The Rural Voice, 1998-09, Page 72GREY
County Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER
44610th St., Hanover, Ontario N4N 1 P9
Email: gcta@greynet.net Website: headwaters.com/gcta 519-364-3050 or 1-800-275-9551
• The Rural Voice is provided to all Grey
County Farmers by the GCFA.
Being President of the Grey
County Federation of Agriculture
(GCFA) this year has been a very
rewarding experience for me. I am
honoured to have had the chance to
represent Grey County farmers at
several provincial and county
meetings and socials. Grey County
farmers are known and very much
respected in this province. Past
leaders and innovators from this area
are remembered and held in high
regard.
The farm people who are presently
serving the farm community are
second to none in the professional
manner in which they conduct
themselves. Having said this does not
mean there is not a place for you to
get involved. Township federations
are a good starting point, but are not
mandatory. We are lucky in Grey to
be the only county that still has
township federations of agriculture.
With county -wide restructuring and
amalgamation we may see some
changes in our structure. Your view
points on that issue would be
appreciated.
Do you have the time to help with
the federation workload? For
example, OFA regional director,
GCFA executive, president, first or
second vice president, or are you just
able to be called for special projects,
such as manning a booth at a fair?
Some people say the reason they are
not involved is because they have not
been asked. Well, I am asking you
now. Phone our office in Hanover
and give us your name or a shy
friend's name. Recruitment for our
fall elections is underway, and yes it
GREY COUNTY FEDERATION OF
AGRICULTURE
Director's Meeting
Thursday,
September 24, 1998
8:00 p.m.
OMAFRA Boardroom, Markdale
Members are welcome to attend
68 THE RURAL VOICE
Be a part of the changes
would be nice to have enough good
people run for positions that we
would need an election.
Delegates to the OFA Annual
convention in Toronto, November 23
and 24 are also needed. Young
farmers are encouraged to run for all
positions, as they are the future of
agriculture. By going to the
convention you will come away with
a whole new outlook on life, not just
on farming. One farmer told me, "I
hate coming to these gatherings
because you always find something
new to try at home." I'm sure he
meant that in a good way. If you
don't get out and see what is going on
in the world of agriculture, and yes I
mean the world, you might just get
left behind trying to catch up, rather
than having someone catch up to you.
Documentation is a must now to
protect yourself. If you use a needle
on livestock, record how much
medication you used, where, and
when. If you spread manure the same
applies, how much, where and when,
and what the weather was like. Did
you get a test on your manure and a
soil sample on the field it was applied
to? These documents might just save
your farm a costly court battle. Don't
forget to be a good neighbour. If you
are thinking of applying manure,
consult your neighbour and make
sure they are not about to have a big
social function that they forgot to
invite you to. Who knows maybe you
might get an invitation to the party
and you can always spread tomorrow.
Helping a neighbour out, is that
against the tax law? If you don't
charge or collect GST, is that the
barter system? I sure hope it doesn't
come down to that, because in our
neighbourhood with all the good
neighbours we have, it could mean a
lot more paper work on collecting the
"God Save us Tax".0
Bob Rodger
President, GCFA
1
GREY COUNTY FEDERATION OF
AGRICULTURE
ANNUAL/REGIONAL
MEETING
Friday, October 23, 1998
Markdale Community Centre
Dinner: 7:00 p.m.
Guest Speakers, Greg and
Suzanne Brown will give a slide
presentation, "Sea, Ice and Sky"
on their 5,000 km. boat trip from
Thornbury to North Labrador
Tillage Demonstration Day
Sponsored by
GREY COUNTY SOIL & CROP IMPROVEMENT
ASSOCIATION
at
Diemertdale Acres - Ayton
Lot 21, Concession 13, Normanby Township
Monday, September 14, 1998
10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
You're invited to witness the latest in tillage equipment in action
There will also be a Farm Supply Trade Show
A $2 admission fee will give those in attendance the opportunity
, to win numerous door prize draws.
Lunch will be available