The Rural Voice, 2003-02, Page 48GREY
County Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER
446 10th St., Hanover, Ontario N4N 1P9
Email' grey@ofa.on.ca Website www.ofa.on.ca/grey 519-364-3050 or 1-800-275-9551
• The Rural Voice is provided to all Grey
County Farmers by the GCFA.
Nutrient Management regulations update
By Paul De Jong. President
Grey County Federation of
Agriculture
On behalf of our faintly to yours
Happy New Year!
The following information is a
brief summary of some of the major
issues affecting the everyday farmer.
These issues surrounding the Nutrient
Management Act, are a draft and
may or may not become part of the
final regulations. This is where things
seem to be headed.
• This regulation will most definitely
protect the environment but at the
cost of the farmer. These regulations
will mean added capital investment
costs. increased operating costs.
increased labour. and an increase in
paperwork.
• Farms are going to be split into four
groups: Category 1 — up to 30
nutrient units; Category 2 — 30-150
nutrient units; Category 3 — 150-300
nutrient units; and Category 4 — 300 -
plus nutrient units. (Some examples
of one nutrient are: one beef cow; .55
dairy cow and calf; 2.5 sows farrow
to weaning; 1 horse. etc.) For a
complete list see
ww.gov.on.ca/omaf and
www.ene.gov.on.ca
• Farms on which there is new or
expanding farm operations must
comply by March 31. 2003.
• You will need a license to operate a
manure spreader whether it is liquid
or solid.
• Winter spreading is allowed but
some conditions apply from
December 1 to March 31.
• Setbacks from spreading manure
from houses. wells, ditches. rivers or
creeks.
• Winter pasturing will he allowed in
accordance to the guidelines.
• Farms must have a 240 -day manure
storage for liquid manure. There will
be restrictions on the volume of
manure that will be allowed to
spread. All present manure storages
10 years and older must be checked
for structural soundness.
The OFA will be putting on
information meetings about the
upcoming legislation. Now is the
time to voice your concerns and/or
objections. It is up to you the farmer
to know what this legislation is about
LIVESTOCK MEDICINE COURSE
Saturday, February 15, 2003
9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
— Ravenna Hall —
NOTE: Last course for this session
For more information contact
Jacquie Hendry 705-445-5418
Sponsored by
Collingwood Township Federation
Also please watch for details on an
upcoming social night
Profile of GCFA's new president
Paul De Jong is the current president of the Grey County Federation of
Agriculture (GCFA). Paul completed the Farm Business Management course
at Centralia College.
After completion of the course he returned to the family dairy farm near
Dundalk and farmed with his parents in a partnership for 10 years. In 2000
Paul and his wife Dorien purchased the 300 -acre dairy farm, milking 65 cows
in a freestall barn. They have four children Sean, Peter, Maria and Olivia.
Paul is actively involved in the community. He is a member of the local advisory committee on
the Nutrient Management plans, is a director of the Grey County Milk committee, and an active
member of the Knights of Columbus. He has served on the Dundalk and District Agricultural
Society and is a past member of the Ontario Dairy Herd Improvement. He has also served an
eight-year term on the Proton Township Federation which has led him to this position.
As GCFA president he is dedicated to ensuring the proper legislation is in place to protect the
farmer and the environment. It is a critical time for farmers and we will keep farmers up to date on
the latest changes and developments occurring in this industry.0
Paul De Jong
44 THE RURAL VOICE
and make informed observations. I
urge you to contact your local MPP
or write the Ontario Ministry of
Agriculture and Food. For more
information on the Nutrient
Management Act visit the above
website or obtain a copy of the 300 -
page act.0
GREY COUNTY FEDERATION OF
AGRICULTURE
DIRECTORS' MEETING
Thursday,
February 27, 2003
8:00 p.m.
Grey County Agricultural Services Centre
meeting room (Grey Gables)
206 Toronto Street South, Markdale
Members are welcome to attend
INFORMATION
MEETING
RE: BILL C-81 NUTRIENT
MANAGEMENT
Wednesday, February 19
7:00 p.m.
Dundalk Old Town Hall Theatre
Sponsored by: Grey County
Federation of Agriculture and
Simcoe District Co-operative
Keynote Speaker:
Dale Cowan, Agri -Food Labs
The regulations and guidelines of
the Nutrient Management Bill are
now a part of Ontario agriculture
and will eventually impact all
segments. This presentation will
review the current status of the
regulations and give producers the
opportunity to ask questions about
the bill and its guidelines.
Plan to attend this
informative meeting
For further details, contact:
Simcoe District Co-op
Dundalk Branch
519-923-2015
Paul De Jong 519-923-9777