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
NEW OMAFRA WORKSHOPS FOR ON-FARM FOOD SAFETY
OMAFRA is pleased to introduce a new, one-day comprehensive workshop for the agriculture sector, which focuses on the following five topics:
1. Getting Started in Food Safety – Have you thought about getting started with making food safety improvements on your farm, but weren’t sure where to start? Evaluate food safety programs and practices, write a basic food safety plan and help you find resources.
2. Hygiene and Sanitation – Learn how to examine risks and discuss how to develop and implement a hygiene and sanitation program in the field and pack house, and develop a hygiene and hand washing plan.
3. Pre and Post Harvest Water Use – Did you know that water can carry germs from dirty produce to clean produce? A pre and post harvest water use program is an important step in reducing risks. Evaluate your risks, and discuss how to construct and monitor a water sanitizing program.
4. Manure, Compost and Compost Teas – How you compost manure can affect the risk of pathogens contaminating crops. Learn about the Good Agricultural Practices that help reduce the risk of contamination, and write guidelines that fit into a farm food safety program.
5. Food Safety on Multi-Commodity Farms – Multi-commodity farms present a unique challenge when it comes to food safety. Do you know where your risks lie? Construct a map linking farm practices to food safety to determine where cross-contamination could occur. Discuss and develop a risk reduction program for your farm.
Pricing: Price for Agricultural Producers: $45 + HST and Price for non-Producers: $65 + HST.
Dates and Locations: March 10, Markdale and March 16, Elora.
If you would like a workshop scheduled in your area, please let us know.
For more information: Toll Free: 1-877-424-1300, Local: 519-826-4047, E-mail: ag.info.omafra@ontario.ca.
GROWING YOUR FARM PROFITS
by John C. Benham
We have just completed another successful Growing Your Farm Profits two-day workshop. The next GYFP workshop will be held Tuesday, Feb. 8 and will be completed Tuesday, Feb. 15 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!
The next GYFP workshop is planned for Friday, Mar. 25 to be completed Friday, Apr.1 in the Elora OMAFRA meeting room. To sign up, or for more information, contact Liz Samis at 519-638-3268.
ENVIRONMENTAL FARM PLAN
by John C. Benham
The next EFP workshop is planned to be held on Wednesday, Mar. 16 and Wednesday, Mar 23 at 10am to 3pm. 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, Sept. 15. 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.
COMING EVENTS:
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 3pm. To register, call Woodrill Farms at 519-821-1018.
Feb. 2 Regional Poultry Producer Update, Elm Hurst Inn, Ingersoll. Check the website: www.poultryindustrycouncil.ca.
Feb. 5 Grower Pesticide Safety Course, Mount Forest. Course starts at 8:45am. To register, call North Wellington Co-op at 519-323-1271.
Feb. 8 – 9 OSCIA annual meeting, Sheraton Fallsview Hotel and Conference Centre, Niagara Falls. Check the website: www.ontariosoilcrop.org.
Feb. 8 -10 Canadian International Farm Show, International Centre, Toronto. For information, check the website: www.canadianfarmshow.ca.
Feb. 8 & 15 A two-day Waterloo County Growing Your Farm Profits Workshop will be held in Linwood from 9:30am to 3pm. 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 8:45am. 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.
