The Rural Voice, 2002-09, Page 57i
vitally important to a farmer's
economic survival.
The question of regulation also
crops up with respect to municipal
drains. During a recent discussion of
a petition to maintain and improve a
longstanding municipal drain in the
Municipality of Huron East in Huron
County, councillors were astonished
to discover that the project might
have restrictions placed upon it
because the drain in question had
become a fish habitat. That fact
brought it under the provisions of the
federal Fisheries Act.
McMillan suggested that the
ability of wetlands to help
maintain the flow of natural
streams and rivers and thus their
utility as fish habitat could mitigate
against increased regulation with
regard to municipal drains.
Currently drains with a permanent
flow are divided into five categories
and the amount of work that can be
done and the manner in which it can
be done are heavily regulated.
The question of regulation always
carries with it the question of cost.
The recent discussions around
nutrient management bylaws
provides a current example of what
might be called the "who benefits,
who pays" problem.
A meeting in Huron East to gather
input about the new bylaw saw a
local farmer state the problem in very
direct terms. The individual
commented that if the intent of the
law was to benefit society then
perhaps society should be paying the
bill.
Farmers are increasingly being
asked to adopt practices that are of
general benefit to all, but which add
nothing to their bottom line. Worse
than that, the regulations often add
significantly to a farmer's costs.
Today's agricultural economics don't
make this a particularly sustainable
development.
Phil Beard, the head of the
Maitland 'Valley Conservation
Authority says that farmers need
some economic benefit if they are to
do things like leaving some of their
lands as wetlands.
Even when the government does
provide some economic incentive to
the individual farmer there are
problems. Beard said, "Farmers are
expected to put all the money up
i —•i — n
�our+o SQA
Marvin L. Smith
B.Sc.F (Forestry). R.P F.
Farm Woodland Specialist
570 Riverview Dr.
Listowel, Ontario N4W 3T7
Telephone. (519) 291-2236
Providing advice and assistance with.
• impartial advice/assistance in selling timber,
including selection of trees and marking
• reforestation of erodible or idle land
• follow-up tending of young plantations
• windbreak planning and establishment
• woodlot management planning
• diagnosis of insect and disease problems
• conducting educational programs in woodlot
management
• any other woodland or tree concerns
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SEPTEMBER 2002 53