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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 1988-04-20, Page 15Fed era tion of A griculture THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 1988. PAGE 15. Proposed bill will protect farmers, speaker says Proposed provincial farm legis lation will protect farmers from harassmentfor normal farming practices, Ralph Ferguson one of the authors of the report that led to the legislation told the Huron County Federation of Agriculture Thursday night but from questions from the floor it is obvious the farmers remain doubtful. Mr. Ferguson, a Lambton coun ty farmer who served a short term as federal agriculture minister under John Turner and who was one of six members of the Ontario Right to Farm Advisory Commit tee, told the handful of farmers at the Federation’s monthly meeting in Clinton that as long as a farmer is not breaking laws governing pollu tion, he will have protection from the complaints of neighbours for normal farming practices. There has been concern over the clause of the act that says farmers are not exempt from pollution and environmental laws but, he said, the clause is included because one act of government cannot super cede another. The key to protecting farmers is the Farm Practice Protection Board, he said. The board will be composed of five members who will hear appeals and determijie what was normal agricultural practice. The advisory committee had recommended an eight-mem ber board instead of a five-member board so that the province could be split into four regions and two members, familiar with the farm ing practices of that region, could be appointed from each region. The committee, who’s final report was written by the late Barnie Evans of Embro, has also proposed a land stewardship act and he was happy to see a new act in effect, Mr. Ferguson said. Farm ers are stewards of the soil for future generations he said. But questioners made it clear they were doubtful of the value of the new right to farm legislation. Merle Gunby of Ashfield township wondered how much use the legislation was if common law governing nuisances caused by one neighbour to another will take precedence over the new legisla tion. Len Palmer of East Wawa- nosh said he didn’t think the new RALPH FERGUSON law seemed like much protection at all. Mr. Ferguson said that farmers obeying the law would have complaints against them set aside by a judge because of the new law. John Gaunt of East Wawanosh worried about how changes in normal farming practices could be taken intoeffect. In his area, he said, people don’t for instance use bangers to frighten birds away Let Cook's help you stop this area's toughest problem weeds Whatever weed control problems you face— broadleaf, grassy, both; whatever spray program you prefer—PPI, pre-emerge, post, spot—Cook’s has the products and professionals to help you protect your fields . . . and your profits. A stop at Cook’s is a stop to your weed control problems. Division of Gerbro (1V67) Inc. Where you can trade with confidence" Hensoll Centralia Kirkron Walton 262-2410 226-6661 229-8986 527-1540 887-9261 from orchard crops but what would happen if he decided to have an orchard and use the bangers. Would thatbeanormal practice for his area? Mr. Ferguson said that the Farm Practice Protection Board would help determine what new farming practices were “normal”. The board would also know that although banger might be new to East Wawanosh, they were com mon practice other places where fruit is grown. Paul Klopp, president of the Federation said he didn’t think farmers had any more protection under the new legislation than they would have if it hadn’t been brought in at all. The act seemed most for political benefit that to benefit the farmer, he said. Dealing with the Advisory Com- mittee’s recommendation that limited severances for rural, non farm residences should be allowed on non-productive land, Mr. Gun by said he felt Mr. Ferguson’s assertion that he couldn’t see anything wrong as long as the farmer wasn’t hurt was “a naive way of looking at it”. Mr. Gunby who had once lived in the golden horseshoe area, said he had sold one family farm and fled from strip development and he felt that poor farmland would be better left in bushthanallowedtobe severed and sold for residences. Once the practice started, when did it stop, he said. Mr. Gaunt pointed out that the restricted agrciulture buffer zone of 1000 feet and more around such a residence might make it hard on future plans of area farmers. Bruce Schmidt of Morris said whole farms are being caught in the restricted agriculture buffer zones around residential developments. Mr. Gaunt wondered why the restriction is always on the agricul tural land and never on the residence or the industry that moves into the area. Bill Allen, principal of Centralia College who was a guest at the meeting said that a problem is that many rural councils want to increase the tax base in their township and the way to do that is to allow more residences to be built. Despite local planning the pressure is there to allow more severances, he said. Mr. Ferguson said that this was just the first step for the new bill. Over the years the legislation would evolve, he said. STOCKER SALE 900 HEAD AT HENSALL LIVESTOCK SALES LTD. ON SATURDAY, APRIL 23, 1988 AT1:00P.M. 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