A weekly report prepared by the staff of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA). If you require further information, regarding this report, 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
ENVIRONMENTAL FARM PLAN
by John C. Benham
If you don’t have a completed Third Edition Environmental Farm Plan, then here is your chance to make yourself eligible for the next Cost Share program. The next Environmental Farm Workshop is planned to be held in the Elora OMAFRA meeting room on Monday, February 6th to be completed on Monday, February 13th from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. each day. Lunch and refreshments are provided. No costs to you! Several farmers are signed up already. Take advantage of this workshop in the less busy season to be ready for the new EFP to be announced this fall. Complete your EFP at this workshop – it will be recognized for five years even if a new book is introduced.
During my inspections to complete each claim form for the Cost Share, I see some great projects. Recently I have inspected and completed the Cost Share Claim Form for three great improvements to soil erosion problems. In each case a large volume of water from a large area collects and as it flows to a lower area causes serious erosion. In each case a dam was constructed with a WASCOB – a Water and Sediment Control Basin was installed to slow down and manage the flow of the water. In these cases Cost Share provided 50 per cent of the cost up to a payment of $20,000 and the Wellington Rural Water Quality Program provides 30 per cent of the cost up to a payment of $10,000. If you have a similar problem, now is the time to address it.
To sign up for the workshop, go online at www.ontariosoilcrop.org/workshops/ or call John at 519-846-3394.
CERTIFY WITH ONLINE LEARNING
New this year! You can take the Grower Pesticide Safety Course though the internet. Three courses are scheduled still for this year:
Monday, February 27, Monday, March 19, and Monday, April 16.
The course takes place over five days. You are required to participate every day. You need to be competent in the use of a computer, have a high speed connection and be a self-directed learner.
What Will The Course Be Like? Each day you will need to login to class, be prepared to discuss pesticide topics with your classmates and complete each day’s learning activities. Before the class starts, view our resources under the “Learning” tab to:
View the presentations, Read the manual chapters, Practice your understanding by completing questions, Watch the videos. Prepare for class by learning the information in each chapter. The more you learn before you begin the course, the easier it will be for you to participate and complete the learning activities. You will be evaluated on each day’s learning activities and your participation in discussions with your classmates and the instructor. You must submit each day’s learning activities before 12 noon the next day. The activities contribute to your overall certification grade for a possible total grade of 100 percent. A grade of 75 percent or greater is required for certification. The course will be open to you for two weeks so you can view your grades.
Computer Skills and Equipment – It is your responsibility to have access to the technology for accessing the course. You are expected be competent in the use of the internet and know how to use e-mail as you will be navigating and searching the internet, corresponding with other students in your class and using web-based conferencing. The course works best when you use Internet Explorer or Safari. You need a high speed connection to enroll in this course. For our video conference on Monday at 7:30 p.m., your computer should be equipped with a microphone, speakers, and a web cam. Interested? Call us to register: 1-800-652-8573.
COMING EVENTS:
Feb.7 & 8 Ontario Soil & Crop Improvement Association Annual Meeting, Best Western Lamplighter Inn & Conference Centre in London. For details visit: www.ontariosoilcrop.org.
Feb. 7-9 Canadian International Farm Show, International Centre Toronto from 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. For information or to pre-register, check the website at: www.canadianfarmshow.ca.
Feb. 8 Grower Pesticide Safety Course and Separate Exam – 8:45 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Elora OMAFRA boardroom. To register, phone Ontario Pesticide Education Program at 1-800-652-8573.
Feb. 10 Grower Pesticide Safety Course in Mount Forest at 8:45 a.m. To register, phone the North Wellington Co-op at 519-323-1271.
Feb. 14 Free Online Advantage Food Safety Workshops for Producers – Pre and Post Harvest Water Use at 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Call 1-877-424-1300 or register online at: http://omafra.webex.com.
Feb.15 & 16 Farm Business Management Conference – “Take A New Approach: Global Perspectives for Growing Farm Profits” Delta Hotel, Guelph. Farm business management encompasses all aspects of the farm – from marketing and production to human resources, financial analysis and lifestyle. The Agricultural Management Institute encourages new ways of thinking about farm business management and is hosting this conference. For more information, call Susan Fitzgerald, 519-669-3350 or visit: http://www.takeanewapproach.ca/events/.
Feb.16 & 23 Environmental Farm Plan Workshop, Orangeville. To register, contact Jonathan Watchurst at 519-942-1181 or email at Dufferin@ontariosoilcrop.org.
Feb. 22 Dufferin Feed and Seed Show and Annual Meeting – 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Amaranth Township Hall, 374028 6th Line Amaranth Township. Admission: $25.00 includes membership and lunch. Exhibitor space is available. For information, call Jim Irvine at 1-800-265-2284.
