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Home My WebLink AboutLucknow Sentinel, 2009-03-18, Page 52• • ir Page 36 - Farm Progress, March 18, 2009 Take Action Report is giving farmers some food for thought BY CHERYL HEATH Clinton News -Record Staff The County of Huron's Take Action Report is giv- ing farmers some food for thought. The multi -pronged report, which was submit- ted to . county council in its draft form. in February, focuses on the county's four economic pillars of manufacturing, tourism, cultural industries and. agriculture, with $719 mil- lion in gross farm receipts for 2006 alone, is an important piece of the pie. Thanks tocommunity- based stakeholders meet- ings and input from 1,300 s county residents dating back to 2006, there are a g the. the horns. Some of the highlighted projects for agriculture include a proposal for Made in Huron labeling as well as initiatives to draw more processing facilities into the region, including a cannery, winery and abat- toir. Noting there are "some really good ideas there," Tousaw says organizations, . like the Food to Table' Committee, are likely to tackle some of the propos- als outlined in the report created as- part of the Sustainable Huron project. One of theplans the county would likely con- ider is to . include . goods and services created and rown locally within its business directory. Another proposal the °linty is likely to further discuss is a Buy Local. ampaign that would see ounty departments pur- hasing p P teasing local .goods and services when possible. number of plans on table ` for producers to con- sider. c County planning director Scott Tousaw says while c the report is in its . po infancy c stage,, the idea is for stake- holder's to take the bull by Other highlights of the agriculture component of the report include sugges- tions to explore the pro- duction of niche crops, develop plans to encourage farmers to complete Environmental Farm Plans, and promote on- farm energy production like .wind, solar and bio - gas. Also on tap is a : sugges- tion to promote an Eat Local Huron campaign in grocery stores and restau- rants. There is also a'pro- posal to establish �a Huron County produce auction similar to I the one in Elmira.. Wayne Black, president of the; Huron County Federation of Agriculture, says while some of the report's recommendations are laudable, there should be An understanding that Huron County's agriculture sector is an export -driven market. In short, says Black, • Easy -to -arse drying powder for a healthier environment Create a better environment for your animals and staff with Dry8tart--safe in all stages of pork production from farrowing and nursery barns right through to finish: • DryStart helps speed piglet drying time, preventing chilling. DryStart helps dry the navel and knee abrasions. Spread DryStart behind the sows for better hygiene. • Apply DryStart onto slats in front of feeders aid drinkers to help keep area dry and. clean.: _> CaII Kenpal or your Veterinarian fodayl • mew nw4ucn rpt RR # 1, Centralia, Ontario, Canada NOM 1K0 Tel 519-228-6444 - 1-800-265-2904 • Fax 519-2286560 kpalen(akenpal.on.ca • www.kenpal.on.ca FOR BETTER NUTRITION . while value-added .rod P ucts and niche markets aid some, theyare therm Y 11101'!. y "Promoting local food and agintourism won't help the majority of fanners l in Huron County," he says. Black is hoping the county will put an empha- sis on A irriproving its trans- portation routes to ensure produce and meat can con- tinue to reach their destina- tion points. Whether its rail, road or Port of i Goderich enhancements, there is a need to improve.. o infrastructure. After all, . says Black there must be an apprecia- tion that farmers. have enough ` work on their plate and do not need the added challenge of:getting on board with marketing cam- paigns. . "We grow `food. We're not salesmen," he says. And in that same vein, says Black, the county must be aware that emerg-. ng trends are to be watched since they, too, can negatively unpact i industry. As an example, p , Black cites one growing move- ment towards : forcing sup- pliers to carry only free- range eggs. If the move catches fire, egg pucers will face the •4 costly, time-consuming and profit -eating jobof reconfiguring. barns and hiring staff. "We have to be ver .. careful on how we pro" - mote local food and the family farm," says Black. CLAUSSEN F Custom Farming Inc. We offer a full line of services... • Planting $c Tillage - Forage Harvesting • Mowing. &Conditioning • Hauling & Packing Silage - Combining - Solid Manure Spreading - Spraying & Fertilizing - Big Square Baling If you're looking for quality workmanship, newest technology and a team of motivated and trained technicians talk to us! claussenfarmsco 76402 i ortline, Brucef eld, ON* NOM 110 -14 1.519.525.7733 1.519.525.8329