Whewell: Big Year Coming For Corn

A risk management consultant from Ohio says this is going to be an exceptional year for corn.
Cal Whewell told Grain Farmers of Ontario delegates a number of factors are affecting demand for corn and it's going to be a challenge for U-S producers to meet that demand ...

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Whewell says that's not to say it can't be done but there will be periods of doubt and that will influence a very sensitive market.
He also says he's heard of some farmers who are taking land out of production this year but he doesn't believe that will be enough to have any impact ...

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Whewell says one of the major factors on that demand is the ethanol industry.

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Whewell says there will be doubts from time to time about the ability of farmers to produce that much corn this year.
But he says producers will have to see past the little bumps in the road and not over-react to a very sensitive market.

Junior C Final Rematch, Listowel Playoffs Done

The Walkerton Hawks finished the comeback in the Western Junior C Semi-Finals beating Kincardine 8-2 in Game 7 in Walkerton last night.
Walkerton was down 3-1 at one point in the series.
Kincardine had a chance to end the series Tuesday night on home ice but a 3-0 first period lead disappeared in that game as Walkerton forced the deciding game with a 4-3 overtime win.
The Game 7 win for the Hawks creates the rematch with Hanover from last year's final series in which the Hawks won 4 games to 2.
The Western Junior C final starts Friday night in Walkerton at 8:30.
Game 2 will be played in Durham Saturday night at 8:30.

In Midwestern Junior Hockey, the Listowel Cyclones ended their season on a sour note in Elmira.
The Sugar Kings beat Listowel 5-2 to win the quarter-final series 4 games to 2.
Listowel was down by just one goal heading into the third period but Brennon Pearce scored just 28 seconds into the third period to increase Elmira's lead and they held and added an empty net goal at 18:26 of the third to seal it.
Listowel, the third seed team entering the playoffs, joins Cambridge on the sidelines.
The Midwestern Junior Hockey semi-finals could be set tonight if Brantford can eliminate Kitchener.
Elmira, Stratford and Waterloo are already through.
The Siskins blanked Guelph 2-0 last night to win that quarter-final 4 games to 1.

$1,500 Opportunity Scholarships Available

Monsanto Canada is continuing it's Opportunity Scholarship Program for 2010.
The program offers 15 hundred dollar entrance scholarships to students entering the first year of post-secondary education in agriculture at a recognised Canadian institution.
The criteria includes the student coming from a family farm with confirmed plans to enroll in their first year of post-secondary education in an agriculture-related program.
The application process includes an essay outlining what area of agriculture they would like to work in and why.
Deadline for applications is May 14th.
The forms are being distributed to high schools, 4-H clubs, provincial and federal agriculture offices, farm retail outlets and seed companies now.
They're also available on line at www.monsanto.ca.

Farmstart Helping New Farmers Get Started

A growing interest in food appears to be pushing some renewed interest in getting into farming.
But it's not necessarily the kind of farming we're used to.
Christie Young is with Farmstart - a group which helps new farmers get into the business.
She says the people they're working with are looking at operations focussing on farmgate sales, local markets and direct to restaurant marketing.

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Young says there's a revived interest in agriculture with many people becoming more passionate about good food.

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Young says one of the things Farmstart does is link new farmers with existing operators who may have some land they can lend out to help get those newbies started.
They do that through a website called farmlink.net.

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Young says what Farmstart does is try to give those new farmers the training in both farming and business so whatever they choose to do will become a viable operation.
She says they get their funding through private foundations and from both the federal and provincial governments.

Strategist: Beef Market Being Re-Defined

A beef market strategist suggests value in the beef market is being re-defined.
Brenda Schoepp of Beeflink says it's not what it used to be.

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Schoepp says the Canadian beef industry is prepared to deliver on those expectations.
She also says the cattle industry needs to get a better handle on what's happening in population growth.
Schoepp says the industry needs to know what to produce to meet the needs of the market.
And she argues that means understanding worldwide demographics.

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Schoepp says there's also a shift coming in the definition of value in the market with consumers taking animal welfare, environment and corporate responsibility into consideration.
She says farmers need to expect to see societal needs play a stronger role in agricultural policy.

Funeral Plans for OPP Constable

The planning is continuing for the funeral service for slain OPP Constable Vu Pham of Wingham.
An OPP spokesperson told CKNX News wooden boards were being put down on the arena floor late into the evening after a figure skating carnival.
A large stage is to arrive today and then the wiring will begin for the sound system.
With thousands of police officers and other emergency personnel expected to attend the funeral Friday afternoon the plan is to have the overflow crowd spill into the adjacent Knights of Columbus Hall.
Constable Dennis Harwood adds a large tent will also be set up on the east side of the Complex with speakers so the crowd can hear the service.
The funeral will not be televised and the media will not be allowed inside the building.
Harwood is advising Wingham area residents who plan to attend the service to walk to the arena if possible because parking will be at a premium.
The exact time the doors will open has not been announced by the OPP.
Meanwhile the family of Vu Pham will receive area residents at the McBurney Funeral Home this afternoon and tonight who wish to pay their respects.

