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.
ON FARM FOOD SAFETY: YOUR BUSINESS ADVANTAGE Wearing proper clothing and footwear
Clothing and footwear have the potential to cause cross contamination. Wearing clean, intact, proper clothing and footwear are especially important for workers who milk livestock, or handle eggs, honey, fruit or vegetables. To ensure food safety:
• Workers must wear clean and suitable clothing and footwear when entering the farm, field, barn or packing house.
• Workers must have access to storage areas to separate clean from dirty work clothing and footwear as well as a place to keep personal belongings.
• Designated clothing and footwear are required where clothing or footwear have the potential to cause cross contamination (e.g. spreading manure or applying pesticides).
Food safety practices keep agri-food businesses competitive, productive and sustainable. For more information, visit the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs website: www.ontario.ca/goodagpractices or call: 1-877-424-1300.
BE CAUTIOUS OF FARM VEHICLES SHARING THE ROAD
OPP want to remind drivers to pay attention to farm vehicles while driving on the roads this harvest season. Failure to pay attention and drive safely could result in an accident:
Recognize slow-moving farm vehicles by the orange triangle sign and use caution. Stay well back and prepare to stop.
Not all farm vehicles have turn signals – watch for farmer’s using hand signals.
Be aware farmers with long or broad equipment sometimes need to make a wide turn. If a tractor swings right, be careful it may be starting to make a left turn.
Due to weight and shoulder issues, farmers may not be able to pull off the road.
Farm equipment may take up more than one lane, so leave space when passing and meeting farm vehicles. Wait for a safe opportunity to pass!
ONTARIO HAY LISTINGS SERVICE
An asset to producers and buyers struggling with this year’s difficult growing conditions.
During this current growing season, producers have faced many challenges associated with the weather and drought-like conditions. There is a shortage of hay, and that shortage has a severe impact on many sectors. Most producers have reported about 50-70% of normal yield on their first cut of hay, and their second cut will be almost non-existent. Many producers of cattle and other large breeds are having a difficult time trying to find the hay needed to sustain their herds.
This year in particular, there is an urgency to spread the word about the Ontario Hay Listings Service. This continues to be a free, efficient and effective way of buying or selling hay and straw both locally and on an international level.
To access the listing, visit: www.ontariohaylistings.ca or for further information please contact the Ontario Forage Council at 1-877-892-8663.
CKNX RADIO FARM ADVISORY BOARD BURSARY
Students from Midwestern Ontario (Huron, Bruce, Grey, Perth, north Wellington, north Waterloo, or west Dufferin) who are enrolled in a post-secondary, agriculture-related program could qualify for this year’s CKNX Radio Farm Advisory Board Bursary.
The goal of the bursary is to support students who have a proven interest in agriculture and who are potential strong contributors to the future of the industry. Applicants will also be asked to submit a 1-2 page essay on their interest in the agriculture industry and/or their vision of their place in it once their application has been received.
Details and application forms are available at: www.agri-media.ca/farm-advisory-board/awardsscholarships/fab-bursary-info-application-2/.
COMING EVENTS:
Oct. 16 to 17 – Leading Edge Summit – “Building Bold Leaders to Strengthen our Rural Communities” Place – Hockley Valley Resort, Orangeville ON. Website: stepstoleadership.ca/default.aspx.
Oct. 24 to 26 – Dairy Cattle Welfare Symposium, Delta Guelph Hotel and Conference Centre, Guelph, Ontario. Check the website: www.dairycattlewelfaresymposium.ca.
Oct. 25 – OMAFRA’s “Good Agriculture Practices” Webinar Series: Preparing for an On-Farm Food Safety Audit, 12:00 noon. Interpret what to expect from an audit, the general requirements of a food safety program, and applying the tools needed for a successful audit. Webinar details/registration at: www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/food/foodsafety/producers/webinars.htm.
Oct. 30 – Wellington County Farm Safety regular meeting at Husky Farm Equipment, Alma at 8:00 p.m. sharp. For more information, call Walter Grose at 519-846-5329.
Nov. 6 and13 – Growing Your Farm Profits two-day workshop at Elora OMAFRA boardroom from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Sign up electronically at: www.ontariosoilcrop.org/workshops or phone Liz at 519-638-3268.
Nov. 2 to 11 – 2012 Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, Exhibition Place, Toronto. Details at: www.royalfair.org/.
Nov. 6 – 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.
