Durand; 1983, Murray Gaunt; 1984, Don Pullen; 1985, Sheila and Merle Gunby; 1986, Tony McQuail; 1987, Jon Van Beers; 1988, Doug and Gerry Fortune; 1989, Don Lobb; 1990, Bill and Marybeth Mann; 1991, Jack Riddell; 1992, Andre J Durand; 1993, Jim and Brenda McIntosh; 1994, Bob and Pat Down; 1995, Mason Bailey; 1996, Doug Garniss; 1997, Harry Dougall; 1998, Bill Wallace; 1999, Bob Humphries; 2000, Carol Anne Regele; 2001, Evert Ridder; 2002, Wayne Hamilton; 2003, Henry Damsma; 2004, Marilyn Broadfoot; 2005, Fred and Carol Dutot; 2006, Steve Webster; 2007, McGavin Family; 2008, George Underwood; 2009, Don and Maja Dodds; 2010, Ron and Sharon Douglas; 2011, Paul Steckle; 2012, Joe Vermunt; 2013,

the Huron County 4-H Leaders; 2014, the Townsend Family; 2015, Grant Jones; 2016, Ray Baynton; 2017, Marinus and Margaret Bakker; 2018, Ken Scott and 2019, Jacquie Bishop. ◊

A Celebration of Huron County Federation History In 2021 the Huron County Federation of Agriculture will celebrate its 80th Anniversary. The Federation is going to do a review of its history and is looking for additional information from the Historic Township Federations.

It currently has documents from East Wawanosh, Goderich, Hay, Howick, Hullett, McKillop, Morris, Turnberry and West Wawanosh Townships, but is still looking for further information from Ashfield, Colborne, Grey, Goderich, Stanley, Stephen, Tuckersmith and Usborne Townships.

If you have historic documents about the Township Federations we are interested in them!

Please contact Lori at 519-482-9642 ext 2 if you have information that would be useful.

Trespassing is a concern in Huron County Trespassing on private property is a concern that is ongoing in Huron County.

Anyone who enters private property without the occupier’s permission, or under legal authority, is trespassing. If they fail to leave when told to do so, they can be found guilty of an offence under the Trespass to Property Act. Examples of people who have the authority to enter private property include land surveyors, utility meter readers, building inspectors, public health inspectors and conservation authority staff.

The OFA website has further information on trespassing at https://ofa.on.ca/resources/trespassproblems-tips-on-how-to-deal-with-trespassing/ Written permission is not necessary under the Trespass to Property Act but it is an excellent idea. Written permission makes clear the details of the permission such as who has permission to enter your property, when they can enter, what activities are permitted and what areas are out of bounds.

In non-emergency situations it is best to report trespassing to your local police. The Ontario Provincial Police Non-Emergency Line is 1-888-310-1122. If the situation involves threats or violence then call 911. If the trespass involves hunting, you can also contact the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry violation reporting line at 1-877-847-7667. ◊

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

Upcoming Events November 11 – November 23 – OFA Convention – held virtually this year.

Huron County Federation of Agriculture

BOARD MEETING Monday, November 23 8:00 p.m.

Due to COVID-19 the board meeting will be a video/ conference call format. Please contact the office if you are interested in joining the meeting

ONTARIO YOUNG FARMERS FORUM OYFF will be held virtually this year.

The program will consist of a four-part speaker series during the month of November.

A number of topics will be covered in these sessions and the final session will include a panel of young farmers from across Canada.

Session 1: Monday, November 2 at 7:00 p.m.

Session 2: Tuesday, November 10 at 7:00 p.m.

Session 3: Wednesday, November 18 at 7:00 p.m.

Session 4: Thursday, November 26 at 7:00 p.m.

