A weekly report prepared by the staff of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food (OMAF) and the Ministry of Rural Affairs (MRA). If you require further information, regarding this report, call the Elora Resource Centre at 519-846-0941. Office hours: 8:30am to 5pm.
FOUR OUTSTANDING LEADERS SELECTED FOR INDUCTION INTO THE ONTARIO AGRICULTURAL HALL OF FAME
In its thirty-fifth year, the Ontario Agricultural Hall of Fame Association will induct four leaders into the Hall of Fame Gallery at Country Heritage Park in Milton on June 8, 2014.
To qualify for this prestigious recognition, Inductees must have demonstrated visionary leadership, innovation and entrepreneurship in the advancement of agriculture in Ontario. They will have left a lasting legacy for the benefit of future generations.
Inductees for 2014 are:
– GEORGE W. ARNOLD, Bobcaygeon, Ontario; George Arnold was often referred to as the “Dean of Agricultural Banking” as his banking career led to his playing a pivotal role in developing and implementing several new innovations in farm lending and financial management. He was also innovative in his approach to advising farm owners on improved business practices to facilitate business planning.
– ART BOLTON, Dublin, Ontario. Art Bolton became a “Select” pedigreed seed producer in 1966. Since then, he has steadily built his reputation as an expert in the complexities of the regulations and procedures for growing and processing seed crops, and as a visionary in the accreditation and development of the seed industry in Ontario and Canada. Art is one of those rare individuals who has talents in business, science, organizational management and big-picture strategic analysis. His pedigreed seed business received the Long Service Certificate from the Canadian Seed Growers Association in 2010 for 45 years as a seed grower, and Art and his son Carl continue the business today;
– ROBERT HUTTON, St. Marys, Ontario, (1941 – 2013). Robert Hutton was a leader in Ontario’s fertilizer industry at a time when it needed to position itself to compete on the global stage; and
– GORDON SURGEONER, Fergus, Ontario. Gordon Surgeoner, PhD. has made extensive, significant and ongoing contributions to Ontario’s agri-food sector. He began to make his mark as a medical entomologist at the University of Guelph from 1976 to 2005, researching insect-borne disease control. He supervised 15 post-graduate students and was awarded the coveted Distinguished Teaching Award in OAC in 1989.
HOW TO PREPARE FOR AND RESPOND TO A PRODUCT RECALL?
Wayne Du, On-Farm Food Safety Specialist
Having an effective recall system in place is essential to removing contaminated food products from the supply chain quickly and preventing foodborne illness. Are you ready to conduct a product recall? Here are some helpful tips:
– Preparing for a recall. Identify and record contact information for local regulatory authorities, including the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), your suppliers/buyers, commodity organizations and emergency personnel and veterinarians;
– have the production information and supporting records organized and handy in the event of a recall;
– perform a mock recall to test the effectiveness of your recall system;
– ensure 100 per cent of affected product can be recalled in 48hrs; and
– responding to a recall, notify the CFIA immediately and provide the following information: the nature of the problem, name or brand of the product, product lot number(s), distribution of the product, and the 24hr contact information of your operation’s recall co-ordinator. Notify your buyers and other relevant parties of the situation immediately.
For more information on product recall, refer to “Food Recall and Emergency Response” on the CFIA website or attend our free online workshops on recall. Visit www.ontario.ca/foodsafety or call 1-877-424-1300 for the workshops.
COMING EVENTS:
Feb. 28 – Deadline 5pm – 2014 Premier’s Award for Agri-Food Innovation Excellence Program. For more information visit www.ontario.ca/agrifoodinnovation or by calling 1-877-424-1300.
March 5 – Grower Pesticide Course, OMAF and MRA Boardroom, Elora. To register, call the Ontario Pesticide Education Program at 1-800-652-8573 or visit www.opep.ca or email: opep@opep.ca.
March 21 to 28 – Environmental Farm Plan Workshop, OMAF and MRA Boardroom, Elora. To register, contact Lois Sinclair at 519-955-3139.
April 4 – Grower Pesticide Course, OMAF and MRA Boardroom, Elora. To register, call the Ontario Pesticide Education Program at 1-800-652-8573 or visit www.opep.ca or email: opep@opep.ca.