Huron County Approves Wingham School Zoning

The zoning amendment that was needed for the Avon Maitland District School Board to build a new elementary school behind the F.E. Madill Secondary in Wingham is being supported by Huron County.
The county's committee of the whole did not hold up the zoning and is expected to rubber stamp it at April's council meeting.
School board superintendent Mike Ash also addressed concerns about traffic problems that exist around the high school and could get worse with more buses.

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Ash says the problems will be resolved well before the new school opens in 2012.
He also says the new school will mean a few more buses in the area but won't double the number of buses that are there now.

North Perth Growth Plan

Local developers and community stakeholder are providing plenty of input as North Perth plans for future growth.
There was a good turnout for the second public information center on the Master Growth Plan held in Listowel last night.
Consulting firm, the I.B.I. Group provided detailed maps of current land uses and discussed the next steps in the planning process.
Associate Douglas Stewart says the feedback has been very positive so far and it shows the community is definitely interested.
Mark Eplett with commercial land developer, the Otus Group, was among those in attendance.
He says it is great to see the municipality engaging the community to help plan for the future.
Recommendations on future land uses for the settlement areas will be discussed in a few weeks at the third North Perth Master Growth Plan public information center.
The goal is to bring the document forward for Council consideration in May.

Land's Future in Kincardine Foggy

The future of undeveloped land in Kincardine is no clearer after last night's public meeting.
The meeting to discuss the potential adoption of a Natural Heritage System was met with public opposition and confusion.
The Natural Heritage System study could potentially put in place a set of rules for the future use of both public and private undeveloped land.
Mayor Larry Kraemer says he's opposed to implementing a new system because he says it is not fair for landowners to suddenly change how they can use their property in the future.
Kincardine Council is holding off on the issue until they can address the concerns of the public, but set a deadline of late July to make a final decision.

Solar Plan in Brockton May Be Too Much

A Brockton councillor says a plan to generate solar power might be too much for the municipality to handle.
David Inglis is skeptical about a $41,000 consulting proposal and is concerned about estimates for start up cost.
He says a promise of a 14 per cent return is attractive but is not convinced Brockton has the staff or financial resources to get into the solar power generating business.
Potential partners and consultants are already interested in Brockton's proposal to generate solar power on municipal land.
Meanwhile a private company plans to install eight power generating solar units in Walkerton's industrial park this summer.

Scores for Thursday, March 11th

National Hockey League
Phoenix 4 Vancouver 3 (SO)
Buffalo 5 Dallas 3
New Jersey 6 N.Y. Rangers 3
Washington 4 Carolina 3 (OT)
Chicago 3 Los Angeles 2 (OT)

Ontario Hockey League
London 4 Sarnia 3
Sault Ste. Marie 3 Saginaw 2 (SO)
Belleville 5 3 Oshawa

Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League
Midwest Quarter-Finals Best of 7
Elmira 5 Listowel 2
*Elmira wins series 4-2
Waterloo 2 Guelph 0
*Waterloo wins series 4-1

Western Junior C
Semi-Finals Best of 7
Walkerton 8 Kincardine 2
*Walkerton wins series 4-3

Tim Horton's Brier in Halifax
Ontario (Howard) 8 Manitoba (Stoughton) 4
Saskatchewan (McKee) 13 NWT/Yukon (Koe) 4
New Brunswick (Grattan) 7 Quebec (Reid) 2
Northern Ontario (Jacobs) 7 P.E.I. (MacDonald) 6
*Ontario leads round robin with 9-0, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northern Ontario and Alberta tied for second at 7-2

World Junior Curling Championships in Switzerland
Women
Canada 9 Czech Repbulic 3
*Canada (Homan) leads round robin at 8-0
Men
Scotland 4 Canada 2
*Canada (Walker) in 5th with 10 points, leader at 14 points and 3 teams tied with 12

National Basketball Association
Sacramento 113 Toronto 90
Charlotte 102 Philadelphia 87
Memphis 111 Boston 91
Utah 115 Detroit 104
Miami 108 L.A. Clippers 97
Denver 110 Minnesota 102
Oklahoma City 98 New Orleans 83
Dallas 96 New Jersey 87
San Antonio 97 New York 87

Major League Baseball Pre-Season
Philadelphia 4 Toronto 2
St. Louis 6 Washington 4
Atlanta 7 N.Y. Mets 6 - 10 innings
Florida 16 Houston 4
N.Y. Yankees 9 Detroit 8
Tampa Bay 8 Boston 6
Cincinnati 6 L.A. Angels 0
Chicago White Sox 9 Oakland 5
San Francisco 5 Chicago Cubs 1
Cleveland 10 San Diego (ss) 5
L.A. Dodgers 4 Arizona 4 - tie
San Diego (ss) 5 Milwaukee 4
Seattle 6 Texas 3
Kansas City 5 Colorado 0
Baltimore 3 Pittsburgh 2