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The Rural Voice, 1980-12, Page 411 HURON COUNTY REPORT ON THE ANNUAL MEETING President Merle Gunby welcomed everyone to the meeting, after which everyone enjoyed a dencious roast beef dinner. Jim Hunter introduced the Head Table. The Huron County Award was then presented to Norm Alexander by Adrian Vos and Russel Bolton. Mr. Norm Alexander thanked the group for this honour. Guest speaker for the evening, Hon. Gordon MacMurchy was then introduced by Tony McQuail. Following a very interesting and informative talk Andre Durand thanked Mr. MacMurchy. Minutes of last year's Annual meeting were approved on a motion by Tony McQuail, seconded by Grant Curran. The Financial Statement was approved as printed in the SURVEY PAPER on a motion by Doug Fortune, seconded by Carl Hemingway. Nomination Committee for Resolution Committee - Adrian Vos, Bill Mann, Andre Durand and Doug Fortune Appointment of Auditor: Walter Elliott moved we appoint Lawrence Beane as auditor for 1980-81. Tony McOuail moved nominations be closed, seconded by Jim Hunter. Carried. Field Man Bill Crawford gave his annul report. (attached.) President Merle Gunby gave his Presidents report and his going -out remarks. Elections were then held: Election Chairman, Frank Wall, OFA Executive - all positions were declared vacant. Scrutineers were appointed in the persons of Bessie Saunders, John Core, Borden Fenton, Bill Crawford and Hermen Steffens on a motion by Tony McQuail, seconded by Gerry Fortune. Nominations for President: Gerry Fortune (stand) Jim McIntosh (decline), Merle Gunby, (decline), Tony McQuail (decline) Gerry Fortune in for President by acclamation. Three Directors et large: Bev Brown, Jim Hunter and Walter Elliott. During the evening door prizes were drawn. Frank Wall presented to Merle Gunby a 5470.00 cheque from OFA for achieving an outstanding goal in membership. - The new President Gerry Fortune presented outgoing President Merle and his wife with a parting gift and also a Huron County Past President pin was presented to Merle by Gerry Merle then presented Gerry with the President's pin. - Tony McQuail made an announcement on the ENERGY Tour being held on Nov. 12 to Les Emery centre. Tickets are available at the County office or from Tony or Andre Durand. (510.00) per person. - An announcement was made for the luncheon being held at the White Carnation tomorrow at noon, with Gordon MacMurchey being in attendance. RESOLUTIONS FROM HURON COUNTY ANNUAL MEETING 1980 to be presented at Annual Convention in November. Res. N1 - moved by Adrian Vos, seconded by Merle Gunby Carried. Whereas our traditional "family farm" or owner operator style of agriculture is experiencing ever increasing pressures by many factors especially inflation, particularly machinery and land costs, making it even more difficult to finance and support debt servicing costs and Whereas these and other factors if permitted to continue may lead to our industry being domianted by foreign ownership, corporate ownership, vertical integration and/or a landlord - tenant styleof agriculture and Whereas changes in the structure of •agriculture have significant impact on the whole community both socially and economically and Whereas these changes are influenced by government policies and Whereas the Ontario Feder ation of Agriculture seeks to lobby government on - behalf of the farm community and in its best interests and Whereas for such intervention to be most effective, long term goals for our farm community must be established. Therefore be it resolved that there is a real need to examine where we have come from, where we arenow and where we should be heading in the future in terms of the structure of our Agricultural industry Further be it resolved that OFA strike a committee to examine this problem. • (Such a committee should seek the assistance of a major research organization to assist in its work) Further that this committee report be a major part of the 1981 OFA annual convention. Amendment to above motion to strike' (such - work), moved by Adrian Vos, seconded by Tony McQuail. Amend ment Lost, resolution Carded as presented. Res. 12 - moved by Doug Fortune, seconded by George Adams Carried. Whereas deposits and payments at banks made after 3 p.m. is considered next day's business Be it resolved that OFA demands that the Bank Act be amended so that all bank transactions be completed on the day that they are initiated. Res. 13 - moved by Andre Durand, seconded by John Nesbit. Carried. Whereas grain elevators subtract the fine matter content from corn received from the producer, and later sell it with the farmer receiving no recompense. Therefore be it resolved that legislation be enacted to forge elevators to pay farmers tor the fine matter content received in their cornot a reasonable price based on feed price. Res. 14 - moved by Doug Fortune, Seconded by Walter Elliott. Carried. Whereas certain weed seeds (e.g. Johnston Grass, Poison Hemlock and Velvet Leaf) that are not classified as noxious, have become a costly menace and whereas Grade M1 Seed /ender present regulations) can contain up to 70 of these weed seeds per ounce. Therefore he if resolved that the Ontario Federation of Agric. Urge Plant Products (which