CORN IS THE BIN BUSTER
ACROSS EASTERN ONTARIO

  THEY SAID IT:       

"I would go even bigger to a 50-stall." — Hillside Farms owner Jeff Pietersma on what he would do differently if the calender were turned back two years when he was about to install a $500,000 36-stall rotary milking parlour.

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VIDEOS YOU'LL LOVE OR CRY OVER
How Not to Market Your Corn
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  LINKS:

OMAFRA
ONTARIO CORN PRODUCERS
ONTARIO SOYBEAN PRODUCERS
ONTARIO CATTLEMEN'S ASSOCIATION
ONTARIO FEDERATION OF AGRICULTURE
NATIONAL FARMERS UNION
CHRISTIAN FARMERS FED. OF ONTARIO
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AWARD WINNERS OTTAWA VALLEY SEED GROWERS' MARCH 14, 2007

01 Brian, Robert Nation Valley Potato Growers' Trophy for the Championship Exhibitor of Potatoes Won byVogeldale Farms, Leeds County accepted by Max Vogel Presented by Daryl Acres	02 Gail, Jim, Susie, Grahame Class 1 Alcyon Oats - won by Barclay Dick & Son accepted by Jim Arbuckle, OVSGA Director Class 4 Sable Spring Wheat – won by Grahame & Steve Hardy, accepted by Grahame Hudson Class 8 OAC Championship Soybeans – won by Marc Bercier, Accepted by Susie LeSauteur
03 Brian Hudson, Bob Dick Barclay Dick Challenge Trophy for the best exhibit of Red Clover Won by Bruce & Brian Hudson, Carleton County accepted by Brian Hudson Presented by Bob Dick, OVSGA Director	04 Susie, Jim Lanark Mutual Insurance Company for the most points in the pedigreed Classes   Won by Marc Bercier, Prescott County accepted by Susie LeSauteur Presented by Jim Lowry
05 Gail, Grahame Robertson Associate Trophy awarded to the Champion Exhibitor in the Pedigreed Coarse Grain Classes Won by Grahame & Steve Hardy, Dundas County accepted by Grahame Hardy Presented by Gail Harris	06 Phil, Graham SECAN Trophy most points in Pedigreed Wheat Won by Grahame & Steve Hardy, Dundas County accepted by Grahame Hardy Presented by Gail Harris
07 Brent, Phil Bishop Farm Seeds Plaque Exhibitor winning championship in the Barley Class Won by Mount Airy Farm, Leeds County, accepted by Joe Modler Presented by Brent Cochrane	08 Gary, Keith Mrs Ed Wallace & Issac Wallace Challenge Trophy for the Championship Hay Exhibit Won by Gary Gordon, Frontenac County Presented by Keith Lackey, OVSGA Director
09 Brian, Jim Hal Botham Memorial Trophy warded annually to the Championship Exhibitor of Forage Seeds Won by Bruce & Brian Hudson, Carleton County accepted by Brian Hudson Presented by Jim Arbuckle, OVSGA Director	10 James, Keith OVSG challenge for the Champion exhibit of Haylage Won by James Foster, Lanark County Presented by Keith Matthie, OVSGA Director
11 Jim, Daniel E.H. Wallace Memorial Trophy for the Champion exhibit of Soybeans Won by Daniel Lillico, Dundas County Presented by Jim Arbuckle, OVSGA Director	12 Daryl, Max synAgri Trophy for Championship open & 4-H ear of Corn Won byVogeldale Farms, Leeds County accepted by Max Vogel Presented by Daryl Acres
13 Dave, Don Embrun Agricultural Co-Op Trophy for the Champion Exhibit of Shelled Corn Won by David & Allen Hess, Grenville County, accepted by David Hess Presented by Don Lortie	14 Lois, Mack, Trevor Mack & Lois James Award for the most points in the 4-H section field crop classes Won by Trevor McDiarmid, Dundas County Presented by Mack & Lois James
15 Gary, Bob Hay Quality Competition (Class 49 First Place won by Gary Gordon, Frontenac County Presented by Bob Dick, OVSGA Director	16 France, Bob Second Place won by Ferme Gascon accepted by France Gascon Presented by Bob Dick, OVSGA Director
17 John, Keith Special Export Hay (Class 50) 1st cut won by Rob Nanne, Twin Peaks Farm, Lanark County accepted by John Nanne Presented By Keith Matthie, OVSGA Director	18 Cecil, Keith 2nd cut won by Cassbrae farms, Prescott County accepted by Cecil Cass Presented By Keith Matthie, OVSGA Director
19 Melanie, John John Posthumus Award for the most points in the 4-H section Life Skills classes Won by Melanie Briscoe, Renfrew County Presented by John Posthumus