For details visit http://www.jfao.on.ca/oyff

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

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

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

70 The Rural Voice

Index Allied Associates LLP ....................25 Argyle Marine & Small Engines ....61 Artisanal Chicken Program ............47 B&L Farm Services ........................23 Belore Trailers ..............................60 Bernie McGlynn/SB Flooring ........57 Bio-Ag ............................................64 Blue Sky Marine ............................12 Buddsteel Architectural Products ..59 Canadian Co-op Wool Growers ......8 Celebrating 4-H..........................4,7,9 CG Farms ......................................11 Chalmers Fuels................................8 Cliff’s Plumbing & Heating ............49 Clinton Sporting Goods..................57 Design, Build, Improve & Renovate ....................15,17,22,25 Easy Lift Doors ..............................14 Fall Colour Tour ....................Cover 7 Gerrit’s Ag Service ........................19 Get Ready for Winter ....................13 Grand River Robotics ....................19 Grimo Nut Nursery ........................60 Grober Nutrition ....................Cover 4 Hanover Honda..............................53 Harkness Equipment ......................3 Harold Jones Enterprises ..............61 Hill & Hill Farms....Inside Front Cover Holiday Shopping ......38,39,40,41,71 Hunter Steel ..........................Cover 5 Huron Christian School ..................59 Huron Commodities ........................2 Huron Ridge Greenhouses ............45 Keady Livestock Market ................62 KMM Farm Drainage ....................58 LAC ................................................50 Lakeside Shelving............................2 Layton Steve ..................................60 Live Landscape..............................45 Maitland Welding & Machining ......60 Manuel K Albrecht ........................60 Mapleview Agri ..............................20 Marquardt Farm Drainage ............54 Martin Farm Wagons ......................2 Martin’s Nursery ............................45 Marvin L Smith ..............................57 McIntee Realtor - Steve Nixon ......61 Melanie B’s Floral Designs....Cover 3 Metzger Meat Products..................36 Michael’s Stabling Developments ..33 MNP LLP ......................................34 Morris Sachs Silo Construction......47 MVCA ............................................57 Nature’s Wave Inc ........................37 Northern Flyer Designs ..................37 Nuclear Waste Management Org ..35 Ontario Forage Council..................33 R T Bolton & Son ..................Cover 4 RBC ..............................................11

Ridgeway Metals ..........................61 Royal LePage - Steacy DenHaan ..61 Royal LePage - Robert Hulley ......60 Rural Living ....................................36 Rural Voice Books ................Cover 6 Rural Voice Gift Subs. ..........Cover 5 Sauble Beach Motorsports ............56 Schmidt’s Farm Drainage ..............36 Schweiss Doors ............................55 Sew & Save Centre ......................50 Sharp’s Creek Forge......................50 Smyth Welding ..............................61 Steffen Well Drilling ......................61

Stihl Limited ..................................52 SWO Diesel Inc ....................Cover 3 Sylvar Technologies Inc ................55 The Brew Shop ..............................45 Townsley Barn Painting ................63 Triple P Consulting ........................33 Trouw Nutrition ................Back Cover WD Hopper & Sons Ltd ................50 Welbeck Sawmill Ltd......................64 Wesley G Bauman ........................63 Westland Greenhouses ................27 White Carnation ............................45 Williams Drainage ..........................16

Holiday Shopping Harriston, Ontario 519-994-4400 info@cedarwoodhoney.com www.cedarwoodhoney.com 84548 St. Augustine Line, Auburn 519-529-7857

Custom Gift Baskets • Certified Organic • Pure Maple Syrup • Maple Syrup Candy

robinmap@hurontel.on.ca www.robinsonmaple.com

Cedarwood Honey

Pure raw honey, candles, bee pollen, flavoured honey, bee’s wax food wraps and Bee Hive Wooden Wares Visit us at St. Jacobs Farmers’ Market New Market Building or by appointment on-farm LIQUID HONEY CREAMED HONEY COMB HONEY POLLINATING SERVICES BEESWAX

Something for everyone on your list.

Online sh hopping also available.

HuronTractor.com

November 2020 71

Perth: By Bonnie Sitter

Digging In •

Glen Francis used the good weather to plow up a field on his 25-acre hobby farm northeast of Mitchell which he’ll plant to beans next year.

The Long Haul • Jerry Skinner hauls gravity wagons with his John Deere 3140 on Road 160 in Perth

Clean Up • John Rutherford and Glen Francis (right) take advantage of a glorious fall day in October to clear a hedge on Line 43 in Perth County

72 The Rural Voice

Supplying the agricultural industry needs since 1977!

