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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 1990-04-11, Page 17THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 1990. PAGE 17. Brief calling for more recycling plants wins praise A brief presented by the Environment Committee of the Huron County Federation of Agri culture won praise at the Federa tion’s annual Members of Parlia ment briefing session Saturday in Clinton. The brief called on the govern ment to get more plants on stream to recycle goods so recycling pro grams, now bogged down with surplusses of newsprint and glass, can find a market. It called for a ban on excess packaging pointing to the situation in Europe where much less plastic is used. It called for all drink bottles to be reusable along with pesticide containers. It noted the glass milk bottle has returned in Europe. It called for more use of energy from waste (incineration producing steam or electricity). The brief also worried about soil erosion and soil contamination and said that new, more broadly based programs to land stewardship must be introduced. The brief called for research into the effect of reduced usage of pesticides and said Canadian farm ers who aren’t allowed to use chemicals that their competitors in other countries are, should be compensated either by closing the border to produce grown with the chemicals or by compensating farmers for the extra costs that are involved in growing the produce without the use of the chemicals. Jack Riddell, M.P.P. for Huron said he agreed with the brief and said he would give a copy of it to Jim Bradley, Minister of the Envir onment. He called Mr. Bradley one of the toughest environment mini sters in North America but said the minister always needs extra help in getting more money for environ mental programs. On land stewardship, he said a committee under Jim McGuigan, parliamentary assistant to the mini ster of agriculture, has been tour ing the province to meet with farmers and he expected a new land stewardship program would likely soon be announced. Ecological farmers help other farmers convert The expanding interest in grow ing food without the use of chemi cals has caused a scurry of activity in Ontario’s agricultural sector. Consumers are demanding a change and many farmers are doing their best to meet this demand. Many of these farmers are making the change because of the deep concern they have for the environment. The Ecological Farmers Associa tion of Ontario was formed by a handful of farmers 10 years ago. They saw the need to change farming practices to prevent the loss of soil through erosion and degradation by chemical farming methods. They also had a deep concern for the true value of the product they were putting on the market. Now that organization is the second biggest farmer organ ization in Ontario with some 700 paying members. 872 animals on offer at Brussels Livestock The market at Brussels Livestock sold steady with a strong demand on the good cattle. There were 361 8 aughter cattle, 189 hogs and 322 goats and lambs on offer. Good to choice steers sold from $86 to $90 to the high of $94.25 per hundred weight. Twelve steers consigned by G. A. Stewart Farms, RR 2, Ripley averaged 1160 lbs. sold for $89.68. Three steers con signed by Murray Johnston, RR 2, Bluevale averaged 1296 lbs. sold for $89.40. Twelve steers consign ed by Glen Johnston, RR 2, Bluevale averaged 1228 lbs. sold for $88.13. Five steers consigned by Gordon Daer, RR 1, Auburn averaged 1135 lbs. sold for $88.70. One steer consigned by John Dorsch, RR 5, Brussels weighed 1350 lbs. sold for $88. Seven steers consigned by Clyde McClure, RR 1, Walton averaged 1284 lbs. sold for $87.79. Eleven steers consigned by Ross Battin, RR 2, Monkton averaged 1422 lbs. sold for $86.53. Good to choice heifers: $85 to $90 to the high of $96. Two heifers consigned by Gordon Daer, RR 1, Auburn averaged 1105 lbs. sold for $95.50. Two heifers consigned by Lome Hackett, RR 3, Lucknow, averaged 920 lbs. sold for $92.09. One heifer consigned by Ken Voisin, Formosa, weighed 1090 lbs. sold for $88.75. Three heifers consigned by Bell Hackett, RR 7, Lucknow averaged 1037 lbs. sold for $88.25. One heifer consigned by Pat Hunking, RR 1, Auburn weigh ed 1290 lbs. sold for $88.25 One heifer consigned by Jim and Les Stephenson, RR 1, Ethel, weighed 1050 lbs. sold for $87. One heifer consigned by Jim Murray, Lucknow averaged 1,000 lbs. sold for $87. Four heifers consigned by Gord Roulston, RR 1, Ripley averaged 1153 lbs. sold for $86.94. Nine heifers consigned by Gordon Dougherty, RR 3, Goderich averaged 1120 lbs. sold for $85.35. Continued on Page 18 Their goal is to help other farmers convert to ecological meth ods. This change is difficult be cause traditional sources of infor mation such as governments and agribusiness have done little re search in this area and until recently have shown little interest in this method of farming. To meet the need for information the EFAO holds annual two-day short courses across the province to explain the basics of ecological agriculture. The fee for the course is around $25 per person including lunches. These courses have be come extremely well attended with an average of 125 farmers at each session. Another program of the EFAO is a “help your neighbour” program where experienced ecological farm ers will visit a converting farmer and offer suggestions on how best to convert the farm, ^his service is free to those who have attended an EFAO short course. “When a farmer decides to make the change he sometimes experien ces a feeling of loneliness and frustration because he hasn’t known where to go for information and help,” explains Lawrence Andres, President of the EFAO and a 300-acre dairy farmer near Tiver ton, Ontario. “We want to help farmers by sharing our experiences with them and suggesting ways to overcome problems they may en counter.” Another program of the EFAO is that of farm tours of ecological and converting farms. Again, these are held across the province. A full calendar of these events is printed in the EFAO Newsletter published four times a year. Membership to the EFAO is $20. The EFAO is being helped in its efforts by the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority, which sees their work as a great way to preserve our environment. For more information call Lawrence Andres 368-5675, Ted Zettel 366-9982, or Mike Pembry 416-838-2800. z I GOODOLD- I chiONEDSERVICEJ FREE LIFETIME WARRANTY SHOCKS FROM... ^2 0 EACH moparEldutopar icSmSh 4-7383 At Cook’s we have the people and products to help you grow profitably POWERFUL REASONS FOR FENCING NOW •Get stock out earlier •Start your pasture rotation sooner •Better fencing weather-cooler and fewer bugs •More time than in the seeding rush •I have more time to advise and help •Easier to get product than during pasture season Woven wire . 5 Wire Insultimber 3 Wire Insultimber 2 Wire Insultimber Offset Bracket Relative Cost of Gallagher Insultimber Fencing /a ax. Cents per Foot For #1 Service Please Call Tim Prior 887-9648 Let Cook’s help you get your crop into the ground this spring. We handle a full range of dry and liquid fertilizers, crop protection products and quality seed. With over 100 years of experience, the experts at Cook’s can help you develop a crop program that’s both economical and effective in reaching your yield goals. For everything you need this spring, come to Cook’s. Nobody puts more into helping you grow a profitable crop. Part of the Cook’s Crop Input Team (from left to right): Harold Foster - Centralia Agri-Sales Representative, 16 years with Cook’s Paul Bushell - Amberley Branch Manager, 3 years with Cook’s Bill Webster - Walton Agri-Sales Representative, first year with Cook's Division of Parrish & Heimbecker, Limited Branches: Hensall (519) 262-2410 Centralia (519) 228-6661 Kirkton (519) 229-8986 Walton (519) 527-1540 Amberley (519) 395-3601 Atwood (519) 356-2292 1