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: 8:30am to 5pm. For technical information, call the Agricultural Information Contact Centre at 1-877-424-1300 or visit the OMAFRA Website: www.omafra.gov.on.ca
CHANGES TO TAX CLASSIFICATION FOR FARM BUNKHOUSES
Ontario is changing the farm bunkhouses property tax classification from residential to farm beginning Jan. 1.
Farmers with residences that house temporary workers will pay the farm property tax rate, which is 75 per cent lower than the residential rate. Farmers work hard to provide Ontario families with healthy, fresh food. This change will help strengthen the agricultural industry, and support the Open Ontario Plan to create jobs and opportunities that will boost the province’s economy.
• Bunkhouses are dwellings on farms that house workers on a temporary or seasonal basis.
• There are approximately 2,000 bunkhouses located on farms across the province.
• Farm properties are assessed by Municipal Property Assessment Corporation based on farmer-to-farmer sales of farmland and are taxed at 25% of the residential rate.
Learn More:
• Property Assessment and Classification Review – Farms
• Farm Property Class Tax Rate Program
• Municipal Property Assessment Corporation
ONTARIO FRUIT AND VEGETABLE CONVENTION FEBRUARY 23 AND 24, 2011
We are looking forward to seeing you at the 2011 Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Convention conference on Feb. 23 and 24 at Brock University, St. Catharines. This conference gathers the best speakers from Canada, and the United States to provide information on the latest innovations and advances in the fruit and vegetable industry.
Highlights of some of the presentations and speakers at these sessions include:
• Pesticides, Sustainability, and Consumer Perception, Dr. Steve Savage Cirrus Partners, Evergreen, CO
• Soft pruning techniques, Riccardo Turata, Consultant, Italy
• Vision Robotics for Orchards and Vineyards, Tony Koselka, Vision Robotics, California
• 36 Yrs of Observations of Bulb Nematode on Garlic, Dr. Fred Crowe, Fred Crowe Consulting, Washington
• Pest control with reduced pesticide and carrier rates in nurseries, Dr. Heping Zhu, Wooster, Ohio, USDA ATRU
• Sustainable Hops Production in the Great Lakes Region, Dr. J. Robert Sirrine – MSU
• Economics of organic agriculture, Gregory Peck, Cornell University, NY
The conference also has a series of workshops providing more hands on information.
This year’s workshops include: lavender, permit to take water, and apple cider production.
Registration forms and an updated program are available in the Fruit and Vegetable Magazine, at local OMAFRA Resource Centres, or online at www.ofvc.ca.
COMING EVENTS:
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 8:45 a.m. To register, call Ontario Pesticide Education Program at 1-800-652-8573.
Feb. 12 Grower Pesticide Safety Course, Rockwood. Course starts at 8:45am. and Separate Exam 3pm. 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 9am. and Separate Exam 3:15pm 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.
Mar. 1 Grower Pesticide Safety Course, Elora. Exam starts at 10am. To register, call Ontario Pesticide Education Program at 1-800-652-8573.
Mar. 2 Grower Pesticide Safety Course, Guelph. Exam starts at 10am. To register, call Woodrill Farms, 519-821-1018.
Mar. 8 Getting Started in Aquaculture, Alma Aquaculture Research Station, University of Guelph. Full-day workshop: key requirements of initiating/operating a fish farm. Pre-registration and info.: www.aps.uoguelph.ca/aquacentre/aquacentre/workshops.html or email: aquacntr@uoguelph.ca or phone 519-824-4120 ext 52689.
