HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2000-07-26, Page 1212 -THE HURON EXPOSITOR, July 2S, 2000
News
Ag minister gathers input on new farm bill
proposing stricter environmental practices
By Nails Evans
Lakeshore Advance Editor
A comprehensive
bill regulating agricultural
practices, including nutrient
management, was introduced
to the public July 10 by
Minister of Agriculture, Food
and 'Rural Affairs Ernie
Hardeman.
He will use the summer to
get feedback on the proposed
legislation and introduce it to
the Ontario government this
fall for approval.
The proposal to ask
Ontario's 67,000 livestock
and cash crop farms to use
environmentally safe
practices was announced four
days before Hardeman
visited Hensall. He toured an
ice -carving facility and a
dairy farm that employs
robotic milkers with a small
group of members of the
Rural Ontario. Municipal
Association.
"The legislation proposed is
for a phase-in that eventually
applies to all (farms),
Hardeman told The
Lakeshore Advance.
"The time has come to take
the best practices that many
farmers are already using and
turn them into strict standards
for all agricultural operations
in Ontario," said Hardeman
in a press release. "Farmers
want across-the-board
environmental safeguards to
sustain agricultural
productivity and rural
Ontario's quality of life."
The Ontario Federation of
Agriculture (OFA) and its
partners in the Ontario Farm
Environmental Coalition are
pleased with the proposed
changes..
"It's time the government
moved on this," said OFA
President Jack Wilkinson in a
press release.
But the OFA notes there is
still a problem with septic
systems and municipal
sewage treatment facilities.
He asked if the government
will apply the same
environmental standards as it
proposes for farms.
Hardeman said those
facilities fall under the
jurisdiction of the Ministry of
the Environment.
"We're building on what
farmers are already doing,"
he said. "The need to handle
it properly is not predicated
by the size of it."
Proposed legislation
includes:
• Defining categories for
types of farms Including
livestock operations,
Hardeman said the
categories may be based on
animal units with the largest
stringent rules.
• Developing standards
according to the size of
farms for agricultural
practices including manure
handling, storage and
application.
Standards include minimum
distance separations from
bodies of water; documented
emergency plans in case of
spills; hydrogeological site
studies for new, large farm
operations in
environmentally -sensitive
areas; construction standards
beyond the current Ontario
Building Code for farms,
barns and storage facilities;
allowance for composting
and other manure treatment
processes and fence
construction along
watercourses to keep out
livestock.
Regarding separation from
bodies ofwater, the
Galt/Barrett report said some
presenters suggested that
"buffer zones" be considered,
the most notable example
being a request for an eight
kilometre buffer along Lake
Huron and a buffer near the
hamlet of Trent River.
Regarding new
technologies for treating
manure, the Galt/Barret
report says there were several
presentations on technologies
capable of reducing odours
and better methods for
managing liquid manure.
Most people felt the
technologies • looked
promising, says the report,
but many participants
expressed the view that to be
economical, practical and
effective the technologies
required further
development.
• Providing strict.
enforcement authority.
The report suggests upper
tier municipalities (ie.
counties) could enforce the
rules and also have the ability
to delegate to the lower_ tier
municipality. Hardeman said
provincial inspectors could
be hired to assist.
• Setting out penalties and
fines for infractions.
A range of fines depending
on the offence is proposed as
well as the ability to charge
back cleanup costs to unco-
operative offenders in the
case of severe situations
involving health and safety
risks.
Based on public input
The proposed legislation is
based on data gathered by Dr.
Douglas Galt, Parliamentary
Assistant to Mr. Hardeman
and Toby Barrett,
Parliamentary Assistant to
Environment Minister Dan
Newman earlier this year.
BRIDGE - BONEN
(Shirley Ann bridge and Michael James Moven were
united in marriage on February 5th. 2000 at the blyth
United Church. Pastor Les Cook officiated.
The bride is the daughter of Karen and Harold bridge
of brussels and the groom is the son of Helen and
Henry Rummel, Myth and the late Albert boven.
Lara Graber. friend of the bride was matron of honour
and Doug Campbell. friend of the groom was best man.
Candlelighters were Colleen Paranyi. sister of the
bride and Lanni Johnston, friend of the bride. Ushers
were Kelly boven and Casey boven, brothers of the
groom and Dwayne Ptyce, friend of the groom. April
Van Amersfoort. cousin of the groom. was the pianist at
the ceremony. ---
rolbwing the ceremony an open reception was held at
the brussel& Morris. of Grey Community Centre. Joe
Ryan, friend of the couple acted as master of
ceremonies. (Shirley Ann and Mike now reside at
R.R. 1. Blyth.
Clinton, Burford, Glencoe,
Orangeville, Chesterville,
Hastings and Guelph and
attended by more than. 628
people. Groups and
individuals made 130
presentations.
The proposed legislation is
also based on the Ontario
Farm Environmental
Coalition's Nutrient
Management Strategy and
the Environmental Farm
Plan.
The Galt/Barrett report says
there was a great deal of
discussion but no consensus
on the meaning of the word
"intensive."
Generally, most people felt
that managing manure and
other nutrients is only part 01
the overall iso,.. , ..nd that all
farm practices need to he
properly managed.
Hardeman agrees.
"The report showed a
concern of the definition of
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'intensive' (farms). To me,
the problem is the handling
of manurt*!' he said.
Despite the controversy
surrounding intensive
operations. most individuals
and environmental groups
said they did not want to ban
these "large" farms. They
did, however, express a
desire to have these farms
located in areas in which the
whole community would not
be as adversely affected, and
that they operate under a
stricter set of rules.
More information
can he found on OMAFRA's
website al
www. gov.on.ca/omafra
Fran's Pretty Nifty
Now she's 50!
July 26
Frances Kling
Love from: Pete, Allan,
Sheri, Brian, Friends &
Family
Hensall Senior A
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will he accepting
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during the 2000-2001
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Please send resume to
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Box 321,
Hensall, ON
NOM IX0
before Aug. 11/00 or
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Also looking for executive members
for 2000-2(XII season
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Happy 10T" Anniversary
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