The Rural Voice, 2001-10, Page 56::iii;-� Y T 446 10th St., Hanover, Ontario N4N 1 P9
Email grey@o(a on ca Website:www o(a on calgrey 519-364-3050 or 1-800-275-9551
County Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER • The Rural Voice is provided to all Grey
County Farmers by the GCFA.
We must all do our part in nutrient management
Nutrient Management — v e are
hearing this term quite frequently in
the past few months. But what does it
mean?
In most cases the term is referring
to livestock manure which in the past
may have, been considered a waste
product. but is now considered as a
valuable nutrient and soil -building
product. Nutrients are not limited to
this source though. It also refers to
commercial fertilizer as well as
biosolids and organic industrial
waste. The responsible use of any
combination -of these sources is what
is referred to as nutrient management.
Provincial legislation is being
passed so that regulations may be put
into place to ensure that these
nutrients are applied and stored in a
manner that has a minimal negative
effect on the environment. Some
people are concerned about what this
will mean to them and their farm
operations. It will mean that farmers
will have to keep good records:
application rates, dates of application.
soil samples, manure samples,
rainfall data, crop yields are just
some examples. Formal nutrient
management plans will likely have to
be prepared by farmers applying
nutrients to their farms. Storage
facilities may have to be improved,
application practices may have to
change.
It's pretty hard to argue against the
intention of these regulations. Most
farmers already keep good records
and the overuse of nutrients has been
kept to a minimum simply due to
economics. But as farms get larger,
the opportunities for accidents and
mistakes to have a large impact on
the environment increase. This means
we must be more careful in our
operations.
We as farmers must be prepared to
do our part. but should not be
expected to finance all the measures
required by these regulations.
Government support will be required
because farmers have no way of
recovering the added costs of
complying with these regulations.
As the fall harvest nears an end. it
No need to rush!
Hydro resellers
want your signature ...
Anticipating the deregulation of the
electricity industry in Ontario, some
resellers are aggressively going after
signatures on contracts.
OFA's advice: WAIT!!!
Deregulation is not a sure thing, and
offering your signature on a contract
now could be to your disadvantage.
Contact the Ontario Energy
Bcard at 1-877-632-2727 if you
experience high-pressure
sales tactics that don't appear
legitimate - provide names
and details of tactics.
GREY COUNTY FEDERATION OF AGRICULTURE
DIRECTORS' MEETING
Thursday, November 15, 2001 - 8:00 p.m.
Grey County Agricultural Services Centre meeting room (Grey Gables)
206 Toronto Street South, Markdale
MEMBERS ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND
NOTE: There will be NO Board of Directors' Meeting in
October due to the Annual Meeting on October 12.
52 THE RURAL VOICE
A
is a good time to start planning for
next year. Do some soil samples and
carry a notebook with you and keep
notes about everything you do.
Prepare a nutrient management plan
for your farm operation and you may
even find that you can save some
money on nutrient costs for next
year's crop.0
Submitted by David Snider
GCFA Executive Director
GREY COUNTY FEDERATION OF
AGRICULTURE
61st Annual Meeting
and Banquet and
OFA Regional Meeting
Friday,
October 12, 2001
Royal Canadian Legion,
Durham
Social: 6:30 p.m.
Dinner 7:00 p.m.
Guest Speaker:
Clare Lewis, Ontario Ombudsman
Tickets: $12/person
— available from
GCFA Presidents, Township
Presidents, Regional Directors, or
our office.
NOTE:
• OFA Regional Directors, Delegates
and Alternates for OFA Convention, and
GCFA Presidents will be elected at the
meeting.
• Changes to our Constitution and By -
Laws will be presented at the annual
meeting.
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