HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe 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.
Consisting of: Steers, Heifersand Calves
FOR INFORMATION CALL:
Victor Hargreaves
Barry Miller
Greg Hargreaves
AUCTIONEER: LARRY GARDINER
519-233-7511 Clinton
519-235-2717 Exeter
519-229-6205 Kirkton
519-262-2619 Hensail
519-262-2831 Hensail
EARLY SPRING
SPECIALS
on BFGoodrich all seasons
LIFESAVER RADIAL ALL SEASON
TIRES
SAVE ONLY UNTIL
APRIL 30TH/B8
WHILE QUANTITIES---------
SIZE IReg. Price SALE
P155/80R13 $ 75.00 $ 52.50
P175/80R13 90.60 63.42
P185/80R13 96.30 67.41
P185/75R14 99.90 69.93
P195/75R14 103.20 72.24
P205/75R14 108.70 76.09
P215/75R14 114.90 80.43
P205/75R15 115.40 80.78
P215/75R15 120.30 84.21
P225/75R15 125.60 87.92
P235/75R15 132.60 92.82
Other Brands Available
1 /2 PRICE SPECIALS
[with purchaseof 2 or more tires]
LUBE OIL &
FILTER
• Complete chassis
lubrication.
• Up to 5 litres 10W30
oil.
• Check all fluid levels
• Visual check of all
belts and hoses.
• Inspect all tires
NOW $1495
INSTALLATION
1/2
PRICE
Reg $6 00
«ow$3.00
per tire
Mags Extra
BALANCE
Hl-speed
Computerized
Wheel Balance
Reg $6 00
no»$3.00
per tire
Mags Extra
ALIGNMENT
• Adjust camber caster and toe
m to manufacturer's specif'
cation
• Adjust torsion bars
• Inspect front end suspension
and steering assembly
Most cars & light trucks
Paris extra if required
Reg $29 95
now $14.95
MEULENSTEEN TIRE SERVICE LTD.
220 Mitchell Road S., LISTOWEL, Ontario
.. AFTER HOURS CALLCall 291-1841 291-2309or356-2403