The Rural Voice, 1983-07, Page 66FEDERATION OF AGRICULTURE
44C
BOX 429 CLINTON. ONTARIO NOM 1L0
Office Hours
Mon. & Frl.
9-4
TELEPHONE (519) 482-9642
NEWSLETTER
Message from
the president
Greetings! I hope you and your family
will be able to attend the Federation
Picnic on July 17 (see announcement on
this page). In addition to our regular
meetings, I attended the Liberal Task
Force on Rural Municipalities when it
was in Goderich. I outlined issues which
were covered in our presentations to our
members of Parliament in March. These
included the importance of programs
targeted on beginning farmers and the
need to change interpretation of income
tax regulations so that beginning farmers
aren't penalized as hobby farmers. The
Huron County Federation of Agriculture
is on record for its opposition to
absentee foreign ownership of farmland.
This poses a basic question of who will
own our agricultural resources. I pointed
out our belief that the people who work
the land should be able to own it.
Markets and farm prices are very
important. Farmers have various means
by which they can improve their control
of marketing and their share of income.
Farmers must take greater responsibility
in this area. However, where this takes
the form of quota administered market-
ing systems, it is important that quota
not become a speculative commodity.
Access of new entrants to such farming
enterprises also must be considered.
Where farmers opt for stabilization,
moderate upper limits with adequate
support prices would be of greatest
benefit to the most farmers, thus
supporting family farms.
In a time of massive unemployment,
the family farm offers a more labour
intensive approach where management
and family participation can offset capi-
tal intensity. In addition it can offer
greater stewardship of both the land and
the people of our rural communities. It is
important that government programs for
agriculture be evaluated for their impact
on the family farm.
It is important that rural development
be thoughtfully planned and carefully
integrated with the existing rural econ-
omy. Such development will work best if
it is based on agriculture and compatible
industries.
This is a brief summary of the
comments presented to the task force.
The members asked some questions. In
PG. 64 THE RURAL VOICE, JULY 1983
other presentations they were also
reminded of the importance of agricul-
ture in rural municipalities.
This is another example of how your
County Federation lobbies for agriculture
(even on nice dry, sunny days when your
president would have been glad to have
been getting some things done at home).
At a recent executive meeting we
discussed the importance of greater
member involvement in the activities and
planning of County Federation work. We
hope to develop some ideas which you
will hear about in the future. If you have
any thoughts on things which would
encourage you to be more involved I
would be pleased to hear about them.
Our farm financial advisory service
continues to provide assistance to area
farmers.
Tony McQuail
Member's Meeting, June 2
8:00 p.m. Clinton Public School
President Tony McQuail welcomed every-
one to the meeting. Minutes of the last
meeting were passed as printed on a
motion by Doug Garniss, seconded by
Paul Klopp. Carried.
President Tony announced the July 17
meeting to be held in the form of a
pot -luck family picnic on Sunday at 2:00
p.m. in the Ausable Bayfield Community
Park, south of Clinton on Hwy. 4.
Guest Bruce Lobb from OMAF, for
Huron, Perth, Grey, and Bruce counties
was introduced by Tony. Bruce is the
Pesticide Control officer for the four
counties. He is expected to enforce the
control of the Pesticide Acts and
Regulations in the counties. He defined a
"pesticide" as a "chemical to kill a pest."
It takes 20 million dollars to have a
pesticide registered for use (tests, pa-
tents, etc.). He explained all kinds of
information on packages of pesticides:
contents in weight, precautions, first aid
instructions, how to mix, what it con-
trols, scientific information and whether
the contents are poisonous, corrosive,
flammable or explosive.
Requirements for Chemical Storage:
1. locked room
2. ventilation
3. not near food or drink for humans or
animals
4. no floor drain in the room
5. safety equipment nearby
6. chemical warning signs on door
7. emergency telephone numbers avail-
able
Drifting when Spraying:
Vapour Drift -movement of vapour off the
target area at the time or after applica-
tion.
Control of Vapour Drift -don't spray in
very hot or humid weather i.e. above
27°C. or use low or non-volatile formula-
tions.
Spray Drift -movement of fine spray
particles off the target area at the time of
application only.
To control - decrease pressure, lower
height of boom, don't spray in wind,
increase nozzle size, reduce speed.
Bruce completed his presentation with a
series of slides showing all the wrong
things to do with sprays, sprayers, etc.
He was thanked and presented with a gift
of appreciation by Brenda McIntosh.
As a result of the presentation there was
discussion and questions. A resolution
was made by Shirley Garniss, seconded
by Joe Phelan: Be it Resolved that Huron
County Federation of Agriculture ask
cont. on pg. 63
Huron County Federation of Agriculture Picnic
Sunday July 17 2:00 - 4:30 P.M.
Clinton - Ausable-Bayfield Conservation Park
on #4 Highway,
south of Clinton [next to bridge].
This is a pot luck - come as you are Picnic for all interested
Huron County Federation of Agriculture members.
Mit