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
NEW SHEEP NUTRITION TRAINING COURSE OFFERED ONLINE
A new online course, “Improve your Sheep Nutrition Management Skills”, has been developed by Dr. Paul Luimes, researcher at the University of Guelph, Ridgetown Campus with support from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food and the Ministry of Rural Affairs and the Agricultural Management Institute (AMI).
This course will provide new and existing producers with a foundation of knowledge in sheep nutrition, giving them the basic tools to be able to optimize the balance between feed, meat quality and profitability. Linking nutrition with the cost of production, producers will be made more aware of the relationship between nutrition, management and profitability. The course will allow each individual to work through the course material at their own pace, from any computer with internet access, at a convenient time.
Topics covered include:
• Feed Types
• Nutrients
• Digestive Physiology
• Nutrient Requirements
• Ration Formulation
• Feed Management
For more information about the “Improve your Sheep Nutrition Management Skills” course or to register online visit: http://www.ridgetownc.com/bdt/ce_sheep.cfm or contact: Dezarae Kemp, Business Development Centre, University of Guelph Ridgetown Campus, 519-674-1500 ext. 63295 email: dmalott@uoguelph.ca.
AGRI INVESTMENT FORUM
The Agri Investment Forum will be held June 26, 2013 at the Delta Chelsea Hotel in Toronto. This forum is the only program of events in Canada dedicated to showcasing the highest potential emerging and growth stage agri-businesses. The forum brings together active institutional and private investors with leading edge entrepreneurs and commercialization professionals. The Agri Investment Forum is an annual conference that promotes constructive deal flow between Canadian agri-entrepreneurs and investors from across North America. For more detailed program information or to register, visit: http://agri-investmentforum.com/index.php.
GOAT’S-BEARD
by John Benham, Weed Inspector
Weeds can be classified into four groups according to their growing habits. An annual is a plant, which completes its life cycle in one growing season. An example would be Velvetleaf. A biennial is a plant, which germinates in the spring, produces a rosette of leaves and remains vegetative during that first summer; over winters as a rosette; then sends up a flowering stalk during the second summer; sets seed; and dies at the end of the second season. An example would be Bull Thistle. A perennial is a plant that lives through three or more growing seasons. An example would be Colt’s-foot or Canada Thistle. The fourth type is the winter annual which is a plant that germinates in the fall, usually over winters in the rosette stage; flowers and sets seed the following spring and dies in the summer. An example would be Shepherd’s Purse.
Goat’s-Beard is a biennial reproducing only by seed. The flowering stems are from one to three feet tall, smooth, round, hollow, and topped by a yellow composite type (ox-eyed daisy) flower. The flower matures into a large, round seed-head like Dandelion or Colt’s-foot but much larger. Each seed has its own umbrella to permit it to travel on the wind often for great distances. It then establishes itself with a long taproot and grass like leaves. It is difficult to find in existing grass stands and usually is difficult to pull, especially when flowering. When the plant is injured it exudes a white juice. It flowers in June and July. It is a noxious weed under the Weed Act, so it must be destroyed.
COMING EVENTS
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: 10:00 am; Place: Holmes Agro, Orangeville; Contact: Carrie James, 519-986-3519.
July 10 Forage Expo; 10:00am 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: http://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 – 1:00 pm – 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 – 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., University of Guelph, Arkell Research Station – Arkell, Ontario. (tour August 20th, 2013 – North Wellington area). Contact: Christine Brown at: christine.brown1@ontario.ca or http://www.manureexpo2013.com.
