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Home My WebLink AboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 2009-07-08, Page 16Page A16 - Goderich Signal -Star, Wednesday, July 8, 2009 Federation of Agriculture looks to reduce pollutants QTY $coit signal -star staff With Goderich's Rotary Cove Beach Blue Flag's status lost due to high E.coli levels, the Huron County Fed- eration of Agriculture (HCFA), a lo- cal branch of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, is looking at options to reduce bacteria -causing agents from being released by farms. According to a University of Guel- ph and Ministry of the Environment study of water samples taken in 2005 and 2006, 60 per cent of the E.coli that caused the high readings was generat- ed by livestock operations, and Wayne Black, President of the HCFA, said since past decades, farming technol- ogy has advanced with less harmful pollutants used. This, he said will lower the amount Goderich Greeter -WELCOME SERVICE- Ifyou are a Newcomer, or know someone who is, call Kim Burgsma 524-5721 ...for Gift Certificates and local information( www.goderichgreeter.ca or email kim@goderichgreeter.ca Get the knowledge need to be compe 2£ in your job search. N" Attend a FREE STARTI Workshop to learn ho, develop your Return -to- Plan that will get you re CaII your local Centre For Employ, Goderich 519-524-2515 Clinton 519-482-1700 Seaforth 519-527-0305 • I)(11 I I I ARCH III \ IION I l"c 1)111; `II \I)1 A beautiful DO NOT DISTURB sigti. Find the Ideal balance between luminous natural light and safe, secure privacy with Duette* Architellee honeycomb shades - the innovative honeycomb -within -a -honeycomb improves energy efficiency at every window - in the most colorful ways you can Imagine. Call today to see the beauty that can take shape In your home. HunterDouglas hunterdougles.ce For your FREE In-home consultation Paul & Flnola MacGinfy 519-524-5773 of runoff over time. "With better crop knowledge and technology for farmers in Ontario, various things have occurred in the last 25 years - crop yields have have more than doubled, fertilizer applica- tions have been reduced by one-third, [and] the use of insecticides and fun- gicides have dropped by 80 per cent," Black said. "There are less than half as many dairy cattle in Ontario producing 12 per cent more total volume of milk since the early 1950s. This has result- ed in a lot less manure being applied to crop land from the dairy herds." While the runoff is definitely bad for the environment, Black said that the "TO BE OR NOT TO BE" We can't answer that question but, is it time to refinance your mortgage or buy a new home? For the answer, call or stop in today and speak face to face with Mike or Christy. Or, we will work around our schedule and come to our home. Mike Hodges Christy Alcock Mortgage Agent Mortgage Agent FSCiO l.ic. 0800240N mike.hod•=semi •rou •.ca FSCO 1.4c Mt*001240 chris .alcock@mi • rou • .ca 54 West St. Goderich 519-8244772 ext. 6 products getting washed away in the rain is costly for the farmer as well, and not in terms of cleaning it up. "It costs farmers money when they lose nutrients and herbicides to the waterways of Huron County," Black said. "Due to the low returns in agri- culture, any runoff is expensive on the pocketbook and the environment." The land that has been lost to agri- culture is used for wetlands, forests, residential development, infrastruc- ture, industry and recreation uses. Several initiatives have been started to help farmers prevent runoff, and Black outlined two prevalent ones in Huron County; the Environmen- tal Farm Plan (EFP) and the Huron County Clean Water Project. "Both of these programs are volun- tary and provide a huge support for farmers when they see issues that they can address on their own farms," Black said. "All farmers have seen benfits to participating - hobby farmers up to the large commercial farm opera- tions." Projects in the initiatives include erosion control, retiring fragile land, well decommissioning, more accu- rate fertilizer and spray applications, and better protection of potentially harmful agricultural products, all of which should help keep agri-pollution down. The EFP is outlined at www.omafra. gov.on.ca/english/environment/efp/ efp.htm, while information about the Huron County Clean Water Project can be found at www.huroncounty.ca/ plandev/downloads/HuronCleanWa- terProject_Brochure.pdf. 1101IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ROYAL LEPAGE 111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 RCR Realty Brokerage INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATIONED Cor Van Gaalen Sales Representative (519) 525-8340 Res: (519) 524-5715 Fax( (519) 524-4776 www. farmsincanada. ca FARM PROPERTIES FOR SALE KINBURN - 1200 weaner operation on 10 acres. 5 bedrooms well kept brick farm house. Large shed used for sheep and 2 other outbuildings. Nice location between Clinton and Seaforth. #1519 LISTOWEL - Modern broiler operation, well maintained buildings. Beautiful 5 bedroom brick house, nicely landscaped with a large yard. Many well kept outbuildings. #1527 BAYFIELD - Beautiful property with cropland, woodlot, lake and river frontage. 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