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Angle Channel Hot and cold rolled bars Tool steel Beams Rebar Concrete reinforcing mesh Mechanical tubes Black pipe Galvanized pipe Sheet and Plate Bar grating Welded wire mesh Grip strut Precision ground shafting

* 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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Cheques made payable to : North Huron Publishing P.O. Box 429, Blyth, ON N0M 1H0 Credit cards accepted or subscribe online at ruralvoice.ca 519-523-4311

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The Rural Reading Room Specializing in Rural Living & Local Authors

HATESHIP, FRIENDSHIP, COURTSHIP, LOVESHIP, MARRIAGE A stunning collection of nine short stories that deal with the substance of adult life by Nobel prize winner Alice Munro. $21.00

GRANDPA’S WISH LIST A grandpa has lots of special wishes for his new grandchild.

Most of all, he wishes to share moments and make memories together. A wonderful keepsake from grandfather to grandchild.

Padded hardcover. $13.99

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

This book has stories, poems, jokes, comics and more. $16.95

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

GRANDMA WISHES Did you know there’s a special wishing star that only grandmas see?

Every time a new grandchild is expected, their grandma has special hopes and dreams for her new little love. This book shares that love. A wonderful keepsake for a grandchild.

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LOVE YOU FOREVER A book both children and adults will enjoy - over and over again. It’s about parents’ love and how it crosses many generations. $5.95

THE COIN KEEPERS - Thread of Identity A letter is sent. A memory awakened. An ancient lullaby is sung, and a genetic thread that tethers all characters together resounds through time and space. This is the first novel by author Lynn Wilkelis. $25.00

SOMETHING I’VE BEEN MEANING TO TELL YOU Nobel prize winner Alice Munro shares the mysteries, dangers, joys and bewilderment in the lives of ordinary girls and women in this collection of thirteen rich stories. $20.00

Check out huroncitizen.ca under Marketplace for more books Total

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HATESHIP, FRIENDSHIP, COURTSHIP, LOVESHIP, MARRIAGE AMAZING COWS NEVER SELL YOUR HEN ON A RAINY DAY LOVE YOU FOREVER GRANDPA’S WISH LIST GRANDMA WISHES THE COIN KEEPERS - THREAD OF IDENTITY SOMETHING I’VE BEEN MEANING TO TELL YOU

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Send cheque or money order for full amount to: Books: North Huron Publishing P.O. Box 429, Blyth, ON N0M 1H0 or call and pay by credit card 519-523-4311 MAIL BOOKS TO: Name:_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Address: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ______________________ Code _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Phone: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Prices subject to change with increases in wholesale prices, postage, taxes, etc.

Please refer to current issue for correct figures. Incorrect payment will delay delivery.

The Fall Colour Tour Hitting the road

D

riving the backroads of unfamiliar territory can be unsettling, but getting off the highway is a great way to find the undiscovered jewels of a region. Rural Huron County offers quaint country roads and rolling hills. In the fall youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll find the woodland palette a vibrant assortment of reds, oranges and yellows.

Get the details at stopsalongtheway.ca/ fall-colours-tour

Pick up a copy in Huron County retail outlets, tourist booths, town halls, accommodations, restaurants, etc. or at 405 Queen St., Blyth or visit us at

stopsalongtheway.ca A Visitorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Guide to Huron County

A publication of North Huron Publishing Co. Inc.

You have to measure in order to manage Use Income Over Feed Costs calculations WR HYDOXDWH SURñWDELOLW\ • Capture feed costs and how they are being allocated • Monitor production, components and feed purchasing • Benchmark your business Our team is trained to analyze your operation from input costs to milk cheque.

See if you are achieving maximum ñQDQFLDO SHUIRUPDQFH WRGD\

Contact your Dairy Nutrition Advisor, sales representative or local Shur-Gain dealer for more information.

www.trouwnutrition.ca

Hensall Co-op Londesboro 519-523-9606 800-265-9000 Zurich 519-236-7155 800-565-7155

Dauphin Feed & Supply

Nieuwland Feed & Supply Ltd.

Dungannon

Listowel

519-529-7951 800-665-5675

519-291-5795 800-265-3229

Walton

Drayton

519-887-6023

519-638-3008 800-263-9818

Ripley

Elora

519-395-5955 855-895-5955

Yantzi Feed & Seed

Mitchell

Tavistock

519-348-8752 800-669-3502

519-655-2033

Alisa Craig 519-232-4449

519-846-5354 800-265-5354 The Hitching Post (2019) Ltd. St. Marys 519-284-2360