A weekly report prepared by the staff of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food (OMAF) and the Ministry of Rural Affairs (MRA). 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 OMAF and MRA Website: www.ontario.ca/omafra
PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT RESOURCES FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food and the Ministry of Rural Affairs recently launched Performance Measurement Resources for Economic Development and is delivering training across Ontario in the spring and summer of 2013. The one-day regional training sessions will be hosted by:
• Southwest Ontario Economic Alliance – June 13 (Goderich)
• Kenora Economic Development Corporation – June 23 (Kenora)
• Bracebridge Economic Development – July 11 (Bracebridge)
These training sessions are for economic development officers. Attendance is by registration. To get a copy of the Measuring Up! guidebook, sign up for training or for more information go to: http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/rural/edr/pmr/pmr-inforeq.htm or email: performance.resources@ontario.ca or call the Agricultural Information Contact Centre: 1-877-424-1300.
NEW FERTILIZER CONTAINER RECYCLING PROGRAM FOR FARMERS LAUNCHED
A popular recycling program for farmers is being expanded to include new products. In addition to accepting empty, clean pesticide containers, CleanFARMS will now accept plastic fertilizer jugs and pails (less than 23 litres) as part of its annual recycling program.
Every year, approximately 4.5 million empty, triple-rinsed plastic pesticide containers are safely recycled into items that can be used back on the farm, for example farm drainage tile.
CleanFARMS encourages farmers to follow three easy steps in order to ensure the containers they are returning, including fertilizer containers, can be properly recycled. Farmers are asked to triple or pressure rinse containers to remove the entire product, remove the cap and label, and return the containers to the nearest collection sites. For more information, including a full list of collection sites visit: www.cleanfarms.ca or contact: Nadine Sisk at 613-218-6063.
FARM FIRE SAFETY
Between 2007 and 2011, barn fires across Ontario accounted for more than $175 million in property loss. The Ontario Fire Marshal (OFM) would like to send a reminder of the farm fire safety tips and resources it has developed in recent years. These resources can be downloaded from the OFM’s public education resources website. To access the website, go to: www.mcscs.jus.gov.on.ca/english/FireMarshal/FireSafetyandPublicEducation/PublicEducationResources/OFM_pub_ed_resources.html and enter PEP as the username and PEP001 as the password. Click on the “Shared Documents” link in the upper left corner, then open the “Farm Fire Safety” folder.
The “Reducing the Risk of Fire on Your Farm” resource includes strategies to reduce the impact of fires on farms. It is available here: www.omafra.gov.on.ca.
POULTRY INDUSTRY COUNCIL PRODUCER VIDEOS AVAILABLE ONLINE
Presentations from the Mt. Forest and London Producer Updates from February 2013 are now available on Poultry Industry Council’s website. Visit: http://www.poultryindustrycouncil.ca/training-and-events/producer-updates/2013-presentations/.
PERMIT TO TAKE WATER (PTTW) WORKSHOPS
The OF&VGA will be hosting PTTW workshops in the OMAF and MRA Simcoe auditorium (Simcoe Resource Centre, Hwy 3 & Blueline Rd., Simcoe, ON N3Y 4N5) in 2013 and 2014. The format will be a half day session from 9 am -12 pm working through the application form in a group setting.
To register, contact: George Shearer, tel: 519-763-6160 X 219. Registration fee: $20.
2013 Dates: October 25 and November 29
2014 Dates: January 31 and March 28
COMING EVENTS
June 19 & 20 Ontario Pork Congress, Rotary Complex, Stratford at: 10am to 5pm. Check the website: www.porkcongress.on.ca.
July 2 Wellington Federation of Agriculture, monthly board meeting at OMAF and MRA Elora at 7:30pm. For information, contact Lisa Hern at 519-848-3774 or email: jplh@golden.net.
July 9 Ontario Canola Growers Association Canola Crop Tour; Time: 10am; Place: Holmes Agro, Orangeville; Contact: Carrie James, 519-986-3519.
July 10 Forage Expo; 10am to 3:30pm. Admission is free. Place: Dave Kuntz, Ikendale Farm, 1062 Concession 14, Carrick, RR4, Walkerton. Check the website for more information: http://www.ontarioforagecouncil.com/programs/ontario-forage-expo.html.
July 11-13 Ontario Maple Syrup Producers Summer Tour. Location: Cornwall, Ontario. For more information, visit: www.ontariomaple.com/pages/summer_tour/.
July 11 FarmSmart Expo – all day event at the University of Guelph, Elora Research Station, 6182 2nd Line, Ariss (south of Elora, one block west of County Road 7).
July 12 FarmSmart Expo Youth Day – 1pm – University of Guelph, Elora Research Station, 6182 2nd Line, Ariss (south of Elora, one block west of County Road 7).
Aug. 21 North American Manure Expo – 8am to 4:30pm, University of Guelph, Arkell Research Station – Arkell, Ontario. (Tour August 20th, 2013 – North Wellington area). Contact: Christine Brown at: christine.brown1@ontario.ca or www.manureexpo2013.com.
