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The Rural Voice, 2004-05, Page 54I PCFA Office - R.R. #1.519-229-6269 St. Marys, ONEmail: N4X 1C4 Ph: 519-229-8866caWebsite: or 1-866-829 8866 perth@ofa.on ofa.on.ca/perth County Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER • The Rural Voice is provided to OFA Members in Perth County by the PCFA. Response to questions on CAIS program At the Perth County Federation of Agriculture Directors' meeting some concerns regarding the Bridge Funding and BSE payments were brought forward. It was reported that these funds were considered an advance on CAIS and would have to be repaid if the farmer did not register in the CAIS program. We have obtained the following information on these concerns: 1. The bridge funding is not an advance on CAIS 2. Ontario BSE Recovery Initiative Phase 3 (b) (Advance Payment Component) was an advance on CAIS. The Phase 3(h) letter enclosed with that cheque can be viewed at this link: http://www.gov.on.ca/OMAFRA/eng I ish/.pol icy/bseri/documents/phase3/a dvanced_payment/Advanced—Payme nt—Letter--NISA—Participant.pdf It lists the terms and conditions attached with cashing that cheque. Yes. OMAF will request the recipient return the funds if they don't enroll in CAIS. The CAIS deadline has been extended to June 30. If you have any questions concerning the CAIS Program you can phone CAIS contact line 1-877-838-5144. BSE — Transitional industry Support Prograrn forms are Wind Energy meeting a success More than 250 people turned out to the PCFA's meeting on wind energy held at the Stratford Coliseum on April 1. Presentations by Ted Cowan of the OFA Research Department, and by Melinda Zytaruk and Paul Gipe of the Ontario Sustainable Energy Association (OSEA) were very well received by the audience. One of the major messages brought out in the meeting is that in order for farmers • and landowners to install their own commercial wind turbines and generate clean electricity for the province. the Ontario government's energy policy needs to change. The policy needs to include Advanced Renewable Tariffs. which permit the interconnection of renewable sources of electricity with the grid and specify the price paid for the electricity generated. Sample letters to send to Ontario Ag Minister Steve Peters and Minister of Energy Dwight Duncan asking them to add Advanced Renewal Tariffs to the government's energy policy are available on the PCFA website: www.ofa.on.ca/perth or by calling the PCFA office. For more information on OSEA, and Advanced Renewable Tariffs, you can visit them on the web at www.ontario-sea.org or call them at 416-977-4441.0 OFA Executive Committee member meets with Perth farmers April 12 saw OFA Executive Liaison to Perth, Paul Mistele of Elgin County, meet with Perth County farmers to hear firsthand their views on issues facing Ontario agriculture. The three kitchen meetings were held at the homes of John and Mary McIntosh of Downie, Bob and Susan 50 THE RURAL VOICE Martin of Elma, and Bill and Audrey Rutherford of North Easthope. Some of the issues Paul discussed with 35 Perth farmers that day were: Bill 81 regulations and funding, CAIS, recent Department of Fisheries and Oceans actions on cattle access to streams, and BSE issues.0 now available. you can download from the AAFC website: www.agr.gc.ca/tisp/main.html or call the BSE/CAIS contact line 1-877- 838-5144. This is the latest program announced on March 22, and deals with inventory as of December 23. 2003.0 PERTH COUNTY FEDERATION OF AGRICULTURE THERE WILL BE NO DIRECTORS' MEETING IN MAY PCFA DIRECTORS MEET WITH NORTH PERTH COUNCIL MEMBERS Bob Martin and Andy DeVries of Elma Ward, along with OFA Member Services Representative Paul Nairn, recently met with North Perth Council members. Three areas of interest discussed were: property taxes, Nutrient Management, and Minimum Distance Separation rules.)