The Rural Voice, 1978-11, Page 3Inside this month
SPECIAL FEATURES
Soil Erosion P 5
Farm Organizations and Quota Policy . P. 11
Beefalo P. 12
Overworked Vet Labs P. 15
Local Caterers at IPM p 17
What's New with Pork Producers . . . . P. 37
REGULAR FEATURES
A matter of Principle P 9
Up and Coming P 10
Voice of a Farmer P 18
Rural News in Brief P. 19
Advice on Farming P 27
The Rural Family P 33
Classified Ads P. 38
The Young Farmer P 39
Farming Around the World P 41
Perth Federation News P 43
Mailbox of the Month P. 44
Bruce Federation News P 45
Huron Federation News P 48
Cover Photo by Sheila Gunby
SydneSmith, R.R.3, Teeswatcr pointing out his
water di'ersion terraces.
the rural
Voice
Published monthly by McLean Bros. Publishers Ltd., Box 10, Blyth, Ontario,
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Opinion
The erosion story
V
When Rural Voice staff started researching this month's cover
story on erosion, we got a little worried. Emphasize solutions, we
had decided. Every farmer knows loss of top soil through over
plowing, draining and continuous cropping or whatever reason,
is becoming a problem.
What farmers need to know now is what economical things can
prevent erosion. Many phone calls failed to turn up names of
farmers who were actually using prevention or rehabilitation
practises that people like long time voice in the wilderness
Norman Alexander recommends.
And with land and agricultural input prices so high, we heard
quite a bit about how few could afford anti -erosion techniques.
Just when we were afraid Rural Voice's erosion story would be
that no one was doing much about it, resourceful reporter Alice
Gibb found several farmers whose erosion control makes sense
for them as well as one who couldnt afford anti -erosion measures
he tried.
The debate over costs and benefits from fighting erosion
continues. Huron ag rep Don Pullen reports Norman Alexander's
display on the subject was one of the most popular features the
recent International Plowing Match.
That indicates farmers are informing themselves about erosion
and what can be done about it. And that 's a healthy sign for the
future.
Pluarg and erosion
In January of this year, the Huron County Federation of
Agriculture presented a brief at the public participation session
of PLUARG (Pollution from Land Use Activities Reference
Group) in Owen Sound.
PLUARG, a subcommittee of the International Joint
Commission (IJC) established by the United States and Canada
to legislate pollution controls in the Great Lakes basin, was set
up in 1972 to make recommendations to the IJC.
When Merle Gunby presented the HFA brief to the PLUARG
panel he said any proposals relating to agriculture "that require
major cost of production increases or large capital expenditures
on the part of the farmers must be supported by the public sector
so farmers will not be placed in a financially crippling situation."
The areas the HFA felt should be considered as steps in
reducing soil erosion andother diffuse pollution resulting in
nutrient loss from farms are as follows:
- One government ministry or department should be
designated to be responsbile for all soil erosion. We believe that
the Ministry of Agriculture and Food would be the most logical
choice.
- Universities and colleges should introduce comprehensive
courses in soil erosion and conservation.
-Research is needed to develop new crops and cropping
practises suitable for Ontario growing conditions. For
example chisel plowing or contour plowing - are they practical?
rti►u tlicy work untie' Outario conditions? For example - protein
derived from legumes - more legume cover would help hold the
soil in place; but can it be made to be economical?
The brief concluded by saying "We in agriculture are eager to
find ways to lessen any pollution from our operations. we
recognize that it will not be a simple task; we ask your panel to
help point the way."
THE RURAL VOICE/NOVEMBER 1978 PG. 3