The Rural Voice, 2000-05, Page 68HURON
Box 429, Clinton, Ontario NOM 1L0
519-482-9642 or 1-800-511-1135 Website: www.ofa.on.ca/huron Email: huron@ota.on.ca
County Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER
" The Rural Voice is provided to all farmers
in Huron County by the HCFA.
OFA President attends luncheon
Left to right: OFA President Jack Wilkinson, Neil Vincent - 2nd Vice President
HCFA; Brenda McIntosh, Director; and John Gaunt, white bean commodity rep.
on HCFA board.
On Tuesday, March 28 OFA President
Jack Wilkinson attended a luncheon at the
Belgrave Community Centre with
members of the Huron Federation of
Agriculture Board of Directors. Many
good discussions were held on rural
school funding, safety nets, food testing
and labelling, fuel costs and several other
agri-related topics. Following the noon
meeting Jack proceeded to the farm of
Will Stafford in the Wroxeter area for a
"kitchen" meeting of about 10
neighbouring farmers. This was also an
interesting productive discussion.°
HCFA busy promoting agriculture
13y Pat Down
President HCFA
HCFA is pleased to announce that we
have placemats to advertise our industry.
Our theme is that Huron county farmers
raise livestock, crops and Tots of eyebrows.
They were first used at our recent MP/MPP
day on March 25.
The placemats are available for local
catering groups, municipal halls and
agricultural meetings. We plan on
distributing them to local restaurants during
ag week in October. If your organization
would like some, please contact the office
of your local HCFA board member. This is
our first attempt. Suggestions for
improvement are welcome. We will get
some information on cash crops when we
produce the second printing.
HCFA executive members attended two
of the drainage review meetings that
OMAFRA has been holding around the
province. At both the meetings, onedealing
with municipal drains and the other dealing
with the tile loan program, we stressed the
value of these programs to rural Ontario.
We also stressed the importance of the
regulations governing the drainage
contractors who themselves have attended
various meetings to point out that they
value the licensing system. Drainage
impacts on every.farmer. A phone call to
64 THE RURAL VOICE
your MPP would help in lobbying to keep
this valuable program working for farmers.
At our MP/MPP day, our livestock
representatives stressed the need for
changes in the proposed cruelty to animals
legislation at the federal level. Again
individual members lobby efforts are
needed to make a point. Accepted farm
practices like beak trimming, dehorning
and castration need to be exempt from the
legislation. The changes that need to be
made are as simple as adding the word
"unnecessary" before the word "pain".
As an industry, agriculture is learning
firsthand the results of lobby campaigns.
We need to speak up both collectively
through our organizations- and individually
to our elected officials at the local,
provincial or federal level whichever is
appropriate for this issue. Paul Steckle
needs your individual support when he asks
for changes in the cruelty to animals
legislation. Let's all make an effort to make
our concerns heard. Use that phone, e-mail
or letter:°
HCFA OFFICE HOURS
Mondays and Fridays
9 a.m. to 12 noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
Please leave a message.
(519) 482-9642 or 1-800-511-1135
FAX (519) 482-1416
Resolution passed
The following resolution was approved
and passed at the HURON
FEDERATION of AGRICULTURE
Board of Directors meeting on March
27/00. To be forwarded to OFA Board of
Directors. Note: The resolution was also
approved and accepted by the
Independent Hog Producers.
WHEREAS almost all agricultural
commodities produced in Canada are
priced either directly or indirectly off of
the U.S. markets,
and WHEREAS there is NOT a fair, open
and competitive marketplace for livestock
in the U.S.,
and WHEREAS it is the mandate of
USDA and GIPSA to enforce a fair open
and competitive marketplace in the U.S.,
and WHEREAS Canadian producers have
lost money because of poor prices due to
uncompetitive markets in the U.S.,
and WHEREAS Canadian producers
would immediately benefit from a more
open and competitive U.S. market,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that
the OFA and CFA support the cause of
independent U.S. pork producers to force
the USDA and GIPSA to act to ensure an
open, fair and competitive marketplace.°
HURON FEDERATION OF
AGRICULTURE ANNUAL MEETING
Thursday, October 12
Watch this page for additional information
Farm groups brief MPs
The Annual MP/MPP luncheon sponsored
by the Huron County Federation of Agriculture
was held on March 25 at the OMAFRA office in
Clinton. Along with our MPP Helen Johns and
MP Paul Steckle, nine township/town reeves
and the County Warden attended.
Representatives were in attendance from
Pork Producers, Beef Producers, Wheat
Board, Egg & Pullett, Corn Producers,
Soybean Growers, Dairy Producers, Chicken
Producers, Landowners Association of the
Proposed Tipperary Gas Storage, as well our
own HCFA Committees -Environment and
Finance groups.
Among the topics discussed were OMAFRA
cutbacks, safety net programs, cruelty to
animals, biotechnology, rural schooling, hydro
deregulation, amalgamations, water testing,
county agri-related meeting rooms, nutrient
management, fuel costs, genetic research,
food labelling, free and fair trade, Provincial
retail sales tax, GST issues on farm pickups,
and WTO discussions.
It was a very successful, productive day.
We thank the "Press" who were in attendance
for the excellent media coverage we received
from them.°