History of Ontario Farm Drainage Association

The Ontario Agricultural College
announced a program of free farm surveys for
land drainage the fall of 1905. These surveys,
together with a major program of research and
extension on the benefits of land drainage,
created broad interest on the part of farmers.
The first steam trenclling machine had been
imported the year before. By 1916 there were
139 trenching machines in Kent county, 33 in
Essex and 18 in Lambton.
I.R. Spry, Ontario Agricultural College,
wrote owners of ditching machines in
November 1916, stating that a special short
course on drainage and drainage surveying
would be offered to remedy the faulty
construction, carelessness and incompetence of
machine owners. InJanuary 1917, W.H. Scott,
Ontario Agricultural College, conducted the
short course for trenching machine operators at
Guelph. A second course was held at Petrolia
that year.
A depression struck in the 1920's and the
attempt to use the Association as a vehicle to
regulate prices failed. On the manufacturing
side, it is noted that the twenty-first annual
convention of the Western Ontario Clay
Workers Association was held in London in
1918. The Canadian Clay Products
Manufacturing Society was formed in 1902.
The name was changed to the Canadian
National Clay Products Association and later to
the Brick and Tile Manufacturers Association.
More recently, a Clay Drain Tile Manufacturing
Association was formed in 1970
The Ontario Agricultural College has
sponsored a short course for ditching machine
operators since 1917. The purpose of the
course was to upgrade contractors'
workmanship and general knowledge of land
drainage. In 1951 the annual short course
attracted 9 students. It was a typical year.
However, the last Friday of this ten-day course
was traditionally called "Buckeye Day"
Some concerns expressed at the 1957
Drainage Short Course pertained to a needed
increase in the Tile Drainage Act loans which
were limited to only $3000 per owner, a
decrease in Workmen's Compensation for
contractors, and a need for education of
township clerks regarding the Tile Drainage
Act. Ross lrwin and Bob Hore reviewed the
work of the earlier Association and suggested it
be reactivated. Nothing further was done.
Irwin wrote H.D. Ayers, his superior at the
College, pointing out "Buckeye Days" had
ended since the company no longer had a
monopoly in the business; that the Agricultural
Engineering Service was now responsible for all
field work west of Peterborough, and
recommended that a more formal and intensive
educational program be instituted. By 1957
there were 211 trenching machines in Ontario,
owned by 181 individuals, of whom 112 were
full-time contractors. He proposed the
Agricultural Engineering Service take over the
teaching of the short course, which would
become a three- year program leading to a
certificate.