The Rural Voice, 2006-07, Page 56GREY
446 10th St., Hanover, Ontario N4N 1P9
Email: grey@ofa.on.ca Website: www.ofa.on.ca/grey 519-364-3050 or 1-800-275-9551
County Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER
• The Rural Voice is provided to OFA
Members in Grey County by the GCFA
EFP
The new EFP Program is now in
full swing and great participation has
exceeded expectations across the
province.
The 2006 series of Environmental
Farm Plan (EFP) Workshops in Grey
County has been very successful.
Eleven workshops have been held
throughout the county this year and
names are still being compiled for
future workshops. Workshops will be
held throughout the summer and fall
to accommodate producers when
field work schedules permit.
As in previous years, farm
organizations and agri-businesses
have been part of a strong team
approach, and certainly deserve much
of the credit for the high level of
success here in the county.
- partnering for Success In
Again this year, agri-business has
been very supportive of the
participants in the EFP Program, and
has contributed funds to cover the
costs of a hot luncheon for each
workshop. We want to recognize the
following agri-business suppliers:
Clemmer Technologies, Waterloo;
Co-operators. Jeff Elford, Meaford:
Bob Lammie, Walkerton: Earth
Power Tractors & Equip. Inc..
Meaford; Trillium Mutual Insurance,
Formosa; Germania Mutual
Insurance, Ayton; Jim Clarke Well
Drilling, Meaford; Maple Lane Farm
Service, Mount Forest; Miller
Veterinary Services, Chatsworth:
Holstein Feed Mill, Holstein: John
McCann Water Systems, Markdale;
Highland Fuels, Dundalk; Nancy
Is.2006 different?
Many changes have taken place in farming in recent years. This certainly is
not a new and big discovery for farmers and society. However, not too often do
we take the time or think we have the time to reflect on what is happening.
We have been bombarded with all kinds of new regulations and rules to
produce livestock and crops to continue to supply top quality food for all
consumers at a very low cost. To boot, the import regulations have made it
easier than ever to dump certain fruits and other food products on our grocery
shelves. Just ask the apple growers, corn producers, etc.
Now that the crops for 2006 are planted and haying is well on the way, I am
looking back on what happened early in the spring. The talk was that many
acres of land would not be planted and it sure looked that way when we took a
drive through the country in late March. I stated then, knowing our farmers and
their determination and love for the land, that they would not stop producing.
Guess what? The fields in our area and the parts of Ontario I recently travelled
look the same as in 2005. At this point in time it does not look that commodity
prices will change from last year while input costs have certainly gone up.
One thing that is different from 2005 is that the Ontario Health and Safety Act
for farming is now law in Ontario as of June 30, 2006. The Farm Safety
Association, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and the
Ministry of Labour (M.O.L.) will hold more information sessions this year to bring
farms affected by this Act up to speed. There will also be an inspector at the
Farm Safety Association meeting on November 27 in Fergus to share
information.
The enforcement of the Act is done by the M.O.L. and in the beginning it will
be mainly done on a complaint and incident basis. The short story is this: If you
employ (pay) anybody on your farm even on a part-time basis, the act applies to
you and it is very advisable that you get all the information on the act. It is
important to be prepared to prevent accidents or even worse fatalities from
happening to your employees, family members, or to yourself.
Folks there is a lot of stress out there due to the pressure farmers are facing
at this time. The possibility of accidents always increase in a high stress
situation. To date in Ontario five people have lost their lives in farm -related
accidents. This number is up from last year at this time. Please be "Safe" and
good farming.0
— Submitted by Karl Chittka, Farm Safety Association Director
52 THE RURAL VOICE
Grey
Ackert & Associates, Lucknow;
Neuman Well Drilling, Dundalk;
North Wellington Co-op, Mount
Forest; Peak Builders, Walkerton;
Peter Hayes Trucking Ltd.,
Feversham; RBC -Royal Bank,
Hanover; Secure Ins. Solutions
Group Ltd., Markdale; Sprucedale
Agromart, Tara.
On behalf of the Grey County
Environmental Farm Plan
Committee, and the participants, I
want to thank individuals, host
organizations and the sponsors for
your co-operation and enthusiastic
support.
The New Environmental Cost -
Share Opportunities for Ontario
Farmers has certainly generated
considerable interest. A maximum of
$45,000 is available to eligible farm
businesses for a wide range of on-
farm projects. Farmers are
encouraged to register for the
upcoming workshops, as funding is
available on a first-come basis. Once
you have applied for the cost -share
incentives and been approved, the
funds will be held in your name for
15 months.
This farmer -driven initiative has
become a world leader, and the
support of the local farm community
is truly appreciated. The EFP
Program is recognized as an excellent
agricultural resource and
management tool.
Farmers wanting to register or
obtain more information about the
EFP Program and related programs
are encouraged to contact Ray
Robertson at the Grey County
Agricultural Services Centre in
Markdale. Phone 519-986-3756.0
— Submitted by Ray Robertson
GREY COUNTY FEDERATION OF AGRICULTURE
DIRECTORS' MEETING
Thursday, July 27, 2006
8:00 p.m.
Grey County Agricultural Services Centre
meeting room (Grey Gables)
206 Toronto Street South, Markdate
Members are welcome to ortend