The Rural Voice, 2002-07, Page 601Y
I
HURON
Box 429, Clinton, Ontario NOM 1L0
519-482-9642 or 1-800-511-1135 Website: www.ofa.on.ca/huron Email: huron@ofa.on.ca
The Rural Voice is provided to all farmers
County Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER in Huron County by the HCFA.
Federal government takes small step
The following article is based
mainly on information from the
National Media on Agriculture for the
week ending June 15, 2002.
George W. Bush, the United States
President, recently signed a farm bill
into law that boosts support for U.S.
farmers by 70 per cent by authorizing
U.S. $190 billion in spending during
the next 10 years. This along with very
high support in the European Union for
its farmers, makes it very difficult for
farmers in Canada to compete. U.S.
plans also to implement a country of
origin for all meat consumed in the
U.S. This will be very difficult and very
costly to implement but more
importantly to Canada it will reduce the
value and the volume of meat being
exported from Canada to U.S.
The U.S. support not only affects
major crops such as corn, soybeans,
and wheat, it now also supports crops
such as lentils and peas, which have
been expanding on the prairies. For
Friends of the Bayfield
Throughout North America, citizens
have taken on the task of ensuring that
water is treated with respect. Friends
of the Bayfield River (FOBR) is a local
initiative with this mission.
Formed as an offshoot of the
Environmental Committee of the
Bayfield Ratepayers Association, it
now has members from Bayfield to
Seaforth, farmers, town folk,
government agencies, conservation
authorities and some municipalities. It
is a voluntary group that meets six
fillies a year.
With the guidance of The Ausable
Bayfield Conservation Authority, the
group's aim is to educate residents of
the watershed about the watershed, to
monitor activities in the watershed, to
initiate projects to remediate, to
respond to activities that have negative
impact on the river and to develop a
sustainable process for ensuring the
well being of the river.
An annual membership fee is
requested so that we may continue our
56 THE RURAL VOICE
example the world price for lentils is 12
cents a pound. Under the U.S. farm bill,
however, American farmers are
guaranteed 19 cents a pound.
Speaking at the United Nations
World Food Summit in Rome, Lyle
Vanclief, Minister of Agriculture for
Canada, sided with delegates from
developing countries in complaining
about the new U.S. farm support, which
depresses prices, a step in the wrong
direction.
An article in The National Post on
June 13. 2002 indicates that the federal
government in Ontario is preparing a
significant package with almost $5.2
billion over five years to ease Canadian
farmers' financial hardships in the face
of a global farm support war, senior
government officials say. Bob Friesen,
President of the Canadian Federation of
Agriculture said farmers can accept no
less than $1.3 billion in trade injury for
the year.
Lorne Calvert, the Saskatchewan
River organize
work. To date, we have planted 400
trees and sponsored a full-day
symposium. We received the support of
TD Canada Trust, the Ontario Teachers
Federation, The Huron Stewardship
Council, the Bayfield Ratepayers, and
the Ausable Bayfield Conservation
Authority as well as assistance in kind
from a number of local businesses.
Major funding will be sought for
projects but money is required for day
to day operations. No element of profit
will be permitted, and no payments will
be made to individual members for
their time and effort expended.
Membership fee is $5 per
household. Donations gratefully
accepted. Cheques made payable to:
Friends of the Bayfield River, c/o
Shelley Van Aaken, RR 1, Varna, NOM
2R0. For more information contact
Harold Siberry 519-565-2394.0
Huron County Federation of Agriculture
BOARD MEETING
Fourth Monday of the Month
8:00 p.m. - Vanastra Office
Members Welcome!
Premier was in Ottawa on Wednesday,
June 12, 2002 to meet with Mr.
Chretien and push for the federal
government to pay $1.3 billion dollars
out of its own pocket in direct farm
support. Mr. Calvert said he accepts
provinces must share the financial
burden of most agricultural programs,
but argued that compensation for trade
injury is a special case and falls under
federal jurisdiction.
Provinces such as Saskatchewan
with a population of less than one
million people can find it very difficult
to pay 40 per cent of a large program
with its large agricultural production.0
- Submitted by Nick Whyte
Vice President
Huron County Federation of
Agriculture
TELEPHONE LISTINGS
- now is the time to act -
• Have you checked your current listing
in the telephone book?
• Is it the way you want it to be?
• Some now only have the 911
addresses rather than rural route numbers.
This appears to be for Bell subscribers.
• If privacy is a concern and you wish
your listing changed, call your phone
company promptly. Press time for the next
book is generally July/August.
Huron County Federation of Agriculture
presents "Taste of Huron County
Supper and Theatre Show"
THURSDAY, AUGUST 15/02
At the Blyth Festival for a performance of
Bamboozled - the sequel to He Won't Come in
from the Bam - starring Ted Johns
Supper: 6 p.m. in reception hall
(cash bar run by theatre) Show: 8 p.m.
Show & Supper - S25/person.
Show only: 516.65
Deadline for ticket purchases is July 26
Call Huron Federation Office
to purchase tickets
1-800-511-1135 or 519-482-9642.
Helen Johns hos been invited to attend.
HCFA OFFICE HOURS
Mondays and Fridays
9 a.m. to 12 noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
Please leave a message.
(519) 482-9642 or 1-800-511-1135
FAX (519) 482-1416