Make This Easter Weekend a Safe One on and Near the Water

Water levels expected to be near normal this year following 2010 drought

TORONTO, April 19, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - Ontario Power Generation (OPG) is reminding people to Stay Clear and Stay Safe this Easter Weekend. Winter's last gasp means spring freshet is delayed in some regions, which means faster than normal water can be expected near OPG's dams.

"The water this time of year is very cold and riverbanks are slippery. The best thing to do is keep a safe distance and make sure your Easter Weekend is a safe one," said OPG's John Murphy, Executive Vice President - Hydro.

Murphy noted that the company was expecting most lakes and rivers it manages will see normal water levels this year.

"We've got good snow pack in some regions, others had more than 30 cms of snow on the weekend and we're getting good rainfall too. The information we've seen so far indicates that 2011 will be a normal year for precipitation. This is a sharp contrast to 2010 when we had record droughts resulting in many reservoirs having lower than normal water levels," he said.

Murphy explained that each year OPG lowers the levels in the reservoirs and lakes feeding into its power dams. This is done in anticipation of spring rains and snow melts.

"People coming up to their cottage or camp may see some low water at this time of year but if we get normal freshet and rain then levels will be back to normal averages," Murphy added.

He also noted that many lakes managed by OPG are in fact reservoirs that were created for power generation.

OPG manages the water levels and flows on many rivers and lakes based on water management plans approved by the Ministry of Natural Resources. These plans are established after consultation with stakeholders, and factor in such things as water levels and water flows for fish and wildlife, recreational and commercial use, and downstream users such as water treatment plants and power generation.

"It's always a balancing act. We manage what nature provides us and try to make sure everyone gets their share of this valuable resource," Murphy said.

Water War Erupts in Erin, Ontario as Town Council Proposes Mandatory Hook-up to Town Water - at Homeowners' Expense

ERIN, Ontario, April 18, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - Erin, Ontario, the largest municipality in the province with no sewage treatment plant, is the site of escalating controversy in light of Town Council's proposal of mandatory hook-up to the municipal water supply for a small group of households and businesses located adjacent to Town water lines. Council is proposing by-law amendments at a meeting Tuesday, April 19 that could force approximately 100 homeowners to spend what the Town Water Superintendent estimates to be between $13,000- $17,000 per household to personally pay to decommission their wells and connect. The move is intended to offset a deficit water management situation created over the past several years.

"The only problem being addressed here is overspending of the Town's water budget," said Howard McRae, a local resident championing fairness on the issue of the water by-law. "Affected homeowners who responded to a water survey conducted over the last few days indicate no existing problems with water quality or quantity from their wells - so whose agenda is this and why wasn't the issue raised during the recent municipal election? And how fair is it for just 100 households to be forced to bear the brunt of balancing the community's water budget?"

In an April 15th memo to Council from Frank Smedley, Water Superintendent for the Town of Erin, revenue from the proposed hook-up is projected at $601,028 collected from the 100 households. Also under consideration by Council is a proposed water rate increase that would impact existing and new system users and which would net another $1.1 million in revenue by the end of 2019, Smedley reports. Erin and neighbouring Hillsburgh, also affected, are located northwest of Brampton.

"In Hillsburgh there are a number of smaller homes occupied by first-timebuyers like myself, and in this economy, we have no buffer to pay for this," said homeowner Jaime Baker. "If these by-law amendments go through, all the houses in my neighbourhood could be devalued and young families might be unable to sell and could be forced to walk away from their homes. This is a devastating possibility for everyone affected."

A consulting report recently completed on behalf of the Town of Erin did not advocate these measures, instead providing options for the Town to balance the water budget within three years without putting onerous pressure on residents. Another major Planning Report called SSMP which will lay out the blueprint for the area, is due within months, and 90 percent of residents surveyed indicate they would like Council to wait for that report before making by-law changes.

An editorial in the Erin Advocate of April 6 described the proposed by-law change as "a draconian measure" given Council has proposed withholding Building Permits for certain home improvements until homeowners sign up. And once homeowners hook onto the system, they can anticipate an estimated average spend of $1200 annually for the use of Town water. Retirees in the area have expressed grave concern about the sudden capital outlay and increased ongoing costs.

