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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1996-12-04, Page 1010-THR HURON RXPO$ITOi1, D.o.mb.,4, 19 Agriculture County agriculture policy one step closer BY CALE COWAN SSP News Staff The 'evolutionary' process of setting agriculture policies for Huron County moved one step closer to being finalized Nov. 25 in Hensall. County planning staff were in the South Huron commu- nity for the third in a series of three public workshops to identify areas of agricultural importance for the reworked county plan. The plan, which will hope- fully be approved by next fall; has been broken down into specific areas of interest with workshops scheduled to seek public input. Huron County sehior plan- ner Wayne Caldwell said that with the completion of the public workshops they now have valuable information to finalize a draft policy on agri- culture for the county plan. While the final version will be brought back to the public for comment in 1997, Caldwell said they wouldn't be where they are now with- out the public input. "I certainly think it was suc- cessful," he said. "My sense was that we had positive dis- cussion within the groups and a further discussion of'the proposed policies came out of the workshops. "It was an evolutionary process ... the policies we have identified are a reason- able reflection of what we had at the three meetings." The process began back in September at a meeting in Two Seaforth steers sold at Brussels Livestock The sales' at Brussels Livestock for the week end- ing Nov. 29, 1996. Fed cattle: 655; cows: 494; veal calves, 488; lambs and goats, 182; stockers: 2075. All classes of fed cattle and cows sold at steady prices. Veal sold $2.00-$3.00 higher with Iambs selling on a good strong active trade. On Friday calves sold steady with the yearlings selling on a stronger trade. There were 412 steers on 'offer selling from 92.00 to 97.00 to the high of 101.00. Two steers consigned by Jim Cronin, Seaforth averag- ing 1152 lbs. sold for an ,average of 96.10 with sales to 97,.00. There were 206 heifers on offer selling from 92.00 to 97.)0 to the high of 102.00. ere were 494 cows on offer selling from 30.00 to 55.00 to the high of 60.00. There were 488 veal on offer selling. Plain and heavy hol. 60.00 to 85.00. Hol: 85.00 to 100.00. Beef: 85.00 to 118.00. Fifteen veal consigned by John Verberg, Londeshoro averaging 668 lbs, sold for an average of 96.02 with sales to 112.00. Lambs: Under 50 lbs. 122.50 to 245.00. 50 to 80 lbs. 141.00 to 240.00. 80 to 95 lbs. 150.00 to 162.50. Over 95 lbs. 117.50 to 138.00. Sheep: 37.00 to 140.00. Goats: 30.00 to 102.50. 4-H News Woodchucks chuck wood for last time By Linda Vogels Last Thursday the St. Columhan Woodchucks held their sixth meeting. They fin- ished coloring their manuals, painting their birdhouses, varnishing their birdhouses and finishing their Christmas tree ornament. If youwcrc totally finished your work you could hand in your 4-H manual and hook for Achievement Day. Then we practiced our skits, plays, or whatever you were to do on that night. If you would like to attend our Achievement Night it is in the St. Columhan Church basement on Dec. 5 at 7 p.m. Brussels where issues of importance to the agricultural community were identified. That was further refined Oct. 3 in Holmesville where draft policies were developed. Nov. 25 in Hensall, work- shop participants pinpointed minor areas of concerns, but overall endorsed the spirit of the draft document. "They seemed to find it 85- 90 per cent acceptable," Caldwell said of the group in Hensall. The notes and policies from the three workshops will now go to the county's planning and development committee where areas of conflict and inconsistency can.be identi- fied. However, Caldwell said the "good and responsible" com- ments from participants has allowed them to get to the heart of the issue in a rather short time. He said it is important to make sure everything has been thoroughly reviewed for problems as the policy set will undoubtedly be review extensively in the future. Areas of interest and con- cern the planning department was able to identify from the three meetings came down to three basic groupings, Caldwell said. • Environment — Concerns about environmental issues are on the minds of those in the agriculture community because they don't want to be double -teamed by the province and the county. Respondents asked that the county not restate policies already in place. • Protection — The farming community has historically been concerned about pro- tecting the percentage of land available for agricultural uses. "There was fairly strong direction ... and committment to protect agriculture and the agriculture industry," Caldwell said. • Non -prime uses — The development of so -call 'non- prime' land in Huron is also an issue, particularly in the north end. South Huron has few non -prime acres. "It's a challenge to balance the strong agriculture interest with other interests. From a policy perspective it's diffi- cult," Caldwell said. The most recent draft of agricultural policies also includes as its goals: defining an agriculutural vision; rec- ognizing changing farm prac- tices; parameters for granting land severances; relationship with the non-farm communi- ty; farm -related development; and non -farm -related devel- opment. "It was essential to have this step in the process," Caldwell said. "If we follow this process though we will have (agricul- tural) goals that were estab- lished by the public." The meetings were spon- sored by the Huron Federation of Agriculture. 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