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L} How and why our beef escaped mad cow disease Is beef safe to eat in Canada? Yes. Bovine spongiform enchephalopathy (BSE) is a British issue and does not affect the Canadign consumer. Canadian consumers can continue to be confident in the safety @nd wholesomeness of our product. Why is BSE not an issue in Canada? ' We do not import beef or live cattle from the UK or any country considered to have BSE infected cattle. Canada also prohibits the importation of any frozen * beef, or bone or bonemeal from BSE" infected countries. Plants in the UK which produce processed _ meats, suchas canned 'meats, for export.to Canada, must source their beef from countries which are non BSE infected countries. Canada has not imported fresh or frozen beef from the UK since the early 80's. In order to export beef into Cpnada, foreign plants must meet Agriculture and agri-Food Canada's stringent standards to be licehsed for export to Canada. No plants in the UK have qualified, and no fresh or frozen beef hds been imported from the UK irfmore than 15 years. =~" What steps did Canada take to ensure the safety of beef products? In 1990, Canada and the US placed a ban on all imports of cattle from the UK and any pther country infected with BSE. All cattle that had been imported to Carrada prior to this ban were closely 'monitored by the government. In 1993, when one UK import showed signs of BSE, the government took extraordinary control measures. All. animals which may have been at risk were put down including the dihgnosed animal, its herd, its offspring and all animals imported from the UK prior to the 1990 ban. + Were these \. steps warranted? 3 Ensuring the health of the Canadian public and the cattle herd is our number one priority. While some considered the measures overly cautious and even too stringent, the actions were warrantéd to assure that BSE would not be a health risk in Canada. | In the UK, the source of the BSE outbreak in cattle is thought to be the feeding of by-products from sheep infected with the disease \ scrapie. Do similar conditions exist * ¢ in Canada? * No. The circumstances that led to the contamination of cattle feeds from infected sheep in England do not exist in Canada. Here's way: * Of the 40 million sheep in'the UK, one out of every three of these animals is thought tq, be inf with scrapie. * In Canada, where the sheep population is less than 1 million, there are only a handful of cases from year to year. . * Canada-has a scrapie control program; the UK does not. . "* Canada's program has been in place for more than 50 years. In Canada, any sheep infected with scrapie are removed from the food system. Infected sheep catcasses and by-prdducts are burned or buried. ( Beef Information Centre of Ontario) Part of Scugog Township in Ontario survey of trees The Ontario Atlas Project - surveyors, the project would is a five-year. collaborative' not be ible. Ontario has project between The a huge amount of land that Arboretum, University of Guelph and Genetic Heritage Program, Ontario Forest Research Institute. This province-wide survey, _ to determine the "distribution and relative abundance of Ontario's trees, uses the abilities of volunteers to collect data. Without she help of dedicated volunteer needs to be covered! Ideally, each volunteer agrees to survey a 10 km. X 10 km. survey square. The size of the area sounds daunting, but it is well within the capabilities of a single volunteer to handle. Anyone wishing to survey with a . partner, or in a group is welcome to do so. Each tree species, that is found in the . Historic cabins on their way to Scugog Museum Plans are underway to add to the historic buildings at Scugog Shores Museum. Township council was told Monday an 1832 two storey, family cabin from the ~ Newmarket area and a small settlers cabin from * add these two buildings. They will be located between the grounds proper and the historic church, he said, and the Harness Shop will be re-located from its present location to a spot close to Scugog Island will be moved the two cabins. to the grounds later this . Also at Monday's meeting, spring. coupcil was told that the Paul Arculus, Historjcal M; badly needs a new Society president said a, administrative and archives benefactor who wishes to storage remain anonymous will pay for moving the Puterbough family cabin from Newmarket and contribute * to the annual maintenance of this building. Mr. Arculus said the cost of moving the Rodman cabin on Scugog Island will be covered by Museum funds, "Having these two cabins would be great for: the yMuseum if we can get Fund-raising for 'his project is to start this year and continue until the Year 2,000. Art Richardson asked couptil if the Township would consider selling the school house (now used by 'the Museum fpr storage) at Concession Ten and turn the funds from the sale over to the Museum to be used for the new office and hip per " saids Mr. Arculus. , sCouncillors reacted very { favourably to the plans to Council said it will look into the possibility of selling the old schoolhouse, Museum area, is recorded along with an abundance estimate. * Information dealing with habitat type, specific location, and the tree's physical characteristics is requested only if the species is considered rare or difficult to'identify. Data may also be submitted on a casual basis, without committing to-an entire survey square. A typical survey square