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Insurance/Financial Services 472 Main St., Exeter 235-1109 Glenda Gardner L Page 12 Times -Advocate, November 6, 1991 Huron farmers given chance to get rid of old pesticides By Adrian Harte CLINTON - AGCare, a group representing 45,000 Ontario farnters through their growers' associations, is bringing its pesticide disposal pilot program to Huron County this month. AGCare (Agricultural Groups Concerned About Resources and the Environment) will be setting up a collection facility at Centralia College on November 20 and 21 so that county farmers and rural residents can bring in, free of cost, unwanted agricultural pes- ticides. Because this also includes chemicals that have since become de -registered, growers will be able to get rid of products that are now illegal to use or dispose of. At a press conference at the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food office in Clinton Friday morn- ing, Bill Allison, AGCare vice-chairman, said "the whole goal of this program is to get the stuff gone", recognizing that some of these chemicals may not only pose environmental threats, but are also direct health hazards to the farmers themselves should they leak or contaminate the barn or storage shed where they may have been sitting for several years. While Allison was reluctant to term the collection program an "amnesty" for those who still possess il- legal pesticides such as DDT or Alochlor, he con- ceded that the collection program would only be re- cording what amounts of chemicals are brought in, not who brought what. Allison also noted that a few farmers may have "inherited" some unwanted chemicals after taking over a farm in past years. The program is also aimed at safely disposing of unwanted, partially used containers of pesticides that may no longer be of use to the farmer. "I think a lot of farmers have a half container of something or other...that has been sitting around on their shelf for the past seven years," suggested Bob Forrest from Centralia College. While county farmers have been asked to pre - register for the disposal days, Allison said he could not see anyone being turned away who brought something in for disposal. All the unwanted chemi- cals will be trucked to Sarnia for safe destruction. Workers in protective clothing at the college re- search farm will also be equipped with materials to "over pack" any containers which are found to be leaking. An emergency team will be on hand to contain any spills which may occur in the two days. In fact, said Allison, any farmer concerned about bringing a leaking container to the site could even arrange to get over packing materials from the col- lege before taking it from the barn. "We don't want them to transport it if it's not packaged safely," said Allison. The AGCare representatives pointed out that this program is very expensive and would be very costly for individual farmers to pay for the same service. The pilot disposal program is one of three being held in Ontario this month and is being funded by OMAF and the Ontario Ministry of the Environ- ment. The pilot program may prove there is a need for a permanent system to dispose of old chemicals, but Allison said AGCare currently favours the idea of having die farm chemical dealers assume the re- sponsibility for their own products. Allison pointed out that the "respect for chemi- cals" has grown considerably in the agricultural in- dustry over the past five to 10 years. He said farm- ers are now more sophisticated and sensitive to the ways in which they must be handled. AGCare has also operated a grower certification course for chemical handling. Over 38,000 farmers have taken the course, most before it became man- datory in February this year. Farmers are also becoming more aware of alter- nate means of pest management to help cut down the use of expensive chemicals. Bob Down of OMAF pointed out "instead of growing corn after corn after corn...soybeans have come into Huron". Crop rotation helps reduce the threat of various pests in many instances. While about 50 farmers had pre -registered for the disposal program as of last week, Allison said he could easily expect over 100 to visit the Centralia College research farm. Rural, non -farming resi- dents with unwanted pesticides are also encouraged to turn in whatever lurks in their sheds and barns. Empty pesticide containers, however, will not be .- collected by the program. Allison said AGCare is hoping 10 get industry to initiate a recycling or re- filling program to get rid of the thousands of plastic containers used by the pesticide industry each year. "There is absolutely no reason why a program for the disposal and chipping of containers cannot be here in Ontario," said Terry Boland of AGCare, pointing out that such programs already exist in the U.S. and Western Canada. While Centralia College is poised at the very southern edge of Huron County and poses no access problems for most local farmers, AGCare still ex- pects many farmers will be willing to travel from the county's northern reaches in order to finally get rid of their unwanted chemicals. Much, much more can be accom- plished with honey than with vine- gar. I have always been a lover, not a fighter. Which makes me think farmers will accomplish more by straight talk than by confrontation and vio- lence. More than 20 years ago, a peace- ful march on Ottawa with tractors, sponsored by the Old Ontario Farmers Union, garnered much at- tention and sympathy even though Highway 401 traffic was slowed to tractor speeds. Nobody, not even truck drivers, was willing to argue with those lumbering behemoths on the high- way at the time. I talked with half a dozen people who were in attendance in early October at the new OMAF head- quarters in Guelph. The building was to be officially opened. An MP was yelled down when he tried to speak and was later jostled and al- most manhandled by angry farm- ers. 1 know. I know. Farmers have been talking to politicians. The whole country knows farmers need help and these guys at Guelph were. fed up waiting. They need help. But pushing people around, phys- ically attacking them, will not help Public sympathy will soon vanisn. WI Farm income to increase, t announces agriculture economists' OTTAWA - Canadian farm in- comes are expected to increase in 1991 from last year,- due to lower operating expenses and higher cash receipts. This announcement was made October 23 by Agriculture Canada economists in releasing their third quarter agriculture outlook for 1991. These estimates do not incorpo- rate the $800 -million farm aid package announced on October 10, Huron Soil qrd Crop