HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1994-03-16, Page 62Page 2A -Farm Progress '94
Perth farmers respond to environmental Farm plans
by Andy Bader
The response of Perth County
farmers to new Environmental
Farm Plans have pleased the
county's Farm Plan represen-
tative.
"I'm well pleased with the
response," said Bob Davey, of
RR 2 Monkton. "It seems to be
working."
Environmental. Farm Plans
(EFP) have been in the
developing stages for years
across the province, modelled
after one completed in Wiscon-
sin and tailored with the assis-
tance of a variety of provincial
ministries. Pilot projects were
held last year in six counties,
with the actual workbooks a
major part of completing the
EFP distributed through seven
day -long workshops held across
the county.
Davey said 80-90 people have
attended the workshops, the
majority of which were held in
Stratford. More workshops are
planned for July and Novem
bcr, he said.•
Davey, who works on a part-
time contract basis with the
Ontario Soil & Crop
Improvement Association as the
EFP representative, said the •
respondents to the workshops
have been a good cross-section
of the farming community in
Perth County.
"We're getting our best
. response from the younger
farmers,the ones who are
really concerned about the
environment," he said, although
he noted that those farmers 70 -
years of age and older have
shown dedication as well.
Farmers attend a one -day
workshop at which they fill out
a section of the 200 -page
workbook. When they have
finished their individual
evaluations, where they target
specific environmental issues or
concerns on their farm, farmers
also develop their own action
plans.
The plan is, returned to Davey
and the peer review committee
for analysis. These people, who
maintain absolute confiden-
tiality when working with •
EFP's, see if a farmer's
proposals make sense. If so„ the
plan is passed.
Farmers have a financial
incentive to work their plan to
best suit their needs, for if it is
passed, the first $500 of any •
correction will be looked after.
Davey said the provincial
government has $5.7 million set
aside for these incentives.
Agriculture Canada and Agri -
Food Canada has committed
$3.9 million of federal Green
Plan funds over four years to
support EFP's.
Davey noted that he expects
an .80 per cent return from the
people who attended a
workshop. He's already
received 30 per cent so far.
"Education is the most impor-
tant part of this,"' he said. "It's
an attempt to make people
aware of environmental hazards
on his/her farm."
Some of the areas of concern
include soil structure and
erosion, water quality and sup-
ply, atmospheric protection and
protection of natural resources
such as wildlife, wetlands and
woodlands.
Davey said once farmers have
outlined a concern on their
property, they try to solve it,
and explain ways to fix it. If
they can't afford to clean up a
problem, then they should say
so in their plan because. that
data may be useful for pinpoin-
ting any future provincial
programs.
"Besides the education part, it
helps identify hazards.and
allows you to do something."
Farmers should contact their
OMAF offices to check on
possible dates of upcoming
workshops tentatively set for
later this year, and in early
1995.
E
LOCATI
193 JOSEPHINE STe, WINGHAM
formerly Burke Electric location)
kW Z
Over 10 Years Experience
Fully Licensed
•INDUSTRIAL •COMMERCIAL •RESIDENTIAL .FARO
.COMPLETE ELECTRICAL IN4TAPLATION'4
CCS/l for
_24 Hour Er er r cy S r is v i �
196 Josephine St.
Wingham, Ont.
call Today. (51?) 357-4515
Fax (519) 357-4516
Misconceptions
exist about ,
lamb as a meat
•from la
JoAnne says she believes there
are still misconceptions about lamb .
as a meat. She says purchasing a4
lamb for meat does not require the
same amount of freezer space as for
a pig or half a side of beef.
She added that lamb is very
nutritious and is the most easily
digested of all red meats. Miscon-
ceptions still exist that the meat.is
greasy or tough.
But, like beef and pork industries, •
sheep breeders have bred their
animals for leanness. And she
pointed out lamb and mutton are
not the same thing.
"We don't eat mutton." But, she
added, she also wouldn't want a
roast from a three or four year old
cow either.
"Wehave made some converts (to
lamb)," said JoAnne. "It' makes a
great lasagna because lamb goes so
well with pasta.
"It's all in the mindset," said'
JoAnne.
- WANTED -
Crippled Disabled,
or Downer Cows
(must be alive & drug free!
/ Winch equipped
truck
✓ HIGHEST PRICES
PAID
Phone- 519-356-2479
Or
1-800-661-0078
before 8 a.m. for
Same Day- Service
EARL LANNIN
RR
Ai WOOD
WHAT IN
A NAME?
IF THE NAME IS ROTH
IT MEANS SERVICE
Call us today
for all the benefits
of drainage and Roth!
Lt.oIh drain_ come
RR. A) tI?UTID
Oadshill, Onll,lo NOKI,71°
(519)656-26118 ,
Aikeri 5L,'ttntoir .
482-5950 days;
522-1340 evenings