The Rural Voice, 2001-11, Page 48BRUCE
Email: bruce@ofa.on.ca
website: www.ofa.on.ca/bruce
County Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER
446 10th St., Hanover, Ontario N4N 1P9
519-364-3050 or 1-800-275-9551
The Rural Voice is provided to Bruce
County Farmers by the BCFA.
Farm tour for Justice O'Connor
Bruce County Federation of
Agriculture was honoured to host a
farm tour for Justice O'Connor,
Commissioner as well as Executive
Assistant Gus Van Harten; Chair
Research Advisory Panel Dr. Harry
Swain; Executive Assistant James
Van Loon; President Bruce County
Federation Jayne Dietrich; Past
President BCFA Murray Clark,
Executive Member Wietse
Posthumus, Field Representative
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
Gertie Blake.
A tour of BCFA Director Mark
and Cathy Hamel's dairy farm and
surrounding area took place on
Saturday, September 22, 2001. The
Hamel farm, a 10 -minute drive north-
east of Walkerton, is typical of a
well-run midsize family farm
operation. Together with their son
Matt and friend Larissa Misch, and
the occasional help of others, the
Hamels farm about 550 acres and
milk 47 cows. Included in the tour
were the home farm, the construction
site of their new dairy barn, earthen
manure storage and surrounding area.
Mark and Cathy demonstrate care
and concern for the environment in
the way they operate their farm,
while being very open and honest
about some of the problems that
continue to challenge them. The
commissioner was interested in
topics such as minimum distance
separation, exclusion fencing and
buffer strips, and abandoned wells.
Also discussed were the issues and
concerns around nutrient
management and hest management
practices.
The tour of the Hamel farm
illustrated many common practices
and challenges on a family farm
today. Farm practices are constantly
changing and evolving to find the
balance between sound practices and
making a living from the farm and
are largely successful in doing so.
There is a continuing need for
education, combined with incentives
to assist the farm community in
46 THE RURAL VOICE
meeting the requirements of
increasingly stricter regulations.
Electricity Supply Contracts
Last week we had agents at our
doorstep in Carrick Township (South
Bruce) selling electricity supply
contracts. For some months now
agents representing some of the
companies licenced by the Ontario
Energy Board to sell electric energy,
have been travelling the roads of
Ontario with contracts in hand. These
agents acted quite shocked when we
explained that we were not prepared
to sign anything at this time. They
countered our reasons with what
seemed quite logical answers at the
time. It wasn't until they were told an
absolute firm "no" that they left
shaking their heads in disbelief. They
insisted they would be back in the
spring to sign us up at higher rates.
OFA is advising members not to
sign any of these contracts as there
are still a lot of unknown details
about deregulation and what it will
mean to consumers. If you have the
time and desire to debate with these
agents then answers to the following
questions should be demanded:
Do you have a licence from the
Ontario Energy Board?
What is the length (term) of the
contract?
Is there a penalty for cancelling
the contract?
Can the retailer cancel the
contract?
When does service begin?
What is the price per kilowatt
hour and will it vary?
Are there additional charges,
and if so, what are they?
What charges are included in
the quoted rate?
Do you offer environmentally -
friendly energy?
Are there any signing bonuses or
other promotions?
What if I move? Can I terminate
early, or transfer the contract to
another retailer?
Remember if you do sign a
contract and later have reservations,
remember you have 10 business days
to write to the retailer and cancel the
contract.0
— Submitted by Jayne Dietrich
BCFA President
BRUCE COUNTY FEDERATION
OF AGRICULTURE
DIRECTORS'
MEETING
MONDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2001
8:00 P.M.
Sprucedale Agromart
R.R. #2, Walkerton
25th sideroad Brant (north off of
former Hwy.#4 - east of Walkerton)
MEMBERS ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND
BILL 81, NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT ACT,
REGULATIONS CONSULTATION
MEETINGS
The OFA Environment Committee is looking for farmer input into the new
Nutrient Management Act regulations November 29, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00
p.m., Stratford Coliseum, Kinsmen Hall, lunch provided and 7:00 p.m. to
10:00 p.m., Knights of Columbus Hall, west of Hanover. For further
information contact Bronwyn Findlay at OFA, 1-800-ONT-FARM (1-800-
668-3276).