The Rural Voice, 2003-02, Page 50BRUCE
Email Bruce@ofan.ca 519-364-3050 or 1-800-275-9551
website: www.ofa.on.ca/bruce
446 10th St., Hanover, Ontario N4N 1P9
('ounty Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER
• The Rural Voice is provided to Bruce
County Farmers by the BCFA.
New concept in Safety Nets proposed
Early in the fall. a group of
concerned farmers from Huron. Bruce.
Sliddlesex. Lambton and Oxford
counties met to discuss the Federal
Government's dropping of the Market
Revenue Program for the 2002 crop
year and the impact this would have on
the family farm.
From this group a concept of
"Graduated Distribution of Safety Net
Dollars" was developed. The basis of
this concept is a model that implies a
declining payment as the farm size
increases. a principle which can be
applied to all non -supply -managed
commodities.
The following resolution was
approved by both Huron and Bruce
County Federations and presented at
the Ontario Federation of Agriculture
Annual Convention on November 24.
2002 in Toronto.
WHEREAS the sustainability of
rural communities, organizations,
environment and food security is
dependent on promoting the
maximum number of farmers, and
WHEREAS a system of graduated
safety net payments distributed
according to size of operation would
help maintain the maximum number
of farmers,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED
The County Line
Bruce Federation of
Agriculture
Working for You:
1. Hosted a meeting to inform
farmers about the changes to
the NISA program.
2. Attended a meeting with MP
Paul Steckle to discuss our
concerns with the proposed
Agricultural Policy Framework.
3. Organized a Nutrient
Management course in Paisley.
46 THE RURAL VOICE
THAT the Ontario Federation of
Agriculture work in co-operation
with other general farm
organizations, commodity
associations and organizations to
implement a system of graduated
companion programs and NISA
payments distributed according to
size of operation. that would allow
distribution of funding. so that the
maximum number of farmers,
communities and organizations can
be maintained.
This resolution was referred to the
Farm Finance and Taxation Committee
for review and action. We will keep
you informed as to our progress. If you
have comments or suggestions on this.
please call your local director.0
— Submitted by Ernie Young
Bruce Township Director
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
OFA
OFA
Farmers Working for Farmers
• Convinced the government to change their
policy to include farms of ALL sizes in the
hydro rate cap at 4.3 cents/kwh
• OFA President, Ron Bonnett will be on
tour in Grey -Bruce on Feb. 14
BRUCE COUNTY FEDERATION OF AGRICULTURE
DIRECTORS' MEETING
MONDAY FEBRUARY 24, 2003
8:00 PM.
Sprucedale Agromart
R.R. #2, Walkerton
25th sideroad Brant (north off of former Hwy.#4 - east of
Walkerton)
MEMBERS ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND