HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1997-03-19, Page 30PAGE A-10. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 1997.
Agriculture '97
Consultants co-ordinate NMP with farm operation
Spreading nutrients
An effective nutrient management plan incorporates the type of land and the acreage on
which the waste is being spread with the levels of nutrients in the manure. Here, one of the
more common methods of liquid manure spreading is being utilized.
(Photo courtesy of LH Resource, Walton)
Continued from A-8
to the nearest residence.
Receiving input
As well as relaying the NMP
bylaw recommendations, from the
committee to Grey Twp, they were
also sent to the Federation of Agri
culture, Dairy Producers, Pork Pro
ducers and other municipalities, for
comment.
From the Pork Producers came a
concern regarding the requirement
that a “professional agricultural
consultant” complete the NMP.
“I think nutrient management is
good, but the plan should be sim
ple,” says Dave Linton, a local pork
producer. However he questions
the need for a professional to sign
the paper.
“I pay him $750 to $1,500 to do
the study, but will the county
understand what he has to say.
Who will do the follow up? There
are no backups or checks.”
“Half of the farmers have been
doing nutrient management on an
informal basis anyway,” he says.
“Grey Twp. is doing this to
address public concerns about
intensive operations,” says Grey
Twp. Clerk Knight. “It will be an
interesting exercise to go through,
but nutrient management will only
be as good as the plan and those
who follow it.”
Farmers Experience Many
Health Problems
Farmers are more likely to die of
cancers such as leukemia, non
Hodgkins lymphoma, and multiple
myeloma than any other occupation
group.
Farmers have higher mortality rates
for lip, prostrate, and stomach
cancer.
finds market GET READY FOR SPRING
abundant produce
By Janice Becker
Citizen staff
A large portion of the population
considers, each spring, which fruits
and vegetables will grace that small
plot of land in the side yard, but for
Fran McQuail of West Wawanosh,
those decisions will be appreciated
by as many as 25 families.
With a love for gardening which
has grown over the decades,
McQuail has taken the family gar
den and, with a few ideas gleaned
from other such organizations, has
developed the Community Share
Garden.
The creation of community share
agriculture (CSA) was not one
which sprang up overnight. Fran
and her husband, Tony, purchased
a rundown Lucknow-area farm 23
years ago and through good crop
rotation, compost applications and
low-impact horse farming, were
able to re-establish a healthy, fertile
farm.
After being part of a CSA in
Holmesville eight years ago, and
learning of methods used in a New
York model, McQuail decided such
a venture would be right for their
property.
Before establishing her own two-
acre CSA three years ago, McQuail
had to obtain information on exact
ly what a CSA was and how it
worked.
The basic concept is for con
sumers to get a variety of high
quality, fresh fruits and vegetables
at an affordable price, while sup
porting a small scale organic food
producer.
Each member in the CSA pur
chases a share of the garden prior
to the planting season, allowing the
farmer to determine the quantity of
product needed as well as having
Continued on A-l 1
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