Wednesday, November 22, 2006 · Page 14 Looking back, thinking forward by Ron Bonnett, President Ontario Federation of Agriculture At first thought, four years doesn't seem like too much time in one's life, but when you spend those four years leading a provincial farm organization, you know just how much can happen. As I prepare to retire as president of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, I have been reflecting on a broad spectrum of topics, and an even broader collection of people I have encountered along the way. Ontario's farm community has much to be proud of in its past, and we need to position ourselves to achieve even more into the future. There has been no shortage of issues: BSE, a sharply-rising Canadian dollar, food safety concerns, collapsing commodity prices, and escalating input costs have challenged the federation to respond on behalf of our members. We have realized a number of successes through partnerships with other farm organizations. Getting to the success level has not always been easy. Successful partnerships need good understandings of all involved, and when governments change, continuity suffers. We have had changes in governments both provincially and federally in the last four years. Farm organizations must be prepared to work with whoever is the democratic choice. We are now moving towards developing a new Agricultural Policy Framework. We must learn from previous mistakes. Farmers have developed what they believe would make the APF work to protect the economic future of agriculture. We are proposing that a combination of tools be put ROOFING & SIDING BOOK EARLY! KEN-CO 776-8340 KEN COLENUTT Call for a FREE Estimate in place to address farm income issues. Governments must be willing to look at these proposals as a package designed to work together. We have seen significant success working with governments on environmental issues and programs. Just recently I spoke to farmers in Nova Scotia about the valuable aspects of the Environmental Farm Plan something that has worked well in Ontario for more than a decade and is now being introduced to farmers across Canada. Taking a look at the bigger picture is always a worthwhile exercise. OFA is finding valuable partners outside the agriculture sector as we work with others to promote common interests. Farmers need to form alliances with business, municipal and outdoor groups. These alliances will give farmers greater strength when they go to governments with issues relating to everything from fences and property rights to environmental issues. Governments recognize the impact and Countryside Upholstery "For all your furniture needs" · Foam for cushions · Furniture Reupholstery · Repairs · Antique Restoration · Pick-Up & Delivery · Free Estimates strength the combination of farmers and non-farmers can bring to the negotiating table. Leaders of farm organizations find support and encouragement as they work across the province to achieve success for their farmer-members. Not surprisingly, there have been encounters with individuals who haven't found the success they seek for their farms and families. It has been my experience that every farmer has ideas to contribute to the success of the industry we have to look deeper sometimes to find the positives. Federation members at all levels, right from counties and districts to the provincial board of directors and fellow executive members, have become friends and partners in the search for success for agriculture in Ontario. OFA's professional staff has always been there with well researched facts to support our work and advance agriculture in Ontario. I would like to thank the farmers of Ontario for the trust and support you have given me over the last four years, and I will value the friendships made forever. Directors to be elected at ECFA annual meeting The Essex County Federation of Agriculture will hold its annual meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 6 in Woodslee. The meeting will include a review of the past year's activities, an election of directors, and an election of the executive that will represent Essex County farmers for the next year. The guest speaker will be Simon Crouch, agricultural program director for Blackburn Radio. For tickets, contact any ECFA director or call 519776-5159. Soybean specialist to headline ESCIA meeting Horst Bohner, soybean specialist with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs will be the guest speaker at this year's Essex Soil and Crop Improvement Association annual meeting. The meeting on Thursday, Dec. 7 will be held at St. John's Hall in Woodslee and will feature soybean updates and an election for the 2006 ESCIA directors. For further information, contact Michael Dick at 519-776-5209, ext. 369. Advertise in Your ad will appear in our online classifieds at no additional charge. CALL TODAY! PRINT CLASSIFIEDS We're re-inventing the news at ... 