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The Rural Voice, 1987-11, Page 74HURON COUNTY Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER Annual Meeting, Friday, October 9, 1987, Hensall Community Centre. A social hour was held from 6 to 7 p.m. with president Paul Klopp calling the meet- ing to orderat7 p.m. Grace was said by Tony McQuail, followed by "0 Canada" and a toast to Canada by James Armstrong. A delicious roast beef dinner was served to approximately 185 people by the Hensall Legion Ladies Auxiliary. President Paul explained the election procedures and Blaine Stephenson was appointed election chairman, to be assisted by Don Pullen. The head table guests and guests from other counties were introduced by Allan Cardiff. Allan also expressed regrets from the Hon. Jack Riddell and Murray Cardiff. Election results were: president, Paul Klopp; 1stvice-president, Chris Palmer; 2nd vice-president, James Armstrong. Directors -at -large: John Gaunt, John Nesbit, Brenda McIntosh, Alfred Etzler, Larry Plaetzer, and Murray Crawford. The minutes of last year's meeting were adopted on a motion by John Nesbit, sec- onded by Chris Palmer. Carried. The finan- cial statement was approved as printed on a motion by Bob Harrison, seconded by Chris Palmer. Carried. A motion to hire Stephen Thompson as our auditor again this year was made by Tony McQuail, seconded by Doug Garniss. Carried. Fieldman Blaine Stephenson gave a short report on three highlights of the past year: our 50th anniversary, the rejuvenation of Stephen Township Federation of Agricul- ture, and the county -wide membership can- vass Huron held in June/July 1987. The Huron County Award was pre- sented by Chris Palmer to John Van Beers, Hullett Township. John has been active in the federation for more than 12 years on committees such as program, public rela- tions, properties, and land use, and has been executive director, 1st and 2nd vice-presi- dents, and most recently an initiator in the Crop Insurance Commission for Huron County this past winter. John and his wife are also very active in their community and church and took in two foster children along with their own four boys. Brenda McIntosh introduced the speaker for the evening, Dr. Freeman McEwen, the dean of the Ontario Agricul- tural College at Guelph. Mr. McEwen spoke MEMBERS' MEETING November 16 Vanastra federation office, 8:30 p.m. 1 I Topic: discussion of OFA convention' resolutions. L 72 THE RURAL VOICE Box 429, Clinton, Ontario NOM 1L0 519-482-9642 about his term on the Ontario Agriculture Task Force. Doug Garniss thanked Mr. McEwen for his address and presented him with a basket of fruit, cheese, and wine. Greetings were brought from the OFA by Jack Wilkinson, 2nd vice-president. Don Pullen from OMAF brought us up to date on county happenings at the ministry office. The Resolution Committee, which con- sisted of Tony McQuail, Doug Garniss, and Alfred Etzler, presented three resolutions. 1. Plant Breeders' Rights: WHEREAS plant patent legislation is currently under consideration and may be introduced in the fall session of the parliament of Canada, and WHEREAS the patenting of biological materials such as seeds and plants has very serious implications for the farm commu- nity, and WHEREAS there is already consider- able concentration in the industries that develop and supply seeds to the farm com- munity, and WHEREAS plant patent legislation will accelerate concentration in the seed industry and will likely increase the costs of seeds to the farmer and may reduce the varieties of seeds and plants available to the farmer, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Ontario Federation of Agriculture op- pose the implementation of plant patent legislation. Moved by Tony McQuail, sec- onded by John Van Beers. Carried. 2. Long -Term Programfor Agriculture: WHEREAS agriculture is suffering from serious economic, social, and environmental problems, and WHEREAS for agriculture to be sus- tainable it must nurture the soil, produce healthy plants and animals, and provide a decent living for those people directly in- volved in agricultural production, and WHEREAS modern industrial agricul- ture has been structured to eliminate agricul- tural labour, increase off -farm inputs, and substantially increase the capital intensity and debt load of agriculture, and WHEREAS to preserve the family farm it is essential that family farms regain more control of their farm production system, and WHEREAS for the farm production system to be sustainable it must be based on ecologically sound farm practices, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Ontario Federation of Agriculture evalu- ate its own policies and government pro- grams on the basis of their ability both to promote fair economic returns to the farm community and promote ecologically sound farm practices, and FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that the OFA develop proposals for long-term pro- grams that would link government support of agriculture with agricultural practices that preserve and build long-term soil fertility and soil conservation. Moved by Doug Gar- niss, seconded James Armstrong. Carried. 3. Free Trade: WHEREAS the "free trade" agreement appears to be a disaster for agriculture, threatens supply managed com- modities, and does not remove the tariffs on pork exports, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Huron County Federation of Agriculture oppose the agreement and work with other groups to oppose it by sending letters to MPs explaining our opposition and demanding explanations to many unexplained areas, and FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that if the agreement does take effect the HCFA press for government programs to assist farmers hurt by the agreement. Moved by Alfred Etzler, seconded by Abby Arm- strong. Carried. This resolution was later reopened when Francis Hunt objected that he didn't think people knew enough about the free trade proposal at this point to make a decision. This was supported by John Van Beers who proposed that this resolution be referred to the HCFA Board of Directors. After discus- sion, the motion was referred back to the board on a motion by John Van Beers, sec- onded by Tony McQuail. Carried.... To be reopened and discussed at the HCFA board of directors meeting on October 26, 1987. Door prizes were drawn throughout the evening by Murray Crawford and Don Dow. Prizes were donated by CG Farm Suppy, Zurich; Becker's Farm Equipment, Luck - now; Lucknow Farm Supply; Reavie Farm Equipment, Lucknow; Bob and Marion Harrison, Brussels; Belgrave Co-operative. New business: Tony McQuail made a motion that we consider amending the con- stitution by dropping the stipulation that our annual meeting be at a specific time before the annual meeting of the OFA, seconded by John Nesbit. Carried.... To be discussed at the next board meeting on October 26. Adjournment by Jim Mclntosh.0 HUGH RUNDLE Last month, Hugh Rundle, 50, of R. R. 1, Centralia died at University Hospital, London, as a result of a motor accident on October 15. The president of the Usborne Township Federation of Agriculture for the past 10 years, he had also served on the federation membership com- mittee. He will be deeply missed, and the federation extends sympa- thy to his wife, Blanche, and family.