takes approximately 30 hours to complete (depending on its location and~ the data collector's familiarity with the area). Data collection will continue until Mine 1998; survey effgrt rifay be spread out until then if needed. The first 10 X 10 km. area to be surveyed in the Durham Region is the east side of Lake Scugog, from the eastern shore of the island south to Nestleton. This area includes significant wetlands and. woods important to migrating Birds and wildlife, This project will be undertaken on evenings and weekends by Andrea Clarke, who is the Pest anagemeént Advisor at tHe OMAFRA office in Port Perry. She will begin her survey this spring." A volunteer package, or further information may |. be obtained by contacting: Rob Guthrie, Co-ordinator, Prof. Alan Watson, Director, Ontario Tree Atlas Project, The Arboretum, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1. . yéar _ veteran my" Scugog Citizen -- Tuesday, April 16, 1996--35 & Farm Family of the Year Farming Is very much a family atfalr these days and the Durham Federation of Agriculture has Initiated a new Farm Family of the Year award. For 1996, this award goes to Brian and Marion DeGeer and their two sons Jeremy and Rodney. The presentation was made by Durham Federation president Howle Herrema (far left) at the annual banquet held in Nestleton' recently. The DéGeers operate a beef feedlot at Leaskdale In Uxbridge Township. OFA responds to latest round of funding ' LJ . Ontario Federation of Agriculture President Tony Morris is saddened and cautiously rélieved by news of the latest budget cuts to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. * "On the one hand I feel relieved and somewhat satisfied that our campaign' to save existing agritultural _ programs seems to have worked. It appears the farm tax rebate program has been preserved at least for the present, and I'm thankful safety net programs remain intact. But on the other hand I am saddened to hedr of the huge job losses the ministry will suffer in order to achieve this further $35M budget reduction. "Many of us have worked with Ministry staff for years and their presence will be missed by farmers acroff, the province. The likely result will be the closing of several county OMAF offices to be replaced by regional cefitres offering fewer services with & less resources. This will be another blow to farmers and rural Ontario where most of those Ministry jobs are 'turrently located", Morris said. Morris, who was elected to his first term as Federation President in November of '95, is a five of the organization's executive committe.' He was 'reacting to a pre-budget announcement made in Toronto today by Deputy Ken Knox who outlined a urther, 8.1% cuty in spending" for 4 the Agriculture Ministry. Knox's dnnouncement whith pegged thé cut at $35M revealed that the saving would be achieved primarily through the elimination of jobs, with an estimated 'net decrease of 540. Fie "Now the hard work really begins," Morris said. "As a result of the cooperation and efforts of Ontario «Commodity "Groups and out ability to get the rural caucus of the government to listen, we have 'succ: d'in'saving the programs, and while we can't be expected to pick up the slack we will have to be prepared for the chhllenges these changes - will bring. "I think this will mark the beginning of a flew era for the OFA in achieving its adership goals as the primary voice and farm organization for all Ontario farmers. Now more than ever farmers will have to, stand together if they are to "be heard. As governments at all levels continue to back away from rural issues and responsibilities the role of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture becomes ever more critical for our industry to grow and prosper. We look forward to that challenge . and we are prepared to meet it." Since July of 1995 budget cuts tot he Ministry have * totalled $61M, with this most recent announcement bringing the total down to $401M annually, approximately 15% below the total in July of 1995. Going "to July of 1990 when Ministry's budget was "just under $600, annually, the cuts to date total $200M, approximately 30%, _That perfect roast of pork Good food and good company are the main ingredients of a Sunday dinner. Often it is one of the few meals the family manages to enjoy together. However, the.wonderful aroma of a park roast cooking ensures that even the busiest family b the least waste . * ghoulder roasts are the most economical * crown roasts and racks of pork are impressive to, 4 re serve to guests Pork cooking tips: * insert meat thermometer into centre of roast, not ing bone won't miss this meal. Here are some tips on how to buy and cook pork Awoasts and a roasting guide which Will guarantee pork roasts become your family's favourite Sunday dinner. . Pork buying tips: * allow 1/2 pound (500 g) per adult ¢ . * the lean raw meat should be firm, moist and pink in colour * the thin layer of fat, if present, should be firm . and white . * boneless roasts have in a 325 F (160 C) preheated oven * cook loin or leg roast 20 minutes / 1b. (500 g) or until thermometer reads 160 F (70 C) * cook shoulder roast 30? 35 minutes / 1b (500 g) or until thermometer reads . 170 F (76 C) * cook pork tenderloin in a 375 F (190 C) preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes total cooking time ry * when cooked, remove roast from oven, cover { meat loosely with foil and slice after 10 minutes. . oo. or * -n