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No comparison -- Our sheep farms smaller than those in Australia _by Stefan Ruhl When it comes to sheep farm- ing, there's just no comparison between Australia and the Castor area, says a man who should know. Australian sheep farmer Brett Crook recently passed through the area as part of an International 4-H exchange program. He stayed with Martin Reichert, director of Russell County Junior Farmers. In Australia, the farming ap- proach is extensive while here, it's intensive, says Brett who expects to return home in January. . Australia is the world's largest producer of sheep for wool and mutton. An average size flock in Australia is about 3,000 head while 400 sheep here is considered a lot. Thanks to relatively warm weather, Australian. sheep can graze outside all year at little ex- pense to the farmer. They require a small amount of oats as sup- plementary feed. In Canada, hard winters mean the animals have to be brought in and. fed at least part of the year. This costs the Canadian farmer more to raise sheep and severely limits the number of sheep that can be kept. Brett saw snow for the first time in his life while he was in Russell. Australian sheep are about four and a half times cheaper than Canadian sheep. ; Dairy farming takes a distant second place in importance to sheep farming in Australia but the methods are the same, Brett said. The average herd is about 100 head on a 500-acre farm. The cows graze outside year round but they give only about two thirds as much milk as a Canadian cow because they only get small amounts of supplementary feed. Brett's farm, which he works with his father, has 6,500 acres and the same number of sheep. He also grows wheat and barley as a cash crop on 3,000 acres, rotating the crops every few years to keep the land from being exhausted. Brett, who toured the U.S. for six months before coming to Canada, says the U.S. and Canada are similar. But he notes Canada more closely resembles Australia because of their com- mon heritage with Great Britain. When he gets home Brett ex- pects to lecture to his fellow coun- . trymen and share his impressions of North America. 2M. INSULATION -- RR3 Russell, Ont. Installers of CMHC Approved RAPCO Foam & Cellulosic Wood Fibre. Liston Mclihagga RR3, Russell Ont. 445-5513 Complete Home Insulation Services offered FREE Estimates Rebates Available under CHIP program Roger Villeneuve RR2, Berwick, Ont. 987-5290 : Best Wishes of the Season the Poras (Nick, Virginia, Nikki, Leanna, Sandra, Nicholas, Jr.) Continental -- Mushrooms from and Staff at Metcalfe Looking forward to growing with the Castor area in 1980 Loral Brett Crook --Stefan Ruhl photo Farm women unite by Kim Seale 'Farm women are Canada's largest untapped resource, says the presi- dent of a local action group. 'Farm women are important because we provide man's most basic need -- food,"' says Dianne Harkin, head of Women for the Survival of Agriculture. ; Mrs. Harkin chaired part of the first annual Farm Women's con- ference held at the Chateau Laurier early this month. aie . The Winchester area resident called farm women a "driving force in agriculture and society.". - ""We're a force that deserves and demands recognition." Women from across the country attended the conference and tackled issues pertaining to their status and the problem of communicating agriculture to the public. i Guest speaker Eugene Whelan, ° Minister of Agriculture, told delegates to expect, retroactive tax changes which would translate into the right for them to earn a wage for farm work. Delegates receivea expert advice on how to lobby to influence decision-making and the preparation of briefs. JOHN CONSTRUCTION ' 448-2120 Home General Carpentry: Hardware Homes, Renovations, Siding | Home & Farm Buildings: Farm Supplies Roofs & Dry Wall Finishing * Russell MOREWOOD ae 448 . 448-2683 445-2191 e Our Local VICE & CRAIG Representatives: Funeral Homes PONTIAC BUICK Inc. Be = Rob McVey -- 526-0076 WETOALPE : Jim Senos -- 445-5372 821-2120 WINCHESTER NEW AND USED CARS AND TRUCKS 774-2120 GMC TRUCKS--DAILY RENTALS AND CHESTERVILLE LEASING 1492 Youville Dr. Orleans 824-8550 Eastern Ontario Graphics Ltd. stems "= Hwy. 43 By-pass Ontario CUSTOM PRINTING OFFICE SUPPLIES RUBBER STAMPS 448-21 37 WEDDING INVITATIONS MAGNETIC SIGNS Help Undo Metrication BUG your MP AND HELP US BRING THESE FACTS TO THE ATTENTION OF OTHER CANADIANS ai A coe yee oF ee ee oe ae