Terry Boland, Editor-in-Chief
AAC Elects New Chair
The board of directors of the Agricultural
Adaptation Council (AAC) has elected a new chairman for the upcoming year. Murray Porteous, representing the Ontario
Federation of Agriculture, will take over as chairman from Paul Henderson. Tom Greensides, representing the horticulture
industry, is the new vice-chair, and Bob Bedggood, Christian Farmers’ Federation of Ontario, is the executive member-at-large.
The AAC annual meeting was held in Guelph on February 7. OCPA Past President Bob Down and soybean board director
Kim Turnbull represent the grains and oilseeds sector on the council.
Ontario 4-H Council
The Ontario 4-H Council’s new 4-H Deliver Model and the Ontario 4-H Foundations 2000 & Beyond Campaign were
officially launched in early February with over 160 supporters on hand. On April 1, 2000, the council will have
sole responsibility for the delivery of the program, with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
becoming a major funding partner. Former federal Agriculture Minister John Wise has been appointed Honourary Chair
of the foundation, which is designed to create new partnerships with the private sector. Located near Guelph, the
council will operate with a 12-member board of directors and meet with the 52 local association representatives
twice a year.
Guide to Weed Control 2000
The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) has issued a revamped and ready-to-use 2000
edition of the Guide to Weed Control. Even after 50 years, the publication continues to be an important source
of weed control information for Ontario growers. The guide includes new ratings tables, a revised precautions column
highlighting agronomic and environmental issues, new recommended treatments and new sections on integrated weed
management and application technology. Copies are available at local farm supply outlets and OMAFRA locations,
or call 1-888-4OMAFRA.
On-Farm Field Trials Database
More than 1,500 participants have taken part and entered their numbers into the Ontario On-Farm Field Trials Database.
The database includes 1,050 corn plots, 290 wheat plots and 520 soybean plots for the 1999 crop year. Visit the
new database at http://trials.ontariosoilcrop.org/default.asp.
Clean Snowmobiles Run on Ethanol
Jackson Hole, Wyoming, will be host to the 2000 SAE Clean Snowmobile Challenge from March 28-31. The event challenges
college and university engineering students to reduce emissions from snowmobiles while maintaining power and performance.
As a testimony to the environmental benefits of ethanol and as a part of their emissions-reduction strategies,
six of the seven participating teams (including the two Canadian teams from the University of Waterloo and the
Ecole de Technologie Superieure, Montreal) are using ethanol blends to propel their snowmobiles.
Ethanol blends can also be used in conventional, unmodified snowmobiles, providing that the owner’s manual is consulted
to ensure that no change in jet size is required. Snowmobiles refueled in Yellowstone National Park in the U.S.
use ethanol blends exclusively, and have provided superb air quality improvements. Ethanol blends are a simple
way to help appease some of the environmentalists’ concerns with the negative impact of snowmobiles on the environment.
Other News
- OCPA welcomes the initiative coming from the Ontario Cattle Feeder’s
Association, in conjunction with Ontario Cattlemen’s Association, to promote corn-fed beef.
- OCPA has supported efforts by the Ontario Federation of Agriculture
to ensure that proposed new Ontario ‘hours of work’ restrictions for truckers do not interfere with crop harvesting
operations.
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