A weekly press release prepared by the staff of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. If you require further information, regarding this press release, please call the Fergus Resource Centre at 519-846-0941. Office hours: 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. For technical information, call the Agricultural Information Contact Centre at 1-877-424-1300 or visit the OMAFRA Website:www.ontario.ca/omafra
ONTARIO GOVERNMENT INVESTS $500,000 TO EXPAND BUSINESS TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES AND FARM FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES
The Centre for Rural Leadership – www.ruralleadership.ca
The Centre for Rural Leadership is an organization designed to offer agricultural and rural leadership programming through educational programs, which include the Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program (AALP), one of the longest-running, most successful agricultural leadership development programs in the world.The Centre will receive a one-time transfer payment of $300,000 from the Ontario government to work with farm stakeholder and established training organizations in delivering affordable, hands-on business planning and market development workshops for farm families across Ontario.
Examples of current workshops that could be adapted and delivered across Ontario include:
• Growing Your Opportunities – assessing and developing value-added and farm diversification opportunities
• Commodity Marketing – assisting producers to manage their market risk and achieve the best possible price for their commodities
• Succession Planning and Beginning Farmer Workshops – enhancing the opportunities for success of a new generation of farmers in the sectors
Staff from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs will be working with producer groups and The Centre for Rural Leadership to develop these workshops and assist in their delivery. The Farm Line (1-888-451-2903) – www.thefarmline.ca
In operation since November 2000, The Farm Line Support Service is a telephone support help line for farmers and rural families in Ontario. The Farm Line provides referral to advisory services that address human and rural family dynamics as well as legal and financial resources.
The toll-free, confidential and bilingual service gives farm and rural family’s access to peer support on agricultural subjects, addressing issues and situations ranging from financial and legal, to personal, family and mental health.
Support and referral services also provide farmers access to mentoring, enhanced advisory services and networking.
As part of its strategy to assist the hog, cattle and horticultural sectors, the Ontario government is providing a one-time transfer payment of $200,000 to The Farm Line Support Service to enhance their existing peer-to-peer emotional support services and further develop their partner-delivered, front-line counseling services in order to provide immediate support to affected farm families. The Farm Line organization is a not-for-profit, charitable organization, funded by a number of private and public organizations, including the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.
2008 ONTARIO FRUIT AND VEGETABLE CONVENTION GROWING FOR THE FUTURE
by Donna Speranzini, OMAFRA, Vineland
This year’s Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Convention promises to be one of the biggest and best yet! It will be held at Brock University, St. Catharine’s on February 20 and 21, 2008. OMAFRA Agriculture Development Branch staff has used all of their connections and resources to deliver and bring leading edge production technology to Ontario growers. Topics covered address both the challenges of today as well as the potential for the tomorrow. Commodity production sessions for this year include: grapes, tender fruit, berries, apples, wine production, vine crops, tomatoes and peppers and a general field vegetable session.
Some highlights of these sessions include:Results of Ontario soil moisture monitoring research and a presentation on the tools you need; Final conclusions from the Ontario Wind Machine in Grapes Study; New weed management strategies for vine crops, tomatoes and peppers; New techniques for peach thinning; Japanese beetle management; Success growing vegetables 365 days a year; High tunnel production for vegetables; The role of the viticulturist in the winery; and Storage techniques to improve apple quality.
Complimenting these production topics are several sessions dealing with new management opportunities and challenges. These sessions include organic production, on-farm traceability, specialty crop production and local foods. New this year is two hands-on workshops. The first of these workshops will be on February 20, and will focus on Food Safety. The second workshop offered deals specifically with Fire blight. Look for registration forms in Fruit and Vegetable Magazine, at local OMAFRA Resource Centres, or online at www.ofvc.ca. See you there!
