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L E T T E R SPoor reporting and innuendo in October cover storyHow can a farm publication justify abusive enforcement as a means of improving the lot of farmers? The answer is with innuendo, rumours and one-sided reporting as illustrated in your October cover story, “Law and the Orderly Marketing Cops.” It is evident from the article that marketing boards place greater priority and devotion of resources to enforcement and that their original objective is now lost in the shadows of power. The objective of expanding and finding new markets, and increasing profitability for farmers, is dead in today’s marketing boards. Enforcement is so all-encompassing and consuming that some marketing boards seek to destroy small family farms to deceive their members about the reality of diminishing markets and continually diminishing returns. How much does enforcement cost? It was a question the marketing boards could not answer except by saying that “our enforcement staff is kept busy on a regular basis, and we have files pending.” Although the cost of enforcement is not mentioned, the consequences are seen and heard everywhere. The cost is the eventual destruction of all Canadian farmers and farming in a police state. Does it feel good that your neighbour is eaten by the enforcement crocodile? You had better enjoy the moment, for the enforcement crocodile will have to be fed tomorrow, and one day the menu will include you. To dissect the litany of falsehoods and innuendos in Don Stoneman’s article would take a response of equal length. However, a few examples will give testimony to poor reporting. The Ontario Landowners Association (OLA) has never advocated nor promoted violence, although some urban media types confuse individual resolve and personal conviction as dangerous behaviour. No Landowner member has ever become violent or caused harm to people or property during an OLA activity or under the auspices of the OLA. However, you quote Mark Beaven of the Egg Farmers of Ontario (EFO) as saying: “They know where I live. They know I have a kid.” My own personal address is in the phonebook and on the internet. Should I be worried that Beaven knows how to surf the net or read a phonebook, and will he attack OLA members, because he is literate? Nor was Beaven taunted, as he stayed far to the rear on March 23 (during the raid on Harry Carmichael’s farm), unless he had police officers to hide behind. Stoneman says that Carmichael was suspected of “selling ungraded eggs without authorization.” Carmichael was a certified egg grader, “A” registered and licensed by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency at the time, and this fact is clearly stated in the court documents. A further example of falsehoods is the allegation by George MacNaughton of Dairy Farmers of Ontario that landowners sold cheese “not safe for human consumption”. Provide the evidence, Mr. MacNaughton, and take the Landowners to court if you have the courage to stand behind your allegations. Not once were any landowners, Carmichael or his family and neighbours interviewed for this article to offer an opposing perspective. Neither were other witnesses interviewed for their first hand accounts. Such blatant partisanship in a publication is expected in Tass or Pravda, but not in Canada. The attached sworn affidavit (one of 25) and pictures attest to the fact that thousands of hens were killed due to the actions of Beavan, EFO and the CFIA. Add up the facts. Better Farming appears to be another deceptive label, much like “marketing board,” which disguises whom they actually serve and represent. It is not farmers.Randy Hillier Farmers resent the ‘welfare’ tagRe: “Message to farmers: get used to hearing about farm ‘welfare’” by Barry Wilson (Better Farming Aug/Sept 2006), there is a huge difference between farm aid and general welfare. Farm aid is taxable, whereas general welfare is tax-free. We resent being grouped in with welfare recipients. Farmers work their butts off and have no input as to what they receive for commodities. Welfare recipients sit on their butts and whine about not receiving enough welfare. They should try farming for a living.Agnes MacKinnon Keep the music playing!I would like to add a bit to Campbell Cork’s “Rural Roots” article in the August-September issue about the CKNX Barn Dance. The final broadcast from Formosa in 1963 was not the end of the story! When TV came to rural Ontario, being able to see and hear performers like those on CKNX without leaving our living rooms changed the entertainment scene drastically, so CKNX began to concentrate on country music TV shows such as “Western Roundup,” “Circle 8 Ranch” and “Goodtime Country” to keep the music playing. When these shows ended in the early 1980s, manager Barn Dance and MC Johnny Brent regularly organized Barn Dance Reunion shows each year since then, featuring as many as possible of the original Barn Dance performers, along with younger players. Our Campout Weekend, held each May in Blyth, on the weekend after Victoria Day, has been very successful and 2007 will be a special tenth anniversary Campout. Current projects include production of a DVD of the 2006 Blyth show and a Barn Dance Documentary. Please check our website (www.thebarndance.ca) for the latest details. We are determined to keep the music playing!Ron Coulthard, Construction Association wants municipalities to improve sewageFor the past six years my firm has been working with the Heavy Construction Association for Niagara studying municipal infrastructure issues (see www.hcarn.com for past studies). I read with great interest your Focus on the Environment article which concludes that agriculture is only one of many sources of Lake Huron pollution in the October 2005 issue of Better Farming. One of the current issues that the Construction Association is raising here in Niagara is the poor record of area municipalities regarding sewer overflows (both reported at the sewer treatment plants and unreported through discharge into various creeks, streams and parklands). Will you be running a follow up to the 2005 article? If so when?George Barkwell, CA, CMC
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