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The Huron Expositor, 1994-12-14, Page 22 -THE HURON EXPOSITOR, Deceanbor 14, 1994 Agriculture Farm surveys better than restrictions Farmers have nothing to fear from self-administered environmental farm plans, the Huron Soil & Crop Improvement Association was told on Thursday night. The surveys are far less intrusive to farmers than if government imposed stricter environmental restrictions, said George Thompson, program representative. "It's not a witch hunt," he said. "All I ask of anybody in this room is to come to these workshops...take (the form) home and if you're still worried don't (fill it out)." Farm safety is an important con- sideration with the plans, he said. "There are an awful lot of posi- tive things that can happen from this," he said. "One of the most important things is your family's health and safety." In a poignant moment Thompson, whose father died recently in a farm accident, said "I'm a little more biased about health and safety than some people." Confidentiality on the forms is not an issue, said Victor Roland, President of the Ontario Soil & Crop Improvement Association. The time taken to fill out a plan is "an investment in the future," he said. Roland called it an "opportun- ity to identify achievements on our farms, potential risks and how to manage these risks." "When you're done you'll find you know a lot more about your farm." There are $500 grants for improvements to farms to minimize environmental risks. "A lot of people haven't applied for the $500," said Thompson. "I don't know why they wouldn't." In Huron County there have been 185 participants in the Environ- mental Farm Plan program. The average farm size is 450 acres. At Thursday's meeting of the Huron Soil & Crop Improvement Association there was a motion to abandon environmental farm plans in favour of the old land steward- ship plan. The motion was defeated. TIM GUMMING PHOTO SOIL IMPROVEMENT BOOSTER AWARDS - The Huron Soil & Crop Improvement Association recognized its biggest boosters on Thursday at the Stanley Township complex near Vama. Shown here are award winners Fred and Larry Elder, Glen Warwick, Jim O'Toole and Steve Carruthers. After five active years in Huron, Carruthers is leaving the area. EDUCATE, NOT REGULATE Agricultural representative Bob Humphries said his office of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) would like to stress education, not regulation. "I hear more and more concerns about regulation from government agencies," he told the large crowd. "We would rather be in the educa- tion business." PESTICIDE ISSUE Farmers can't be expected to bear the brunt of regulations to curb the use of chemicals, said Victor Roland, President of the Ontario Soil & Crop Improvement Associ- ation. "The image of herbicides has to improve," he said. "If urban envi- ronmentalists get on our back we have to be ready." Roland was speaking to more than 130 members of the Huron Soil & Crop Improvement Associ- ation. Farmers can't be singled out for environmental problems, he said. The RR 1 Gorrie man said farmers can look to the zealousness of animal rights activists to see the threat of groups with an urban - centred outlook. BOOSTER AWARDS The Huron Soil & Crop Improve- ment Association thanked some of its volunteers on Thursday evening when it presented Booster Awards. The awards went to Fred and Larry Elder, for participation in the '93 summer field day and work with strip tillage; Glen Warwick, for work with the former Soil and Water District and 4-H field crop program; Jim O'Toole, accepted on behalf of Ontario Ministry of Agri - Former ag. minister says consumers interested in cont. from pg. 1 The company stresses that it won't put all its eggs in one basket and supplies about one third of its farm produce needs from internal farming divisions and the remainder from outside contracts. A common theme during Thursday's talk was meeting the desires of the consumer. This included minimizing the use of pesticides. "The consumer today wants to along with the federal -provincial know this food is wholesome," said Hepworth. "The consumer today is interested in how it's produced as well as what is produced." Many of Canadian Agra's con- cepts, such as quality control, owe as much to innovations in manufac- turing as traditional farming. Members of Huron's Soil & Crop Improvement heard about Canadian Agra's recent foray into China trade delegation. The company president noted that making inroads Into China will be'a slow process but he stressed the importance of getting a toe -hold in that market. Agriculture in China is really an example of turning the clock back in time, according to the veterinarian -turned -politician - turned -executive. Pollution is the culture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) staff and Steve Carruthers, for active participation and 20 -inch -row work. Carruthers is leaving Huron County after five active years in the area. There is a Soil & Conservation workshop at the Lucan Community Centre on Jan. 24. The theme is 'Focus on Fertility.' A farm spokesperson joked that "it's not a family -planning work- shop." NEW DIRECTORS New directors have been named to the Huron Soil & Crop Improve- ment Association. They are Brian Coutts, Ashfield; Larry Elder, Hay; Rick Archambault, Hullett and Harold Van Doornik, Tuckersmith. hows and whys biggest issue facing China, he said. Hepworth commented on the professional young farmers in the crowd and said "the