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Page 32 - Farm Progress, March 18, 2009
Farmers taking brunt of blame for source -water contamination
BY CHERYL HEATH
Clinton News -Record Staff
Sweeping new provin-
cial guidelines with regard
to source -water protection
are leaving some farmers
feeling like the bad guy.
Wayne Black, president
of the Huron County
Federation of Agriculture,
says there is sense in some
quarters that farmers are
being targeted as the cause
of source -water contami-
nants - an issue that gar-
nered international atten-
tion during the Walkerton
water crisis of 2000 -
when, in fact, farmers
have been the most proac-
tive in ensuring water-
course safety.
From voluntary partici-
pation in creating environ-
mental farm plans to well
maintenance and decom-
missioning when neces-
sary to participating in
.proper pesticide-applica-
tidn courses, farmers are
way ahead of the curve. .
Yet, says Black, the
reality •is not the percep-
tion.
"We are doing our part
to make sure the legisla-
tion is science -based and
not based on people's per-
ceptions," he says. "A lot
of this is coming to the
Did you know?
The Algonquin Indians
and other tribes were
tapping maples (and
other trees, too) for sap
long before the
Europeans came to
North America. The
natives used it to
flavour boiled meats
and porridge, and as
part of a health tonic.
While the early settlers
learned to make maple
syrup, it wasn't until the
19th century, when
metal containers were
used to catch and boil
the sap, that it became a
significant industry.
And to celebrate its
arrival, many commu-
nities across Ontario
hold maple syrup festi-
vals each spring.
table because of
Walkerton. People are
jumping to an extreme
instead of looking at it and
stepping back."
Indeed, Black says, if
the critics did take a look,
they'd realize farmers
were also the first on
board with water -conser-
vation efforts.
"We've already, done it.
"We're doing our home-
work. We're trying to be
proactive on being' envi-
ronment friendly," says
Black. "We are making
great strides. Let's recog-
nize that."
One of Black's concerns
with the source -water
guidelines is restrictions
on manure spreading
within a specified range of
wellheads. The fact of the
matter, says Black, is that
nature can't be fenced in.
"What restrictions are
they going to be placing
on wild life in and around
the zone?" he says.
Another major concern,
says Black, is there won't
be the monetary support
necessary to help cover
the cost of some of the
Act's more costly rules.
"The government will
have money for the pro-
gram but once you spread
it out, it gets down to pret-
ty much peanuts," he says.
Finally, says Black,
though the government
has made a show creat-
ing community-based
working groups, in luding
farmers, that are entrusted
with grappling with the
guidelines and yet, says
Black, the more contro-
versial rules are pretty
much set in stone.
"We haven't been given
the opportunity to set the
guidelines," he says.
Overall, says Black, the
fear is the focus of the leg-
islation will be on farmers
when, in fact, there are a
number of activities -
including everything from
road -salt application to
boats dumping gas at
marinas - the lead to
source -water contamina-
tion.
As it stands, the
province is expecting
communities to be abiding
by the new guidelines
effective 2012. Black
wonders how much
provincial resources and
financial support will be
available for the many
Ontarians that will need to
make changes to meet the
standards.
Continued on page 38
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