The Rural Voice, 1998-03, Page 64GREY
County Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER
446 10th St., Hanover, Ontario N4N 1P9
519-364-3050
' The Rural Voice is provided to all Grey
County Farmers by the GCFA.
What's in it for you? Well if you
take the "Environmental Farm Plan"
workshop, maybe $1,500, and a much
greater environmental awareness.
These workshops are being held all
across Ontario. Every farm business is
eligible to receive this incentive,
provided they meet the criteria, which
is to participate in the program now, or
since January 1993, and have an
eligible project or projects, to a
maximum of $1,500 total. Even if the
money was not available, this program
still has plenty of benefits. You learn
about the environment and your farm,
what practices you are doing right, and
how you can improve others. There are
23 different topics, or worksheets, to
evaluate your farm with. This in tum
will help you to plan and safeguard
your future, and others around you.
EFP: what's in it for you?
This program is not a government
program. It's being delivered for
farmers by farmers. The Ontario Soil
and Crop Improvement Association
administers the program. The names of
the participants are kept confidential.
By participating, the public will be
ensured that farmers are learning how
to protect the environment, and the
farming industry will be regarded
positively, in the public's eyes.
Topics covered are: 1. Soil and site
evaluation; 2. Water wells; 3. Pesticide
storage and handling; 4. Fertilizer
storage and handling; 5. Storage of
petroleum products; 6. Disposal of farm
wastes; 7. Treatment of household
wastewater; 8. Storage of agricultural
waste; 9. Livestock yards; 10. Silage
storage; 11. Milking centre washwater;
12. Noise and odour; 13. Water
GCFA Seminar
HIGHWAYS AND YOU
Thursday, March 12, 1998, 7 to 9 p.m.
Annesley United Church Hall, Markdale
Will you be on the ROADS with your FARM TRACTOR and EQUIPMENT?
Did you know safety chains are needed on a semi -mount plow? When is a wagon not a
wagon? Learn all about safety and the law when on the road with your farm equipment!
Speakers: Provincial Constable Hank Dube, MTO
Ron Wettlaufer, Sec. Mgr., Dufferin Mutual Insurance
Co-sponsored by the Secure Insurance Group - Refreshments Provided
Free Admission No Pre -Registration Required
Environmental Farm Plan
Dates for Late February and March/98 Workshops in Grey County
Daytime Workshops: 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
February 24 & March 4 - Rocklyn Community Centre
February 27 & March 6 - Swinton Park Community Hall
March 2 & March 9 - Carnegie Hall (below Library)
Mount Forest
Evening workshop: 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
March 4, 5 & 12 - OMAFRA Boardroom, Markdale
$1,500 Incentive is available to Qualifying Farmers Pre -Registration is Required - No Cost to Attend
Hot Lunch Served at Daytime Workshop • Compliments of Agri -Business in Grey County
To Register or Obtain More Information Contact: Ray Robertson, located at OMAFRA
Office, Markdale Phone: (519) 986-2040, (519) 794-2322 or 1-800-265-9153
60 THE RURAL VOICE
efficiency; 14. Energy efficiency; 15.
Soil management; 16. Nutrient man-
agement; 17. Manure management; 18.
Horticulture production; 19. Field crop
management; 20. Pest management; 21.
Stream, ditch and flood -plain man-
agement; 22. Woodlands and wildlife;
23. Wetlands and wildlife ponds.
What $1,500 will do for your farm's
environment: purchase eavestroughing
to reroute rainwater away from
barnyard; fence livestock out of
waterways; provide alternate watering
facilities for livestock; construct a
pesticide/fertilizer storage unit;
upgrade current wells or fill an
abandoned well; upgrade petroleum
storage to current standards; install
stream crossings/field drainage
improvements; install or improve
windbreaks; soil conservation
equipment; foam markers for your
sprayer; have your soil tested; help
build a cement pad to control manure
run-off. There is another $1,000 award
contest for sharing your ingenuity and
expertise in overcoming environmental
challenges on your farm. Up to eight
winning entries will be selected each
year.
So what do you have to lose? No
cost, free lunch, and you learn more
about the environment, but you have to
pre -register. Contact your local
OMAFRA office.0
" submitted by Paul Sachs,
executive member
GCFA 53RD ANNUAL
PUBLIC SPEAKING
COMPETITION 1998
Finals: Tuesday, March 3, 1998
7:30 p.m.
James A. Magee School, 13th St., Hanover
(Between 13thAve. and 15th Ave , North of Main Street)
GREY COUNTY FEDERATION OF AGRICULTURE
DIRECTORS' MEETING
Thursday, March 26, 1998
8:00 p.m.
OMAFRA Boardroom, Markdale
Members are welcome to attend.