industry is in good hands." Hepworth is a former veterinarian and Saskatchewan cabinet minister. Canadian Agra was started by Helmut Sieber, an Austrian dmigrd and Canadian citizen, who used to live in Huron County. Enter CUT AND ENTER oUI; FREE DRAW 5 DRAWS FOR •100°° Worth of Gas Name Address Phone # 011 in & drop in at Archie's UCO. Draw date Sat.,De_ 24j McCALLUM AUTOMOTIVE MIL RR#4 WALTON, OMT (beside Fancily Paradise) 527-2332 CARL McCALLUM BIG OR SMALL WE FIX 'EM ALL SEAFORTH • le OPTIMISTS PRESENT BEST EXTERIOR DECORATED HOME CONTEST atift100 1 - 41.16.110 • ,...1 Seaforth Egmondville Harpurhey 1st, 2nd and 3rd CASH PRIZES! To be donated tea 'Chafity" Of' '''the Wifltner's chf 1c " Judging Thursday December 15 This Week's Features! "OLI) I•L1SIIIOX" Crusty Rolls 1.49 doz. 45() K. IBRO aHali Rvc I3read 1.29 I)E- -ix-tors- Blueberry Muffins s i„, 1.99 Date Squares PHOTO TOP DAIRY SHOWMAN - The Huron Expositor " Award is presented by David Emslie, Editor of the Clinton News -Record, to Donna Lynn Armstrong, of RR 2 Auburn. She was champion dairy showman at the Seaforth Fall Fair. DAVID EMSLIE PHOTO JUNIOR FARMER AWARD - Fred Peel, President of the Huron County Junior Farmers, presents award to Adam Koehler, of RR 4 Walton, as top novice agricultural machinery club member in 4- H at the recent achievement night. 4-H award winners honoured at Clinton banquet Several Huron County 4-11 members were honored at the 4-H awards night held on Friday, Dec. 2, in Clinton. Among. the many awards presented were the following: The Paul Steckle Award, a new award this year, was presented to Huron County 4-1I junior member Nancy Codd of RR1 Fordwich, who submitted the top essay on the topic "Why I am a 441 Mem- ber in Huron County". Nancy is a member of the Howick Calf Club. Marcia Salm of Godcrich received the Champion Road Machinery Award for being the high points horse exhibitor at the Seaforth Fall Fair. The champion horse showman at the Seaforth Fair,was Marcia Salm of Goderich ho won the Milton Dietz Limited Award. The High Point Club Award goes to the horse club with the most points at the County Horse Fun Day. This year, the Central Huron Horse Club was the wince and the members received medal- lions donated by the West Wawanosh Insurance Company of Dungannon. Marcia Salm of Goderich, a member of the Central Huron Horse Club won the High Point Senior Horse Exhibitor Award at the County Horse Fun Day, donated by West Wawanosh In- surance Company. The Central Huron Horse Club Awards were presented this year to the Central Huron Horse Club members who excelled in their showmanship ability at their club achievement program. The senior award went to Marcia Salm of Goderich, and she received an exact replica of her horse donated by Broadfoot Electric of Clinton. There were two junior awards, the first donated by Marie's Antiques of Goderich to Heidi Voddcn of Clinton, and the second award, donated by Salmis Construction of Goderich, was won by Jennifer Dixon of Clinton. Each of these members received a replica of their horses. The novice awards were presented to Sarah Broadfoot of Clinton, who received her horse replica donated by Robert Vod- den, Associated Realty Consultant Ltd., and Mark Salm of Godcrich who received his replica donated by Storey Brook Stables of Clinton. The John Franken Memorial Trophy, donated by the Frankcn family in memory of the late John Franken, goes to the 4-11 member with the highest score in the Huron County 4-H Horse Clubs. With 970 points out of a possible 1,000 the winner was Michaela Johnston of RR7 Lucknow. Miranda MacDonald of Auburn had a higher score, but previous winners ineligible. Erin Marshall of RRI Londcs- born, a member of the Dungannon Horses R Us Club, was the winner of the Rodney Van Engen Award donated by Rodney Van Engcn to the novice 4-H horse club member with the highest score. Erin had a score of 938 out of a possible 1,000. The High Point Junior- Horse Exhibitor Award at the County Horse Fun Day was won by Miranda MacDonald of RR3 Auburn. An award donated by the West Wawanosh Insurance Com- pany was presented to Miranda. Erin Marshall of RR1 Londes- boro, a member of the Dungannon Horses R Us Club, was the winner of the High Point Novice Horse Exhibitor Award donated by the West Wawanosh Insurance Com- pany in Dungannon to the high point novice horse exhibitor at the County Fun Day. An award donated by Merlene Bergman of Lucknow was presented to Erin Marshall of RR1 Londesboro, the top novice horse exhibitor at the County Fun Day. Neil McGavin of RR4 Walton donates the Neil McGavin Award to the 4-H member with the highest score in the Huron County Plowmen's Club. Jeff Grobbink of RR3 Walton was this year's win- ner with 880 points out of a pos- sible 1,000. The Royal Bank Award is donated by the Huron/Perth Agricultural Centre of the Royal Bank in Exeter to the first-year member in the 4-11 Sodbuster Club with the highest score. This year's winner was Shawn O'Rourke of RR1 Dublin. see Huron next page. FRESII OFF TII I', BLOCK! G,1T I.I;.1 COLBY CHEESE DANISH HAVARTI 1.99 3.99 n.. 4.99 n.. WE. YOUR CliRIST��1S SERVE "FINE QUALI IY' TASTY NU BAKERY PRODUCTS Fresh, baked bread, rolls, cookies and pastries DELUXE LIGHT OR DARK CHRISTMAS CAKE! LOADED WITII FRUIT. MADE WITH BUI'I'ER AND BAKED TO PERFECTION! CHEESE GIFT BASKETS AND CI1EESE TRAYS • MADE WVITII YO1'It CIIOICE OF CIIEF„SE CHRISTMAS CANDIES, NUTS, PARTY COOKIE TRAYS, GINGERBREAD AND MORE! l Bakery °Cheese Howe 14 Main Si. SEAPORT!' 527-1803