is federal) to have the Seed Act revised so that these weed seeds are classif led as noxious. Further be it resolved that the Seed Act be revised to have the noxious weed list updated more frequently. Res. e5 - moved by Andre Durand, seconded by Tony McQuail Carried Whereas farmers as land owners have access to a wide variety on renewable energy sources. And whereas some of these energy sources can be converted to electricity And whereas such farm produced electricity could be a valuable asset to the farmer and the larger community. Therefore be it resolved that the Ontario Federation of Agriculture strongly urge the Ontario Government to develop their guidelines and programs which would encourage farmers to develop their renewable energy sources and require Ontario Hydro to co-operate with farmers developing electrical systems dependent on renewable energy and/or energy conservation. And further be it resolved that Ontario Hydro be required to pay fair value to farmer produced electricity -such a fair value would be the replacement cost to Ontario Hydro of the farm generated electricity And further be It resolved that farmers be able to obtain loans for capital and operating costs associated with their generating and energy conserving systems at rates equivalent to those available to Ontario Hydro for Its capital and operating expenses. And further be it resolved that methods be examined whereby such loans could be repaid over a period of years by deductions on the utility bill or deductions from the electricity payment which the farmer receives. Res. 06 - moved by Andre Durand, seconded by Paul Klopp. Carried. Whereas there are many farmers interested in the production of alcohol as an alternate fuel source for food production and whereas the $500.00 license fee is an added and prohibitive cost in its production. Therefore be it resolved that the Ontario Federation of Agriculture put pressure on the appropriate authorities to have this cost reduced to S100.00 or less. Res. 07 - moved by Andre Durand. seconded by Paul Klopp. Carried Whereas there are a number of farmers experimenting with energy producing and energy conserving practices And whereas other farmers need access to this information. Therefore be it resolved that the Energy Committee of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture set up a system for collecting this information from across the province and redistributing it to interested groups and individuals Res. 08 - from Huron County Regional Mtg. Sept. 11/80 - moved by Doug Fortune, seconded by Louise Merritt Carried Whereas individual counties across Ontario have many different programs 10 assist members and encourage OFA membership, and whereas, In many Instances there is little if any co-ordination of these programs from county to county and whereas Often programs in place in one county would be of great benefit to others If they knew of them or had assistance in implementing them. Therefore belt resolved that OFA establish a county Iiason committee to be made up of persons knowledgeable of programs in their county but not active provincial ly The objective of this committee would be: 1. To gather information from all counties as to their programs and effectiveness. 2. to evaluate these programs 3. to encourage active county programs and assist in setting up new programs within counties. 4. through OFA to make the information they assemble available to all counties. FIELDMAN'S COMMENTS With the help of the members and elected people who canvassed up and down the concessions this spring the Ontario Federation of Agriculture have increased their membership from 22,600, October 1/79 to the present membership of 23.800. Farmers are disolaving their unity to government and society by the steady increase of members In their organization. Huron County was very active in membership canvassing spearheaded by Bev Brown, chairman of the Membership Committee and increased their membership by 100 new members for a total of 2, 115. This membership committee also prepared an inventory of farmers by township and we have an index card on every active farmer in the county. Thirty or more members met for 2 days to complete this inventory and it will be a very helpful reference for your federation in the future. The Public Relations committee continued to be very active and Huron County Federation certainly gets their fair share of coverage in local newspapers. The programme and Education committee have done a wonderful job of providing monthly meetings and there have been larger crowds attending All committees have been very co-operative and are in part some of the other reasons OFA has increased their strength in membership in the province. My responsibilities with OFA take me to 9 other counties In Western Ontario and I am happy to say that these counties are also having a tremendous year of growth. My one concern is that some members contact our Vanastra office (482-9642) and get no answer as this office is only open Monday and Fridays. We do have an answering service in Goderlch (524-4424) and they will take messages any day, Monday thru Fridays. The new phone book will list both numbers In Clinton and this should eliminate the problem Bill Crawford THE RURAL VOICE/DECEMBER 1980 PG. 39