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SPRING IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER • Excavating • Bulldozing • Backhoeing • Trim Dozer • Trucking • Loader Rental • Skid Steer • Mini Excavator Suppliers of... • Gravel • Topsoil • Stone • Sand • Fill • Compost Installers of... • Septic Systems • Water Lines • Sewer Lines • Farm Drainage • Open Ditches • Farm Ponds New this year — gravel pits in Blyth area to serve you better VANDRIML Excavating inc. 482-3783 Simon VanDriel Clinton THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2002. PAGE A-7. Agriculture 2002 Study shows farming practice has positive impact Instead, many farmers have adopt- Reduced tillage practices also help to keep water in the soil — an essential factor in coping with drought condi- tions such as those seen widely across Canada last summer, and in drought- prone areas around the world. Residue left on fields eventually decomposes and helps provide the fil- tration that holds the water. Reduced movement of water through the soil also helps protect water supplies by ensuring that nutri- ents intended to fertilize crops stay in the field, and that the soil itself stays in the field without washing into water sources. Farmers who practise reduced tillage benefit from lower production costs, a major contributing factor to an affordable food supply. By reducing their tillage, farmers use less fuel as field operations are reduced and are able to realize signif- Regele believes in numbers Reduced tillage — the farming prac- tice of minimizing soil disturbance and leaving crop residues on the field — is catching on in Canada. A recent Ipsos-Reid study shows the number of farmers practising reduced tillage has more than doubled in the past five years. Acres seeded in Canada using reduced tillage systems has gone from 12 million in 1997 to more than 24 million in 2001. Rreduced tillage acreage now accounts for 39 per cent of all seeded acres in Canada. For as long as farmers have been growing crops, they have been plow- ing or tilling their fields, often up to three times a year in order to prepare for planting and control weeds. In recent years, however, the agriculture sector has benefitted from new tech- nology so that tillage isn't always necessary. Continued from A-6 on every level." When he came on board the HCFA, it was at the start of stable funding. "I had been asked to be part of the Federation before that, but I didn't believe in going door-to-door to sell memberships. When stable funding came in it had every farmer that grossed over $7,000 in farm income legislated to take out a membership in either the Ontario Federation of Agriculture or the Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario." Regele chose the OFA because of its numbers. With an organization that functions at several levels, county, provincial, national and international, he believes there's a better chance to make a difference. Now in his second term as president of the HCFA, Regele says he particu- larly enjoys the one-on-one contact with the membership. He also speaks highly of the benefits the Federation offers, such as farmer disability. Stepping back once again to the political aspect of the business, Charles stresses his dislike for it. "Politics slows me down from getting things accomplished .(within the Federation) I hate when things drag on and on." One of the most notable things about the work the Federation does, says Regele, is that it's not exclusive to agriculture, but also covers rural affairs. "It's about things that affect our families," he says, adding that they have been gathering information on the merger of two area hospitals. "We have also had our hands in the school mess, and have our hands deep, deep, deep in environmental issues." The Federation is one of many part- ners in the Huron Environmental Coalition. "Being the largest county in the province with about 2,200 members, I think if things are going to happen in agriculture they happen in Huron first," says Regele. While the idea of such dominance is positive there are downsides, he says. "Being an agricultural-based county we have a problem with the tax base and once you recognize that there is a problem with service delivery." "Also," says Regele, "being tucked in around five Great Lakes, with a whole lot of consumers at our doorstep paints a new picture of land use. People want to come to live in wonderful rural Ontario." This, Regele believes, might put farmers in a squeeze, caught between production and economically making ed reduced tillage — or conservation tillage — practices that range from reducing the number of tillage passes over a field, right through to no tilling at all. One of the main benefits of reduc- ing tillage is that it leaves crop residue, or stubble, on the ground, which literally helps block wind and water from eroding the soil and helps to preserve valuable croplands. When farmers adopt reduced tillage practices, they use less fuel and there- fore contribute to the prudent use of non-renewable resources. As well, fields that receive less tillage contain a heavy amount of organic material that attracts and traps carbon dioxide from the atmosphere — thus helping to minimize the greenhouse effect that many scientists believe is contribut- ing to global warming. a living. "It sometimes gets them into a bit of trouble," he says, offering chemical use as an example. That reality, however, is "nothing that has- n't been heard before." It brings up the need for proper land use proposals, though. "That's where the numbers of 'the Federation repre- sentatives in Toronto are beneficial. The issues can be brought to the OFA's attention, and while they may not be acted on immediately they are left with a committee of farmers who will consider and struggle for a solu- tion." The problem of depleting prime agricultural land also concerns Regele. "This country has never starved," he says. "There's so much land and a growing population. But getting back to land use, once that farm land is under asphalt it's done. From that day forward that land 'can no longer grow crops." Such dilemmas can often tangle up municipal politicians. However, OFA helps to minimize such problems. "When you have municipal bylaws for so many different townships there leant fuel savings. It also means less labour costs, and reduced wear and tear on machinery so that mainte- nance costs are lowered and equip- ment life is extended. And finally, reduced tillage practices help farmers preserve the land that is their liveli- hood. is the potential for many differences on what can and cannot be done," says Regele. "It has made it difficult for farmers to have a level playing field." Nutrient management is a good example of this. Part of his job as president has been to sit on the nutri- ent management working group, which from October to Christmas last year attempted to pull together a county-wide bylaw which from all indications will be similar to Bill 81 when it makes its expected appear- ance in late spring. Another challenge facing agricul- ture, sayS Regele is the enhanced mar- ket revenue program. "Farmers have put themselves into competition, which is great. But sometimes they may get too competitive. I think we have a problem getting young farmers into the industry, particularly the milk or chicken business." "Farm organizations, no matter who they are, will have a growing demand to meet the needs of farmers as we become one per cent of the popula- tion."