Murray Cochrane for President Cochrane, Temiskaming: Bill Muggler
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N.E.O.S.C.I.A. - Executive President: Janet Parsons . (705) 753-0730 Secretary/Treasurer: Morley Shepherdson . (705) 647-7108 Ontario Soil & Crop Association (in Northeastern Ontario) WINTER 08/09 Regional Directors A Publication of the North Eastern Ontario Soil & Crop Improvement Association (NEOSCIA) Algoma, Manitoulin, Sudbury: Murray Cochrane . (705) 842-5622 Nipissing, Parry Sound, Muskoka: Janet Parsons . (705) 753-0730 Murray Cochrane for President Cochrane, Temiskaming: Bill Muggler . (705) 647-8474 by Sharon Lane, Regional Correspodent to “Breaking Ground” Murray Cochrane, District Soil & Crop Assoc. Contacts first vice-president Algoma: of Ontario Soil and Harold Stewart . (705) 842-0392 Crop Improvement Cochrane North: Bob Landis . (705) 272-6306 Association (OSCIA), Cochrane South: w a s b o r n a n d Jim Clarke . (705) 232-4759 raised on a mixed Manitoulin: farming opera - Birgit Martin . (705) 282-1334 Muskoka: tion at Ivy, south Kenneth Riley . (705) 764-1695 of Barrie, Ontario. Nipissing West/Sudbury East: He attended the Gerald Beaudry . (705) 594-9149 U n i v e r s i t y o f Parry Sound/Nipissing East: Klaus Wand . (705) 724-2314 G u e l p h w h e r e Sudbury West: he met his wife, Mack Emiry . (705) 865-2249 Norma Seabrook of Temiskaming: Thessalon Twp., and in 1980, they Manitoulin and Sudbury districts. Dennis Jibb . (705) 563-8405 moved to her parent’s farm west His presidency is expected to be of Thessalon. Norma and Murray ratified at the annual meeting Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, are the third generation to farm of the OSCIA in Niagara Falls in Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) at this location. Norma’s grandfa- February 2009. Northern Ontario Regional Office Commencing at the annual Ontario Ministry of ther bought the farm in 1916. The Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Cochranes were dairy farmers until meeting in February, the eight P O. Box 521, Hwy . 64 1995 when they switched to a cow local Soil and Crop Improvement Caldwell Township Building Verner, ON P0H 2M0 /calf beef operation. They current- Associations in the Northeastern TOLL FREE / General Inquiry . 800-461-6132 ly finish about 1/3 to _ for freezer Region will be represented by one FAX . (705) 594-9675 trade sales, and the rest are sold director. A committee, chaired by firstname .lastname@ontario .ca at the fall Thessalon Cattle Sale. Janet Parsons, has come up with Regional Manager, Northern Ontario a business plan to deal with the Mary Ellen Norry Car They also grow horse hay as a cash crop. The majority of the forages, distances and improve communica- Regional Administrative Coordinator Diane Unger small grains and corn are fed on tions in the Northeastern Region. Part of the business plan was to Client Service Representative their farm. Monique Roberge Murray has been a director for the create a “caravan of excellence” Acting Agricultural Representative Algoma Soil and Crop Improvement that would bring specialists to Shanna James Association (ASCIS) since 1985 each of the eight districts in the Agricultural Business Management Specialist as well as a member of both the region to discuss such topics as nu- Julie Poirier Mensinga Algoma Cattlemen Association trient management and hoe skills THESSALON and the Algoma Milk Committee. on growing crops like corn soy- 1 Collver Road, RR #1, beans, forages, small grains and Thessalon, ON P0R 1L0 He has been a director of OSCIA Agricultural Representative . Dave Trivers since 2002, representing Algoma, Continued on page 24 GORE BAY Box 328, 35 Meredith Street, NOTE: Sponsors/Advertisers needed for coming year. $500 for 4 issues! Gore Bay, ON P0P 1H0 Agricultural Representative . Brian Bell This newsletter is published Material in this newsletter Send articles to: 4 times per year. Articles is based upon factual Graham Gambles NEW LISKEARD Box 6008, 280 Armstrong Street, can be submitted in either information believed to be Box 586, Temiskaming New Liskeard, ON P0J 1P0 English or French and accurate. Action taken as a Shores, ON P0J 1K0 Client Service Rep. (Casual) . Michelle Menard should be submitted to the result of this information Tel: (705) 672-3105 Agricultural Representative . Daniel Tassé Communication Coordinator is solely the responsibility Fax: (705) 672-5959 Regional Livestock Specialist . .Barry Potter (see below). Please supply of the user. We reserve the E-Mail: gamblesgraham@ Beef Cattle Production Systems translation, if available. right to edit articles. yahoo.ca Program Lead . Tom Hamilton 1 “Growing Your COMING EVENTS • Wed., Jan.21/09 (a.m.) Algoma Soil & Crop Improvement Association Opportunities” Conference will hold its Annual General Meeting at the Bruce Station Hall. by Sharon Lane, Regional Correspodent to “Breaking Ground” Contact Harold Stewart (705-842- 0392) for specifics. Northern Ontario Agri-Food Education & Marketing Inc. sponsored “Growing Your • NEOSCIA will hold its 43rd annual Opportunities” conference in Sudbury, November 29, 2008 with an overflowing crowd. The keynote speaker, Margaret Webb, the author of Apples & Oysters: A Food Lover’s Conference & Trade Show on April Tour of Canadian Farms, spoke on “Who’s Your Farmer?” 