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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2016-01-21, Page 18PAGE 18. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2016. SACSS Students take part in ag. efficiency workshop analysis of statistics help agricultur- al producers to better understand cost savings and benefits when it comes to a purchase of equipment or changing practices in agriculture. Shayne Mudge, sales representa- tive with Huron Tractor, spoke about types of farm equipment, agricultur- al technology, and advantages and disadvantages of different equip- ment types. Melissa Prout, Conservation Educator with Ausable Bayfield Conservation, spoke to the students about the need to manage manure and other nutrients to conserve water and topsoil. Students learned about best practices in applying nutrients in order to preserve the needed soil resource and to not contaminate local water sources. Students used the knowledge offered by the presenters to inform their understanding of the issue and they then went to work brainstorm- ing solutions. "All the presenters were very thankful to have had a chance to work with these forward -thinking students and give them a framework to find their own solutions to energy efficiency challenges," said Prout. "These are the leaders of tomorrow." The workshop was part of Innovation, Creativity and Entrepreneurship (ICE) training that is part of the Specialist High Skills Major program in Ontario. Ausable Bayfield Conservation hosted the local training workshop in partner- ship with Huron Tractor, Veritas Farm Management and Huron -Perth Catholic District School Board. Putting their heads together St. Anne's Catholic Secondary School students visited Huron Tractor's Exeter site to partici- pate in a special workshop focusing on finding efficiencies in agricultural practices. The pro- gram was part of the Innovation, Creativity and Entrepreneurship (ICE) program that helps to prepare students for life outside of school. (Photo submitted) Twenty-five local secondary school students learned about energy efficiency in agriculture at a work- shop near Exeter late last year. The students are studying agricultural technology or energy as part of the Specialist High Skills Major pro- gram at St. Anne's Catholic Secondary School in Clinton. They attended the worskhop at Huron Tractor north of Exeter. The students did not just sit in a classroom listening. They worked in five groups to come up with their own actions to improve energy effi- ciency at farm operations. The stu- dents formed very different options to answer the challenge. Their ideas included: sensor bars on farming equipment that would scan a 12 -inch soil horizon to determine exact nutri- ents and quantities required for spraying and adjust dosages accord- ingly; a portable hydroelectric dam that could use the water flow in agri- cultural drains and creeks to power electric fences or charge batteries used on farm equipment; a livestock nutrition program that would adjust feed for livestock in order to produce high-powered manure to replace synthetic fertilizers; financial incen- tive and disincentive programs to promote energy efficiency; and a GPS -based drone system for spray- ing fields. Presenters posed the challenge to students as a question: "How can we make agricultural practices in Huron County more energy-efficient?" This open-ended question allowed learn- ers to decide what direction they wanted to take. The workshop gave students a chance to think outside the box, better understand a real- world issue, and find solutions to challenges. Aaron Breimer, a Manager and team leader at Veritas Farm Business Management, spoke about current technology. He said new tools and Working together As part of the Innovation, Creativity and Entrepreneurship (ICE) program, St. Anne's Catholic Secondary School students attended an agricultural efficiencies workshop at the Exeter Huron Tractor site late last year. Students focused on using technology to streamline farming practices. (Photo submitted) A cannon Some students at Hullett Central Public School may have braved the cold weather last week, but some decided to stay inside and play some dodgeball. Above, Taylor Hanna and Jakob O'Handley played the game on Friday instead of facing the cold weather. (Denny Scott photo) G2G hours clarified Continued from page 15 2015, for a total of 500 hours. According to Tousaw's report, planning staff has worked on research, group facilitation, reports, public meetings and inquiries pertaining to the trail. Tousaw, however, said that due to the nature of the work, it was able to be absorbed by existing budgets. When the request was first made, council deferred it until a report could be prepared. A final decision on the G2G Inc. request has yet to be made. Council received Tousaw's report for information at the Jan. 13 com- mittee of the whole meeting and will discuss the G2G Inc. $16,000 fund- ing re -allocation request at a later date.