OMAFRA CONNECTS
February 2011
Edited by:
Brian Bell, Agricultural Representative
Northern Ontario Regional Office: (NORO) 1-800-461-6132 Fax: 1-705-594-9675
Regional Manager – North Region: Mary Ellen Norry Car
Regional Livestock Specialist: Barry Potter
Agricultural Business Management Specialist: Julie Poirier Mensinga
OMAFRA Connects is provided with the intent on keeping you informed of upcoming workshops, meetings, programs and resources for your community. You are welcome to share this with colleagues and other producers. If you know someone who is interested in receiving OMAFRA Connects or if this has been forwarded to you and you would like to receive a copy directly, please contact us. We would be happy to add you to our e-mail distribution group. Please note that the target publication date of OMAFRA Connects will be the first Friday of each month. Submissions and requests to subscribe/unsubscribe may be forwarded to: brian.bell2@ontario.ca
INDEX
Local Events
• To (m) eat or not to (m) eat... The Environmentalist's Dilemma-February 8th
• Manitoulin West- Sudbury milk committee AGM-February 11
• Massey area and Manitoulin sheep/goat meetings-February 15th
• Manitoulin Cattlemen/Soil and Crop Annual information day- February 16th
• MCFN meeting-February 22nd
• Moving Forward Together Conference on Climate Change Solutions-February 24,25.26
• Manitoulin Coyote Workshop- February 26th
• Manitoulin Farmer’s Markets AGM-February 28th
• Ontario Pesticide Education training dates- March 3rd and 4th
• North Eastern Agricultural Conference and Trade Show- April 8,9
Provincial Events
• From operating your biogas facility to Growing the Margins energy conference
Updates
• Food Safety and Traceability Initiative
• The Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada
• Environmental Farm Plan
• CALA (Canadian Agricultural Loans Act) program
Programs, Services and Resources
Les programmes, les services et les ressources du ministère de l’Agriculture, de l’Alimentation
et des Affaires rurales de l’Ontario sont également disponibles en français.
• Links for websites and services
Factsheets and Publications
• E-Newsletters
• Many new/revised factsheets
Highlights in Brief
• Night feeding, daytime calving
• OMAFRA offers Farm Business Decision Calculators
• Tap into funding for summer students
• Savvy farmer website
LOCAL EVENTS
February 8th -To (m) eat or not to (m) eat... The Environmentalist's Dilemma- a panel will discuss the pros and cons of meat in a “green” diet. Location: rethink Green ERC, 176 larch Street, rear entrance, to reserve a place, email erc@rethinkgreen.ca by Monday, February 7th.
February 11th - Manitoulin West- Sudbury milk committee AGM. United Church, Little Current, beginning at 12:00 noon
February 15th -West Sudbury and Manitoulin sheep/goat meetings-The West Sudbury meeting location is the Massey Fire Hall, beginning at 1:30 PM, the Manitoulin session will be held at the Spring Bay Hall, begging at 7:30 PM. Light refreshments will be available, topic areas will include nutrition, genetics, predation and lots of time for questions! Anita O’Brien, OMAFRA sheep and goat specialist, and Barry Potter, OMAFA northern Ontario livestock specialist will be attending.
February 16th- the MCA/MSICA will be holding their annual information day, beginning at 11:00 AM, at the Spring Bay Hall. For agenda items and additional details, please contact Marca Williamson.
Update
February 16th- Manitoulin Cattlemen’s/Soil and Crop Information Day- Topics will include pasture research and statistics, EFP and GYFP updates, Scott Vet Services presentation, AgriCorp update, BMO presentation on farm succession, updates on OSCIA 2010 and 2011, abattoir update, and any concerns for the OCA AGM from resolutions raised at the recent Cattlemen’s AGM. LUNCH will be provided. The information day will begin at 11:00 AM, at the Spring Bay Hall.
