No preview available
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1989-03-08, Page 56Page 12A v Farm Edition °89 S1V,EEP ap oachin The Soil and Water Environmental Enhancement Program (SWEEP) is ap- proaching the end of its third year. The $30 million program was announced in May 1986; a federal -provincial agreement, designed to improve soil and water quality in southwestern Ontario over a five year period. The program comprises two interrelated purposes; first, to reduce phosphorous loadings in the Lake Erie basin from cropland run-off; and second, to improve the productivity of southwestern Ontario agriculture by reducing or arresting soil erosion that contributes to the water pollution. Background The Canada - U.S. Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement called for phosphorous reductions in the Lake Erie basin of 2000 tonnes per year. SWEEP is part of the Canadian agreement, calling for reduc- tions of 300 tonnes per year - 200 from croplands and 100 from industrial and Municipal sources. Benefits Achievement of these reductions would improve water quality for drinking, recreation and fishing. Improved soil con- servation practices to reduce phosphorous run-off would benefit farms in increased crop yields and cost savings. Action Plan The two levels of government developed a coordinated approach to attack the pro- blem by building upon the expertise of the public- -and private _sectors, c_lr�diza farmers and farm groups. • Enviroiunent Environment Canada and the Ontario Ministry of the Environment will par- ticipate in SWEEP by establishing water quality and quantity monitoring activities on selected watersheds that will be dovetail;. with the agricultural program. These agencies will also be responsible for measuring the effectiveness of the pro- gram in reaching phosphorous reduction targets. FEDERAL RESPONSIBILITIES: Agriculture Canada will be most involved in the development and evaluation phases of the actual technology that can be transferred to farms in southwestern On- tario and ultimately across Canada. Technology Assessment Pane - made up of soil and water specialist and farm com- munity representatives, who will assess the suitablity of soil conservation machinery, tillage practices and cropping methods for farmers. Conservation Information Centre - established to collect and distribute grow- ing technical data to inform the industry at large and encourage greater farmer use of economically -sound soil and water conser- vation technologies in day-to-day farm practices. Technology Evaluation and Development -centred at the federal research station in Harrow, this project evaluates existing technologies and develops and evaluates new conservation cropping methods, most- ly under commercial farm conditions. In- cludes financial evaluation of new cropp- ing technology. g . Pilot DPwonr boat- tersheda - look at the effectivenss of introducing comprehen- sive soil and water conservation practices on all farms in a few small, pilot water- sheds. The intent is to determine what ef- fects changing soil conservation cropping Turn to page 19A end of y ree Al BUILDING CENTRE 421 1ST. AVE . , CHESLEY 363-3038 Come and see us for all your lumber and steel needs for Driving Sheds, Barns or anything around the farm. Also watch for SPRING SPECIALS on Vinyl Siding to give your farm house a face lift. phis—project -ander tke-Ontarie Soil---- ,onservation and- Environmental Protection Assistance Program (OSCEPAP II), a part of SWEEP, is on the farm of John and Leo Miltenburg in Ashfield Township. A bed level crossing was built across the creek on this land to enable the cattle to graze off both sides. The fencing on both sides prevents the cattle from wallowing in the creek. This program, administered :by .DMAF,.is intended to assist in the capital costs of constructing on-farm projects that .protect water and soil quality. (Pat Livingston photo) ESTABLISHED 1873 TEL. (519) 335-3561 1-800-265-3033 MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY hiovvick WROXETER, ONTARIO NOG 2X0 The iiowick Mutual hos been serving the local community since 1873. Con- tact one of our broker representatives 4or all your farm, residential, com- mercial and automobile insurance needs. Brown Insurance Brokers, Palmerston. Paul Brown .General Insurance, Palmerston Cardiff & Mulvey insurance, Brussels Elliott Insurance °:Brokers, Blyth Gasser-Kneale Insurance *Clinton *Exeter •Grand Bend •Hensall Vern Hargrave, Dundalk Johnson=Dadson Insurance, Listowel Keil Insurance •Gorrlo •Wingham • Listowel Bryan Levis insurance, Clinton Lyons & Mulhern Insurance; Goderich McDonagh Insurance •Lucknow •Teswater Middleton Insurance •Chesley •Milverton J.P. Uniac Insurance, Mitchell Glenn Warren Insurance •Clifford •Hanover Wylie Insurance •Gorrie • Harriston We also feature w full Loss Prevention Service 343-2663 343-2662 887-6100 523-4481 482-9747 235-2420 238-8484 262-2119 923-2702 291-2964 335-3525 357-2636 291-5100 482.9310 524.2664 528-3423 392-6200 363-3162 595.8108 348-9012 327-8041 3644039 335-3193 338-3847