The Rural Voice, 2001-08, Page 61PERTH
Burnell Kipfer, R.R. #1, Sebringville NOK 1X0 Ph: 519-271-3399 Fax 519-273-0789
PCFA Office 519-229-6430 Fax 519-229-6269 e-mail: perth@ofa.on.ca
County Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER
Important elections ahead
Elections. be they federal. provincial.
municipal or for the representatives of
the local Federation of Agriculture.
rarely get the important ranking they
deserve — especially in the farm
political scene.
All too often there is a lack of
attendance and of willingness by farmers
to accept positions of responsibility
within their organizations. Agriculture is
facing a number of major challenges and
changes in the future. Without ambitious
and dedicated people at the table where
decisions are made, farmers may not get
the best possible deal.
The annual round of regional
meetings for the Ontario Federation of
Agriculture is about to begin. It's at these
meetings where directors to the OFA are
elected — these are the people who vote
on policy for the organization and much
of what happens at the OFA comes from
the direction given by them and their
votes.
Regional meetings of OFA also elect
delegates to the annual convention held
in November. This is where a lot of
grassroots discussion takes place on
resolutions that come to convention.
When approved, these resolutions play a
major role in establishing policy for the
organization.
Farming, for many in the business
today, has become big business requiring
the investment of a lot of time and a lot
of money. Making the commitment to
operate a farm business today is a full-
time commitment. Offering to serve on
the board of directors of a local
Federation of Agriculture takes
additional commitment, but serving on
the OFA Board of Directors is a major
commitment for any of today's
commercial farm operators.
As farmers take a serious look at their
industry today and what forces it will be
facing in the medium and long-term,
many say they see a serious need for
their organizations to make structural and
Perth County Annual Meeting
OFA Regional Meeting
Wednesday, October 10, 2001
Milverton Recreation Complex
Social Time: 6:30 p.m.
Meal: 7:00 p.m. with meetings to follow
58 THE RURAL VOICE
operational changes. They say these
changes are necessary if the industry is to
make progress and remain competitive in
the global marketplace.
OFA has been told by some of its
members to get serious about change.
They have recommended a structure
similar to Quebec's equivalent
organization, UPA, and suggest its
single -farm -voice approach would better
serve Ontario farmers. We have been
examining this possibility.
Before any major change will take
place. a lot more input is needed from
Ontario farmers and that input has to
come from the farmers who are OFA
members. The people elected at the
annual regional meetings will provide
much of that input. It will be up to them
to decide how fast and how far they are
willing to move in making change to
OFA, Canada's largest general farm
organization.
Prime Minister Chretien has set up a
task force to examine future
opportunities for agriculture in the
country. That came as a result of
concentrated lobbying by farmers
seeking improvements to the safety nets
and disaster assistance programs our
governments have established for
agriculture.
Running parallel with that task force
is the Agricultural Odyssey Group,
chaired by former OFA President Roger
George, and put in phace by a coalition of
Ontario farm organizations anxious to
find out what vision the province's
farmers have for their industry.
PERTH COUNTY FEDERATION
OF AGRICULTURE
DIRECTORS' MEETING
Thursday, August 23, 2001
Downie Mutual Insurance Office
Sebringvilie 8:00 p.m.
EVERYONE WELCOME
OFA President in Perth County
Jack Wilkinson, OFA President will be
in Perth County on August 16. Kitchen
meetings are being set up for the
morning and afternoon. If you are
interested in attending one of these
meetings please call the office for
details.0
• The Rural Voice is provided to farmers
in Perth County by the PCFA.
It seems obvious there is growing
pressure for change to the political
structures that make up Ontario's farm
organizations, but just what that change
will be is the hands of the people elected
by the grassroots farmers.
For the OFA, these people are elected
at the Regional meetings to be held over
the next three months across the
province. From there it will be up to
those people to represent the desires of
the farmers who elected them, along with
input from local federations.
A lot can be accomplished by
grassroots farmers, but a lot depends on a
willingness to work in a co-operative and
positive spirit.0
– Submitted by Bill Mailloux
Vice -President, Ontario Federation of
Agriculture
Reminder for farmers to
register their farm business
Farmers who have riot registered their
farm business with AGRICORP's Farm
Business Registration Program must do
so now.
Farm business registration forms have
been sent to eligible farm businesses on
record from previous years. A reminder
letter has been sent to all farmers who
have not yet registered. To register and
pay online go to AGRICORP's website at
www.agricorp.com For more information
or to register and pay, farmers can call 1-
866-327-3678.0
Environmental Farm Plans
YES the Environmental Farm Plan is
still going! A completed and approved
EFP is eligible for the $1500 incentive.
It should be noted that some of the
new programs if they are approved (eg.
Healthy Futures etc.) may have a
condition that you have to have a
completed EFP.
Some of the big areas of concern of
those taking the course are still properly
closing wells that are not in use, proper
fuel storage and fencing of ALL livestock
out of waterways.
Through the EFP course we
encourage you to take regular water
samples at least every nine months,
more frequently if you have a problem.
The health of your family, livestock, and
the watercourse is your responsibility.
Take the course. For more information
call Mary E. McIntosh 393-6232.0