The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

16 Section 2 of The Canadian Statesman, Newcastle Independent, Wednesday, April 6,1983 Dairy Farms Farming Hag Changed Considerably Over the Years Think Metric Have Come a Long Way in Past 30 Years By Jan Visser, Dairy Fieldman, Dairy Inspection Br., Ontario Ministry of Agriculture âtFood, Bowmanville, Ontario It is fitting that when we celebrate the 125th Anniversary Anniversary of Bowmanville, that we also take a look back at one of the great industries serving this town and general area. This industry is the Dairy Industry - from production of milk and cream - to transportation transportation - to processing of this product - to marketing and consumption. Production starts at the dairy farms, which are all over the area surrounding the population centres in this Region and beyond. Dairy farms have come a long way in the last 30 years. We have seen farm operations progress from small operations operations shipping milk in cans, to today's operations on a larger scale. Storing fresh milk in bulk-tank coolers for every- other-day pickup, by well trained and certified bulk tank milk graders, who, in order to move around, make use of these clean, well-maintained milk trucks, which move high quality milk from farm to processing plant. Most of the milk produced in this area ends up in a package destined to be consumed in fluid state. One processing plant taking in a large amount of milk, is the Beatrice Food Ltd., Dairy Processing Plant in Oshawa. Producing a high quality milk has never been an easy task. Today, when highly complicated harvesting methods are used, the task of a dairy farmer is more complicated than ever, and as such, we must, therefore, salute our dairy farmers for the excellent job they are doing, providing a basic product, product, so essential to our physical physical wellbeing. We, also, salute the men in the trucks who transport this high quality milk from farm to plant. The task these men are expected to carry out is a very important one, in as much, as they are the guardians of quality. r At the dairy plant, plant milk graders, trained and certified by the Dairy Inspection Inspection Branch of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food, the same as the men on the trucks, check the total load of milk as to quality before the milk enters the huge storage silos, and from thereon goes through the pasteurization process, followed by packaging packaging into the diverse package containers, and on to refrigerated refrigerated storage and finally to favorite retail outlet. All along during this process, process, many people have made sure that the high quality product product as produced on the farm remained that way until it is consumed. We are very fortunate that this dairy industry has men and women, who are dedicated dedicated to the principle of providing Nature's most "Perfect Food" at the best possible price. With Chemicals Producers should always think metric when working with agricultural chemicals. Since January, 1981, all agricultural chemicals chemicals sold in Canada have been packaged and labelled in metric. The use of metric only avoids possible confusion confusion when mixing and applying chemicals. It is far too easy to destroy destroy a crop by accidentally accidentally switching from metric to imperial measurements measurements while handling handling chemicals. Study Finished It's not like the old days ... no farmer, no stool, no bucket, no cold hands. The milk travels a series of sterilized pipes and is held for two days in a large sterile tank. Shelley says the milk is picked up every two days. No black sheep here ... these wooly types can't wait for warmer weather so they can scamper in account...the consumer price index, our costs, feed prices, labor costs. Statistics Canada provides those figures so that the formula can be calculated," calculated," says Neil. "The price of milk can fall if any of those factors decrease." The Ontario Milk Marketing Board operates two milk supply supply management systems - one for the fluid (table) milk market and one for the industrial industrial or manufacturing milk market. Depending on his involvement involvement in either of these mar-^ kets, the dairy farmer's in- the fields surrounding the Allin farm. Raising sheep is a hobby for Shelley Allin. From Page 14 dairy farm can be kept. The price paid to the farmer for his milk is based on the results of these tests. Tests for milk fat are also made at regular intervals. If a farmer's milk is below quality, quality, he can correct the reasons immediately. The pricing of milk has always been a controversial topic, say the Allins. "It's important to realize that the farmers don't set the prices. There is a pricing formula that takes many things into come will be altered. But the objective of the Board is clear -- to provide an opportunity for efficient producers to achieve incomes equal to comparable enterprises for management, investment and labor. The local committees discuss discuss the problems and concerns concerns of local producers. Any new policies to be established are discussed with the committees. committees. "The Board likes to get the response of the producers," producers," says Neil. Each committee is also responsible responsible for operating a Miss Dairy Princess Contest an nually. Shelley is in charge of the contest locally. ' 'The Dairy Princess contest promotes milk and good nutrition," nutrition," says Shelley. "The princess must be the daughter of a dairy farmer, the daughter daughter of a full-time employee of a dairy farmer, or an employee of a dairy farmer herself." The local princesses compete compete at the Canadian National Exhibition and the winner represents the Milk Marketing Board for one year. This year's contest will be held at the Durham Central Fair on Sept. 10. 