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
SWINE LIQUID FEEDING ASSOCIATION SEMINAR
Swine Liquid Feeding Association invites everyone to their seminar “Solutions for Success”
Date: Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Registration, Refreshments and Visit With Exhibitors: 8:45am.
Program: 9:30am – 3:30pm. At Arden Park Hotel, Stratford, On
Cost: Members is $50.00 and Non-Members is $80.00. This includes proceedings, a hot noon buffet lunch and refreshments. Advanced registration only.
If you have any questions, call: Marg Templeman, OMAFRA, Stratford Resource Centre at: 519-271-0354.
GROWING YOUR FARM PROFITS
by John C. Benham
Have you ever wished you had better computer training or bookkeeping instruction and more sound financial management of your farm business?
Well, on Friday, March 25, there is an opportunity to learn more about these concerns. The workshop will be completed on Friday, April 1 and will be held in the Elora OMAFRA meeting room, 9:30am to 3:00pm. Lunch and refreshments provided. Many other subjects important to your farm business management will be discussed. You will not be required to discuss anything about your own business, but it will be an opportunity to learn from other farmers how they handled various situations. We keep hearing good comments about these workshops.
For more information and to sign up, call 519-846-0941 or email wellington@ontariosoilcrop.org.
ENVIRONMENTAL FARM PLAN
by John C. Benham
We are now signing up farmers for the Wednesday, March 16th EFP workshop to be completed Wednesday, March 23, 10am to 3pm in Arthur. The February workshop is full to capacity and the Arthur workshop is now more than 50% of capacity already. So don’t put off signing up. Remember you require a completed 3rd Edition EFP to qualify for Cost Share incentives. Lunch and refreshments will be provided and the whole workshop is no cost to you. This is an opportunity for you to look at your farm from an environmental view point and rate it yourself and come up with a plan to improve some of the things you know need attention and in most cases take part in financial assistance to bring them up to standard. Does your fuel storage need to be upgraded?
To sign up or for information, call 519-846-0941 or email wellington@ontariosoilcrop.org.
NEW RECORD KEEPING RESOURCE FOR ORGANIC GROWERS
Canadian Organic Growers (COG) launches another handbook in its Practical Skills series of technical manuals for organic agriculture, Record Keeping for Organic Growers. The book and the series continue COG’s commitment and success in educating organic and transitioning growers.
“Making less work of paperwork” is the subtitle, and COG’s aim with this book is to help farmers reduce their time and anxiety around the record keeping required for organic certification. Most farmers already save information about their inputs, products and methods, so this handbook builds from that foundation to enable farmers to create and manage their annual organic plan and ongoing operational records.
The Practical Skills series and other handbooks are available from Canadian Organic Growers on the web at www.cog.ca or by phone at 1-888-375-7383 or 1-613-216-0741.
COMING EVENTS:
Feb. 12 Grower Pesticide Safety Course, Rockwood. Course starts at 8:45 a.m. 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 Soil Test Clinic, Mount Forest with Peter Johnson, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. Bring your questions and your soil tests. Pre-registration is required. Call Cathy Dibble: 519-463-9737.
Feb. 16 Grower Pesticide Safely Course, Harriston. Course starts at 9:00 a.m. and Separate Exam 3:15pm. To register, call Cargill, Harriston at 519-338-2015.
Feb. 18 Food Safety Traceability Initiative (FSTI) Training – Guelph Holiday Inn, 601 Scottsdale Dr., Guelph. Session runs from 9:30am through 1:30pm. For more information, contact OMAFRA’s Agricultural Info. Contact Centre at 1-877-424-1300.
Feb. 22 Linwood Agricultural Day – Linwood Community Centre, sponsored by Jones Feed Mill and the Linwood, Metzger & South West Veterinary Clinics. Each vet clinic will have a booth and vets available to talk with attendees. Refreshments and lunch will be provided. For more information, contact Paul Pletsch at Jones’ at 1-800-265-8735.
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.
Feb. 23 District #5 Sheep Association Information Meeting – Gencor, Guelph at 8pm. Dr. Rob Swackhammer will speak on improving lamb survivability. For information, contact Lene Band at 905-877-2969.
Feb. 24 – 28 Annual Southwestern Ontario Dairy Symposium at Woodstock Fairgrounds. Watch for program details at: http://www.dairysymposium.com/index.php.
Feb. 25 – 27 4-H Ontario Conference & Annual Meeting; check www.4-HOntario.ca for more information.
Mar. 1 Grower Pesticide Safety Course, Elora. Exam starts at 10:00 a.m. To register, call Ontario Pesticide Education Program at 1-800-652-8573.
Mar. 2 Grower Pesticide Safety Course, Guelph. Exam starts at 10:00 a.m. 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 further information: http://www.aps.uoguelph.ca/aquacentre/aquacentre/workshops.html or email: aquacntr@uoguelph.ca or phone 519-824-4120 ext 52689.
