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 Elora 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.omafra.gov.on.ca
GROWING YOUR FARM PROFITS
by John C. Benham
We are completing another successful Growing Your Farm Profits two-day workshop. The next GYFP workshop will be held Tuesday, February 8th and will be completed Tuesday, February 15th in Linwood. Financial assistance is available to help you improve your farm record keeping as well as restructuring your farm business to facilitate starting to pass the business to the next generation. Do you need help with marketing, improved production or help to achieve your farm business goals? Then this is the opportunity you should not miss! To sign up or for more information, contact Liz Samis at 519-638-3268.
ENVIRONMENTAL FARM PLAN
by John C. Benham
The next workshop is planned to be held on Wednesday, March 16th and Wednesday, March 23rd at 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The location for this workshop is St. John’s Parish Hall in Arthur. Lunch and refreshments are provided at no cost. Keep in mind a completed Third Edition EFP is required to qualify for the financial incentives. Since all the EFP incentives for 2011 have been assigned, the next opportunity to make an application will be Thursday, September 15, 2011. Also keep in mind to qualify for the Wellington Rural Water Quality Program delivered by the Grand River Conservation Authority, a completed Third Edition EFP is required. So don’t miss out on this opportunity. If you have questions or wish to sign up, please call 519-846-3394.
BRINGING LOCAL FOODS TO THE TABLE FUNDING OPPORTUNITY
More local food will soon be available in the cafeterias of hospitals, schools and other public institutions.
The Broader Public Sector Investment Fund will help connect farmers, food processors, and distributors with schools, hospitals, and municipalities to increase the amount of Ontario food purchased by the broader public sector. This will help support Ontario farmers and the agri-food industry.
The initiative will include:
• Funds for local projects that encourage business between institutions and farmers.
• The development of an electronic marketplace that links buyers with sellers across Ontario.
• A province-wide report to track positive support of local foods in the public sector.
The fund will be administered by the Greenbelt Fund, a sister organization of the Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation. Learn more about the fund and out how to apply by visiting www.Ontariofresh.ca or call the Greenbelt Fund at 416-960-0001.
A strong agri-food industry that supports local farmers is part of the Open Ontario plan to create jobs and opportunities that will boost the province’s economy. According to a recent Environics study, 80 per cent of Ontarians polled said that ensuring a local food source is very important to them.
COMING EVENTS:
Jan. 22 Farm$mart Agricultural Conference, Rozanski Hall, University of Guelph. For information check website: www.uoguelph.ca/farmsmart.
Jan. 22 Beef Symposium. This year the Beef Symposium will run in conjunction with the FarmSmart Conference, University of Guelph, Rozanski Hall.
Jan. 26 Centralia Swine Research Update; http://www.centraliaswineresearch.ca/proconline.html.
Jan. 26 District #5 Sheep Association Information Meeting at Gencor, 8:00 p.m. Cecelia Curtis will speak on nutrition for the pregnant ewe. For information, contact Lene Band, 905-877-2969.
Jan 28-30 30th Annual Guelph Organic Conference, Guelph University Centre. Registration is open now! For more information, call 519-824-4120 ext. 56205 or visit: www.guelphorganicconf.ca. Trade show inquiries email: organix@georgian.net.
Feb 2 Grower Pesticide Safety Course, Guelph. Course starts at 8:45 a.m. and Separate Exam 3:00 p.m. To register, call Woodrill Farms at 519-821-1018.
Feb. 5 Grower Pesticide Safety Course, Mount Forest. Course starts at 8:45 a.m. To register, call North Wellington Co-op at 519-323-1271.
Feb. 8 & 15 A two-day Waterloo County Growing Your Farm Profits Workshop will be held in Linwood from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. To register or more information, call Liz Samis at 519-638-3268 or lsamis@ontariosoilcrop.org.
Feb. 10 Grower Pesticide Safety Course, Elora. Course starts at 8:45 a.m. To register, call Ontario Pesticide Education Program at 1-800-652-8573.
Feb. 12 Grower Pesticide Safety Course, Rockwood. Course starts at 8:45 a.m. and Separate Exam 3:00 p.m. To register, call Ontario Pesticide Education Program at 1-800-652-8573.
Feb. 15 & 16 Free Stall Housing Design Seminar at Arden Park Hotel, Stratford. To register, call the Agricultural Information Contact Centre, 1-877-424-1300/email: ag.info.omafra@ontario.ca.
Feb. 16 Grower Pesticide Safely Course, Harriston. Course starts at 9:00 a.m. and Separate Exam 3:15 p.m. To register, call Cargill, Harriston at 519-338-2015.
Feb. 23 Tie Stall Housing Design Seminar, Fire Dept. Community Hall, Mount Forest. Call the Agricultural Information Contact Centre, 1-877-424-1300/email: ag.info.omafra@ontario.ca.
