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Serving the Mapleton Community
Community News Volume 47 Issue 30
Drayton, Ontario
Sustainable farmers - Clovermead Farms won the 2014 Dairy Farm Sustainability Award at the Dairy Farmers of Canada AGM on July 16. From left are: Dairy Farmers of Canada president Wally Smith, Kelly and Korb Whale from Clovermead Farms, and Jason Cleveland of DeLaval Canada. photo courtesy CNW and Dairy Farmers of Canada
dairy farmers with innovative sustainable practices that improve the social, environmental and economic impact of dairy farming in Canada,� said DFC president Wally Smith. “We are pleased to take this opportunity to award an Ontario family farm who are striving to protect and improve our environment.� Andrew Ritchie, managing director with DeLaval Inc. Canada, said, “Sustainability is an integral part of our dairy industry and DeLaval is committed to help dairy farmers’ efforts in becoming more efficient and profitable with less
impact on the environment. “DeLaval is proud to offer Canadian farmers solutions to optimize efficiencies and sustainability on their farms.’’ The selection committee, consisting of nine sustainability experts, was particularly impressed with the Whales’ efforts in producing electricity, bedding and high quality fertilizer by using an anaerobic digester that turns cow manure into biogas. Additionally, the family is committed to maintaining at least 10 per cent of their land base as wildlife habitat and forest, with wildlife corridors
Daily Interest 1.55%
638-3328
Friday, July 25, 2014
Whales win national sustainability award
FREDERICTON - A Mapleton family is the winner of a national award for sustainable farming. Clovermead Farms, owned and operated by the Whale family, won the Dairy Farmers Sustainability Award, sponsored by DeLaval Canada. The award was presented at the Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) annual general meeting in Fredericton, New Brunswick on July 16. Accepting the award, which comes with a $2,000 cash prize, were Korb and Kelly Whale, seventh generation farmers who own the Clovermead operation with Korb’s parents, Bruce and Deborah Whale. “I am honoured to accept this award on behalf of our entire family,� said Korb Whale. “We are absolutely committed to continue using technology and techniques to produce food on our farm while improving the world we live in. We have the ambition of working towards a carbon-neutral farm.� Clovermead Farms’ philosophy is not just to take care of the land, but to improve it. The farm is a living example of what happens when the triple bottom line is considered: environmental responsibility, social equity and financial viability. “Since its inception in 2011, this award recognizes
1 Year GIC - 2.09% 3 Year GIC - 2.26% 5 Year GIC - 2.80%
made of tree rows to connect woodlots and streams. The three other finalists for the award - Dykstra Farms of Knowlesville, New Brunswick; Ferme Clobert Inc. of Saint-Bonaventure, Quebec; and Bakerview EcoDairy of Abbotsford, British Columbia - will receive a trophy and $1,000 prize during the annual general meetings of their respective provincial dairy organizations. DFC is the national policy, lobbying and promotional organization that represents Canadian farmers living on 12,529 dairy farms.
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Drayton fair schedule features changes for 2014 by Caroline Sealey DRAYTON - The Drayton Mapleton Agricultural Society has announced the schedule for the 158th Drayton Fair, including some format changes. On Aug. 8 at 6:30pm local tractor and truck pulls get under way. The evening ends with the first “King of the Pull� competition, with points accumulated at several Wellington County fairs. The OTTPA Tractor and Truck pull has been moved to the Saturday of the fair, Aug. 9, at 6pm. Modified farm tractors are first to pull and the program ends with super modified 4x4 pickup trucks and tractors. Brand new to the fair on Aug. 10 from 11am to 12pm, are “The Excavator Games.� Fair board member Arlie Zantinge said, “Forty people
are welcome to come and test their agility skills. Entry fee is $20 per person. Each competitor receives a prize.� Also new to the fair, running all day on Saturday and Sunday, is an antique tractor display. Tractors big and small have been donated by local tractor collectors. At this year’s fair a family of four can buy a pass for $25. On Saturday from 7:30am to 3pm the special adult admission price is $5. One fair book correction noted by Zantinge is, “The Demolition Derby is $25 entry fee and $10 admission. Volunteers are always needed.� For more information visit www.draytonfair.com or call Arlie Zantinge at 519-6383233 or Natalie Green at 519638-5093.
New clinic at local hospital gets green light for tenders by Patrick Raftis PALMERSTON - A new integrated health centre here has received the go-ahead from the provincial government, which also announced it will provide funds to increase local access to physiotherapy care.
Provincial, community and health care officials made the twin announcements on July 18 at the Palmerston and District Hospital (PDH), where the new Minto Rural Health Centre (MRHC) will be located. Continued on page 3
Residents ‘very receptive’ to exercise simulating flood emergency in Drayton by Patrick Raftis MAPLETON – A flood evacuation drill conducted in Mapleton this spring went well, but revealed some areas where work is needed, council heard at its July 8 meeting. Linda Dickson, Wellington County’s emergency management co-ordinator, noted the Emergency Management Program Committee decided in March to run an exercise based on a flood scenario in Drayton, including an evacuation component. “Drayton has been identified as being at a high risk for flooding and with the winter snow accumulations it was agreed that a flood-based exercise should be arranged,� Dickson stated in a written report. “Given the snow pack conditions and the higher risk of flooding potential this spring, the township’s Emergency Management Program Committee agreed that an exercise to review and update the flood response policies and procedures was necessary and
appropriate.� The exercise was held on March 25 and included an evacuation exercise and Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), table-top exercise at the new primary EOC location. An emergency notification exercise was also conducted at this time. The objectives of the exercise were: - conduct an evacuation drill by the Mapleton Fire Department – Drayton Station; - allow township staff to test emergency notification procedures after hours; and - test communication between the emergency site and the EOC during the exercise. Dickson stated the evacuation drill went well. “Firefighters found the residents to be very receptive and appreciative of the test,� she noted. Dickson reported that among the lessons learned from the exercise was that with respect to emergency notification for the control group, there
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were some updates required to the contact information. There were also some suggestions regarding flood mapping and Dickson said a meeting is to be arranged between the fire department and emergency management staff to discuss ways to improve the mapping. The Grand River Conservation Authority will also be consulted. Public education Dickson also advised council the theme for this year’s public education program was “Be Better Prepared for Prolonged Power Outages.� A number of public education initiatives were undertaken this year using the theme, including: - making emergency management information available at Wellington County libraries and municipal offices during Emergency Preparedness Week; - conducting draws for a generator and two weather radios at the county’s 14 library branches, at each of the Continued on page 3
County 4-H clubs host fun day and barbecue 4-H fun - Wellington County 4-H hosted a Family Fun Day and barbecue on July 20 from 11am to 3pm at the Drayton Fairgrounds. The event was open to 4-Hers of all ages and also to the public. Jason Schill and Krista Fraser made balloon animals for the youngsters in attendance. Additional photo on page 5. photo by Mike Robinson
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