HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-12-14 MinutesAgricultural Advisory Committee of Clarington Meeting
Thursday, December 14, 2017
Members Present: John Cartwright Brenda Metcalf Don Rickard
Tom Barrie Henry Zekveld Eric Bowman
Ted Watson Les Caswell Richard Rekker
Regrets: Elgin Greenham, Jennifer Knox, Councillor Wendy Partner
Guests: Fred Horvath, Steve Brake, Clint Peters, Larry Postill, Operations
Department.
Staff: Amy Burke, Faye Langmaid, Planning Services
Brenda welcomed all to the meeting, with introductions.
Adoption of Agenda
017-23 Moved by Eric Bowman, seconded by Richard Rekker
"That the Agenda for December 14, 2017 be adopted"
Carried
Approval of Minutes
017-24 Moved by Les Caswell, seconded by Tom Barrie
"That the minutes of the November 2, 2017 meeting be approved"
Presentation
Fred Horvath, Director of Operations introduced his staff and provided an overview of
the Operations Department. In particular he provided information and statistics on the
rural roads maintenance, levels of service, emergency assistance, impacts from climate
change. Copy of the presentation was circulated to committee members.
The question and answer session focused on trees overhanging rural roads with
specific locations identified. Ditching issues again with specific problem areas
identified. Concern expressed by committee members about the backlog in ditching (12
years) and that it means some of the recent storms have flooded out fields rather than
flowing down ditches. This is affected by highfloat of roads and tilling to the ditch edge.
Agricultural Advisory Committee of Clarington December 14, 2017
Tom Barrie volunteered to provide a listing of farms where the milk trucks are now
arriving very early in the day, same with egg and feed trucks. This is so Operations is
aware of routes that may need snow clearing early in the day.
Business Arising
Rural Ontario Leaders Awards — Two nominations were prepared and submitted by
Jennifer and Faye, the Committee was the nominator of Marlene Werry and Farm
Connections.
150 Commemorative Sign Program — Brenda announced that 150 families have now
been recognized in Durham Region. These farms will also receive provincial
recognition.
THEE Farmer's Parade of Lights went off well, Eric was informed by the Police that this
is now the largest from a crowd perspective parade in Durham. The video shot has
some 17,000 hits within the first few hours. All seems to work well with the new route,
crowd control, etc.
Correspondence and Committee Reports
Durham Agriculture Advisory Committee:
The Local Food Business, Retention and Expansion Study information on the grant and
study was circulated to the committee.
Durham Region Federation of Agriculture:
Brad Chesla, president of the newly incorporated " Rural Durham Ratepayers Assoc. " —
explained that its mandate is to lobby Municipal and Regional councils on behalf of the
communities of Enfield, Enniskillen, Haydon and Tyrone to have local concerns/issues
addressed. Mr. Chesla was requesting DRFA work with his ratepayers group in support
of their goals. DRFA will not be collaborating with the association on all their goals, they
will collaborate on extending natural gas and internet service further into the rural area
Ontario Farm Association meeting, Mark Torrey attended and reported on "Soil & Water
Information Day"— discussions/presentations centered around cost analysis of municipal
drainage vs. conventional/natural channel, phosphorous retention strategies and
organic amendments. A new Provincial soil health strategy has been announced in
order to maintain "Soil health & sustainability in Ontario". Mark also mentioned Finance
Minister Sousa's announcement regarding the additional small business tax cut to offset
the increase in minimum wage increase.
Brief background and discussion on the "Emily Project" www.Farm911.ca this is an idea
to be discussed with Fire Chief, Operations staff and Committee in future.
DRFA Executive elections; Mitch Morawetz elected as President and Karen Yellowlees
confirmed as Secretary, Treasurer.
Agricultural Advisory Committee of Clarington December 14, 2017
Farm Connections — DRFA looking for volunteers for the " touch a truck event " — public
has overwhelming interest in the machinery used on farms, interesting way of informing
and educating the public —if you are able to volunteer let Brad Found know.
Clarington Board of Trade:
CBOT is working with the members of the agricultural sector to determine the focus and
messaging for the creation of a video about local agriculture. The scheduling with the
videographer and timing of farm harvests has been a challenge.
AACC members are invited to submit topics and speaker ideas to CBOT for the 2018
annual CBOT Agricultural Summit.
New Business
Future Agendas
(Not yet confirmed) Ontario Farmland Trust
(Not yet confirmed) Hydro One, Harness Saving on the Farm Programs
(Not yet confirmed) Barry and Mark Bragg to speak about their operation and value-
added initiatives — John Cartwright to follow up.
(Not yet confirmed) Participation House - Jenni Knox to follow-up.
(Confirmed for Feb) Cci BioEnergy will discuss the small anaerobic digester pilot
projects they are working on.
Eric Bowman moved to Adjourn.
Next Meeting: Thursday, January 11th, 2018 @ 7:30 pm
Miller Waste to discuss their agricultural anaerobic digestion project
Agricultural Advisory Committee of Clarington December 14, 2017