February 22nd - MCFN meeting- The next Manitoulin Community food Network meeting will be held on January 26, beginning at 9:30 at the Central Manitoulin Council Chambers in Mindemoya. For confirmation of the meeting date, time and location, further information and agenda items; please contact Linda Belton at beltonl@sdhu.com
February 24, 25.26 -Moving Forward Together Conference on Climate Change Solutions: The “Moving Forward Together Conference on Climate Change Solutions” will include three days of sessions designed to engage participants in discussing how climate change will affect people in the community, finding solutions to these potential realities and prompting development actions at the community level. For more information or to indicate your participation and attendance at the conference, please contact Myles Carter, Climate Change Intern at the Nickel District Conservation Authority. By Mail: Nickel District Conservation Authority, 200 Brady Street, 1st Floor, Tom Davies Square, Sudbury, Ontario P3E 5K3. E-Mail: myles.carter@sudbury.ca
Phone: 705-674-5249 (o), 705-207-8110 (c)
February 26th- Manitoulin Coyote Workshop: The Manitoulin Area Stewardship Council (MASC) is sponsoring a workshop that will link the general public to information that can help to promote greater use of this areas coyote resource. This will be a very hands-on event where local experts will share their knowledge in coyote biology, hunting & trapping techniques, firearms & ballistics, skinning and end use products that can be made from harvested animals. The workshop will be held at the Mindemoya Community Center in Mindemoya on Saturday, February 26th, 2011 beginning at 9:30 AM ending at 4:00 PM. Interested members of the public are welcome to participate and there is No Charge for Admission. Free refreshments will be provided. For more information please contact MASC representatives John Seabrook at (705) 377-5133, Mike Sprack at (705) 859-3919 or Bob Florean at (705) 869-5326 or email bob.florean@ontario.ca .
Manitoulin Farmer’s Markets AGM: Their annual general meeting will be held on Monday, February 28th, beginning at 9:30 AM, at the Spring Bay Hall. Everyone is welcome to join in for a potluck lunch.
March 3rd and 4th Ontario Pesticide Education training dates- for producers who require renewal, the following dates are set for training March 3, Sudbury District- Azilda. 9:00 AM course and 3:00 PM separate exam. For Manitoulin, March 4 in Little Current, 9:00 AM course and 3:00 PM separate exam. Call 1-800-652-8573 for further information.
April 8 & 9 - North Eastern Agricultural Conference and Trade Show: Earlton Recreational Centre, Earlton. Friday: 12:00 pm – 9:00 pm, Saturday: 9:00 am - 3:00 pm. Over 70 exhibitors including maple syrup vendors-New this year “Living in the Country” Expo with demonstrations, Speaker sessions: Saturday 10:00 am - 3:00 pm. Mark these dates on your calendar for 2011. More information and to book your exhibit please contact Graham Gambles at 705-672-3105 or email gamblesgraham@yahoo.ca
PROVINCIAL EVENTS
February 8-10 – Operating Your Biogas Facility: Best Western Cambridge Hotel, 730 Hespeler Road, Cambridge-Featuring Earl Jenson, P. Eng, Alberta Innovates-Technology Futures and Birgit Pfeifer, Germany Screening & monitoring biogas plants in Europe, and Don Hilborn, OMAFRA. Tour 2 biogas plants. Fee: $400.00 + HST= $452.00 More information and Registration Online:
www.ridgetownc.com/bdt/ce_biogas.cfm Please make cheque payable to University of Guelph, *Cost-share funding may be available to you through the Growing Forward Business Development for Farm Business program in Ontario. Call 1-877-424-1300
February 8 & 9, 2011 – Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association Annual Meeting- Sheraton Fallsview Hotel and Conference Centre. Details will be available at
www.ontariosoilcrop.org
February 8-10, 2011 - Canadian International Farm Show- 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. International Centre, Mississauga
February 18 - Renewing Rural Economies: Agricultural Development Forum
9:00 am - 4:00 pm. Arboretum Centre, University of Guelph, Guelph, Cost: $40.00. How do communities organize effectively around economic development for agriculture? Join planning, economic development and agriculture industry colleagues for a collaborative dialogue about how to facilitate greater economic development in Ontario's key agricultural areas. More Information and Registration: Website:
www.ontariofarmlandtrust.ca/resources/2011-forum
Telephone: (519) 824-4120 x 52654 Email: matt@ontariofarmlandtrust.ca
February 22, 2011- Pfizer Cattlemen's College, 7:00 PM, In conjunction with the 2011 OCA Annual General Meeting, Doubletree International Plaza Hotel, Toronto
February 23 & 24 - Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Convention, Brock University, St.Catharines- for more details visit the website at
www.ofvc.ca.
