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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen-Agriculture 2001, 2001-03-14, Page 38We're Pouring on Extra Value TR.Ofli 1601 01 UM OR 01' AMOCO AMDGF11118 These am just a few of Um marry auelny products available from your Petro-Ceneds NO and name associate. He so...Mande Tannins and Moms how much you depend on your equipmens. For rehab service Ind Quality product., look So betroLanede. Contact your essomele now 101 special MIMS on all your lubricant well, =long Motor OM, Durelren Tractor Tranorelasson/Vbreauik Rub., Oearbrea TOS, Ardomaed TransmIsalon Fluids, Harmony Hylrorne Ode, Tremor Oil UnMemal (TOP) and Automotive Gnomes. PITIKKUUDA Bob Foxton Fuels Ltd. Wingham 357-2664 Walkerton 881-1481 1-800-265-3069 WINGHAM SALES ARENA DISCOUNT PRICES ON NEW (.1 USED FURNITURE - BOX & MATTRESSES Fantastic Savings on Quality New Box & Mattresses - Single, 3/4, Double & Queen Sizes. Various types & styles, from the economy sets t.) the top-of-the-line 30 yr. Pillow-top sets. If you're .lot having a good sleep - COME IN AND SEE US! LET'S MAKE A DEAL! Also a good selection of clean used box & mattresses at low prices. ALSO AVAILABLE: Bedroom suites, bunk beds, futons, table & chair sets, sofa beds, living room suites, curio cabinets, wardrobes, chests, coffee & end tables. WINGHAM WORKWEAR: Safety footwear & work clothing for factory workers, farmers, welders, shop workers.The area's best prices. Over 600 pair in stock - Need a New Pair of Boots? COME SEE US AT WINGHAM SALES ARENA 357-2987 Just north of Wingham on Hwy. #4 Open Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m. - 5:30 p.m . PAGE A-18. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14, 2001. Acres cropped increase, farm numbers decline Continued from A-17 an average size of 192 and Colborne at 194 acres. A gradual decrease in the number of acres per farm in cropland was seen with movement to the north, with the exception of Ashfield which ranked closer to the central Huron County townships of Stanley, Hullett and McKillop in the low 80s. Tuckersmith and Hay were high at 87 per cent and Tumberry low at 61 per cent. Again, the farm capital per farm was highest in the southern five townships though the capital per acre varied. Tuckersmith and Usborne were high in both classifications, but McKillop and Goderich jumped to the top division when looking at dol- lars invested per acre. While the total gross receipts and expenditures varied across the coun- ty, the net receipts' pattern was somewhat clearer. The average total.net receipts, at greater than $31,700 per farm were realized in Hullett, Tuckersmith, Stanley and Hay with Ashfield, West and East Wawanosh and Turnberry coming in below $18,700. (This fig- ure was determined by subtracting total expenses from gross farm receipts and dividing by the number of arms.) However, the net receipts per acre may be more telling. Again Hullett and Tuckersmith ranked in the high- est category, along with McKillop and Goderich, with $144 to $184 return per acre. The northern areas, excluding Howick, fell below $87 per acre. (The figures were derived from gross receipts minus total expenses divided by acres of farm- land.) The highest expenses as a percent- age of gross farm receipts were in Stephen with the lowest in Hay. Though generally most townships had average farm receipts of less than $50,000 for a large portion of By Janice Becker Citizen staff It is a matter of preserving the integrity of the woodlots and consid- ering conservation rather than just going in and cutting. These are some of the ideas inte- grated into the new Huron County tree bylaw when it was time to revamp and update the original 1986 version. "The old bylaw was basically about protecting an area of • tree cover," said Jim Ginn a member of the Huron-Perth Chapter of the Ontario Woodlot Association. "With lumber prices so high, people were going in and devastating lots." Association chair Victor Roland added that anything that encourages landowners to learn about better woodlot management is a positive. "There are stipulations included in the bylaw, but this had to be done," he said. Some landowners are pur- posely not good managers and others just don't know. Some don't even think about their woodlots until they realize it can be sold." A strong supporter of "good forestry practices" for woodlots, Ginn said the county has generally done a good job in rewriting the bylaw. Though he notes there are 'things the organization would have liked to see included, good manage- ment practices are a very subjective thing and it would be difficult for the the operations, Howick, Stanley, Tuckersmith and Usborne had greater portions in the $50,000 to $249,000 range. Usborne and Grey were also amongst the group which had the largest percentage earning more than $250,000 in gross receipts. When split into smaller divisions such as $10,000 to $24,999 and $50,000 to $99,999, the sectors percentages were much more equal when comparing townships. Though sole proprietorship was the most common of farm ownership across the county, several northern townships had a substantial number of partnerships without agreement while family