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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1981-02-11, Page 44 — THE BRUSSELS POST, FEBRUARY 11, 1981 Farmers must protect land,FA. hears BY ALICE GIBB George Klosler, chairman of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture's (OFA) environ- ment committee warned 40 area, farmers "if farmers of all people can't support the preservation of good agricultural land, who can." The Oxford county farmer was addressing Huron County Federation of Agriculture members in Brucefield Thursday night as part of the OFA's push for new legislation to protect the farming community from urban encroachment. The chairman said his committee concluded "the thrust of the policy must be the preservation of good agricultural land." He said unfortunately, there's division within the farming community-some farmers feel the provincial government won't accept a strong land use policy, and many farmers want farm severances and the option of selling their land for non-farm uses. He pointed out fulltime farmers are now in the minority among those who farm and have been replaced by part-time farmers, hobby farmers, corporate farmers and speculative investors buying up farmland. He advised farmers to start selling the deed for protection of .farmland on an „Tonomic basis..He said agriculture must be permanent, secure and economically viable ndustry since Ontario's farmers "have a esponsibility, not just to Canadians, but to nillions of people less fortunate than us." That responsibility, according to Klos ler, is ..0 grow food for world markets. He warned one of Canada's natural resources, good agricultural land, is getting scarcer. He added, in solving world problems, "I would rather see the use of food power than bullet power." The environment committee chairman warned the audience problems between farmers and their urban, industrialized neighbours won't diminish in the future, and that peaceful co-existence between the two groups must be established. He said the province's five-year old agricultural code of practice has failed to come to grips with the clash between farmers and their urban neighbours. For example,• he said, many applications to expand existing farm livestock operations are denied, if non-farm residents are living The light offering of cattle at Brussels Stockyards met a good demand. Pigs traded steady, There were 421 cattle mainly fat steers, and 978 pigs on offer. Choice Steers - 77.00 to 80.00 with salei to 80.10. Good Steers - 75.00 to 77.00. Four steers consigned by Ross Durnin of Lucknow averaging 1222 lbs. sold for 80.10 with his lot of 12 steers averaging 1285 lbs. selling for 79.25. Fifteen steers consigned by Murray Forbes of R.R. 2, Clinton averaging 1180 lbs. sold for 79.10 with his load of 30 steers averaging 1175 lbs. selling for an overall price of 79.00. Two steers consigned by Win. R. Scott of Seaforth averaging 1295 lbs. sold for 79.25. Seven steers consigned by Alvin Grainger of Wroxeter averaging 1374 lbs. sold for 79.95 with his 21 steers averaging 1370 lbs. selling for an overall price of 79.00. Eighteen steers consigned by Darryl Morley of Mildmay averaging 1155 lbs, sold for an overall price of 78.50. Four steers consigned by Jim Rapson of RAZ. 4, Walton averaging 1330 lbs. sold for an overall price of 78.15. A steer consigned by George Underwood Farms of Wingham weighing 1280 lbs. sold for 79.00 with their load of 38 heavy steers averaging 1342 lbs. selling for an overall p w rice of 77.90. There ere no fancy heavy heifers on offer., Good Heif- nearby. When problems arise, Mr. Klosler said, the onus is always on the farmer to change his practises, rather than on urban neighbours to accept the noise and odours which inevitably result from farm operations. Mr. Klosler said tougher land use guidelines to preserve farmland would remove the existing problem of land use guidlelines being policed by urbaninienfed municipal councils and give farmers more input into planning decisions. Some of the solutions the environmental '• committee recommended to the OFA' were improved and uniform agricultural land zoning, distinctions between agricultural land and buffer areas, adequate compensation when a farmer is refused permission to expand and thus zoned out of business, and planning guidelines which allow fariners to plan for their operations on a longterm basis. FRY QUANTITY Also, Mr. Klosler said, "A farmer must be able to keep any kind and quantity of livestock he wants in an agriculturally-zoned area." He told the audience his committee recommended it was high time the govern- ment defined what constituted a farm, the implementation of a Farmers' Bill of Rights, written guidelines for sit ing, renovation and expansion of farm buildings and a farmers' committee which could deal with harassment of farmers and complaints from non-farm encroachment into agricultural areas. He said his committee's recommendations were replaced by the Agricultural Develop- ment and Protection Act, draWn up by an OFA staff member. Mr. Klosler said, "to me, that document leaves a lot to be desired." He said farmers, in campaigning for better land use guidelines, must capitalize on their economic position. Also, he warned, "the big argument is going to be amongst us, since we are so different." He said OFA must come out with a strong land use policy