The Rural Voice, 2000-05, Page 62PERTH
Andy DeVries, R.R. #1, Atwood NOG 1130 Phone/Fax 519-356-2133
PCFA Office 229-6430 Fax 229-6269 e-mail: perth@ofa.on.ca
County Federation of Agriculture
NEWSLETTER
The Rural Voice is provided to farmers
in Perth County by the PCFA.
Young Farmers' Forum develops resolutions for OFA to consider
Participants at the Western
Ontario Yopng Farmers' Forum, held
recently in Listowel, developed a
number of resolutions that they will
be submitting to the Ontario
Federation of Agriculture.
The young farmers in attendance
would like to see OFA lobby the
provincial government to develop
and enforce province -wide
regulations surrounding nutrient
management. They site the varying
municipal by-laws as allowing
uneven competition from one area to
another, plus the need for long term
sustainable farming that is held in
high regard by the public as reasons
for this action.
Corporate mergers in the
agriculture industry were also a
concern for young farmers, both from
a supplier perspective and the impact
that corporate concentration in the
production sector has on rural
communities. They are asking the
OFa to lobby the federal and
provincial governments to restrict
any further corporate mergers for a
period of two years so that a
government funded, independent
study can be conducted to determine
the effects of corporate concentration
on the independent family farm.
Young people getting established
in agriculture face a challenge of
acquiring adequate capital and
financing. Other jurisdictions in
Canada have programs that assist
young farmers in establishing their
farm business. For these reasons they
feel that the provincial government
should study and implement a young
farmer establishment program.
A concern that the provincial
government is recruiting foreign
farmers to relocate to Ontario by
advertising in overseas publications
has the young farmers asking the
OFA to investigate this, and stop this
advertising immediately.
A partnership between the OFA
and the Junior Farmers' Association
of Ontario is seen as a way to co-
ordinate training and development of
young farmers, and a way to discuss
the challenges that young farmers
face. They would like to see the OFA
support a position that works with the
JFAO to develop young farmer
opportunities such as the Ontario
Young Farmers' Forum.
The issue of biotechnology was
also discussed, and although a formal
resolution was not developed, they
feel it would be worthwhile to
involve young farmers in further
Perth Federation, Commodity & Farm Groups
meet with Members of Parliament
On Saturday, April 15 the Perth
County Federation of Agriculture,
Several Commodity and Farm groups
met with John Richardson and Gary
Long representing Bert Johnson who
was unable to attend due to illness.
Briefs were presented from PCFA,
Soybean Growers, Chicken
Producers, White Bean Producers,
Pork Producers, Beef Producers,
Dairy Producers and Women's
58 THE RURAL VOICE
Institutes. Issues and topics discussed
were Research, OMAFRA
downsizing, Rural Infrastructure
(Hydro, Health Care, Education,
Roads), Retail Sales Tax, Safety
Nets, Trade, CFIA, and regulations
respecting the Making of Medicated
Feeds.
If anyone wishes a copy of the
briefs that were presented please give
PCFA office a call.°
debates at the OFA Board on this
topic.
Forums such as this have been
held in various locations across the
province, jointly sponsored by Junior
Farmers clubs, County Federations of
Agriculture, and the Ontario
Federation of Agriculture.°
Resolution from Perth
approved by OFA
The following resolution sent from
Perth County was passed at the OFA
meeting in April.
WHEREAS Canadian Farmers
cannot compete with American
farmers because of U.S. government
subsidy programs, and
WHEREAS there is a Free Trade
Agreement between Canada and the
United States that gives both
countries the flexibility to develop
programs that are agreeable to both,
Therefore Be It Resolved that the
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
insist that the Canadian government
meet with the U.S. government to
develop comparable support
programs so we are competing on a
level playing field.°
PERTH COUNTY
FEDERATION
OF AGRICULTURE
PLEASE NOTE:
There will
be NO
Directors' Meeting
in May
i