Agriculture

While most municipalities in the United Counties of Prescott-Russell agree that clear cutting lands should be controlled, regional mayors are not willing to "go to war" with farmers over the controversial practice.

Earlier this summer, the Township of Alfred-Plantagenet put forward a resolution asking the counties to consider introducing new policies for the use and management of forest lands in the counties.

The Ontario Municipal Board decision on whether Champlain Township council erred in its ruling that an extreme rodeo event could not take place on a parcel of land in West Hawkesbury will likely be received in writing at a later date.

An OMB adjudicator heard testimony from the event organizer, François Boudrias, and a representative for the township on Tuesday, December 13, beginning at 11 a.m.

Because of the strong sense of rural culture and tradition in the United Counties of Prescott-Russell (UCPR), regional mayors don't appear to agree with the Ontario Fire Marshal's plan to crack down on allowing large gatherings to be held in barns and other farm structures.

At the regular meeting of council held on Tuesday, November 22, regional mayors reviewed a resolution from the Municipality of Central Huron urging other municipalities to voice their displeasure with the fire marshal's proposal.

Despite some wet weather that impacted attendance, organizers of the 2011 International Plowing Match (IPM) are calling the event a success.

The Review spoke to chairperson and Champlain Mayor Gary Barton, who was busy helping tear down the site on Tuesday, September 27, and he had nothing but praise for the event - which will likely be the biggest the region has ever seen.

On Tuesday, September 20, one of the biggest events to ever hit the region will officially open its doors to the public.

The 2011 International Plowing Match and Farm Machinery Show (IPM) will open its doors Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. and will run straight through until Saturday, September 24.

Champlain Township Mayor Gary Barton has spent the last three years of his life gearing up for the big day and he can't quite believe it's only two weeks away now.

Barton is serving as the Chair for the 2011 International Plowing Match and Farm Machinery Show (IPM), which will run from September 20 to 24 in Chute-a-Blondeau.

Farmers and appraisers across Ontario have been seeing a steady increase in farmland values in the last two to five years, particularly in the eastern and southwestern regions of the province.

According to Farm Credit Canada's most recent report, values increased an average of 2.4 per cent during the second half of 2010, following gains of 4.3 and 3.3 per cent in the two previous reporting periods.

The one thing that will mark this year's growing and harvesting season will be large variations from field to field and region to region.

"Some farmers will have not the same yields as last year but still significant yields, but other fields that were either planted late or because soil was compacted, those farmers suffered a bit more than previous years," said Gilles Quesnel, field crops specialist with the Ontario Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Rural Affairs.

The year was 1932 and, like much of the world, Canada was in the midst of the Great Depression.

Dr. George Samuel Horace Barton, born in Vankleek Hill in 1883, was called to Ottawa to serve the country as its deputy minister of agriculture. It was a position he would hold for 17 years, right up until 1949 - several years after the end of the Second World War.