Township's farm building development charges spark provincial interest Wednesday, March 4, 2009 © AgMedia Inc.by GEOFF DALEOntario’s cattlemen have their eye on Wellington North.At the Ontario Cattlemen’s Association’s annual meeting in Toronto last week, conference delegates supported a resolution from the Wellington association to back provincial general farm organizations’ efforts to prevent development charges on agricultural buildings housing livestock. The township’s development fees were used as an example in the motion.The issue erupted last October when the township decided to levy a $11,500 development charge against farmers Colvin and Elizabeth McAlister for re-roofing two livestock barns. More than 50 farmers attended a November council meeting in Kenilworth to support a presentation by Ontario Federation of Agriculture member service representative (for Wellington, Waterloo and Dufferin) Gord Grant opposing the levy.Township CAO/clerk Lorraine Heinbuch says council is expecting to hear shortly from the Mississauga -based company, C.N. Watson and Associates Ltd., it commissioned to examine development charges on agricultural buildings.“We were expecting to get a report by the end of last month but that was delayed because of OMB (Ontario Municipal Board) hearings they (company representatives) were involved with,” says Heinbuch, noting that a public meeting would have to be held if the report recommends changing the township’s development charge bylaw.OFA farm policy advisor Jason Bent says the situation has sparked provincial interest because other municipalities across Ontario charge similar fees. “I just don’t see a significant difference in services being offered across various centres (of municipalities that do or don’t charge the fees), so how why are some arriving at a figure while others are not?”Bent says the OFA failed to convince the province to exempt agriculture from development fees in 2000. Nevertheless, the federation will continue to press the government for changes, he says, noting that farmers in Russell successfully fought similar charges several years ago.Héléne Blanchard, past president of the Russell County Federation of Agriculture, says their battle began in 1999 when the township called for development fees of $1.24 per square metre on agricultural buildings. Municipal officials subsequently offered to drop the fee to 62 cents.Blanchard says farmers hired an engineering firm to conduct a study. After a three-year fight, the municipality dropped the fee to nine cents per square metre. “We won because the person we hired found all kinds of errors and figures based on incorrect calculations in the municipality’s initial report,” she says.Back in Wellington North, Grant says farmers are hopeful there will be positive news soon.About 25 municipalities in Ontario charge development fees on agricultural buildings. One of them is Middlesex Centre, where a $1.07 per square foot levy has been in place for several years. They apply to all agricultural structures from grain bins and silos to barns and manure storage tanks.Jim McConnell, the municipality’s manager of planning and development services, says there has been little negative feedback from the agricultural community. “Our fees vary (from location to location within the municipality) depending on the sector,” he explains. “Agriculture is consistent, however, wherever you are in the municipality.”C.N. Watson and Associates Ltd. could not be immediately reached to confirm a finish date for its report. BF Hydro One addresses grid connection problems New Animal Welfare Act touted as Canada's toughest
BASF introduces Surtain herbicide for field corn growers Tuesday, September 17, 2024 Field corn growers in eastern Canada have a new crop protection product available to them. After about 10 years of research and trials, BASF has introduced Surtain, a residual herbicide for corn that combines PPO inhibitor saflufenacil (Group 14) and pyroxasulfone (Group 15) in a premix... Read this article online
We Didn’t Start the Fire! Impacts of Wildfire Smoke on Corn Monday, September 16, 2024 Assistant Professor of Corn Production at Purdue University’s College of Agriculture, Daniel Quinn, PhD. recently provided fascinating insights into the impacts of fire on major corn producing areas, many of which have been impacted by smoke from wildfires. Quinn was the keynote... Read this article online
New home for the Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario Saturday, September 14, 2024 The Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario (CFFO) has announced it has moved into its new office building in Ingersoll. Located at 274620 27th Line in Ingersoll, the new office will serve as the hub for CFFO’s ongoing efforts to advocate for and support Ontario’s Christian farmers.... Read this article online
Canadian Ag Youth Council Welcomes new Members Saturday, September 14, 2024 Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada has announced the latest members to join the Canadian Agricultural Youth Council (CAYC). This update introduces nine fresh members alongside thirteen returning youths, marking a significant step towards involving young voices in agricultural... Read this article online
New CEO for Livestock Research Innovation Corporation Friday, September 13, 2024 Livestock Research Innovation Corporation (LRIC) is promoting from within with the appointment of the organization’s newest Chief Executive Officer. Industry Services Manager Kelly Somerville has been tapped to assume the role as of September 3, replacing retiring CEO Mike McMorris.... Read this article online