The Rural Voice, 2001-07, Page 56GREY
County Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER ' The Rural Voice is provided to all Grey
County Farmers by the GCFA.
446 10th St., Hanover, Ontario N4N 1 P9
Email: greyo(a.on ca Website www.ofa on.ca/grey 519-364-3050 or 1-800-275-9551
With the planting season completed
and the haying season upon us most
farmers have their work cut out for
themselves and then some. While we
concentrate mainly on our immediate
goals and challenges in our own
operations, we must also take a look
around us to see what the future has in
stock. and the challenges we will face in
the next 20 years in regards to the
population growth and the influence this
will have on our land base, the
environment. and the way farming
practices will change.
Yes, let's face it again, the only thing
that is constant is change. Knowing what
is coming down the pipe will make it
easier to deal with the changes. The
provincial government is conducting 17
Ontario "Smart Growth" consultation
sessions across the province at this time.
On June 6. 2001, the "Smart Growth"
task force came to Orangeville, and the
Grey County Federation of Agriculture
was invited to participate in this
consultation. Participants came from
What next for agriculture?
Bruce, Dufferin, and Grey Counties, and
the the town of Orangeville. All sectors
of society attended such as local
municipalities, industry, transportation,
commerce. and agriculture from the three
counties, for a total of 32 participants.
The host was David Tilson, MPP for
Dufferin-Peel-Wellington-Grey.
Ontario is growing, that's a fact. Our
province will be home for 14 million
people in 2015 that is 2.5 million more
than in 2000, and five million more than
in 1985. The feeling is generally that
growth is a good thing when it is well
managed and planned. It generates jobs
and a stronger tax base needed to sustain
our social safety nets and quality of life
we all want.
Well-managed growth depends very
much on transportation. land use,
investment and community groups
working together. Our population
increase will take place by migration and
immigration rather than an increase in the
birth rate which, by the way, is declining.
Most of the immigration to Ontario and
EFP — a partnership in Approach in Grey
The Environmental Farm Plan Program has been extended, thanks to funding from Agriculture and Agri -Food
Canada, through the Agricultural Adaptation Program. The EFP program is definitely recognized as a world leader
and efforts are underway to extend the program to all areas of Canada. The EFP in Grey County has now
exceeded twelve hundred participants.
There is an ever increasing awareness of water quality issues. Certainly there are major environmental issues
of concem beyond agriculture, but farmers recognize that we must be vigilant and proactive.
As the industry continues to change, we are being subjected to much closer scrutiny. It is no longer important
to just be doing the right thing - but we have to be seen as doing ill
A true partnership approach has been utilized in the delivery of the program in Grey County and has certainly
contributed to the success of the program. Both fame organizations and agri-business have been part of the team.
I wish to recognize the following organizations who hosted workshops in 2001: Euphrasia Township
Federation of Agriculture, Holland Township Federation of Agriculture, Egremont Township Federation of
Agriculture, Proton Township Federation of Agriculture, Artemesia Township Federation of Agriculture, Sullivan
Township Federation of Agriculture, Derby Township Federation of Agriculture, Grey Bruce Christian Farmers'
Association, Mennonite Community, Grey County Soil and Crop Improvement Assoc.
Since the inception of the program in Grey, many of the leading agribusiness companies and organizations
have financially supported the workshop participants by providing funds to cover a hot lunch at noon each day. I
wish to express appreciation to the following list of supporters: Clemmer Technologies Inc., Waterloo, Earth Power
- Tractor & Equipment, Meaford, Formosa Mutual Insurance, Formosa, Holstein Feed Mill, Holstein, Jim Clark
Well Drilling, Meaford, Keady Livestock Market, Keady, Lennox Fuels, Owen Sound, Thombury, Maple Lane Farm
Service, Mount Forest, Markdale Tractor, Markdale, Mooney Fuels, Owen Sound, Markdale, Neuman Well
Drilling, Dundalk, Ron Wiltshire Seeds, Mount Forest, Secure Insurance Solutions Group Inc., Markdale, Dundalk,
Durham, Simcoe District Co-op, Thombury, Dundalk, Sprucedale Agromart, Tara, Hanover, Sullivan Township
Federation of Agriculture, The Co-operators, Bob Cottel & Associates, Dundalk, Mount Forest, Markdale, The Co-
operators, Bob Lammie, Walkerton, Chesley.
The majority of farmers have a very positive reputation for environmental management on the fans. The EFP
program is an excellent vehicle to document the achievements and identify the areas where further initiatives are
required.
Many of the incentive programs in different areas of the province are now stating that completion of an EFP is
a prerequisite to access grant programs. We are currently compiling an interest list of farmers who want to
participate in the next round of Grey County Workshops, to start in January/February 2002. To register for a
workshop, or obtain further information, you are encouraged to contact the Grey County Agricultural Services
Centre in Markdale.
On behalf of the Grey County Environmental Farm Plan Committee and participants, I want to express
appreciation to everyone who has contributed to the success of the program.0
Ray Robertson Program Representative
Committee: Tom Weber, Ayton, John Flanagan, Holstein, James McKinlay, Ravenna
52 THE RURAL VOICE
Canada will come from Africa and Asian
countries and migration from the
Maritime provinces. The largest part of
this influx of people will take place in the
Toronto and the Golden Horseshoe area.
However, there will also be a lot of
pressure on the farming areas for
development as more and more people
want to live, though not necessarily farm,
in the countryside.
This particular consultation dealt with
Grey, Bruce, and Dufferin Counties
including Orangeville. The projection for
this area shows that by 2021 the
population will increase by 18.2 per cent,
to 242,200 people from 204,900 in 1996,
an increase of 37,300 people. The highest
increase will be in Dufferin County 53.6
per cent, while Grey and Bruce will
increase by 9.1 per cern and 5.7 per cent
respectively. The town of Orangeville
being part of Dufferin will take the brunt
of the expansion from 21,445 in 1996 to
47,166 in 2021, an increase of 119.9 per
cent.
The population .increase in
Orangeville, being on the doorsteps of
Grey County, and not too far from Bruce
County .vi11 have quite an impact on the
two counties. We will need more roads as
tourism will increase and there will be
more demand on our land base and the
way we farm.
This so called "Smart Growth" has
plenty of opportunities and
responsibilities associated with it. As
farmers we will have very little choice
but to get more involved'in the planning
process in our municipalities and the
county if we expect to continue to be a
viable farming community. The Grey
County Federation of Agriculture with
1,710 members has always been up to
new challenges, and we will continue to
participate and represent the farmers in
this region as this "Smart Growth"
process evolves.
Well folks, farming is more than
growing crops and raising livestock. Let's
face the challenges for the future together
and do it with farm safety in our hearts.0
— By Karl Chittka, President,
Grey County Federation of Agriculture
GREY COUNTY FEDERATION OF
AGRICULTURE
DIRECTORS' MEETING
Thursday, July 26, 2001 - 8:00 p.m.
Grey County Agricultural Services Centre
meeting room (Grey Gables)
20esaoattdaleMembrrre welcome South, en