The Rural Voice, 1998-06, Page 72GREY
County Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER
44610th St., Hanover, Ontario N4N 1 P9
Email: bola@greynet.net 519-364-3050
• The Rural Voice is provided to all Grey
County Farmers by the GCFA.
Thanks for making Environmental Farm Plan workshops successful
The Environmental Farm Plan
(EFP) workshops in Grey County have
concluded for the 1998 winter season.
Farm organizations hosted nine two-
day workshops and one three -evening
workshop this year. To date over 800
farmers have participatcd in the Grey
County EFP workshops.
The current program will continue
until March 31, 2000. The $1500
Incentive Program is available to
qualifying farmers on a first-come basis
across Ontario. As of March 31, 1998,
the incentive claims were ahead of
schedule by 30 per cent — so farmers
are encouraged to act now to avoid
disappointment.
Farm organizations and agri-
business in Grcy County have been part
of a strong team approach, and deserve
much of the credit for the success of the
program. The following organizations
played a key role in hosting workshops
during 1998: Egremont Township
Federation of Agriculture, Mennonite
Community in Egremont Township,
Normanby Township Federation of
Agriculture, Sullivan Township
Federation of Agriculture, Members of
Derby Township Federation of
Agriculture, Bentinck Township
Federation of Agriculture, Glenelg
Township Federation of Agriculture,
Holland Township Federation of
Agriculture, Syndenham Township
Federation of Agriculture, Euphrasia
Township Federation of Agriculture,
Collingwood Township Federation of
Agriculture, Georgian Bay Fruit
Growers' Inc., Proton Township
Federation of Agriculture, Artemesia
Township Federation of Agriculture,
Grcy County Soil & Crop Improvement
Association, Ontario Beekeeper's
Association
The Grey County Dairy Producers
provided funding to cover the costs of
coffee, milk and muffins for each
workshop this winter.
Again this year, agri-businesses
have been very supportive of the costs
of a hot luncheon for each workshop.
We want to recognize the following
agri-business suppliers:
Formosa Mutual Insurance Company,
Formosa; George C. South Equipment
Ltd., Meaford; Germania Farmers'
68 THE RURAL VOICE
Mutual Insurance Company, Ayton;
Gregg Bitton Petroleums Ltd., Mount
Forest; Grcy County Cattlemen's
Association; Harvey Fuels Ltd.,
Markdale; Holliday Farm Equipment,
Mount Forest; Holstein Feed Mill,
Holstein; Huron -Bay Co-operative,
Markdale Branch; Keady Livestock
Market, Keady; Maple Lane Farm
Service Inc., Mount Forest; Markdale
Ford Tractor Sales, Markdale; Mooney-
Grenon Fuels Ltd., Owen Sound;
Neuman Well Drilling Ltd., Dundalk;
North Wellington Co-operative
Services, Mount Forest; North
Waterloo Farmers Mutual Insurance
Company, Waterloo; Ronco Dairy
Supply Ltd., Ncustadt; Royal Bank,
Hanover & Owen Sound; R & B
Lennox Fuels Ltd., Owen Sound and
Collingwood; Secure Insurance
Solutions Group Inc., Markdale; Secure
Insurance Solutions Group Inc.,
Dundalk; Sprucedale Agromart Ltd.,
Tara & Hanover; Terratec
Environmental Ltd., Oakville; The Co-
operators - Jeff Elford & Associates,
Meaford; The Co-operators - Bob
Lammie & Associates, Walkerton &
Chesley.
On behalf of the Grey County
Environmental Farm Plan Committee,
and the participants, I want to thank the
host organizations and the sponsors for
your co-operation and support.
I want to express appreciation to our
OMAFRA Technical Advisor, Gord
Grant, and the support staff for their
contribution to the workshops and
assistance to all farmers who
participated.
This farmer driven initiative has
become recognized as a world leader,
and the support of the local farm
community is truly appreciated.°
Submitted by Ray Robertson
Representative, Environmental Farm
Plan Program, Grey County
Grey County EFP Peer Review
Committee: Tom Weber,
James McKinlay, John Flanagan
GREY COUNTY FEDERATION OF
AGRICULTURE
NOTE:
The following meetings have
been cancelled for the
summer months:
JUNE 25 at 8:00 P.M.
AUGUST 27 at 8:00 P.M.
Recycling Plastic
By the time this article is published the seed should be in the ground and our
focus will be on haying. If the weather wishes to be less than co-operative a
viable alternative is to wrap those bales at high moisture in plastic wrap.
But what can we do with that plastic afterwards? If it goes to a landfill it takes
up needless space and to burn it is very harmful to our environment. The plastic
gives off carbon monoxide as well as very harmful dioxins and furans.
The obvious alternative is to recycle the plastic but if a program can be set up
we must be ready to provide a suitable product. Dirty and soiled plastic is
unacceptable to the recycling company so follow these steps.
1. When removing the plastic from the bale, shake the plastic to remove any
lingering silage and find a place inside where the plastic can be hung up to dry.
This may be the driveshed or a corner of the barn.
2. The next day when more bales are being fed, shake the first day's plastic
once more then roll up and store in a large bag (such as an individual bale bag)
or in a dry corner of the driveshed.
3. It can be baled with a square baler to make storage easier.
4. We must be prepared to take it to a collection and compacting area which
could be at the local landfill.
These steps do take some effort but perhaps now is the time to take a good
look at your operation and see how you could make this work.
The Proton Federation is examining the possibilities of having a program up
and running for 1999.0
Submitted by Stephen Frankland
GCFA Executive Member