The Rural Voice, 2006-03, Page 56GREY
446 10th St., Hanover, Ontario N4N 1 P9
Email: grey@ofa.on.ca Website: www.ofa.on.ca/grey
County Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER•
519-364-3050 or 1-800-275-9551
The Rural Voice is provided to OFA
Members in Grey County by the GCFA
As I have taken a step back from
the leadership in the Grey County
Federation of Agriculture, I have
pondered some of life's situations
like: Why the grain and oil seeds
farmers want all this government
money and divide it amongst them-
selves? Sure they need it because
they can't make a profit, but without
using that money to make a market,
next year won't be any different.
Something that I can't understand is
that if they know you can't make any
money or enough of it, then why do
they still produce a crop?
As I become more involved in
OntarBio (the organic co-op) I've
become to understand what it takes to
make it work and why people are
doing it. Some had no choice if they
wanted to keep farming as they could
not afford to pay for fertilizer and
spray anymore. Others believe it to
be the right thing to do for their
family and mother earth.
Whatever the reason it could be
enough to return "cash" to cash
cropping. Organic crops sell for two
to three times more than conventional
Making a difference
crop prices. Eg: Corn $300, Soybeans
$800-900/tonne. You probably ask:
How can you grow crops without
fertilizer? Organic farmers just feed
the soil differently. The biggest
difference is that conventional
farmers view the soil as a substance
in which they grow a crop. They
spray it to death to kill the weeds and
fertilize it to feed the crop.
Organic farmers consider the field
or soil to be their most valuable asset.
The soil is a living mass or a healthy
fertile soil. As an organic farmer your
first priority is to feed and work the
soil in such a manner that will
enhance the life within the soil. The
most important thing to organic
agriculture is to focus on feeding the
soil.
To feed the crop you need to
concentrate on increasing the level of
organic matter in the soil and
increasing the diversity and
abundance of soil life. Secondly.
while making the transition, establish
a crop rotation that has plenty of
plant diversity and living plant cover
using: 1) Perennial legumes or
Tommy Cooper award nominees sought
It is that time of year again as we
celebrate the agricultural and rural
organizations of Bruce and Grey
Counties, with the Tommy Cooper
Award. This award is given out
annually in recognition of
the outstanding contributions
made to farm and rural life
in the region. It is named in honour of
long-time Grey County Agricul-
tural Representative, Tommy
Cooper.
If you would like to nominate
someone for the award, please
contact our office for a nomination
form. The deadline for nominations is
Friday, March 24, 2006. Phone 519-
364-3050 or email: grey@ofa.on.ca
Attention Farmers — Important meeting!
Wednesday, April 5, 2006
Beaver Valley Community centre — 7:00 p.m.
Presentations by:
WSIB — Workmen's Compensation for Farmers
MTO/OPP — Provincial Constable Community Services and Media Relations
Grey County Farm Safety Association
Sponsored by:
Georgian Bay Fruit Growers and Blue Mountain Federation of Agriculture
Contact: Jacquie Hendry 705-445-5418
Email: fourxh@sympatico.ca
52 THE RURAL VOICE
grass/legume mixes. Legumes are a
key nitrogen source in organic
farming; 2) cover crops and green
manures (plowdown crops) which are
grown after the main crop is
harvested; 3) intercropping and
underseeding.
A crop rotation should include
high nutrient -using crops like corn
and potatoes and low nutrient -using
crops like oats. Also alternating
between deep-rooted and shallower -
rooted crops to pull nutrients from
different levels in the soil. For those
farmers who have made the switch to
organic agriculture it has proven to be
an economic benefit and a healthier
lifestyle.°
Making the transition
Submitted by — Paul De Jong,
Past President.
BRUCE AND GREY FEDERATIONS
OF AGRICULTURE
Tommy Cooper,Award and
6CFA Award of Merit
Friday, April 7, 2006
Elmwood Community Centre
Social 6:30 p.m. Dinner 7:00 p.m.
GREY COUNTY FEDERATION OF AGRICULTURE
DIRECTORS' MEETING
Thursday, March 23 — 8:00 p.m.
Grey County Agricultural Services Centre
meeting room (Grey Gables)
206 Toronto Street South, Markdole
Members ore welcome to attend
WANTED - PICTURES!
The Grey County Federation of
Agriculture is planning to publish a 2007
calendar and are looking for 4x6 colour
photos (as proofs) of farms and farm -
related scenes taken in and around Grey
County.
We have four seasons and a very
diverse agriculture landscape. Send your
photos of farmsteads and families,
animals, equipment, crops, etc. for the
calendar to our office in Hanover and be
sure to include your name and contact
information.
For details please contact our office at
519-364-3050 or email: grey@ofa.on.ca