The Rural Voice, 2000-07, Page 52HURON519-482-9642 or 1-800-511-1135 Website
County Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER
Box 429, Clinton, Ontario NOM 1L0
www ofa on.ca/huron Email: huron@ofa.on.ca
• The Rbrai Voice is provided to all farmers
in Huron County by,the HCFA.
Log and circle -check books for trucking reports now available
Due to changes in Ministry of
Transportation (MTO) regulations.
many farmers are now required to
maintain Vehicle Inspection Report
books (circle checks) and Hours of
Work log books.
The OFA has made arrangements
with the Ontario Trucking
Association (OTA) to make these
books available to county Federations
for sale/distribution to OFA members
who are required to maintain the
books.
Each book has sufficient pages for
31 days of reports and is available at
a minimal cost by contacting the
County Federation office. Under the
revised MTO regulations, vehicles
with a gross weight or registered
gross weight of 4500 kilograms
(9920 pounds) or more are required
to complete a daily vehicle inspection
report. There is no longer an
exemption for trips within a 160 km.
radius.
A commercial motor vehicle
driver is required to have a valid
inspection report for the truck and
any owned trailer(s) at all times when
the vehicle is operated on a highway,
Planning strategy for meeting with Minister
. On Tuesday, May 23 a meeting
was held at the Huron County
Federation of Agriculture office in
Vanastra to plan a strategy of
approach to a meeting with
Agriculture Minister Ernie Hardeman
on the Farm Products Marketing
Commission.
In attendance were representatives
from commodities of wheat
producers, egg producers, pork
producers, dairy producers, white
beans, chicken producers and
vegetable growers from both Huron
and Perth counties. The idea for this
meeting originated from our March
MP/MPP meeting. Local MPP Helen
Johns has written to Mr. Hardeman to
set up a meeting.0
HCFA OFFICE HOURS
Mondays and Fridays
9 a.m. to 12 noon
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
From the President's Desk:
Everyone deeply regrets the suffering and loss of loved ones in the
Walkerton tragedy. While we may never know the actual source of the E.coli,
agriculture is a known source and therefore an easy target. Adequate
chlorination of public water supplies will never again be taken for granted.
Some points as farmers that we should publicize are:
1. Chlorination should have made the water potable.
2. Large hog barns are not implicated in this particular strain of E.coli.
3. Ruminant animals carry this E.coli, including deer.
4. Animal populations, over all, according to the census data have not changed
appreciably over the 20 years before the 1996 census. Large barns are much
more visible than all the old barns that are no longer operating.
5. We all need to work together to protect our water.
6. Huron County again is in the lead with our Huron County Water Coalition
which is working to improve water quality in Huron. Let's all support this
organization!0
- Submitted by Pat Down
HCFA President
48 THE RURAL VOICE
regardless of distance travelled. This
report must be carried in the vehicle.
Hours of work log books are not
required for: light trucks (gross or
actual weight of less than 4500 kg.);
two -or -three axle trucks carrying
farm, sea, forest or lake products
produced by the driver or the
operator; or other non-farm
vehicles.0
HCFA Annual/Regional
Meeting
Thursday, October 12/00
Stanley Complex, Varna, Ontario
Entertainment:
Area Soloist Cara Stephenson
Tickets: $10 - available from
County Office or Directors
A Healing Vision
for Family Farms &
Rural Life
- two dynamic speakers -
Dr. John Ikerd - agricultural economist
and researcher of sustainable models for
family farming and rural economic
development.
Dennis Mills - organizer of the Family
Farm Tribute and a Liberal M.P.
advocating for a national food policy that
benefits family farmers, rural communities
and society as a whole.
Wednesday, August 23, 2000
St. Marys Presbyterian Church,
St. Marys, Ontario.
Day Program - 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
(Speakers & Open Space Discussion)
Evening Program - 7:00 to 9:30 p.m.
(Panel Discussion with Ikerd & Mills)
Admission: Free Will Offering
No advance registration
Coffee breaksprovided
(lunch & dinner NOT provided)
For more information contact
Tony Beernink 519-786-2285