NFA News

Delhi, ONTARIO: On Wednesday, November 28, 2007 the Norfolk ALUS Committee will host a Farmer-to-Farmer Information Session detailing the opportunities available through the Alternative Land Use Services (ALUS) Pilot Project in Norfolk County. This session will commence at 7:30pm at the Delhi District Hungarian Hall, located at 71 King St. in Delhi.

The Norfolk Federation of Agriculture leads a collaborative of over 56 partners contributing to the testing of the Alternative Land Use Services concept in Norfolk County over the next three years. At this time, limited funds are available to implement the three-year Pilot Project on a modest scale; targeting priority watersheds for grassed buffers and the development of 3-5 more Demonstration Farms. The ALUS committee hopes that through continued fundraising a County-wide Pilot can be made available to all Norfolk farmers in the future.

Alternative Land Use Services is a concept pioneered by grassroots farm organizations across Canada to help meet the growing demand for environmental products, such as clean air and greenhouse gas reductions, clean water, fish and wildlife habitat, conservation of species at risk and pastoral landscapes from agricultural landscapes. “ALUS is a positive way of enlisting farmers and rural communities to help satisfy the environmental demands of society,” says Frank Nightingale, president of the Norfolk Federation of Agriculture, “these next generation farm ‘products’ are referred to as “environmental goods and services,” and farmers are uniquely positioned to provide these benefits to society.” ALUS identifies the need for society to reward the stewardship efforts of farmers providing these environmental goods and services; and accomplishes this through an incentive payment agreement.

For more information please contact Eric Cleland – ALUS Project Coordinator @ 519-426-5999 ext. 2220 or eric.cleland@norfolkcounty.ca

by Eric Cleland

Desperately seeking sunshine

By Bob Boughner

Wednesday, May 25, 2005 - 09:00

Local News - Bees aren't buzzing the way they should be this time of year and the blame rests with Mother Nature.

“It's simply too cool for bees to work properly,'' Hector Delanghe, a Cedar Springs' area fruit farmer, said Tuesday.

Delanghe said it's too early to know what to expect from this year's apple, sour cherry and peach crops.

“It will take time to determine whether or not bees were able to properly pollinate the crops,'' he said. “The verdict is still out.

“But current signs point to a good crop of sweet cherries,'' he said. “They are one of the first tree crops to be harvested.''

Delanghe, like most farmers throughout Chatham-Kent, is hoping for a rapid warm-up in temperatures.

The backward spring weather is a concern not only for farmers, but also for urban backyard flower and vegetable enthusiasts.

Weather is the latest concern in a long list of problems confronting the agricultural community, including historic-low commodity prices and ever-rising production costs, including fuel.

The forecast calls for cool, damp weather to continue throughout the coming weekend.

“Our farmers badly need warmer temperatures,'' said Brian Doidge of Ridgetown, general manager of the Ontario Corn Producers' Association.

Doidge said some growers, who planted corn early in heavier soils, have been forced to replant portions of their crops.

“Corn has been late in emerging in some fields where heavy soil conditions exist,'' he said.

“We definitely need heat,'' Doidge said.

Dr. Arend Smid, an agronomist at Ridgetown College, said the entire farming community would prefer to see warmer temperatures right now.

“But, generally speaking, most crops appear to be doing OK,'' he said. “It's still May and the warm-up is just around the corner.''

Smid said while there has been more than adequate rainfall this spring, the good news is there has been no reported flooding of farm fields.

“I would say there is still time for crops to make up for the slow growth this month,'' he said. “June normally brings warmer temperatures.''

Smid said weather conditions have been ideal for growth of cereal crops in the region.

“But I suspect soybean farmers would prefer to see a rapid warm-up in temperatures in order to complete spring planting,'' he said.”

“We're definitely behind last year in terms of weather,'' said Sarah Graham of Sarah's Farm Market in Chatham.

She said the Victoria Day weekend is usually the busiest of the season for sales of bedding and vegetable plants.

“We were busy Saturday but things slowed right down Sunday and holiday Monday with the cool, wet weather,'' she said. “The weather is also not looking good for this coming weekend.''

Graham said in normal springs it would be necessary to restock her bedding plant inventory the day after the year's first long holiday weekend.

“Planting gardens with flowers and vegetables on the Victoria Day weekend has been a tradition for as long as I can remember,'' said Graham.

“But things ground to a halt this year because of adverse weather conditions.''

Graham said there was no need to replenish her inventory Tuesday.

“I'm stocked right up with bedding plants,'' she said. “And it's the same with others in the business. We're all waiting for the sun to shine.''

Area businesses catering to tourists also took a hit on the weekend.

Rain-soaked beaches were empty Sunday and Monday at Rondeau and Wheatley Provincial Park, Mitchell's Bay and along the St. Clair River.

Many campers called it quits Monday morning and returned home early. OPP said traffic on Highway 401 was heavy early Monday as travellers made their way home from the cottage or friends early in the day.
by Bob Boughner - Chatham Daily News

Hardeman concerned OPSEU strike could hurt abattoirs, beef farmers
The Tillsonburg News

Jeff Helsdon - Staff Writer
Wednesday May 25, 2005


Oxford MPP Ernie Hardeman is concerned a potential provincial public sector strike could translate into more strife for already beleaguered beef farmers.
The province's meat inspectors are part of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) and have not been designated essential. Without inspectors on site, any provincial meat processing plants will be shut down. That means beef farmers who are facing limited marketing opportunities with the closure of the border, will lose another one.
Hardeman is adamant agriculture minister Steve Peters should designate the inspectors as essential workers or put them in a separate bargaining unit.
“I think he's left farmers out in the cold,” Hardeman said. “If the strike starts the plant would have to shut down.”
Across the province, 16 meat inspectors have been designated as essential. But Hardeman understands the reduced work force's purpose in the event of a strike is to ensure the provincial abattoirs aren't operating, not to assist with meat inspection and keep the plants open. He was also concerned abattoir employees will be laid off if the plant isn't operating.
The last time there was a civil strike, in 1996, most of the province's meat processing plants were shut down. Some stayed open by having the killing – which is the part that requires inspection – done in federal plants and then cut up the meat in the provincial plant.
Hardeman doesn't see this as a good option if the strike occurs this time. He explained older cull animals, which have been slaughtered in provincial plants, aren't allowed in federally-inspected abattoirs if those plants ship to the United States. This is due to a ban on beef over 30 months not being allowed to be shipped to the States.
Although a strike is supposed to impact management – government in this potential case – Hardeman said the ones really being impacted will be abattoir owners and farmers. The ironic thing is the inspectors aren't even the ones doing the work, they are only ensuring it is performed properly.
“If they're not there, none of the meat can be processed without an inspector on site,” Hardeman said.
Following the last strike, the Conservatives privatized meat inspectors so they were no longer part of OPSEU. After the Liberals were elected, they brought meat inspectors back into the union.
Peters said negotiations, which are led by management board, are ongoing and he was confident an agreement will be reached.


by Jeff Helsdon - Tillsonburg News

• Well-water testing advocated for safety
• McGuinty backtracking on clean water?
• OFA seeks Premier’s involvement in solutions
• Agriculture ministry not cut, officials say
• It’s what’s not there that hurts farmers

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