February 23 & 24, 2011- OCA Annual General Meeting, Doubletree International Plaza Hotel, Toronto
February 23 & 24 – Innovative Farmers Association of Ontario Conference
Lamplighter Inn, London, Ont.-For more information:
www.ifao.com or call 519-986-3560.
February 24, 2011 – Eastern Ontario Crop Conference- details available by visiting
http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/conferences/20110224.htm
February 25 - Blade Farming: Learn How an English Value Chain Set the Benchmark for Success in the Beef Industry- 9:00 A.M. - 12 noon
Delta Meadows, Mississauga, Ont. Seating is limited. RSVP to Pat Dares, 519-822-3929 ext. 213 or visit pat@georgemorris.org
February 28 to March 2 - 5th Annual Growing the Margins Rural Energy Conference & 3rd Annual Canadian Farm & Food Biogas Conference:
London, Ont. Preliminary conference programs can be found on-line at:
www.gtmconference.ca &
www.biogasconference.ca *For agricultural producers, the Growing Your Farm Profits program will rebate 50% of registration costs and 50% of travel costs for this conference. To be eligible, you must FIRST attend the GYFP workshops and develop an action plan:
http://www.ontariosoilcrop.org/en/programs/farm_business_planning_program_gyfp_calendar.htm
UPDATES
Food Safety and Traceability Initiative: - The application intake date for 2011 will be announced soon. As soon as it is available, the information will be posted on the ministry website and ag-organizations will receive notification. In preparation, those interested can review the 2010 FSTI guidebook on the ministry website – the 2011 guidebook will be posted soon. You can also secure your Premises identification number as Premises Identification is an eligibility requirement for FSTI cost-share funding. FSTI information sessions provide excellent information to applicants and are an eligibility requirement for applications under FSTI ‘Option 1’. Sessions will be held over the coming weeks – dates and times to be posted soon. If you attended a session in a previous year, you do not need to attend again. As always, information will be available in the Growing Forward section of the ministry website, by calling 1-888-479-3931, or by e-mail at growingforward@ontario.ca.
The Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada (OACC) was established nine years ago, with a vision of promoting sustainable and science-based organic agricultural systems supporting healthy Canadian communities. In short, we are here to help you, the practitioners of organic agriculture in Canada. Some of you may already know us, some of you may need a gentle reminder about us, or maybe we haven’t yet made your acquaintance. Regardless, OACC wants to remind you of the resources that are available to you. No need to make a trip to Nova Scotia to visit the OACC offices, we provide an abundance of information with a just a few taps of the keyboard and clicks of the mouse. The OACC website is a veritable on-line library of organic resources. We invite you to visit
www.oacc.info and explore the extensive list of extension materials, newspaper articles, research abstracts, animal welfare information and more. We aim to collect organic resources from across Canada and around the globe, and make them accessible to you on the website. Interested in the effects of organic agriculture on biodiversity? Want to learn more about organic greenhouse production? Need some help interpreting the new organic standards as they pertain to animal welfare? You’ll find it all! Searchable and indexed by resource type, category or province, information is easy to access. The website is also the go-to place to find out more about the recently announced Organic Science Cluster. The OACC Organic Friends’ E-zine highlights the new materials posted on the OACC website each month, making it easy for you to stay even more in-tune with recent happenings, new research results and extension materials. If you haven’t already signed up, we invite you to visit our website or e-mail oacc@nsac.ca to join the over 14,000 people already on our mailing list. Established to provide an on-line meeting place for organic farmers in Canada to discuss topics of interest, share details on on-farm trials and experimentation, communicate and collaborate with fellow farmers, and share success stories or frustrations, the OACC Discussion Forum is our newest on-line tool and resource. This venue will also provide organic researchers in Canada with insight into the research needs and desires of organic farmers. Visit today, explore the discussions, and sign up for an account to share your thoughts and perspectives with the organic community of Canada at
http://www.oacc.info/phpbb3/ we hope to see you soon!
