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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFarming '91, 1991-03-20, Page 17FARMING ’91, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 1991. A17. Farming ’91 Programs help farmers adopt conservation measures A farmer operates a ridge tillplanter. Continued from page A16 private landowners on a cost recov­ ery basis. Last year a total of about 4,500 trees, including hardwood and coniferous were supplied. With the end of the OSCEPAP II program in 1989, the construction of conservation farm structures slowed almost to a halt. Fortunate­ ly OMAF announced two programs that will provide sources of funding in the future. Land Stewardship II begins in April and will run for three years, providing grants for numerous conservation practices. The National Soil Conservation Program is also three years in length. This program will provide funds for landowners interested in retiring fragile lands. MVCA Soil and Water Techni­ cian Chris Hoskins said there is $38,000 available through the Land Stewardship II program for helping farmers adopt new management practices in conservation and to provide financial assistance for these practices. Up to $20 per acre will be given for residue management, provided there is a 20 per cent soil coverage from the previous crop. This could be from immediately after harvest to immediately after planting. To plant a cover crop so the soil isn’t exposed, the program offers $30 an acre. Ten dollars an acre is available for part of an accepted United Breeders reports profit for 1990 Members attending the United Breeders Inc. annual meeting held January 23 heard the member- owned and Guelph-based artificial insemination livestock centre re­ ported a profit of $433,053 in the fiscal year 1990. Total revenue increased almost three per cent to $13,129,135 giving 1990 to the second-highest annual revenue in the history of United. Expenses were held at less than three per cent. Semen sales increased 2.2 per cent to exceed $4.35-million. Total incentives returned to United members amounted to $686,364, resulting from payment of classification fees, breeding fee reductions, the 40:40 program, and rhe VIP program. strip cropping system if up to 30 per cent of the acres were planted in the previous year to a maximum of 100. There is funding for conservation equipment with grants up to $3,000 for 50 per cent of the costs toward the purchase, modification or ren­ tal of equipment. For the building of soil conser­ vation structures, like grassed waterways, water diversion and fencing of water courses, funding of 50 per cent of the costs to solve the existing erosion problem is offered. For manure storage and handling systems another 50 per cent is available to eliminate the need to spread and store manure. The Land Stewardship program will also fund 50 per cent of, salvaging environmental protection regarding milkhouse and parlour wash water. Through the National Soil Con­ servation Program up to $10,000 is available to retire and protect fragile land, especially farmland strips adjacent to streams and open ditches. This helps reduce erosion and chemical run-off and it is being administered through Ontario Soil and Crop on behalf of Agriculture Canada. Farm and Commercial buildings Vanden Heuvel Construction Co. Ltd. Kase Vanden Heuvel 524-9176 R. R. 2 Goderich or Ken Janmaat 522-1858 Seaforth [after6 p.m.] Fax#524-9240 Though Mr. Hoskins says his impression is that response to the program has been good Mr. Weit­ endorf admits that there are still a few who don’t see themselves as the problem. “Some farmers are skeptical; they have done things for so long the same way. The reality is that usually there are only one or two days a year when you can actually see soil erosion happening. It occurs so slowly that farmers just can’t believe it happens.” He explains that in magazines the pictures of soil erosion always show such a “horrendous example” that people can’t relate to it. “They are not the typical situations that everyone sees.” “People don’t look at the cumu­ Ss AGRICULTURE SOFTWARE J Full Featured Accounting System $495.11 Accounting - Crops • Livestock - Marketing Beltane Agri-Service Londesboro, Ont. N0M 2H0 519-523-4376 Call or write for your free 24 page booklet - Everything you wanted to know about computerizing your farm records. BROS. TRUCKING LOCAL & LONG DISTANCE HAULING • LIVESTOCK •GRAIN • GRAVEL GALL toll 1.800-265-9001 rRuE CALL LOCAL 523-4500 BELGRAVE Agriculture is a cornerstone of our economy and of our rural communities. I am proud and honoured to represent the interests of Huron and Bruce County in Ottawa and as always look forward to the many challenges and successes that the future brings. " Best Wishes From Murray Cardiff, M.P., Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture Huron-Bruce lative perspective. There are over 200 cattle access points in the watershed. When you think of it that way, most people agree that it is a problem and society at large has to help farmers clean it up. We struggle with trying to make them aware it’s happening.”