3&4, 2009, at the Earlton arena. Ms. Webb said that everyone could answer the question “Who’s your doctor?” or Known locally as the Earlton Farm “Who’s your financial planner?” or even “Who’s your personal trainer?” but no one Show, this event attracted over could answer “Who’s your farmer?” To her, the farmer is the most important person 1400 people last year. Almost 90 in the food chain. vendors participated in the tra- The reality of the farmers situation was brought home to her during the August 2003 ditional Trade Show and the new Blackout in Toronto. She thought that it was fun at first being able to see the stars and Maple Syrup & Crafts Show. Farmers using candlelight; then she started to worry about not being able to buy food, not be- from ALL DISTRICTS are encour- ing able to get money and the safety of Toronto’s water. She went to the family farm aged to participate in the Forage, only to realize that the crops were gone, the beef cattle were gone and her mother’s Seed, & Potato Show. garden was gone. The crops were replaced by genetically modified ones. The beef cattle were now in large feedlots. Her vegetables had to come from foreign countries. Canadian farmers do not produce a great deal of our food. Canada has a $4 million food deficit. In 2007, the book The 100-Mile Diet: A Year of Local Eating was published and people accepted the idea whole-heartedly. Webb realized that people wanted local food and were willing to pay for it. Farmers’ Market began to be popular. Chefs wanted local Best Canadian ingredients for their menus. But, according to Ms. Webb, the local farmer was missing because of the economic challenges; they were going bankrupt or leaving the family farms. She stated that the average age of a farmer in Ontario today is 53. The way of the future is “environmentally sustainable farming”. Clean farming practices Wishes reduce the cost to governments. Organic farming actually produces more food, meets the climate challenge and vitalizes rural communities. In referring to Hugh MacLennan’s book Two Solitudes, she says today the two solitudes are not the English and French but for the the urban and rural; the city folks are disconnected to their food source, the farmer. Ms. Webb feels that the large industrialized farmers are only concerned about their input costs and the yield so they use genetically modified seed, chemicals, drugs and growth hormones. They are not concerned about the taste of the food, or the damage Season they do to the environment or people’s health. Ms. Webb quoted a startling statistic: only 7% of the $1 that is spent for food is for the from the actual food; the rest is for the middlemen. The city people and the farmers must work together to have local organic food. It will Northern Ontario probably mean coming up with new ways and new models. According to the keynote speaker, farms in the future must be small, biodiverse and environmentally sustainable. Staff of OMAFRA DAVIES BBRROOWWNNLLEEEE EEQQUUIIPPMMEENNTT Farm Succession Planning Serving Northern Ontario for over 30 years! Retirement Planning Agricultural & Industrial (705) 563-2212 15564 Muirkirk Line www.bequip.ca [email protected] RR#2 Muirkirk, ON N0L 1X0 HWY. 11 N., EARLTON, ONTARIO Office: 519-678-3862 SALES & LEASING • RENTALS & CONTRACTING Len Davies CFP CLU CIP EPC CAFA Member of Million Dollar Round Table Home: 519-678-3237 2 Breaking Ground (in Northeastern Ontario) PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. StratfordTo find one near you and to register, Agri Analysiscall FCC at 1-888-332-3301 or sign up at In association with www.AgriSuccess.ca or at your local FCC RESOURCES • E-BulletinNorthern Feed & Supplies Ltd.office. New Liskeard Parry Sound, Nipissing, Sudbury East Resources Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Please note that the targetO fpublicationfers 1. New & revised publications Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) date of this bulletin isOMAFR the firstA accredited Friday of each month. Submissions for the Northern Ontario Regional Soil Sampling & AnalysisAvailable through Northern Ontario bulletin and requests to subscribe/un- Regional Office @ 1-800-461-6132 Office (NORO) subscribe may be Yforwardedour key tto:o better Toll Free: 1-800-461-6132 [email protected]. Factsheets Fax: 705-594-9675 Yield 1. Nutrient Management Act 2002, Profit Site Characterization Study for the ManagingExcellence Upcoming Local Events: Stewardship Construction of Permanent Nutrient 1. 11th Annual Beef Industry Convention 5. Step Up to Leadership Storage Facilities, January 8-10, 2009 January 30 – FebruaryCall 1,Jaso 2009n at Agdex 729 Four Points Sheraton, London 6.