Improvement Association plans annual meeting VARNA - The annual meeting and banquet for the Huron Soil and Crop Improvement Association is to be on Thursday, November 26 at 6:30 p.m. at the Stanley Township Community Centre Varna. Tickets are available through your local soil and crop director or the OMAF office in Clinton. Ticket deadline is November 21. There will be some big winners in the crop variety trials, especially for corn and soybeans with the ex- cellent yields in many areas of the County. Presentations will be made on the corn and soybean trials, nitrogen soil testing trials on corn, cereal va- rieties, conservation tillage trials, and the Land Stewardship program. One feature speaker will be Gerald Poechman. Gerald farms near Ilan - over and will be speaking on "Strat- egies for Low Input Agriculture." Please rememt:erto send in your variety trials and other projects to the OMAF Office, Clinton prior to November 15. Brian Hall Farm Management Specialist for Huron County ne foot in the furrow' bYZ If farmers want an example, they need only look at the union move- ment to find out that the goons have given this much -maligned movement a terrible reputation. A handful of tough guys can do more harm in a few minutes than all the work done by organizers in 40 years. Strong-arm tactics are a no -no in Canada except, of course, in our national game of hockey where the goons still abound although it seems to be changing at last. Farmers have every reason to be angry. How many people do you know who are making less this year than they did 10 years ago? How many union contracts, by the way, were settled with the mem- bers accepting less than last year? That is exactly what farmers are being forced to do in this country. Grain farmers are getting paid less now than they received 40 years ago. The terrible frustrations of try- ing to make a living in an industry that is chronically the lowest on tate economic totem pole are tak- ing their.toll. That is why farmers are so angry this fall. Plus the fact that the billions of dollars poured into agriculture by senior levels of government still have not worked. What is equally frustrating then is that farmers do not have any so - HARVEY RATZ CANDIDATE FOR COUNCILLOR FOR STEPHEN TOWNSHIP - lifelong resident of Stephen Township - interested in municipal politics all of my life - operated a farm and auto supply store In Shipka from 1954 to 1989 (Harvey Ratz Ltd) - member of the Grand Bond United Church where I also serve as a member of the Board of Stewards - member of the Stephen Township Recreation Committee since 1977; • c.rn pre ntly employed time by Ken Lovie Con lin, Shipka anted a �ilding a new home at R.R. tM Dashwood.1 feel 1 have the time and one 9y to dram to titre Ntion r elected. 11 you have any concerns pplease phone me at 237.3694. (e YOkUR no SUPPORT YOttte otter1"E �I 0t VERY MUCH ON ELECTION DAY. MArorfz ed by M CFO for Honey Asti • Users are appreuated by Boo Trone• E 'dile Rd E im..a Onr N3B V 1 lutions to the problem of chronic depression either. They keep going to governments for money but they are still broke even when they get money. They have -- some of them -- supply management marketing boards which do not seem to be working, either. This anger is not dissipating. in fact, I think it will worsen. There will be more demonstra- - tions, more ideas to get public at- tention. Maybe even a repeat of what happened a few years ago when an angry farmer -- in the Milton arca, wasn't it? -- dropped a couple of dead pigs on the door- step of a bank. He said the bank had everything else he owned and they might as well have the pigs, too. But, getting back to my original contention, l do not think farmers will curry public favor using heavy-handed tactics. Even politi- cians get angry when they get pushcd.around Imo often. And fanners, need public sup- port. 1991. The forecast does incorporate the new safety net programs, the Gross Revenue Insurance Program (GRIP) and the Net Income Stabili- zation Account (NISA) as well as existing current programs such as the Western Grain Stabilization Act (WGSA), and the Agricultural Sta- bilization Act (ASA). The impact of the Farm Support and Adjust- ment Measures (FSAM) program, introduced in April as a bridge to the new safely netgrams, `has also been incorporatedinto this in- come forecast. The realized net incgme is now forecast to increase fro)n 1990 by 10 per cent to $3.27 billion nation- ally, compared. with $4. t4 1'n -- 1989 and the $4.72 billion in the record income year of 19$8: Provincially, however, Ontario is to expect a minor decrea§e of five per cent. Good Value Home Insurance Litt + ttltshs • WNW, • AUtO • I,AIuM • I1USINt SS • GROW' Centralia College Continuing Educatioif��,, :; lea -#I Damon ' Mail Mere in WordPerfect Leam how to create and manage data us din. personalized fetters, records, memos, etc. Combined with the WordPerfect's sort command using specific criteria, mass amounts of customized documents can be generated. Participants should know the basics of WordPerfect before taking this course. 2 Thursdays, November 14 & 21/91 7 - 10 p.m • $35. Financial Manapement Marketing Strategies for Commodities - At the end of harvest seasons, mr►�any farmers tend to seek advice regarding the current marketing strategy for tom or beans. How can the farmer use the futures market and options to maximize retums? For answers to these issues and more attend this one day workshop. 1 Tuesday, November 19/91 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. $20 (includes Itch) Common Sense Food Handling - kfte designed for volunteers invo ljtted in feeding other people. Church groups, service dub, legion auxiliaries an others may be interested in this from a 'safe food handling' standpoint 1 Wednesday, November 20/91 7 - 10 p.m. ` $16 t or 1 Wednesday, February 19/91 . • Gourmet Cooking - Have you ever wondered how gourmet cooks rleke food taste so extraordinary? Join this two evening gourmet cooking Dour and team some of the secrets from a professional chef. Participants wilt pare and taste food each evening. Instructor for this course is Ross Cra d, Chef,' Green Room, Stratford Festival Theatre 2 Wednesdays, November 20 & 27/91 7 - 10 p.m. 50. To register call Centrist!, College - 2284691, Ext. 285 CENTRALI t COLLEGE Ministry of Agriculture Ontario and Food Huron Park, Ontario NOM 1 YO Own A New Furnace sit) 95* /tont lox, Esso offers you a complete line of compact, state-of-the-art oil burners and furnaces designed to give you the highest possible efficiencies and reduced heating costs in a quality unit you can afford. 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