The Rural Voice, 2004-06, Page 681
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HURON
Box 429, Clinton, Ontario NOM 1L0
519-482-9642 or 1-800-511-1135 Website: www.hcfa.on.ca Email: huron@ofa.on.ca
County Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER
• The Rural Voice is provided to all OFA
Members in Huron County by the HCFA.
Wind energy meeting draws 200
On April 27. the Huron County
Federation of Agriculture hosted a
very successful meeting on alternate
forms of energy. Over 200 attended
the meeting in Holmesville. Several
people in the crowd were from
outside Huron County.
The three main speakers were Paul
Gipe from California, a director for
Ontario Sustainable Energy
Association; Ted Cowan, OFA
Research Energy Committee and
James Murphy, of the Ontario
Sustainable Energy Association.
One of the major messages
brought out in the discussion is that
in order for farmers and/or
landowners to install their own
commercial wind turbines to generate
clean electricity, the Ontario
Huron County Federation of Agriculture
BOARD MEETING
Fourth Monday of the Month
8:00 p.m. - Vanastra Office
Members Welcome!
Huron Coyote
Bylaw
It has been brought to the attention
of the Huron County Federation of
Agriculture that there is some
confusion over the Huron County
Coyote Bylaw. The existence of the
Bylaw does not mean farmers
cannot shoot coyotes if they believe
the coyote is damaging or is about to
damage the farmer's property.
Farmers still have the right to protect
their own livestock against nuisance
animals under the Provincial Fish
and Wildlife Act.
It is our understanding that the
County By -Law was implemented at
the request of livestock owners who
did not have the means to destroy
coyotes themselves. The Bylaw
allows to compensate for that
expense, and is not considered a
bounty.0
64 THE RURAL VOICE
government's energy policy needs to
be changed. The Ontario policy needs
to include Renewable Tariffs, which
permit the interconnection of
renewable sources of electricity with
the grid and specify the price paid for
electricity generated. For more
information on OSEA (Ontario
Sustainable Energy Association), and
Advanced Renewable Tariffs, visit
website: www.ontario-sea.org or call
416-977-4441. Anyone interested in
writing letters to Ontario Ministry of
Ag. Steve Peters or Dwight Duncan
asking to add Advanced Renewable
Tariffs to the government's
Energy Policy can find "sample"
letters on the HCFA website:
www.ofa.on.ca/huron
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
1-800-511-1135
FAX (519) 482-1416
Funds depleted for Environmental Farm Plan
The Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA) has announced that the
budgeted funds for supporting the EFP Plan Incentive Program are completely used up. No new
claims will be processed. No more EFP workshops will be offered until the proposed launch of the
new EFP sessions, hopefully for late fall of 2004.
The Third Edition EFP Workbook, led by OMAF, should provide the basis for a re -tooled
workshop and newer learning opportunities. New incentives are also promised. Farmers and
producers wit have to stay tuned for details as the new program appears.0
Federation activities
The Huron County Federation of Agriculture is busy on several fronts these days.
• HCFA is co-ordinating County Commodity groups for the "Taste of Huron" to be held in
conjunction with the Blyth Festival Singers fundraising event in Varna on May 29.
• HCFA has an intervenor status in Tribute Resources pipeline development in Goderich ward of
Central Huron. Water and environmental issues are the main concerns.
• HCFA is investing to become a "participant'. status at the OMB hearing regarding the
Woodlands Golf course.
• HCFA supported the 10 recommendations from the OFA Land Use Committee regarding
Greenbelt Legislation in the Lake Ontario area.
- whereas there has been inadequate representation from and consultation with farmers
who own the majority of the land within the greenbelt, and whereas the preservation of the
economic viability of individual producers is a key pillar to greenbelt protection, and whereas we
believe in real long-term protection of all farmers, regardless of where they live;
Therefore be it resolved that OFA support for the greenbelt be contingent on:
- the consistent application of the Farming and Food Protection Act including a clearly
defined dispute resolution process;
- compensation for the loss of the farmer's equity;
- compensation for environmental restriction on an annual basis;
- a clear statement that farmlands are not open to public access;
- the public benefits of Ontario agriculture, such as carbon sinks, food security and support
for rural communities are recognized, and that the long-term economic viability of farm
operations be insured so that future generations can continue to farm these lands.0