The Rural Voice, 1998-10, Page 58BRUCE
Email: bruce@ofa.on.ca
County Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER
44610th St., Hanover, Ontario N4N 1 P9
519-364-3050 or 1-800-275-9551
• The Rural Voice is provided to Bruce
County Farmers by the BCFA.
OFA President tours drought -stricken area
Ed Segsworth, President of the
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
(OFA) came to Bruce and Grey
Counties to see for himself the
devastation the drought has brought to
parts of our counties. He was
accompanied by Peter Canning, OFA
Executive member and Marian Smith,
OFA media relations co-ordinator.
They toured drought -damaged crops
and talked with farmers.
A breakfast meeting was held with
Harry Thede, Bruce County Warden,
Delton Becker, Grey County Warden,
directors from the Grey and Bruce
Federations, and commodity repre-
sentatives. Both Wardens suggested
that the affected areas should contact
their local municipal councils and have
them declare the township a disaster
area. The municipal council would then
take the disaster declaration to County
Council, and if they agree, it would
then go to the provincial politicians in
Toronto at which point the OFA would
use their lobbying effort to have the
declaration implemented. The provin-
cial government would then petition the
federal government for funds.
On the tour we saw some badly
burned -off pasture, and corn about
three to four feet in height. Most of the
first cut of hay was down in yield and if
there was a second cut at all, it was
very minimal. Most farmers started
feeding their winter supply of hay in
early summer as pasture ran out. Some
farmers have already sold their cattle
rather than buying hay and others have
culled their herds. One farmer plans to
sell his beef cattle in order to have
enough feed for his calves and dairy
herd for the winter. Farmers who have
sold their beef cows report that they
had to sell them for less than what they
Hay Listing Service
The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture,
Food and Rural Affairs, Walkerton
office is providing a hay listing service
for farmers. If you have hay to sell or
wish to buy hay, contact OMAFRA at
519-881-3301 or 1-800-265-3023. Fax
519-881-2739.
Those wishing to list hay for sale
should include quality, size, number of
bales, and type. People who wish to
purchase hay will be mailed or faxed
the list of farmers who have hay for
sale.
54 THE RURAL VOICE
normally would receive. Other farmers
are planning on buying hay for their
livestock but say they really cannot
afford it. Farmers are reporting that
their grain, soybeans, wheat and corn
crops are below normal yield.
Many farmers are concerned about
their water supply. Wells, especially
dug wells, have already dried up or are
going dry. The waiting list for
emergency well drilling is over eight
weeks. Many ponds have also dried up.
Electric fences do not work because it
is too dry.
OFA has requested the Minister of
Revenue Canada to reinstate the
provision under the Income Tax Act
which will enable drought -plagued
farmers to apply for the basic herd
exemption, thereby minimizing the
financial impact. The provision in the
Income Tax Act was first introduced
during severe droughts in Western
Canada prior to 1971, to assist livestock
farmers in that region who found
themselves in a similar situation
respecting their taxable position.
Current tax law requires farmers to
declare the proceeds from the sale of
capital assets (basic herd) as income in
the year received. The situation leaves
already cash-strapped farmers with no
BRUCE COUNTY FEDERATION
OF AGRICULTURE
Annual & Regional Meeting
Friday, November 6, 1998
Ripley Community Centre
6:30 p.m. Social Dinner 7:00 p.m.
Guest Speaker: Neil McGavin
reserves to begin the long herd -
rebuilding process. OFA is requesting
immediate consideration of their
proposal, so that Ontario farmers can
prepare their recovery program with
some prospect of achieving financial
stability. The federation also intends to
lobby for changes to the crop insurance
program, especially for hay and pasture.
Also discussed was some type of
assistance for beginning farmers for
whom a year like this could be
devastating. What sort of help that
would bc, is an ongoing discussion with
all levels of government.
One bright spot in this disaster is
that farmers in the eastern counties of
Ontario have said that they would like
to help by supplying hay at a nominal
fee for trucking and baling. A network
is being set up to look into the logistics
of this offer and more will become
known as time goes on. I think that this
is a prime example of neighbours
helping neighbours. All be it that we
are far apart in distance, we are close
together in time of need.0
— Robert A. Bregman
OFA Regional Director South Bruce
See Grey Page for
DROUGHT INFORMATION MEETING
BRUCE COUNTY FEDERATION
OF AGRICULTURE
DIRECTORS' MEETING
Monday, October 26, 1998
8:00 p.m.
OMAFRA Boardroom, Walkerton
Members are welcome to attend
NOMINATION FOR THE BCFA AWARD OF MERIT
"For Outstanding Contribution to Agriculture"
Each year the Bruce County Federation of Agriculture presents an award to a person in
Bruce County who has made a significant contribution to the agriculture industry. If you
have someone you would like to nominate, please complete this form and return to our
office in Hanover. Nominations should be received at our office by October 30. The award
will be presented at our Annual Meeting on Friday, November 6.
I nominate:
Reasons for nomination:
Signature:
Please return to:
Bruce County Federation.of Agriculture
446 10th Street, HANOVER, ON N4N 1P9
Or you may give your nomination to any township director