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: 8:30am to 5pm. For technical information, call the Agricultural Information Contact Centre at 1-877-424-1300 or visit the OMAFRA Website: www.ontario.ca/omafra
ONTARIO CATTLEMEN’S ASSOCIATION: LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
Announced in the fall of 2011, the OCA board of directors committed to a pilot project in collaboration with the Rural Ontario Institute to deliver a training program for beef producers that want to improve their leadership skills. This long-term investment will not only provide industry leaders with the knowledge and confidence to excel, it will provide stronger leadership capabilities for the entire association. The first class of graduates completed the program last week in Peterborough. Throughout the three sessions the group was trained on effective communications, meeting management, organization governance and beef industry issues.
The fall session is now scheduled and will begin with three multi-day sessions over a period of four months beginning in September, 2012. Applications are available online by visiting: http://www.cattle.guelph.on.ca/programs/leadership.asp. Application deadline is August 24, 2012.
100 YEARS OF LEARNING TO DO BY DOING
Did you know that 4-H has been around for almost 100 years? The year 2013 will officially mark the 100th anniversary of 4-H in Canada. As part of the celebration, organizers are looking for contributions to build a virtual history project about 4-H.
The history project will live online and will showcase 4-H from its origins in Roland, Manitoba all the way to the program that it is today. We want to celebrate everything that 4-H has been able to accomplish, as well as the future of this great program.
If you have any historical materials that you would like to share, it is a very easy process. You can upload photos, videos, articles and documents on the website and help tell the amazing story that is 4-H!
For information or to upload your contribution to the E-History Project: http://www.4-h-canada.ca/100/en/e-history.
IS YOUR FARM BUSINESS A COMMERCIAL GREEHHOUSE, LANDSCAPE NURSERY OR VEGETABLE FARM?
Through a special project offered for the 2012 cropping year, with support provided by the Canada-Ontario Farm Stewardship Program (COFSP), additional cost-share funding is available to support commercial greenhouse, landscape nursery and vegetable farms implementing selected Best Management Practices (BMP) focused on improving water quality, water quantity and water management issues.
The BMP’s include:
• runoff control projects
• buffer strip establishment in riparian areas
• tile water treatment systems
• improved pesticide management with support for equipment modifications to increase accuracy of applications
• nutrient use efficiency projects including recycling and treatment systems
• water efficiency projects including reduced wash water volumes and low volume irrigation systems.
To be eligible, a farm business must:
• Be a legal farm entity with a unique Farm Business Registration Number (FBRN) or equivalent
• Have a Third Edition Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) deemed appropriate through peer review.
Cost share is set at either 30 per cent or 50 per cent, up to the category cap.
For more information and application forms, contact John Benham at 519-846-3394.
COMING EVENTS:
Aug. 7 – Wellington Federation of Agriculture, monthly Board meeting, at OMAFRA Boardroom, Elora at 7:30pm. For information, contact Lisa Hern at 519-848-3774 or email: jplh@golden.net.
Aug. 10 to 12- Drayton Agricultural Fair, Drayton. Call for more information: 226-444-6500 (*part day).
Aug. 16 – Wellington County Plowing Match – the plowing begins at 10am. Hosted: by “Webfoot Farm” -The Morris Day Family. Location: 6374 Wellington County Rd. 7 (1 mile South of Elora).
Aug. 20 and 27 – Growing Your Farm Profits two-day workshop at Everdale Farms, 5812 6th Line, Erin from 9:30am to 3pm. Sign up electronically at: www.ontariosoilcrop.org/workshops or phone Liz at 519-638-3268.
Aug. 21 and 24 – Open Farm Days for the whole family at Ignatius Jesuit Centre, 5420 Hwy. 6 North from 3:30- 6:30pm. Visit: http://ignatiusguelph.ca for details.
Aug. 22 – FEASTT (Fertilizer Efficiency and Strip Tillage Tour) offers Corn and Soybean Growers New Technologies. Companies: Alpine Plant Foods, Clean Field Services Inc., MK Martin Enterprise Inc., Can East Equipment Limited, and Monosem. Location: Clean Field Services Inc, 7668-8th Line, Drayton – morning and afternoon sessions are available – at 10am and 3pm – each with a meal to follow. Admission is $10/person with all proceeds donated to charity. Contact or to register, Marli at: engelandm@nachurs-alpine.com or 1-800-265-2268.
Aug. 22 – OCC Corn Research Update Day, Ridgetown Campus, Pioneer Room RDC Building Agenda, 8:45 Refreshments; 9:00 Welcome; 9:10 Dr. Luc Bourgeois, Bayer CropScience Seed Treatments and Bees; 9:50 Ian Nichols, Weather Innovations Incorporated Corn Yield Trends: How Much Credit Should the Weather Get?; 10:50 Dr. Liz Lee, University of Guelph, Sorting Out the Genetics Behind Plant Density Response; 11:30 Crosby Devitt, Grain Farmers of Ontario Corn Research: Where do we go from here? 12:15 Barbeque Lunch at Picnic Shelter; 1:15 Ridgetown Campus Plot Tour, Dr. Peter Sikkema Weed Control, Dr. Dave Hooker Corn Agronomy; 3:30 Conclude. (Note: There is no charge for the day, but please register your intention to attend by emailing: davidtmorris@rogers.com).