  By Patrick Meagher

PHOTO CONTEST

OPINION 

• What's a farmer to do in winter? Survey says...
  From tinkering, to cutting wood, to watching TV , reading and knitting, here’s what farmers do when they have free time.

• Have we reached a new corn plateau?
  The days of cheap corn are gone. Or are they? Here's what needs to be considered before we'll know for sure.

 ARTICLES 

• Russians are coming for more beef
  We seen more than 5,000 cattle head to Russian and Kazakhstan this year. Now a Russian group is in eastern Ontario looking to buy more. They stopped at Bob Dick's Renfrew County farm last month.
   

• Banner year for OFA
  Interview Ontario Federation of Agriculture president Geri Kamenz on what has been accomplished and what's next on the agenda.
   

• Death of Vankleek Hill hero
  Beef farmer and sometimes lay preacher Rodney Maclaren was killed Nov. 19 at age 57 when his tractor rolled over.
   

• Landowner groups face membership exodus
   We've heard there have been 15,000 to 20,000 members of landowner associations across the province. The reality is there are only about 3,100.
   

• Seaway investors to get money back for Christmas
  About 1,000 investors, mostly farmers, in the proposed Cornwall ethanol plant will be getting 98 per cent of their investment back — that's about $7.5 million — and the funds are to be mailed out before Christmas.
   

• Three cheers for rotary parlours
  Two years ago these eastern Ontario farmers put in rotary parlours. What do they think now? They love it. Find out why.
   

• Why Canadian dollar doesn't harm Canadian eggs
  An analyst explains.
   

• BSE crisis was caused by lack of vision
  Charlie Gracey analysis the mess that caused the crisis.
   

• When is a bull dangerous?
  And when does a young bull lose its charm?
   

• McCrimmon was near death, days after Royal win
   Don McCrimon was front page news in the November issue of Farmers Forum for owning prize show cows. McCrimmon's Holstein herd was tops in Ontario at the Toronto Royal. Soon after, McCrimmon was in the intensive care unit at the Ottawa General Hospital.
   

• Newman defends CAIS but wants changes
  Ottawa Cattlemen's Association executive member and North Gower farmer John Newman speaks out.
   

• Elmhirsts dominate two breeds at Royal
  Billy Elmhirst is king of the Simmental and Hereford breeds.
   

• Great bulls are as rare as hockey's 'Great One'
  It takes four years to prove that you've got a winning bull or not. Hee's what the breeders say about the search for a bull with millionaire semen.

Stories for our subscribers:

• Passion in farming is in our youth
  Christina Crowley wins $1,000 and top honours in the Canadian wide Canadian Young Speakers for Agriculture competition. She was among 26 competitors spoke about the passion of youth and their future in agriculture.
   

• James sisters honour father in Royal sheep win
  Jenna and Shanna, of Russell, git'r done.
   

• Amazing Enrights heading for Denver
  Renfrew siblings — three of them — kick butt at competitions across the province.
   

• Stray voltage conundrum
  How can you really know if stray voltage is affecting milk production?
   

• Keys to cow-calf profits
  They're in economies of scale and your ability to market, says U of Guelph study