The Rural Voice, 2000-09, Page 82BRUCE
Email:ota.on.ca 519-364-3050 or 1-800-275-9551
website:: www.ofa.on.ca/bruce
446 10th St., Hanover, Ontario N4N 1P9
CountyFederation o Agriculture NEWSLETTER 'The RuralCVoice r provided e Bruce
f 9 County Farmers by the BCFA.
Government aid- misrepresented
After Mother Nature has thrown
every conceivable obstacle in the
path of our farm community, from
the drought of the past three years to
the damaging record rainfall this
year. our Provincial Minister of
Agriculture. Mr. Hardeman made a
statement on radio that the farm
Safety Net Programs — NISA (Net
Income Stabilization Account), Crop
Insurance, AIDA (Agricultural
Income Disaster Assistance), and
OWFRP (Ontario Whole Farm Relief
Program) would cover the
devastation nature has caused.
All of the above are calculated as a
percentage of historical prices or
yields using some statistics as long as
30 years for an average. The AIDA
program from the Federal
Government and of the OWFRP
which is supposed to cover this type
of devastation is reported to cover 70
per cent of gross margins, is badly
misrepresented because negative
margins are not covered in the
Ontario plan. Also the government
premiums paid to GRIP (Gross
Revenue Insurance Plan) and NISA
are deducted from the 70 per cent
which brings the actual support down
to 54 per cent. Perhaps our politicians
would agree to accept only 70 per
cent of their income less deductions
for other expenses paid to them.
This is on top of closing
OMAFRA offices in most of rural
Ontario so they do not have as many
eyes and ears in the field. The way
that the offices were closed, with
most remaining open being in the
south, it seems as if the sister
Counties of Bruce and Grey are not
considered agricultural in the eyes of
Premier Mike's inner circle, which
includes the aforementioned Minister
Hardeman.
If this is the case perhaps they
should change the two counties into
HURON FARM HIKER TOUR
Lucknow Area
Sunday, October 1, 2000 - Noon to 5:00 p.m.
Pick up your tour program and map at the Lucknow
Community Centre between Noon and 3 00 p m
78 THE RURAL VOICE
strictly tourist areas, outlawing
commercial farming and pay
landowners to keep a few animals in
the fields for the tourists to see when
they drive on our rural roads. They
could then view a wide variety of
animals in manicured paddocks in
front of well maintained buildings.
A good example of OMAFRA's
declining interest in the well being of
Bruce County's farm community was
their refusal to attend the information
meeting on June 29 for farmers on
the effects of the Walkerton water
tragedy, sponsored by the Bruce
County Federation of Agriculture.
Just a note on that meeting. If you
have any concerns or questions on the
impact of the Walkerton water crisis
on your farm or wish to express your
opinion, please remember you are not
alone. "In Unity There's Strength".
CaII our office in Hanover at 519-
364-3050 or 1-800-275-9551.
The environment, including
groundwater, is getting more
attention now than it ever has in the
past. If you have not yet done so, now
would be a good time to consider
completing an Environmental Farm
Plan (EFP). An EFP would show
"due diligence" on behalf of the
participant in case of any questions
on the action of your property. It is
also a gond educational insight as to
what your actions could have.
Sometimes just some small changes
could make a tremendous
improvement.
There is also a $1,500 incentive
available. EFP workshops will be
held this fall. If you are interested in
attending contact John Wilton at 367-
2408 for dates and locations of the
workshops.
While on this subject, I feel that
our municipalities should also take a
good look at the impact on the
environment that their actions have
on groundwater and air quality. It
seems ridiculous that Toronto wants
to transfer their pollution to the top of
our fresh water Great Lakes system
and then draw their own drinking
water from it down stream. Also,
there is the spreading of sewage
sludge on land in Southern Grey
County which most likely will go into
the aquifers that feed the same water
supply. Wake up Toronto and study
and implement more environmentally
friendly ways of doing things.0
— Submitted by Allan Smith
OFA Regional Director Bruce North
Bruce County Federation of Agriculture
59th Annual Meeting,
Banquet and OFA Regional
Meeting
Friday, October 27, 2000
Mildmay -Carrick Recreation Complex •
Social 6:30 p.m. Dinner 7:00 p.m.
NOTE: OFA Regional Directors,
Delegates and Alternates for OFA
Convention, BCFA Presidents and
Township Directors will be elected at the
meeting.
NOMINATION FOR THE BCFA AWARD OF MERIT
"For Outstanding Contribution to Agriculture"
Each year the Bruce County Federation of Agriculture presents an Award to a person in Bruce County who
has made a significant contribution to the agriculture industry. If you have someone you would like to
nominate, please complete this form and return to our office in Hanover. Nominations should be received at
our office by October 20. The Award will be presented at our Annual Meeting on Friday, October 27.
I nominate:
Reasons for nomination:
Signature:
Please return to: Bruce County Federation of Agriculture, 446 10th Street, Hanover, ON N4N 1P9
Fax: 519-364-4119 E-mail: bruce@ofa.on.ca
Or you may give your nomination to any Township Director