The Rural Voice, 2000-10, Page 58BRUCE
Email: bruce@ofa.on.ca
website: www.ofa.on.calbruce
County Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER
446 10th St., Hanover, Ontario N4N 1P9
519-364-3050 or 1-800-275-9551
• The Rural Voice is provided to Bruce
County Farmers by the BCFA.
How many times have we told our
children that they can achieve any
goal they set for themselves? All they
need is hard work, determination, and
perseverance. All of us have seen
what this kind of tireless effort can
and will achieve.
Do we farmers have a goal? Is it
one we share verbally with one
another? Or do we assume that all
farm managers have a "common"
goal? If we proceed assuming the
latter without practicing the verbal
sharing, we do so to our own demise.
An example is the animosity between
farmers or rural neighbours over land
use or mega -barns or nutrient
regulations.
Perhaps it is time to start
advocating our VISION. It will help
us define who Ave really are and what
we really want for our families from
Setting a Vision for 20/20
the activity or vocation of farming.
This vision will help us decide which
practices, regulations, technologies,
policies, etc. are beneficial to
achieving what we really want. It will
be a guidepost along our path to help
us decide which way to go when a
new opportunity arises. A vision will
help us move our farm culture and
society toward our stated goals.
Are we ready yet to start taking
action? I really believe that to not
embark on this "mission toward
vision" is to continue what we're
doing now. If we choose to do
nothing to change the situation we're
in, we'd better not be looking for
more government bail -outs. Until we
define our own destiny it will be
defined for us by whatever
government program, new contract,
new technology that comes our way.
Log and Circle -Check books for trucking
reports now available
Many farmers are now required to
maintain Vehicle Inspection Report
books (circle checks), and Hours of
Work log books due to changes in
Ministry of Transportation (MTO)
regulations.
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 towed trailer(s) at all times when
the vehicle is operated on a highway,
regardless of distance travelled.
This report must be carried in the
vehicle.
BRUCE COUNTY FEDERATION
OF AGRICULTURE
PLEASE NOTE:
There will be NO Board of
Directors' meeting in October due
to the Annual Meeting
Next meeting will be
Monday, November 13, 2000
54 THE RURAL VOICE
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 carry-
ing farm, sea, forest or lake products
produced by the driver or the
operator; or other non-farm vehicles.
Our office now has a supply of the
Vehicle Inspection Report and Hours
of Work log books. Each book has
sufficient pages for 31 days of
reports. Please contact the office in
Hanover at 519-364-3050 or 1-800-
275-9551 if you would like to obtain
copies. Cost is $1.50 per book.0
Here is a possible start on a vision,
put forward by BCFA in 1991. If it
seems worthwhile we need you to
help make it attainable. If it's off -
base, we need you to tell us. Call
BCFA or send a note to the editor of
this paper. To do nothing is a sure
vote that "all is well"!0
Vision for Agriculture
"Our vision for the agricultural future embraces
farming as a vocation providing an adequate
supply of wholesome food and utilizing
environmentally sustainable practices. We see as
an deal. the owner -operated farm where most of
the work is done by the farm family to provide a
viable family income. We see a large rural
population -base engaged in agricultural
production as a comerstone of the rural economy
and social structure. We see a secure supply of
food achieved through diversity, self sufficiency,
and the protection of the agricultural land
resource.0
The Poechman Commission
February 1991
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.
Guest Speakers: Ralph Dietrich and Pat
Kuntz, Participants Class 7 Advanced
Agricultural Leadership Program
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 1 P9
Fax: 519-364-4119 E-mail: bruce@ofa.on.ca
Or you may give your nomination to any Township Director