The Rainy River Federation of Agriculture seems to have weathered the worst of the storm and is looking forward to sunny skies in 2004—though not right away.
That was the message president Bernie Zimmerman delivered to the members at the RRFA’s annual dinner Saturday night (Oct. 25).
“I don’t see cattle moving over the [U.S.] border until February or March,” Zimmerman told those on hand at the Emo Legion to review the past year and elect a new board.
Member Services director Betty Salchert echoed those sentiments, but added some good news by pointing out construction on a temporary bridge at Sioux Narrows was proceeding on schedule and so that particular bottleneck to livestock shippers will be open soon.
“We believe the bridge should be finished by Jan. 1,” Salchert told the crowd.
The bridge—a vital link between the west end of the district and Highway 17—has been restricted to light loads since the severe structural deterioration was discovered in September.
The added distance and expense of taking an alternate route via Highway 502 to Dryden has been further complicated by the inability to ship cattle through the U.S. to markets in western Canada.
Salchert said the provincial federation has been in constant touch with the federal government.
It also will be contacting Ontario’s new agriculture minister, Steve Peters, to expedite normal trade relations with the U.S., which have been severely curtailed since the discovery in May of a single Alberta cow infected with BSE (mad cow disease).
“We need a return to full trade with the U.S.,” stressed Salchert.
On a brighter note, the finances of the RRFA appeared to be in good shape. Once again, the financial statement showed a slight surplus on the books, which Zimmerman said might be applied to the agri-food education committee.
Also on Saturday’s agenda was the election of a new executive. Zimmerman was re-elected for another term as president while Salchert retained her post as director of member services.
Zimmerman also will be the RRFA’s official delegate to the OFA convention in Toronto next month.
Linda Armstrong is the new recording secretary, as well as a director in Zone 1 (west end) and the alternate delegate to the OFA convention.
Rudy Sinninghe and Christine Carpenter are the new Zone 2 directors, with James Gibson and Clayton Teeple being elected in Zone 3. Kim Jo Bliss and Martin Smith are the new directors in Zone 4.
Shirley Morrish is the new reporter for the RRFA’s newsletter, the Rural Voice. Dianna Gamsby and Anna Boily once again will officially review the financial statements next year.
The highlight of the evening was a presentation by guest speaker Bill Creech, a cattle rancher from Alberta.
Creech, who winters up to 1,200 head on his 3,900-acre spread near Lloydminster, brought some western perspective to the challenges of cattle producers in Canada.
Unlike many farmers in Rainy River district, Creech’s entire income is from his farm. In order to make that possible, he’s found ways to cut costs.
For instance, he uses few mechanized vehicles on his ranch. Instead, in true western tradition, he and his hands do much of their work on horseback.
“If you’re going to work for John Deere, you might as well do it from 9 to 5,” he reasoned.
Creech said he also derives $10,000 per year in revenue from surface leases to oil companies. He also has 400 acres seeded for feed crops.
Creech has more than 2,200 acres of grass for grazing and rotates his stock every 10 days to two weeks. That, he says, is essential to getting the most of the available land without overtaxing it.
“We make use of every blade of grass,” he stressed.
RRFA members appeared to take note of the fact Creech does not bed his cattle in the winter, thus saving more money. He said he has ample evidence the practice not only does the animals no harm, it actually seems to improve their condition—even during the harsh prairie winter.
“It’s cheaper to give them an extra half-a-pound a day of barley than to buy straw,” he insisted.
Another innovation Creech suggested was branding. In the western provinces (Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba), there are provincial laws that require all market animals to have registered brands.
That, he says, cuts down on people trying to sell stolen animals—a problem that is greater out there because of the vast expanse of space and a greater number of animals.
“Under the brand law, when a steer is sold at auction, the cheque is held until the owner of the brand has been identified,” Creech noted. “If it turns out to be someone else, that person gets the cheque.”
Creech concluded his presentation with a series of slides of his operation and then fielded questions from the audience.
(Fort Frances Times)
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