Environmental Farm Plan (EFP): The 3rd edition EFP has been available since 2005. If you have not already participated, you are encouraged to get involved in this workshop program and prepare an EFP for your farm operation. There is no registration cost. Protect your soil and water resources, enhance production benefits, demonstrate due diligence and minimize risk on your farm. Through the EFP process, you will self assess your farm operation and identify actions to protect your own farm environment. Although current cost-share funding has been fully allocated, more opportunities will be available in the near future. For more information on the EFP program, or to register for an EFP workshop, contact Mary Scott at 705-377-4928
The Canadian Agricultural Loans Act (CALA) program is a financial loan guarantee program that gives farmers easier access to credit. Farmers can use these loans to establish, improve, and develop farms; while Agricultural co-operatives may also access loans to process, distribute, or market the products of farming. The CALA program builds on and replaces the previous Farm Improvement and Marketing Co-operative Loans Act (FIMCLA) program, which has helped farming operations grow their businesses by guaranteeing loans issued through financial institutions since 1988. Through the CALA, the Government of Canada is supporting the renewal of the agricultural sector and enabling co-operatives to better seize market opportunities. Visit:
http://www4.agr.gc.ca/AAFC-AAC/display-afficher.do?id=1177344219813&lang=eng
PROGRAMS, SERVICES and RESOURCES
Les programmes, les services et les ressources du ministère de l’Agriculture, de l’Alimentation et des Affaires rurales de l’Ontario sont également disponibles en français.
OMAFRA Website:
www.ontario.ca/omafra
Northern Ontario Regional Office (NORO): 1-800-461-6132
Agricultural Information Contact Centre: 1-877-424-1300 or e-mail
ag.info.omafra@ontario.ca
Nutrient Management Line: 1-866-242-4460 or e-mail
nman.omafra@ontario.ca
Growing Forward Information Line: 1-888-479-3931 or e-mail
growingforward@ontario.ca
The Farm Line: 1-888-451-2903 - A confidential emotional support and referral
Service
The Cropline: 1-888-449-0937
Maple Production Information Centre –
www.ontario.ca/maple
Online Info Resource Champions Food Safety: A revamped Food Safety and
Traceability website at
www.ontario.ca/foodsafety
Visit
www.ontario.ca/haccp for general information about food safety for food
Processors
OMAFRA Financial Resources and Support Services for Families, Call: 1-800-461-6132
Or pick up at the Service Ontario Office in Gore Bay.
