Industry News - Ed Segsworth - A Grassroots Farmer

OFA Past President Ed Segsworth with
MPP for Chatham-Kent Pat Hoy

On November 7, 2001, farmers in Ontario were saddened to hear of the sudden passing of Ed Segsworth, former president of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture. Ed Segsworth was an important part of his local community in the Region of Halton, involved in a variety of activities from the local agricultural society and conservation authority to his role as captain of the Kilbride Volunteer Firefighters, where he received the Canada 125 Medal in 1993.

During his term as OFA president in 1998 and 1999, Ed was considered a moderate in agricultural politics and gained respect in his efforts to work with other farm organizations to address pressing issues facing Ontario agriculture. As president, he worked hard to provide support and obtain government assistance for farmers hurt by the ice storm disaster in eastern Ontario and western Quebec in 1999.

Ed will be greatly missed. He is survived by his wife, Dianne; daughter, Tara; and son, Matthew, all of Burlington.

Crop Insurance Claims
AGRICORP is gearing up for another busy claims season. Here are a few things you can do to ensure that you receive your Crop Insurance claims payment before the holidays:

• As soon as you have finished harvesting, call AGRICORP’s Customer Action Centre to report your yield.

• Complete and sign the Proof of Loss form included in the Yield Declaration Kit, and return it to AGRICORP promptly.

• Keep a copy of all yield-related documents, including yield declaration worksheets, bin measurements, settlement statements and receipts. Also keep a copy of your Proof of Loss form.

• Make yourself available in case an Adjuster needs to visit.
For crops that are normally marketed in the next calendar year (e.g., corn, soybeans, and other fall crops), customers can defer their claim payment until after January 1, 2002. Customers who choose this option must indicate this on their Proof of Loss form.

Ethanol
The Canadian Renewable Fuels Association (CRFA) has re-launched its national web site at www.greenfuels.org . The Internet site provides the latest news, events and information on the national renewable fuels industry, including ethanol and biodiesel. The CRFA recently launched a consumer information site for ethanol at www.ethanol-crfa.ca .

The CRFA has also been instrumental in working with the federal government on the development of a Future Fuels initiative that will boost ethanol production in Canada by as much as two billion litres by 2005. The increased use of ethanol, at the 10 per cent level, in 25 per cent of Canada’s gasoline will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by a million tonnes per year.