to present to the provincial government. In the discussion following Klosler's speech, Lucknow-area farmer Tony McQuail asked how a farmer could be defined. The speaker said the problem is the Ontario Municipal Board has its idea of what a farmer is, the Ontario. Ministry of Agriculture has another, the Ministry of Housing yet another and "well, the tax people, they're off by themselves when it comes to what a farmer is." Mr. McQuail replied it was his suspicion it is easier to "say we need a definition of a farmer than to have one," Mr. Klosler responded his environment committee felt "we need a uniform definition (of a farmer) which could, be used by all government ministries. Adrian Vos of Blyth asked if the environment committee had given any thought to the rights of animals in drawing up guidelines for a Farmers'. Bill of Rights. Mr. Klosler said there's no question farmers today are getting criticized for their livestock practices. He said the technology of the livestock industry is "putting animals under tremendous pressure to get production out of them." Before discussion on the OFA's working paper concluded, Mr. Klosler again recommended working with the government and their Strategy for the Preservation of Agricultural Land paper - "take what we already have in existence, take the govern- ment's commitment." He told Huron federation members he sees a long time Can test for selenium deficiency Selenium deficiency has been know to occur in some dairy cattle across Ontario. Many feed companies have added selenium to complete dairy rations and protein supplements to help correct this problem. One of the main benefits of selenium supplementation is in reduc- ing the incidence of retained placenta and improving early calf health. Other deficienc- ies may include white muscle disease in calves or heifers, metritis, abortion, reduced fertility and decreased growth. No feed testing is refinement period before the federation's working paper is ready to be presented to the provincial government. FIRE INSURANCE Following the discussion on the paper, a Hullett Township farmer, Larry Dillon, raised the issue of fire insurance, for farm buildings. Mr. Dillon said he believes farmers are presently being discouraged from safe management practices to avoid barn fires by insurance companies. He said in the Western provinces, insurance companies offer lower rates for farm buildings which are less likely to burn, a policy that doesn't seem to be followed here. The farmer said he has approached in- surance companies about the matter as an individual, but felt perhaps the federation would like to investigate the matter. On the suggestion of John Van Beers, who was chairing the meeting, Larry Dillon agreed to meet with John Nesbitt and his insurance committee to investigate the matter of fire insurance further and' draw up a resolution ,for presentation at a future meeting. Federation members were informed the members of parliament dinner, scheduled for Feb. 21 in Clinton, will be re-scheduled for a date following the March 19 provincial election, Stockyard Report ers - traded from 72.00 to 75.00. A heifer consigned by Jim Rapson of Walton weighing 920 lbs. sold for 74.75. Choice Cows - 52.00 to 56.00. Good Cows - 50.00 to 52.00. Canners and Cutters - 46.00 to 50.00. 30 to 40-lb. pigs traded to a high of 37.50. • 40 to 50-lb. pigs to a high of 43.00. 50 to 60-lb. pigs to a high of 49.50. 60 to 70-lb. pigs to a high, of 52.00. PARKA COATS Regu'lar $39.95 Now $34.95 VESTS Regular $17.95 to $21.95 Now $16.95 A good selection of work boots, rubber boots and overshoes. We also have jeans, cords and casual wear. DROP IN AND SEE OUR IN-STORE SPECIALS Ken's Men's and Boys' Wear 887-9284 BRUSSELS . 0,,4 SPECIALS BREAKFAST BACON 1.59 COOKED MEATS 1.99lb Schneiders LARGE BOLOGNA 1.690,. Smarin Assorted FROZEN POT PIES 3/1 75 FRENCH FRIES 5 Lb. Bags 1 19 Pkg. THOMPSON & STEPHENSON 14. Brussels MEAT MARKET 887'6294 4 ltk" Schneiders Minced Ham, Mac & Cheese, Chicken Loaf, Pickle & Pimento & Dutch Loaf. • currently available for selen- ium, however, Veterinary Services Branch is making a blood test for glutathione peroxidase activity (reflects selenium status) available to veterinarians Six cows at various stages of lactation should provide an adequate sample. Dennis Martin, Associate Agrictiltural Representative. I.E. LONGSTAFF -OPTOMETRIST- SEA FORTH 527-1240 Monday to Friday 9.5:30 Saturday 9-12:00 FREE PARKING ON PREMISES Closed Wednesdays By Appointment • Financial assistance Management counselling Management training Information on government programs for business See Our Stratford Office Representative PETE HUXTABLE AT: The Wingham Motel, RR4, Wingham, ON: 2nd & 3rd Tuesday of each month Next Visit Date: - February 17th If you require financing to start, modernize or expand your business and are unable to obtain it elsewhere on reasonable terms and conditions or if you are interested in the FBDB management services of counselling and training or wish information on government programs available for your business, talk to our representative. FEDERAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT BANK [Branch Office Address] For an appoint . ment or further information on the Bank's services call 271-5650 collect or write 1036 Ontario Street, Stratford, Ontario. Opening new doors to soma business. an FBDB help you.