corporations were pop- ular in Grey, McKillop, Hullett, Usborne and Stephen. When looking at the combination of ownership style with gross farm receipts it was obvious that as own- ership moved from sole proprietor- ship through partnership without agreement and partnership with agreement to family corporation, the gross receipt totals increased. In the under $100,000 category, sole proprietorship accounted for approximately 70 per cent of the operations. However, once the receipts hit $250,000, family corpo- rations and sole proprietorship shared the majority of farm numbers. By $500,000, family corporations dominated by a substantial margin. When comparing farm size with gross receipts, the trend could be easily seen. In the lowest receipts category, almost 57 per cent of the farms had less than 70 acres. By the time the receipts reached $50,000 to $99,999, 44 per cent of the farms were 130 to 239 acres. Both the 70 to 129-acre and 240 to 399-acre groups accounted for approximately 25 per cent of the enterprises. In the $100,000 to $249,999 classification, 130 to 239 acres and 240 to 399 acres almost equally contributed 33 per cent of the businesses. The cate- county to put it in writing. Roland agrees, saying the bylaw is a step in the right direction. "We have to stop indiscriminate cutting. We have to address the problems of the past." gory with farm receipts over $500,000 had almost 50 per cent of the farms exceeding 400 acres. One anomaly seen in this highest class was that more farms of under 70- acres had gross receipts of sur- passing $500,000 than did the 70 to I29-acre group. All townships showed the greatest amount of farmland being used for crops while areas to the north had higher percentageS in mostly unim- proved lands. Tame or seeded pas- ture areas 'comprised the smallest percentages of land use in the south- ern townships. A quick glance at the uses of the crop land indicates many acres in soybeans and grain corn, particularly in the south. The northern townships had a more equitable distribution, including hay and wheat in the plant- ing. Again, when looking at farms by classifications, the townships to the south were more clearly defined by the acreage planted in grains and oilseed. This domination was seen in Usborne, Tuckersmith, McKillop, Stephen, Hay and Stanley and to a lesser extent in Hullett and Goderich. Though not in proportions as great, cattle was the largest classi- fication from Grey, Morris, East and West Wawanosh, Howick and Turnberry. Ashfield split between cattle and grains as did -Colborne. Dairy also comprised a high percent- age in Howick and Grey. (Farms with sales less than $2,500 were not classified.) By sheer numbers, grain and oilseed farms make up 32 per cent of the operations' with cattle contribut- ing 24 per cent. The other classifica- tions rank as follows: dairy, 11 per cent; hogs, 10 per cent; miscella- neous specialties, six per cent; live- stock combinations, six per cent; poultry and egg, six per cent; other field crops, three per cent, other combinations, two per cent and fruit In the bylaw, good management practices are -defined as the use of proper harvest techniques for renew- al and maintenance appropriate for Continued on A-19 and vegetable, one per cent. (Number may not total 100 per cent due to rounding.) Net receipts per farm were greatest for the poultry and egg operations, followed closely by dairy and lowest for the miscellaneous specialties. Formation of the Community Evolution Project The compilation of the atlas along with many other source materials began as a grant obtained by the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority through the Human Resources Development Corporation. The MWP was organized to allow groups and organizations to work together to share knowledge and responsibility, to identify innova- tions appropriate for best manage- ment practices and develop a better understanding of resource manage- ment, said agri-ecological committee member McQuail. Aside from agri-ecological, com- mittees were also formed to look at water and terrestrial issues. Representatives from organizations, groups, business, industry and municipal governments then choose which committees on which to sit. The Community Evolution Project was a result of those meet- ings. "We wanted to build better skills in the organizations, try to do things in a holistic way and consider the long term impacts of all aspects (of change)", she said. The Community Evolution Project is being spearheaded by Paul Nichol and the Huron Business Development Corporation. Anyone interested in finding out more about the Huron County agri- culture atlas or other data sources compiled by the Community Evolution Project may contact Nichol at 527- 0305. Residents see both sides of tree bylaw rampropiemisficirapaggEsimicze a a r‘ PLETCH ELECTRIC m a CJ ri LIMITED m O I VA ri INDUSTRIAL I COMMERCIAL I 11 a m ri RESIDENTIAL I FARM m M VA FA Complete Pole Line Service N ili FA FA Electric Motor Sales iia LI & Repairs (All Makes) VA IA E V I V A FA Free 24 Hour 10 IN Estimates Service IA ri z--/--/ M 01 IA FA 446 Josephine St. Ig FA Di WINGHAM, Ontario IA N r‘ M ri 519-357-1583 ri offincomnsmizziemsacasssau