The Rural Voice, 2003-01, Page 50BRUCE
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.
Programs will help you conserve water
The past hot and dry summer had all of us thinking about water or the lack of water many times. The end of the cropping and pasturing season is an
excellent time to start planning next year's water conservation techniques. •
We all know an abundant clean supply of water is essential to our farming operations. This abundant clean water has always been available in the
past, and any environmental changes we made did not measurably affect the water supply. The increased demand for water, and a gradual change in
climatic conditions indicates there is a delicate balance between supply and demand. We cannot make immediate changes in climatic trends, but I
believe we can make small, positive changes in our environment. These changes can help conserve and purify the existing water supplies.
Farmers have always had a partnership with nature, and now is the time we must give nature some help to conserve and clean up our water
supplies. We are not alone in this quest. Government and private agencies are willing to help us with money and expertise. On this page you will find a
list of various programs available to residents of Bruce County. I would urge all farmers to utilize this help.°
— Submitted by Wietse Posthumus, BCFA 2nd Vice President
Ontario Environmental Farm Plan (EFP)
Environmental Farm Plans (EFP) provides
farm families with up to $1.500 of incentive
funding to help raise awareness of
environmental conditions on their farm.
Through the EFP process, farmers voluntarily
highlight environmental strengths on their
farms, identify areas of concern, and set
realistic goals to improve environmental
conditions according to their own timetable.
$1,500 incentive $1,000 Award Contest.°
Contact: Jayne Dietrich 519-367-2740.
Wetland Habitat Fund
The Wetland Habitat Fund (WHF)
provides private landowners with financial
assistance for projects that improve the
ecological integrity of wetland habitats. The
grant rate is a maximum 50 per cent for all
projects, with a ceiling of $5,000.0
Contact: Doug van Hemessen 519-370-2390
dvanhemessen@wetlandfund.com
www.wetlandfund.com
Rural Well upgrade and Decommissioning
The program pays for work on private
wells, both farm and non-farm.
- 67 per cent to upgrade wells to MOE
standards
- 64 per cent to decommission abandoned
wells
Farmers require an Environmental Farm
Plan (can be done while well work is looked
after).
Rural residents are asked to complete a
well assessment questionnaire.
Properly licenced contractors must do
work, and the owner should apply and be
approved prior to work being done. Call first
to get guidance on how to qualify.°
Contact: Gertie Blake, Ontario Federation of
Agriculture, 519-364-3050 gblake@bmts.com
Ducks Unlimited
Ducks Unlimited conserves, restores and
manages wetlands and associated habitats
for waterfowl. These habitats also benefit
other wildlife and people. Ducks Unlimited
offers financial and/or technical assistance to
landowners interested in restoring or
enhancing wetlands on their property through
various techniques. In Grey County, Ducks
Unlimited is particularly interested in
conserving small and/or seasonal wetland
habitats.°
Contact: Kevin Rich, 705-721-444 ext. 250
k rich@ducks.ca www.ducks.ca
Grey Bruce Rural Water Quality
Improvement Program
Financial assistance is available
to qualified landowners to share the
cost of selected best management practices
(BMP) that improve ground and/or sur-
face water quality. The grant rate is 50 per
cent for all projects. with varying grant
maximums. Landowners may apply for
funding in more than one category, with a
total grar maximum of $25,000 per
applicant.0
Contact: Donna Clarkson,
Saugeen Conservation 519-364-1255
publicinfo @s vca. on. ca
www.svca.on.ca/healthyfutures.htm
Contact: David Patterson, Grey Sauble
Conservation Authority 519-376-3076
info @ g reysa ub l e. on. ca
www.greysauble.on.ca/water-quality.html
Agricultural Environmental Stewardship
Initiative
An incentive for farmers within certain
watersheds to undertake projects and adapt
Best Management Practices (BMPs)
designed to improve surface and ground
water quality. The grant is 50 per cent for all
projects with varying grant maximums. Total
grant per farm operator is $3,000. Farmers'
in-kind labour can count towards their 50 per
cent contribution to the project cost.0
Contact: Bruce County Federation of
Agriculture 519-364-3050.
The County Line:
The Bruce Federation of Agriculture
represents you on the following boards and
committees:
Grey -Bruce Humane Society
Healthy Futures Technical Review Committee
Grey -Bruce Clean Water Festival
Saugeen River Watershed Water Response
Team
Rails to Trails
Tree Cutting By -Law Discussions
If you have concerns regarding any of the
above issues, contact the BCFA office at
519-364-3050, and your voice will be heard
at our meetings.°
46 THE RURAL VOICE
BRUCE COUNTY FEDERATION
OF AGRICULTURE
DIRECTORS' MEETING
Monday, January 27, 2003
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
EFP COURSES
Book an
Environmental Farm Plan Course
1 1/2 daytime courses available
Monday, January 27/February 3
— Mildmay Co-op
Wednesday, February5/February 12
— location to be announced
Wednesday, March 19/March 26
— location to be announced
Pre -register — call Jayne 367-5930
or dietrich@bmts.com