The Town of Erin has an ample and high-quality water source which accounts for why the Town hasn't previously needed to adopt wide-scale centralized sewage and water treatment to date. Ironically, the Town of Erin itself has the best of both worlds because in addition to using its own Municipal water, the Town draws on well water to service the local hockey arena and water a downtown park.

"It seems to me that the Town is setting a poor example when one or more of its own properties are serviced by both municipal water and a private well," a resident's submission to Council states.

McRae added that since implementing a sewage treatment system may be next, many think it would be preferable to hold off and install both more waterlines and sewer pipes at the same time - which would be fair to all residents and keep costs down through economies of scale and potentially accessing government grants.

"Ratepayers here simply can't understand why the sudden urgency to push through these amendments when the SSMP study will be completed within months. It just doesn't make common sense - like putting the cart before the horse," McRae said.

As many as 100 people are expected to turn out to express their opinions to Town Council at the Tuesday meeting slated for 7:30 p.m. For details go to www.erin.ca and for opinions on the matter, see radio broadcasters "The Motts" site at www.themotts.ca (go to Sound Off tab).

Farming with Animals the Right Way

Image credit: Punkle's Farm

from TreeHugger.com
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA

From the sustainability benefits of goat meat to what veganic farming actually looks like, there's been much discussion here lately about the proper role of domesticated animals on the farm. (If indeed there is one.) Here's one farmer's beautifully shot, and powerfully argued, take on why humanely-reared animals play a crucial role in maintaining the nutrient cycle on a working farm.

NASTY FREE - PUNKLE'S FARM from Punkle's Farm on Vimeo.

Farms as Ecosystems

Filmed at Punkle's Farm in Ontario, the video above makes a powerful case for careful, integrated and holistic management of farmland for truly sustainable agriculture. "We don't grow veggies, we grow soil." says farmer Matt (Punkle?). Covering everything from careful soil management to potato towers as a means to grow food vertically in less space, this video checks a lot of the boxes for sustainable agriculture even before we get to the topic of animals.

Animal Husbandry in Sustainable Farming

Nevertheless, from chicken tractors to pigs turning the compost (and of course providing heaps and heaps of manure), this is about as good a case as I have seen for why animals can, and maybe should, be part of a truly sustainable farm. True, as the great video from Huguenot Street Farm showed, compost can be made without animals, and a solar powered tractor is a great fossil-fuel free alternative to oil. Nevertheless, well managed animal husbandry can be a great replacement for both human and mechanical labor, not to mention imported nutrient inputs.

Whatever your views on farming and animals, I hope we can all agree that this is streets ahead of the industrial agricultural competition. I can't see Mr Punkle having a problem with anyone photographing his farm.

More on Sustainable Agriculture and Holistic Farming

Growing Rice in Vermont and Designing for Peak Oil
Goat Meat as an Ethical Alternative to Beef
What Vegan or Veganic Farming Actually Looks Like
Eating Your Friends: Homesteading with Animals

Will Robot Farmers Feed A Growing Population?

Guelph Farmers Market - Image Credit Lloyd Alter

from TreeHugger.com
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto

Just when we are all getting excited about local food and hipster farmers, Emily Sohn of Discovery News tells us that in fact, robots might be taking over. The latest robots can handle the difficult stuff that requires careful, labour intensive picking, like grapes and strawberries. They are also immune to pesticides and chemicals and can replace itinerant workers.

Sohn quotes one researcher from a country where the itinerant workers are now in short supply:

"The technology is ready, and now we can start seeing this penetrating into the market," said Yael Edan, an engineer and robotics researcher at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel. "I would say there will definitely be robots out there in five years -- maybe not be on every farm, and maybe not for every farmer. I think now the time is there."

