The Rural Voice, 1988-05, Page 82HURON
County Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER
Box 429, Clinton, Ontario NOM 1L0
519-482-9642
* The Rural Voice is provided to all farmers
in Huron County by the HCFA
MINUTES OF THE MEMBERS' MEETING
April 13, Clinton:
President Paul Klopp welcomed
everyone to the meeting. The minutes of
the last meeting were passed as printed
on a motion by John Gaunt, seconded by
Bruce Schmidt. Carried.
INDUSTRIAL TRAINING
Bill Allen, principal of Centralia
College, was introduced by Paul. He
explained a new committee set up in
Huron recently, called the Huron
County Industrial Training Committee.
It is made up of representatives from the
agricultural, industrial, retail, restau-
rant, manufacturing, and entertainment
sectors.
This year the committee has been
granted $100,000 to provide training
programs. Mr. Allen also said that on-
farm labour is in very short supply to
farmers in Huron — just recently there
were more than 60 positions available
and only three students applied.
RIGHT TO FARM
Vice-president Chris Palmer intro-
duced the Hon. Ralph Ferguson from
Lambton County. Mr. Ferguson served
as federal agriculture minister fora short
period in 1984. He was one of six
members of the Ontario Right to Farm
Advisory Board. Mr. Ferguson said
there has been concern over the clause of
the act that says farmers are not exempt
from pollution and environmental laws,
but the clause is included because one
act of government cannot supersede
another.
The key to protecting farms, he
added, is the Farm Practice Protection
Board, which will be composed of five
members who will hear appeals and
determine what is "normal" agricultural
practice. The advisory committee has
recommended an eight -member board
instead of five so the province could be
split into four regions with two members
familiar with the farming practices of
their region.
The committee also proposed a land
80 THE RURAL VOICE
(Left to right) HCFA president Paul Klopp, Ralph Ferguson, former federal
agriculture minister and member of the Ontario Right to Farm Advisory Board,
and HCFA director Brenda McIntosh. Ralph Ferguson was guest speaker at
the April members' meeting.
stewardship act. Mr. Ferguson said he
was pleased about the act as "Farmers
are stewards of the soil for future gen-
erations."
Several doubts, questions, and com-
ments followed the talk ... Mr. Ferguson
stated that farmers obeying the law
would have complaints against them set
aside by a judge because of the new law
... the Farm Practice Protection Board
would help determine what new farm-
ing practices are "normal."
In conclusion, Mr. Ferguson said
that this act is just the first step for the
new bill. Over the years, the legislation
will evolve.
Brenda McIntosh thanked Ralph
and presented him with some Huron
County maple syrup. Adjournment
11:00 p.m.0
Harold Peck
Varna
482-9997
262-5867
Your farm parts supplier
Dealers in Huron County
Alvin Becker
R. R. 1, Dashwood
237-3239