The Rural Voice, 2002-07, Page 54J?'F..'T'I-I Burnell KipferPCFAO, R.R. #1ffice, Sebringville519-229-6430 NOKFax 1X0 519-2Ph29-6269: 519-271-3399 a -mail: Fax 519-273-0789
perth@ofa.on.ca
County Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER
• The Rural Voice is provided to farmers
in Perth County by the PCFA.
Federal assistance package announced
By Jack Wilkinson, President
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
Canada's financially distressed
farmers can breathe a little easier now
that the Federal Government has
announced its funding plans for the
industry for the next five years.
The $5.2 billion announced by
Prime Minister Chretien and the
anticipated provincial partnering
money will go a long way to relieving
the financial hardships many in the
farming industry have faced in recent
years.
This process to recognize farmers'
needs hasn't been easy. Canada's farm
organizations have spent untold hours
putting together strategies to help
government officials, both elected and
staff, to understand what economic life
has been like for farmers.
It is comforting to finally see results
from all of this effort. We have to
acknowledge the efforts of commodity
organizations, rural Members of
Parliament, and a number of others
who have played a role in getting the
farm message across.
What we have before us now,
delivered by Prime Minister Chr&lien
and Agriculture Minister Lyle Vanclief,
represents the beginning of the next
round of work for farm organizations
like the Ontario Federation of
Agriculture and the Canadian
Federation of Agriculture.
Our focus for the coming months, if
Perth County Federation of
Agriculture Annual Meeting
Thursday, September 26, 2002
Sebringville Community Centre
not years, will be to ensure all the
things farmers need to make their
industry more successful are included
in the Agricultural Policy Framework.
When work first began on this APF,
OFA had a lot of reservations, both
about the process and the expected end
result.
The second wave of APF
consultations has shown more promise,
and OFA and its partners in the lobby
process will continue to work hard to
make sure the future needs of
agriculture are fully reflected in the
long-term agricultural policy of the
federal government.
In his announcement, Prime
Minister Chrrstien said his government
"is committed to moving agriculture
beyond crisis management to greater
profitability and prosperity in the 21st
century." Without a doubt, this
objective has to be embraced by the
farming industry. But, farmers need to
be shown what the government has in
mind before they are likely to buy into
the process.
OFA and its partner farm
Come to
"FLAVOURS OF PERTH"
at the Stratford Fairgrounds Coliseum
Saturday, July 20, 2002
10:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Help us celebrate Perth County's
great agricultural traditions
There will be lots of food samples
(50 cents each), displays of Perth County
heritage, a children's activity section, and
plenty of information on such items as
ecological farming and healthy eating.
TASTE OF PERTH AT CONFERENCE
On Sunday May 26, the Perth County Federation of Agriculture welcomed 180 visitors to Perth
County with a "Taste of Perth" event held at the Victorian Inn in Stratford. The visitors were
delegates and their spouses participating in the Ontario Association of Committees of Adjustment
and Consent Authorities conference being hosted by the County of Perth. The initiative was to
highlight the variety and abundance of food products grown and processed locally. The delegates
were also encouraged to support Ontario food producers and processors by buying Ontario food
products where they shop. r
The food prepared for the evening event included wild boar bacon, turkey sausage, goat
cheeses, smoked pork, beef meatballs, yogurt dip, apples, peppers, cucumbers, variety of
cheeses, chicken bratwurst sausage, maple syrup and bean tarts, and egg quiches. The Perth
Federation would like to thank Deb Campbell, Promotions Co-ordinator with Ontario Pork in
Perth/Huron for her guidance and assistance. The following Federation Directors/ spouses and
Commodity representatives assisted with the evening: Burnell and Donna Kipfer, Mary and John
McIntosh, Bob Martin, Bert Vorstenbosch, Brent Royce, Scott Graham, Bert Groenestege, Bob
Reid, Paul Nairn.0
50 THE RURAL VOICE
organizations will work with their
members to make sure the level of
understanding among farmers is
maximized. Without the understanding
and support of farmers, development of
any programs to advance the industry
into future opportunities will falter.
Canada's agriculture policy should be
for farmers and by farmers.0
PERTH COUNTY FEDERATION
OF AGRICULTURE
DIRECTORS' MEETING
July 25, 2002
Downie Mutual Insurance Office
Sebringville 8:00 p.m.
EVERYONE WELCOME
Flavours of Perth makes
return appearance
We all know the importance of agriculture
to the life and welfare of the people of Perth
County. The area has long been renowned
as one of the most important food producing
regions in both the province and in the entire
country. "Flavours of Perth" will let you taste
the foods grown around us and give you a
chance to learn what you can do at home
with these wonderful products.
"Flavours of Perth" is organized by the
Stratford -Perth Museum and many of the
agricultural producers in Perth County,
including the District 8 Chicken Farmers,
Zone 7 Egg Producers, Ontario Maple Syrup
Producers Association, Perth County
Cattlemen's Association, Coloured Bean
Growers' Association, Mornington Heritage
Goat Cheese Co-operative, Perth County
Pork Producers Association, Perth County
Dairy Committee, District 3 Sheep Marketing
Agency, Ecological Farmers of Ontario, and
Perth County Wheat Producers. The Perth
County Federation of Agriculture, Perth
County Junior Farmers and Women's
Institutes of Perth South District will host
other displays at the event.
Famme and Company, the Mitchell and
District Credit Union, the Municipality of
Perth South, Canada Post, Heart Health
Perth, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and
Food, the Municipality of West Perth, and
the Perth Federation of Agriculture have
given generous sponsorship support.
"Flavours of Perth" provides a welcome
opportunity to enjoy the richness of Perth
County's agricultural bounty. We hope to
see you at the Coliseum on July 20. Bring a
friend.0