It appears to be a difficult task, needing complex algorithms, multi-spectral cameras, intelligent sensing systems and complicated grasping tools. But it solves a real problem:

In many cases, there are challenges finding labor to do some of the harvesting of strawberries and other fruits and vegetables," [agricultural engineer Bernie] Engel said. "It's hard work. There's a timeliness factor, where you can't wait a week. You need lots of labor for fairly short periods of time, which creates real challenges for keeping people employed in a sustainable manner."

One has to wonder about the future of our food. Yesterday Jaymi pitched Sunless Farming Touted as Answer to World Food Problems; today it's farms may soon be staffed by autonomous robots.

Ruben Anderson pointed out in response to Jaymi's post that " A century ago a farmer could spend one calorie of energy and grow 100 calories of food." How much energy does it take to build a robot? How much chemical fertilizer and pesticide do we have to use? Instead, How many different crops can we grow so that work loads can be spread out, and why not pay a farm worker a decent wage and pay the farmer a decent price for his produce?

Easter Weekend at the Canada Agriculture Museum

OTTAWA, Ontario April 13, 2011 Canada NewsWire

Spring is in the air at the Canada Agriculture Museum this Easter weekend! After a long winter, the barns have come alive with the arrival of newborn animals. Welcome the soft lambs, meet a rabbit, and watch the newly hatched chicks from up close. In the demonstration kitchen, help Museum staff to make a variety of Easter breads and even taste a sample. Don’t miss the annual egg hunt, and the “signs of spring” trivia found in the barns. The Museum is located at the Central Experimental Farm, Prince of Wales Drive, between the traffic circle and Baseline Road.

When: April 22 to 25, 2011
9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Where: Canada Agriculture Museum
Prince of Wales Drive, Ottawa

HIGHLIGHTS:

Meet the Chicks: Can a chick hatch from one of the eggs in your fridge? How long does it take for a chick to gestate within the egg? Get the answers to your questions about chickens and meet the newborn chicks.

Extraordinary Eggs! : Eggs aren’t just for breakfast anymore…they can be fun and fascinating too! Discover all kinds of interesting facts about eggs, compare types, and examine uniquely decorated examples. See an antique egg grading machine in action with these interesting eggs-periments!

Easter Egg Hunt for Tots: Children six and under can take on the challenge of finding eggs hidden throughout the Museum grounds and will be rewarded with a sweet treat.

Making Bread for Easter: Did you know that Hot Cross Buns aren’t the only type of bread eaten at Easter? Learn about the many different types of traditional breads made to celebrate the season.

Meet the Rabbits: Find out interesting details about the rabbit’s life cycle as well as the reasons for the rabbit’s close association with Easter.

General information: Visit agriculture.technomuses.ca or call 613-991-3053. Parking is free.

Be a Force For Nature - Become a Conservation Volunteer! during National Volunteer Week

TORONTO, April 13, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - Become a Force for Nature this (April 10-16) as the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) invites you sign up for one of over 50 Conservation Volunteers events and have an adventure in conservation.

Across Canada, NCC's Conservation Volunteers program is working to protect Canada's natural areas. This unique program takes Canadians outdoors to experience the beauty of nature while working to protect and care for some of our most precious wildlife and natural areas.

"It may be a simple gift of their time, but by joining an event, volunteers are part of something bigger - they're helping to protect the habitats and wildlife around them," explains Lisa McLaughlin, Conservation Volunteers program manager at NCC. "Volunteers work alongside professional conservationists and get to see the impact of their work first-hand!"

The program gives people of all ages the opportunity to volunteer while learning new skills, exploring unique places, and observing rare species in the wild. With events planned right across the country, there will be something for everyone.

Whether helping to provide a safe haven for endangered species, removing invasive species that choke out native plants in many regions , or planting trees, shrubs and bulbs, Conservation Volunteers play a vital role in NCC's mission to protect the pristine natural areas. Without volunteers, NCC could not achieve its conservation goals.

"The events that are my favourites are ones that have a learning or teaching element connected to them," said Tony Irwin, a Conservation Volunteer in British Columbia. "The work is striving to restore the areas to what they were like before, which sometimes involves removing invasive species and planting native ones. One of the reasons I joined the NCC was to learn how they were doing the restoration and find out what I should be doing on my own property."

