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
GET AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND RURAL INFO WITH ONE NUMBER
As of June 3, 2013, connecting with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, and the Ministry of Rural Affairs, got easier.
You can call just one number – 1-877-424-1300 or TTY 1-855-696-2811 – to access provincial services and information on agriculture, food and rural Ontario. Knowledgeable staff in the Agricultural Information Contact Centre (AICC) will help you with the information or services you need.
This move to a single toll-free number is part of the Ontario government’s Open for Business initiative to create faster, smarter and more streamlined government-to-business services. You can learn more about Ontario’s Open for Business initiative by clicking: www.ontario.ca/ministry-economic-development-trade-employment.
UNDERSTANDING AND REDUCING NOISE NUISANCE FROM STATIONARY FARM EQUIPMENT
– by Hugh Fraser, Agriculture Engineer, OMAF and MRA
Noise is an unwanted sound. Although rural areas are generally quiet, farmers live in a competitive world, and modern farms sometimes have to use noisy stationary equipment.
Some neighbours might not like the noise they produce. Unresolved rural noise problems can result in poor neighbour relationships. Avoid problems before they start by using best management practices and common sense. For background information on noise from stationary farm equipment and some Best Management Practices to reduce possible nuisance for neighbours, visit: www.omafra.gov.on.ca.
VALUE-ADDED AGRICULTURE VIRTUAL COMMUNITY ESTABLISHED
The Ministry of Agriculture and Food and the Ministry of Rural Affairs, in partnership with the University of Guelph, has launched a pilot virtual community for farmers, rural entrepreneurs, students and advisors to network and learn from each other about adding value to farm businesses.
A virtual community is an online social network where people who have similar interests can come together to share and learn from each other. The Exploring Value Added Opportunities (EVAO) virtual community pilot builds on the Ministry’s new E-Learning modules, workshops and other training resources. It is free and easy to join.
Whether you are just starting out, or have years of experience to share you can be involved as much as you like. All you need is an interest in adding value, and internet access to join us on Facebook, Linked In, and Twitter. Go to: www.ontario.ca/e996 to access the EVAO resources including workshop dates and e-learning sign up.
SECURING YOUR HAY SUPPLY IN A CASH CROP WORLD
by Barry Potter, Agriculture Development Advisor, OMAF and MRA, Virtual Beef, May 2013
Hay has been in short supply this past year, as the dry weather reduced overall yield for forage crops across the province in 2012. However, a more permanent influence on hay supply in your area may very well be the high price of commodities such as corn, soybeans, cereals and canola. Hay has been a lower value crop compared to other commodities in the crop world, and beef farmers watch in frustration as cash croppers outbid them for rented land. Hay gets ploughed under in their “backyard”, leaving beef farmers to either source hay elsewhere or sell cows. For further reading, please visit: www.omafra.gov.on.ca.
COMING EVENTS
July 2 – Wellington Federation of Agriculture, monthly board meeting at OMAF and MRA Elora at 7:30 p.m. 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; 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Admission is free. Place: Dave Kuntz, Ikendale Farm, 1062 Concession 14, Carrick, RR4, Walkerton. Check the website for more information: www.ontarioforagecouncil.com.
July 11-13 – Ontario Maple Syrup Producers Summer Tour. Location: Cornwall, Ontario. For more information, visit: www.ontariomaple.com.
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 www.manureexpo2013.com.
Sept.10-12 – Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show: www.outdoorfarmshow.com.
Sept.17-21 – International Plowing Match and Rural Expo, Perth County; website: www.ipm2013.org.