3-YEAR PEST MANAGEMENT FEASABILITY STUDY COMPLETED By Catherine McKay The University of Guelph, in co-operation with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food sponsored a 3-year feas- ability study for an apple pest management program in Durham Region. Pest Management is an approach to crop production that has three main goals: (1) reduction reduction in the use of pesticides and the development of a sustainable sustainable pest control system; (2) production of high quality produce; (3) education of farmers regarding pests and pesticide usage. These goals are achieved by making use of all available information on pests, predators, predators, pesticides, crop development development and weather. Over 30 apple growers in Durham Region Region participated in this program program in 1982. We guaranteed them a weekly orchard check. Insect traps were located in 10 orchards and weather stations recording temperature, relative relative humidity and leaf wetting periods were located in 3 orchards. Information from all of the orchards was collected collected and analyzed by computer computer and by hand. Growers were advised using a 3-minute taped message updated five times a week. The phone number of this message is 623-4944. Growers were asked to keep accurate spray records and to make them available to us. Prior to the program, participating participating apple growers in the area were using approximately approximately 50 percent more insecticides insecticides than they now use. Our results indicate that fruit quality has not deteriorated and the apple growers have made significant savings on their costs of production. From all points of view, the program has been a success and may be extended to other commodities where heavy pesticide use is an integral part of crop production. New Agricultural Technology Centre Opened in Chatham A new agricultural technology technology centre opened in Chatham January 31st. The Ontario Centre for Farm Machinery and Food Processing Technology consolidates consolidates expertise, services and information about equipment equipment used in growing and processing agricultural and food commodities in one location. location. "To compete successfully in today's world market, we must be able to go up against the very best in that world," said Agriculture and Food Minister Dennis Timbrell. "There's only one way to win and that way is to keep up to date with the best technology and the best advice we can gather together." Timbrell, Industry and Trade Minister Gordon Walker Walker and Andy Watson (MPP - Chatham-Kent) participated in the opening ceremonies of the centre which is one of six technology centres funded by the Board of Industrial Leadership Leadership and Development (BILD). BILD has allocated $11 million million to the centre over the next five years and it is estimated revenues of $4.2 million will be generated for a net cost to BILD of $6.8 million. "The main focus of the centre will be directed toward small and medium-sized industries in both farm machinery and food processing," processing," said Timbrell. "Of course, we welcome an opportunity opportunity to develop relations with larger firms." The four key objectives of the centre are: to promote increased productivity, to develop, adapt and improve farm and food processing machinery for Ontario conditions, conditions, to increase exports and decrease imports, and to pro mote the competitive nature of Ontario industry through increased use of technology. Facilities at the pilot plan will évalua te'processing technique, technique, packaging and quality control primarily for fruit and vegetables. Computer simulation, simulation, and functioning machines machines will be studied to test and modify machinery for local conditions. Technical staff at the centre will also offer analysis and advice to clients with farm machinery and food processing processing problems. Education and training programs will be offered at the centre and in conjunction with colleges and universities. The centre, part of BILD's incentive to stimulate the development of high technology technology in the province, represents represents a co-operative effort by the machinery industry, government and farmers. "This centre is a natural extension and progression of the successful partnership that has flourished traditionally traditionally between our government and our agricultural sector," said Timbrell. The centre is one example of how BILD is creating partnerships partnerships with private enterprise. Other examples of such projects projects include $15 million toward toward job creation in tile drainage drainage and farm improvement programs; $12.7 million to increase increase the processing of Ontario-grown foods; and $4.1 million to improve packing, storage and handling of Ontario fresh fruit and vegetables. vegetables. Other incentives include $450,000 to increase asparagus planting, $280,000 to plant new fruit trees, $220,000 to provide high technology equipment for agricultural colleges, and $180,000 to streamline cream production in Ontario.