The Rural Voice, 2000-06, Page 64GREY
446 10th St., Hanover, Ontario N4N 1P9
Email: grey@ofa.on.ca Website: www.ofa.on.ca/grey 519-364-3050 or 1-800-275-9551
County Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER
' The Rural Voice is provided to all Grey
County Farmers by the GCFA.
Tommy Cooper and agriculture extension
As one of the recent recipients of
the Tommy Cooper Award, I would
like to take this opportunity to thank
the sponsors of this award: CFOS
Radio and The Owen Sound Sun
Times. For the past 42 years they
have been presenting this award
annually, to recognize contribution to
agriculture and rural living in Grey
and Bruce Counties.
The Award is named after the
gentleman who was the Agricultural
Representative for Grey County from
1920 to 1959. Tommy Cooper
worked closely with both the radio
station and the daily newspaper to
assist him in his efforts to transfer
information and knowledge to his
clients. He was instrumental in
establishing school fairs. short
courses and demonstration days. He
also helped set up various farm
groups, like soil and crop
improvement clubs. township
federations of agriculture and
farmers' clubs. most of which still
exist today. This year's co -recipient.
Jack Westlake, was the most recent
Agricultural Representative in Grey
County.
Environmental Farm Plan Program re -locates
By Ray Robertson, Program Representative
The 2000 series of Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) workshops has been completed. Six, two-
day workshops and one, three -evening workshop was held this past winter. Over 1,100 farmers
have now participated in the Grey County EFP workshops.
The EFP Program has been extended for an additional two years. The incentive funding for
EFP is still available, which provides up to $1,500 for qualified farm operations.
As in previous years, farm organizations and agri-business in Grey County have been part of a
strong team approach, and certainly deserve' much of the credit for the high level of success here
in Grey.
The following organizations played a key role in hosting workshops in 2000: Derby Township
Federation of Agriculture, Sullivan Township Federation of Agriculture, Christian Farmers
Federation, Holland Township Federation of Agriculture, Egremont Township Federation of
Agriculture, Normanby Township Federation members, Mennonite community Mount Forest area,
Euphrasia Township Federation of Agriculture, Collingwood Township Federation of Agriculture,
Georgian Bay Fruit Growers Inc., Osprey Township Federation members, Bentinck Township
Federation of Agriculture, Glenelg Township Federation of Agriculture, Proton Township
Federation of Agriculture, Artemesia Township Federation of Agriculture, Grey County Soil & Crop
Improvement Association.
Again this year, Agri -business has been very supportive or the participants in the EFP program,
and have contributed funds to cover the costs of a hot luncheon for each workshop.
We want to recognize the following agri-business suppliers: Clemmer Technologies Inc.,
Waterloo; Jim Clarke Well Drilling Ltd., Meaford; Collwest Grain Products Ltd., Collingwood;
Formosa Mutual Insurance, Formosa; George C. South Equipment Ltd., Meaford; Germania
Mutual Insurance Company, Ayton; Holliday Farm Equipment, Mount Forest; Holstein Feed Mill,
Holstein; Huron Bay Co-operative, Markdale and Owen Sound; Keady Livestock Market Ltd.,
Keady; R & B Lennox Fuels Ltd., Owen Sound; Maple Lane Farm Service Inc., Mount Forest;
Markdale Tractor Sales, Markdale; Neuman Well Drilling Ltd., Dundalk; North Wellington Co-
operative Services, Mount Forest; Ronco Dairy Supply; Simcoe District Co-operative, Dundalk,
Meaford and Thornbury; Secure Insurance Solutions Group Inc., Markdale, Dundalk, Durham,
Hanover and Mount Forest; Sprucedale Agromart Ltd., Tara and Hanover; Terratec
Environmental, Oakville; The Co-operators - Bob Cottell, Markdale, Dundalk and Mount Forest,
'Jeff Elford, Meaford, Bob Lammie, Chesley-Walkerton; Ron Wiltshire Seeds, Mount Forest.
On behalf of the Grey County Environmental Farm Plan Committee, and the participants, I want
to thank individuals, host organizations and the sponsors for your co-operation and enthusiastic
support.
This farmer driven initiative has become recognized as a world leader, and the support of the
local farm community is truly appreciated.
Due to the closure of the Markdale OMAFRA office, the EFP Program is now delivered from the
Grey County Agricultural Services Centre at 206 Toronto St. S., Markdale. Inquiries may be
directed to Ray Robertson, Program Representative at 519-986-3756.0
60 THE RURAL VOICE
It is interesting that, as we
remember Mr. Cooper's work, the
current government is dismantling the
county agricultural office system that
has been in place for nearly a century.
The electorate indicated (twice), loud
and clear. that they wished to have
less government; but was this really
what they desired?
A gradual reduction in services
would have given the rural
organizations time to adjust to a new
environment; instead just four months
notice was given that all offices
would be closing. Now rural
organizations are scrambling to find
facilities and services to replace those
previously supplied by OMAFRA.
These rural groups will be utilizing
volunteer labour and donated money
to continue their local activities -
another situation of downloading by
the current government.
The challenge for the current
Ministry of Agriculture, Food and
Rural Affairs will be to utilize the
savings to the best advantage of the
agricultural and rural community.
With the dramatic reduction in the
number of offices and personnel out
in rural Ontario, concern is being
expressed about the future of the
Ministry responsible for the second
largest industry in all of Ontario. It is
absolutely imperative that personnel,
who are in touch with primary
producers on a regular basis, deal
with policy development involving
the many sensitive issues facing
agriculture and rural living. Our
future depends on policy developed
in a practical, logical and insightful
manner.0
- Wayne McCausland
Second Vice -President
GREY COUNTY FEDERATION OF
AGRICULTURE
PLEASE NOTE:
There will be no Board of
Directors' meeting in June
Next meeting will be
THURSDAY, JULY 27
i