FACTSHEETS and PUBLICATIONS
To order OMAFRA publications and factsheets: Visit the OMAFRA website at:
www.ontario.ca/omafra or contact the Northern Ontario Regional Office at 1-800-461-6132. For a complete listing of OMAFRA products, visit
http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/products/index.html
Factsheets:
10-073: Nutrient Management Act, 2002, Winter Application of Manure and Other Agricultural Source Materials;
10-079: A Comparison of Sprayer Technology in Ginseng;
10-071: Corrosion of Roof Truss Gusset Plates in Farm Buildings;
10-075: Canada Pension Plan;
10-077: Rodent Control in Livestock and Poultry Facilities;
10-063: Nutrient Management Act, 2002, Composting of Cattle On-Farm;
10-065: Downy Mildew in Cucurbits;
10-069: Adjusting, Maintaining and Cleaning Airblast Sprayers;
10-053: Using Propane-Fired Cannons to Keep Birds Away from Vineyards;
10-059: Horse Barn Ventilation;
10-061: Programs and Services for Ontario Farmers;
10-043: Nutrient Management Act, 2002, Winter Application of Manure and Other Agricultural Source Materials;
10-049: Guide to Custom Farmwork and Short-Term Equipment Rental;
10-051: Storage of Liquid Manure;
10-055: Ungraded Lumber in Farm Buildings;
10-057: Nutrient Management Act, 2002, Nutrient Management Strategies and Horse Barns
Agdex 770/400; 10-067: Using Less Energy on Dairy Farms;
Agdex 420/28; 10-085: Estimating Body Weight for Horses;
Agdex 714; 10-089: Engineering Requirements for Farm Structures;
Agdex 752/555; 10-091: Operating and Maintaining a Tile Drainage System;
Agdex 475/662; 10-093: Aleutian Disease in Mink
Publications:
Publication 836; Growing Greenhouse Vegetables in Ontario
Publication 370; Production Recommendations for Greenhouse Floriculture
Publication 60; 2011 Field Crop Budgets
E-Newsletters
For a complete list of OMAFRA newsletters, visit:
http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/newsletters.html
OMAFRA Environmental Management Newsletter
http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/nm/newsletter/emn.htm
OMAFRA Agricultural Business Update:
http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/busdev/news/index.html#agbus
OMAFRA ON Organic newsletter:
http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/organic/news/news-organic.html
OMAFRA Horse News and Views
www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/livestock/horses/news.html
OMAFRA Virtual Beef
www.ontario.ca/livestock and click on OMAFRA Virtual Beef
Crop Talk
http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/field/news/news_croptalk.html
OMAFRA’s regular field crop reports available here:
http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/field/reports/index.html
OMAFRA HORT Matters
http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/hort/news/news_hortmatt.html
CEPTOR Animal Health News
www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/livestock/ceptor/news.html
Agricorp
http://www.agricorp.com/en-ca/news/dates.asp#dateID_445
Foodland Ontario
http://www.foodland.gov.on.ca/
Information on Harmonized Sales Tax for Ontario’s Farmers:
http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/busdev/facts/HSTbenefits.htm
Young and New Workers: Are Yours Ready?
http://www.labour.gov.on.ca/english/hs/pubs/new_workers.php
Eat Local Food Page Ontario:
http://www.foodlink.ca/index.php?p=local_food_across_ontario
HIGHLIGHTS in BRIEF
Night feeding, daytime calving: Many producers like to have cows and heifers calving during the day. It is much easier to observe and provide assistance in daylight hours compared to the middle of the night. How can we control calving time? Evening feeding increases the rate of daytime calving. In a study in Canada on Hereford cows, 38.4% of a group fed at 8:00 AM and again at 3:00 PM delivered calves during the day, while 79.6% of a group fed a t 11:00 AM and 9:00 PM delivered during the day. Controlled feeding is a challenge for herds consuming large round bales. Limiting access is the key. Put hay in a restricted area with a gate. Where possible allow access to hay in the morning, remove them when satisfied and return the herd again to feed in the evening removing them when satisfied. This however can be quite time consuming- an alternative is to allow the herd only as many bales as they will eat at one feeding.
OMAFRA offers Farm Business Decision Calculators: They can be found at
http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/busdev/downtown.htm and are free tools that you can use to improve your farm business.
Tap into funding for summer students: It might be cold outside, but summer is coming – and so is the opportunity to apply for funding from Canada Summer Jobs 2011. You can help students between the ages of 15 and 30 gain valuable work experience while saving up to 50 per cent of labour costs. To qualify, you must be a private sector employer with 50 or fewer employees. Not-for-profit organizations and public-sector employers are also eligible. Learn more: call the Youth Info Line toll-free at 1-800-935-5555, or visit a Service Canada Centre. Information is posted on the Service Canada’s Canada Summer Jobs website. The application period is from February 1 to February 28.
Savvy Farmer website:
http://savvyfarmer.com/ this is a pest control website, with a small subscription fee.
Brian Bell, Agricultural Representative
Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
35 Meredith Street, P.O Box 328 Gore Bay, Ont
P0P 1H0
brian.bell2@ontario.ca
www.ontario.ca/omafra
1-800-461-6132 Fax: 1-705-282-2792
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