Register now for this year's Conservation Volunteers events during National Volunteer Week and become a Force for Nature! Visit NCC's website to find an event near you!

Facts

...Almost 1,200 volunteers, contributed approximately 7,300 hours of volunteer work through the Conservation Volunteers program last year.

...Events in 2011 include planting prairie grass in Ontario, cleaning beach habitat for endangered Piping Plovers in Nova Scotia, clearing out nesting sites for endangered Spiny Softshell turtles in Quebec and planting marsh plants for Chinook Salmon smolt.

...Events start in mid-April and will run until late November throughout the country.

...These events are for all ages, including children, retirees, families, teens and groups of friends looking for a fun way to get outdoors and help.

...Since the program's national launch in 2008, thousands of people have nurtured nature at Conservation Volunteers events coast to coast.

...In 2010, volunteers worked to protect 7,000 acres (2,830 hectares) of land; while planting over 15,000 native plants and trees, collecting over 100 bags of garbage, removing invasive plants and recording endangered and common species on the properties.

...The Conservation Volunteers program provides a unique and fun way to experience nature while learning about the world around us.

As a proud supporter of the Nature Conservancy of Canada, Toshiba Canada is providing digital camcorders to support the Conservation Volunteers Roving Reporters across the country. The Roving Reporters will capture short and fun video clips of Conservation Volunteers at work.

Learn More

...Sign up for an event at www.conservationvolunteers.ca


...Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/NatureConsCDA

...Become a fan on Facebook

...See volunteers at work on NCC's Flickr Page http://www.flickr.com/groups/ncc-conservationvolunteers


...Check out what volunteers are saying about the program www.natureconservancy.ca

To register for events taking place in your area visit www.conservationvolunteers.ca

The Nature Conservancy of Canada is the nation's leading land conservation organization, working to protect our most important natural areas and the species they sustain. Since 1962 NCC and its partners have helped to protect more than 2 million acres (800,000 hectares), coast to coast. To learn more visit: www.natureconservancy.ca

Egg Farmers of Ontario Announce New Entrant Program

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario, April 8, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - Last week, at Egg Farmers of Ontario's (EFO) 46th Annual Meeting held at the Toronto Airport Marriott Hotel, a New Entrant Quota Loan Pool was introduced to attendees. The aim of the Policy is to help individuals enter the Ontario egg industry.

EFO's Board of Directors began exploring the possibility of such a program in late 2009 and throughout 2010 they looked to other province's programs for insight and encouraged input from EFO egg & pullet farmers.

"We are pleased to provide this opportunity for individuals to join Ontario's egg industry," said EFO Chair Carolynne Griffith. "It is something we've been working towards and are excited it's now come to fruition."

In order to be eligible for EFO's New Entrant Quota Loan Pool, an applicant must:

...Be a Canadian citizen or landed immigrant;

...Be a permanent resident of Ontario;

...Not have held quota, currently or in the past, of any type in the supply-managed sector (egg, pullet, chicken, turkey, dairy or hatching eggs);

...Successful applicants will be required to purchase quota based on a 1:2 ratio;
Priority will be given to persons between the ages of 18 and 45.

"This is a permanent, long term program designed to add new farmers to our ranks," Griffith explains (see the New Entrant Policy Fact Sheet under "How does it work?" section). "It's a great way to ensure constant renewal of our industry."

Applicants who meet the above criteria will be reviewed by a selection committee comprised of well-respected and knowledgeable industry representatives. EFO will act as a resource for the committee. The committee members are:

Laurent Souligny, Past Chair of Egg Farmers of Canada
Darryl Ball, OMAFRA
Craig Bremner, TD Canada Trust
Robert Loree, Ward & Uptigrove
Junior Farmers' Association of Ontario

To apply, interested individuals must complete and submit an application form (available through EFO) along with a $100.00 non-refundable fee. Applicants are also encouraged to submit a Business Plan with their application. Successful applicants will be required to purchase quota based on a 1:2 ratio (1 unit purchased, 2 loaned). Applications will be accepted immediately up to and including May 31, 2011.