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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1992-08-12, Page 11THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12,1992. PAGE 11. Tour provides agricultural leadership insights Members of the Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program returned recently from an intensive study travel of Quebec, New York, Vermont and Pennsylvania with other members of the Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program. The AALP group met with leaders and major players who are involved with many of the social, cultural, economic and political issues significant to Canadians and Americans, particularly those concerning the agricultural sector. The AALP is composed of farmers and personnel from agriculturally-related businesses and institutions. It is dedicated to increasing awareness of Canadian economic, social and political issues amongst the 30 selected participants, as well as developing leadership skills appropriate to rural communities and the agri­ food industry. Highlights in Quebec included meeting with Laurent Laplante, a highly respected journalist who spoke on “Quebec as a distinct society”, and with the Union des producteurs agricoles (UPA), the province's mandatory farmers organization, who explained their role in Quebec agriculture. AALP participants were also billeted for an evening with producers belonging to the Quebec Farmers' Association in the Eastern Townships, where they were able to exchange views on the impact of Canadian and Quebec policies on their family farms. In Vermont and New York the Upgraded lumber can be used in farm buildings Farmers who have traditionally used lumber from local bushlots to build farm buildings will be able to resume the practise under changes to the Ontario Building Code, Housing Minister Evelyn Gigantes and Agriculture and Food Minister Elmer Buchanan announced recently. The Ontario Building Code will be changed to recognize ungraded lumber as an acceptable material for small farm building construction. In addition, lumber grading training courses will be offered to building officials, sawmill operators and interested rural residents. "While we cannot minimize the importance of enforcing building code standards for fire safety, health requirements and the structural adequacy of buildings, we can look for ways to help farmers meet the requirements," Gigantes said. Buchanan said he expects the changes to benefit rural Ontario economically. "The changes will help farmers, small sawmill operators and woodlot owners, by ensuring that there will be markets for locally-cut lumber." He said the Housing and Agriculture and Food ministries worked jointly to consult farmers, woodlot owners, township and building officials and inspectors with standard ways of identifying the different wood species and basic lumber grading techniques. Buchanan said the Housing and Agriculture and Food ministries worked jointly to consult farmers, woodlot owners, township and building officials, the Ministry of Natural Resources, producer associations, sawmill operators, the Canadian Wood Council, the Canadian Lumbermen's Association and the Ontario Lumber Manufacturers' Association, before agreeing on the code amendments and the educational program. The changes in the building code mean ungraded lumber can be used provided that the lumber is visually inspected for soundness by the farmer and the lumber is sawed full-size. New design tables are being prepared, so that building officials can more readily evaluate the building plans submitted by farmers who plan to use ungraded lumber. The Ontario building code will refer to these tables to indicate the exact size to cut ungraded. Two-day courses are proposed to familiarize small sawmill operators, rural residents, and building officials and inspectors with standard ways of identifying the different wood species and basic lumber grading techniques. Farm building permit requirements introduced in October 1990 resulted in demands by inspectors for the use of grade- stamped lumber in farm buildings. Farmers, woodlot owners and small sawmill operators have since sought more flexible grading options, because of the importance of ungraded and bushlot lumber to rural communities. Ag. Museum's Corn Fest offers an ear full of fun Cap off the golden days of summer and enjoy com-on-the-cob at the Ontario Agricultural Museum's 12th annual Corn Festival. Ontario's plentiful com harvest will be celebrated on Sunday, August 23, 1992 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thousands of cobs of com will be prepared using an ‘old- fashioned’ method. A 1920 Sawyer-Massey steam engine will cook the com while still in the husk, sealing in the freshly-picked flavour. While feasting on this seasonal treat, kick up you heels with a local square dancing group or tap your toes with the 50+ Step Cloggers. Children will enjoy corny crafts, farm animals and costumed interpreters. There's also the opportunity to experience living history at the museum. A working shingle mill, grain threshing bee, wheelwright shop and blacksmith's shop will be in full operation throughout the day. There are 30 display buildings to tour, and costumed interpreters will demonstrate a variety of activities involving com. Take the opportunity to view the Ontario Agricultural Museum Quilt Collection in its new gallery at the museum. Explore the 32 hectares of spacious grounds which the museum offers. Enjoy wagon rides, picnic and snack bar, a gift shop - all nestled in a beautiful location beneath the Niagara Escarpment. The Ontario Agricultural Museum is located just five km west of Milton. Take highway 401 to exit 320 or 312 north and follow the signs. Corn Festival - a day of traditional fun for all. group focused on the marketing of agricultural produce, especially value-added products and niche marketing. Of particular interest were visits to Ben and Jerry's ice cream plant and a U-pik farm surviving urban pressure within one hour's drive of New York City. That famous metropolis of 10 million people provided many examples of the inter-dependence in the agri-food system, from the transportation facilities of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, to the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Foods trade mission which assists with food sales worth $800 million annually. Discussion of trade issues was never absent for long. Meetings with staff of Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, and representatives of the Canadian Consulate in Buffalo dealt extensively with the Canadian-U.S. Free Trade Agreement, GATT and NAFTA, as well as the role of international organizations such as the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the U.N. Another issue covered was sustainable agriculture, with a visit to the Rodale Farm in Pennsylvania, one of the first private institutions in North America to conduct on-farm research in organic and regenerative farming practices. Community leadership was also an important subject for AALP participants, and meetings with representatives of several non- agricultural groups provided some inspiring insights. The Mid Bronx Desparadoes, a housing and non­ profit community development project trying to improve the quality of life in the devastated inner-city sector; West Point Military Academy and its active role in leadership training; and dinner in the long house at the Kahnawake Mohawk Community near Montreal allowed for stimulating interaction with leaders involved in solving community problems in a number of different ways. The AALP represents a broad cross-section of agricultural commodities and the participants come from all comers of Ontario. Funding for the two-year program is provided by the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, agri­ business and private donors, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food, University of Guelph, the Foundation of Rural Living and participant tuition fees. FARM AND MUNICIPAL DRAINAGE □ Farm and Municipal Drainage □ Open Trench or Plow Method □ Backhoe Service □ Clay & Plastic Tile Installations For quality and service call WAYNE COOK R. R. 2, Zurich 519-236-7390 PARKER & PARKER Limited Ontario Wheat Producers We are now ready to receive your ’92 Wheat and Barley Crops Howson & Howson are an agent for the Ontario Wheat Producers Marketing Board we also Buy, Sell and Store Barley • Fast Unloading • Accurate Probe System • Trucking Available FORWARD CONTRACTING OF CORN AND SOYBEANS S.JI Howson Howson Ltd. , FLOUR & FEED MILLERS COMPLETE FARM SUPPLY, GRAIN ELEVATORS FERTILIZERS & CHEMICALS MILLS 523-9624 Elevator L BLYTH5 ONTARIO Elevators 1 1/4 miles east of Blyth on County Rd. 25 then 1/2 mile north. 523-4241 Main Office