776-4268 Cedar Creek Invitation to Participate and Opportunity to Review Background Information Park Management Planning Process Ontario Parks (Ministry of Natural Resources), invites you to take part in the park management planning process for the recommended Cedar Creek Provincial Park (Nature Reserve Class). The purpose of this consultation is to provide the public with an opportunity to inspect the terms of reference, review background information relevant to the site and identify any issues or concerns that may be addressed during the management planning process. The resulting park management plan will define the goal, objectives and long term direction for the protection and management of the park. You may inspect the terms of reference and background information for a period of forty-five (45) days after its release. Comments will be accepted until January 12, 2007. A copy of the terms of reference may be viewed at the Ontario Parks' website at: http://www.ontarioparks.com/english/invit.html or are available from the contact(s) listed below. Management planning will be done in three stages. Consultation opportunities will be announced at each successive stage. Notice of each stage of the planning process will be posted on the Environmental Registry of the Environmental Bill of Rights at the following Web address: http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/envision/env_reg/ebr/english/ For further information, to submit comments and/or to be added to the project mailing list please contact: Brian Huis, Parks Planning Specialist Ontario Parks, Southwest Zone 659 Exeter Road London, ON N6E 1L3 Tel.: 519-873-4617 Fax: 519-873-4645 E-mail: brian.huis@ontario.ca The background information file can be viewed, during regular business hours, at: Wheatley Provincial Park 21116 Klondyke Road Wheatley, ON N0P 2P0 Tel.: 519-825-4659 Fax: 519-825-7472 Comments and personal information regarding this park management planning process are collected under the authority of the Provincial Parks Act to assist MNR in making decisions and to determine further public consultation needs relating to future park development. Comments and opinions which do not constitute personal information as defined by the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, will be shared within the MNR and may be included in documentation that is made available for public review. Personal information will remain confidential unless consent to disclose is obtained. However, this information may be used by the MNR to seek public input on other resource management surveys and projects. For further information regarding this Act, please contact the individual listed above. 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Equip.: JD 7000 planter 8 r 30" drive fert. no-till coulters fert cross-auger, IH 510 grain drill 21 run no press wheels, 6 r nar crop cult. w spider harrows, IH 4 r scuffler, 2 J&M gravity wagons 250 bu on r gear, 125 bu gravity wagon on r gear, IH 24 ft. disc/harrow spring fold wings, Dickie John Acreage and product monitor, rate monitor, radar gun, Gehl 135 hammer/mixmill, 50 ft. spray boom w tanks/pump, elec. foam marker, radar control, NI 300 bu manure spreader, 1600 gal. poly tank on r gear, Briggs & Stratton 2" water pump, plastic chemical storage hut, 6x12 plastic hyd. fert. auger. Livestock: 2-24 ft. feeder wagons (home made), livestock head gate, 2-6 ft. square hay feeders, 13 ft. - 3 ph silage grapple, 203t feed tanks, 6 ft. cattle oiler. Truck: 1975 Ford 9000 Louisville tractor, Cummins, 993474 miles, 11rx22 tires, Trailmobile 24 ft. alum. dump trir. w ft. sides w wood extensions, 1100x20 tires, pup alum. dump 22 ft. by 4 ft. sides with wood extensions, Joe Dog with 1000x20 tires, Fruehauf 45 ft., alum. livestock trailer (clean). Terms: Cash or personal cheque day of sale with proper ID. Sale management not responsible for accidents or injuries. Lunch available. Contact sale management or Randy Dame for information. Marty Unholzer John Sauve Randy Dame Home: (519) 723-2622 Home: (519)723-2033 Home: (519) 737-1645 Cell: (519) 791-4101 Cell: (519)791-4772 Cell: (519) 999-1645 Saturday, November 25, 2006 - 10:30 AM At McKee Farms, Jim and Barb McKee 6150 Howard Ave., Windsor, ON Directions: 401 W follow bridge to USA sign, 1st light T left (Howard Ave.) 2 kms LHS Consisting of good clean line of farm and livestock equipment Absolute Sale UNHOLZER/SAUVE AUCTION Hope to see you there