Feature Article September 25, 2002
LAND O' LAKES NewsWeb HomeContact Us
South Frontenac farmers on the Hay West bandwagonby Jeff Green When the idea of Hay West got started, the farmers were the first to jump on the wagon. In South Frontenac and the former Kingston Townships, a committee was struck on August 15 and commitments of hay soon followed.
It soon became clear, however, that transportation was the key issue. The federal government and CN have been the main sources of rail car sponsorship, but local municipalities have recently been asked for help in getting hay to the rail yard.
Dudley Shannon, a farmer from Sunbury and a committee member, says, basically the city of Kingston has given us everything we have asked for.
On September 16, Ron Sleeth made a presentation to South Frontenac Council, where Hay West was unanimously endorsed, and a township truck and driver were committed to the project. As well, councillor Barr committed some of his own vehicles, and Mayor Leonard said he had two pickups that could be used. Dudley Shannon told the News on September 22, that Phil Leonard spent three days delivering hay last week, and he has someone from the township driving for us today.
As of now, there are 23 rail cars full of hay in the Kingston rail yard. Each car contains 60 round bales, and there is more hay in a city of Kingston yard waiting to be loaded. We have a commitment of 34 cars all told, Dudley Shannon said, but we have commitments of hay to fill about 68 cars. Thats the reality throughout Ontario and the other provinces who have hay to donate. They say there is about three times as much hay donated as there are available rail cars to ship it west.
The City of Kingston has run extra early morning ferries from Wolfe Island to bring hay across, and there has been a lot of hay coming from Pittsburgh and Kingston Townships, from the Battersea, Inverary, Sunbury area, and a lot of hay from the Harrowsmith, Sydenham area, according to Dudley Shannon.
All the hay has to be fumigated, he adds, to protect against the Cereal Leaf Beetle. The fumigant will only work before October 30 because of the cold, so we have to send whatever were going to send before then. Dudley Shannon said he had never heard of the cereal leaf beetle before beginning this project and doesnt know of any problems with it locally, but Agriculture Canada insists on the hay being fumigated.
Despite all the transportation problems and all the government red tape, Hay West is moving along well in Frontenac County.
During the Ice Storm, people from far away sent generators and money for us, so it just makes sense for us to help out when we can. My father used to say you should always help your neighbour when they need it, because the time will surely come when you need help yourself, Dudley Shannon concludes.
