The Rural Voice, 2001-06, Page 62PERTH Burnell Kipfer, R.R. #1, riiFax
PCFA Office 519-229-6430SebngvlleNOK Fax1X0 519-229-6269Ph: 519-271-3399 e-mail: ax perth@ofa.on.ca519-273-0789
County Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER
• The Rural Voice is provided to farmers
in Perth County by the PCFA.
Paul Verkley named honourary life member of 0IA
Perth Federation of Agriculture
member Paul Verkley's significant
contribution to environmental issues
faced by the agricultural community
was recently recognized by the
Ontario Institute of Agrologists at
their Annual Meeting on April 5.
2001.
Gordon Garlough. P.Ag.. an OFA
Environment Committee member,
was on hand to make the following
presentation to Paul:
"Paul John Verkley has clearly
demonstrated his commitment to the
development. promotion and
implementation of agricultural
production practices that have
minimal adverse effects on the
environment. He has served as OFA
Environment Committee Chair since
1995 and Chair of the Ontario Farm
Environmental Coalition's (OFEC)
Nutrient Management Working
Group since 1997. This Working
Group has been instrumental in
providing farmer input to the
provincial government regarding the
proposed legislation for agricultural
operations standards.
"Farm organizations rely on
members willing to volunteer time to
achieve organizational goals. Paul
has managed to juggle a three-
milkings-per-day schedule at hone,
with extraordinary demands on his
time as an Ontario Federation of
Agriculture (OFA) Provincial
Director and OFA's representative on
a number of external committees
charged with investigating
environmental issues faced by
Ontario Farmers. Paul has been
active in agricultural organizations
both at the county and provincial
OFA sees budget positives with work ahead
While the Ontario budget, ensure that support remains," he says.
presented Wednesday, May 9, didn't OFA will continue to work with
offer any new initiatives for the government to achieve
agriculture. "I'm pleased to see improvements to the status farmers
unspent dollars remaining in the have under the Retail Sales Tax Act.
agriculture budget for use in the "We want to see the list of exempt
coming year," says Jack Wilkinson, items expanded further," Wilkinson
President of the Ontario Federation of says, "and we will be working to that
Agriculture (OFA). end during the coming months."
Hon. Brian Coburn, Minister of The budget speech didn't offer a
Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, lot foi agriculture in terms of long -
has already made changes to the term planning for the industry, but
Healthy Futures for Ontario Wilkinson says Minister Coburn
Agriculture making more funding "Has provided us with reasons to.be
available to farmers, and Wilkinson optimistic that the long-term planning
says it is good the unspent dollars process is just beginning. OFA is
from that program will remain participating in a general review
available for the coming year. aimed at developing the sort of long -
It is expected money from that term program Ontario's farmers have
program will allow farmers to make been seeking."
improvements on their farms that will OFA expects an appropriate
preserve and protect the environment, portion of additional funding
Wilkinson says. announced for health care services
"We knew that when the province and education will be spent in
announced the $90 million for grains rural areas of Ontario to ensure
and oilseeds producers at the end of residents of rural Ontario have their
March, the best we could hope for in needs met. "We will be working with
the budget was the province's our local federations to monitor
continued support for safety nets improvements to health care and
funding," Wilkinson said. "We will education services at the local lev,,el,"
be working with the government to Wilkinson says.0
58 THE RURAL VOICE
fuels, and developed an ability to
provide meaningful contributions in a
number of diverse areas ranging from
organizational restructuring to
environmental farm planning to
agricultural biotechnology. In so
doing, he has become extremely
knowledgeable in areas such as the
management of nutrients and
pathogens associated with
agricultural production, and he has
honed his skills as a farm leader, thus
enabling him to negotiate workable
agreements on very contentious
issues.
"Paul has become a much -sought-
after speaker at conferences and
workshops throughout Ontario and
beyond. He has the ability to present
a farmer's perspective on
environmental issues in a way that
reassures the general population that
a strong environmental ethic is part
of the fabric of the farming
community. He has an excellent
grasp of issues pertaining to
agriculture and the environment. He
has been recognized as an expert
witness on nutrient management by
Ontario's Normal Farm Practice
Board.
"Paul has made a significant
contribution to the agricultural
community over the past 20 years
and there is every reason to believe
that he will continue to do so. In
recognition of his outstanding
contribution to agriculture, the
Ontario Institute of Agrologists is
pleased to name Paul John Verkley
as an Honourary Life Member."0
To keep up to date on what Perth
County Federation of Agriculture
is doing visit our website at:
www.ofa.on.ca/perth
PERTH COUNTY FEDERATION
OF AGRICULTURE
DIRECTORS' MEETING
Thursday, June 28, 2001
Downie Mutual Insurance Office
Sebringville 8:00 p.m.
EVERYONE WELCOME