The Huron Expositor, 1995-03-15, Page 25Favorable response to Perth
environmental farm plans
by Andy Bader
The nuts and bolts of the situation
are this: Environmental Farm Plans
work.
Workshops have been held over
the past few months at various
locations across Perth County,
Program Representative Bob Davey
said recently, and they have been
successful.
Environmental Farm Plans (EFPs)
are nothing new, but their efficiency
and popularity have grown and will
continue to do so as more people
get involved and learn about them.
EFPs are documents voluntarily
prepared by farm families to raise
thea awareness of the environment
on their farm. Through the EFP
process, farmers will highlight
environmental strengths on their
farm, identify areas of environmen-
tal concern and set realistic goals to
improve environmental conditions.
EFPs consider all farm property,
including rented land under cul-
tivation. Farmers will complete only
yhose of 23 worksheets that apply
to their farm.
Each farm family will develop an
Action Plan which outlines
achievable goals for maintaining or
improving the environment on their
farm. Up to $500 per farm business
is available to assist farmers making
positive environmental changes
identified in their Action Plan. •
Some examples of eligible grant
claims under the plan include barn
eavestroughs to keep water out of
the manure yard, tree windbreaks,
ditch fencing, fuel storage contain-
ment, diverting surface water from
manure yards, plugging abandoned
wells and repairs to the well head.
Norman Dow and his wife Win
recently completed an EFP
workshop, and they discovered
ways to improve their fuel storage.
Dow explained that by doing the
EFP process, they did away with
their fuel storage on the home farm,
and instead draw fuel out of son
Dennis's tank to prevent spills.
Very worthwhile
"I think the thing iEFP] was very
worthwhile," he said.
Davey, of RR 2 Monkton, says
the workshops, besides the obvious
help to farmers, benefit Ontario
agriculture as a whole because
confidential data from the Action
Plans enable farm organizations to
highlight environmental advances
already made by Ontario farmers. A
re -prioritization of research needs is
also given thought which targets
future environmental incentive
programs.
The idea for the Environmental
React to consumers' desire
The beef, pork and dairy industries have responded to consumers'
desire for leaner products. For instance:
* Today's beef is 50 per cent leaner and 21 per cent lower in
cholesterol than it was 15 years ago. In fact, all beef cuts (except short
ribs) qualify as lean when trimmed of visible fat. A 90 -gram serving of
broiled inside round steak has as little fat and cholesterol as an equal
serving of roast chicken without the skin.
* For every dairy product on the market today, there is a low-fat
equivalent. These include no -fat yogurt and Quark cheese, which has
0.1 per cent buuerfat.
* Pork has 23 per cent less fat now than it did a decade ago. The
leanest cuts --pork tenderloin and centre cut pork loin chops --have less
fat and cholesterol than skinless roast chicken. Pork leg is also a lean
cut.
(Canadian Animal Health Institute's Communique).
STOCK
AUCTION
CENYRIE
Large selection of
Area Oriental Rugs
Very Reasonably Priced
USED FURNITURE
& APPLIANCES
held regularly
STRATFORD
271-8788
1/ mi. N. of Hwy 8 at City Limits
Call for more info.
Farm Plans originated in the provin-
cial farm community several years
ago by a coalition of farm groups
such as the Ontario Federation of
Agriculture, Christian Farmers
Federation of Ontario, AGCare and
the Ontario Farm Animal Council.
Almost 54 million in federal
government Green Plan funds have
been committed to the program
over the past four years, with
another 55.7 million earmarked to
deliver the $500 incentive grants.
The workshops themselves, which
began last year, involve two
one -day sessions. More than 2,500
farmers have taken part in the
program, with more than 95 per
cent of them reporting back
favorable comments.
A contest has been added to
further generate interest. A $1,000
cash reward could be yours if you
share your ingenuity and expertise.
Up to 12 winning entries will be
selected each year. Also, a single
Farmers' Choice Award will be
made each year based on a public
vote where winning entries are
displayed, likely at major Ontario
farm shows and agricultural events.
Davey said depending on the
interest, more EFP workshops may
be held. Information can be ob-
tained through OMAFRA at
1-800-265-8502.
Hoping to trade
for profit
as a club •
•from page 6
discuss possibilities in the market
place. Hopefully, we'll be able to
trade for a profit as a club," said
Lang.
Participants in past commodity
courses "indicated they'd like to
form a club," said Kuntz.
The project is partially funded
through the Ontario Agricultural
Training Institute's Information and
Services Program. The remaining
funds were obtained through course
registration.
i Rathwell
National Realty Inc.
Real Estate Broker
P.O. Box 1060
Clinton, Ontario Canada
NOM 1L0
Tel: (519) 233-9200
Fax: (519) 233-3131
WE NEED
YOUR
FARM
PROPERTY!
Pat Chlpchase Bruce Rathwell, Rep.
BROKER 233-9911 519-233-3120
If your farm has been on the market for sale and has not sold, give us a call
so that we may promote it to our European purchasers.
We have requests for cash cropland from 400 to 600 acres in the Huron,
Bruce, Grey or Perth County Area.
Farm Progress '96' -Page 7
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