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 RESOURCE FOR MARKETING FOODS OF PLANT ORIGIN
The Ministry of Agriculture and Food and the Ministry of Rural Affairs have developed a new online tool, to help produce growers understand the regulations and requirements to bring their foods of plant origin to market. Whether they are selling at the farm gate or, to local farmers’ markets or retailers, this tool connects producers to the food safety, labeling and packaging requirements for their region.
The Marketing Foods of Plant Origin in Ontario: A Guide to Legislative Requirements, allows growers to go online and answer a series of questions, the answers to which provide them with a list of laws, key requirements and licensing information that apply to their particular situation. This customized information helps them offer their products for sale while complying with appropriate rules and regulations.
This application can be found at www.ontario.ca/producesafety.
GROWING FORWARD 2: FUNDING ASSISTANCE AND WORKSHOPS
Growing Forward 2 (GF2) is a comprehensive federal-provincial-territorial framework, aimed at encouraging innovation, competitiveness and market development in Canada’s agri-food and agri-products sector. Funding assistance and workshops are now available through the GF2.
The GF2 program is currently offering two types of funding assistance: Funding Assistance for Capacity Building (for producers, processors, organizations and collaborations); and Funding Assistance for Project Implementation (for organizations and collaborations). For more information about the program, eligibility and applications, please visit: www.omafra.gov.on.ca.
As well, there will be Environmental Farm Program and Growing Your Farm Profits workshops held across the province through Sept. 6.
Please visit registration.wildapricot.org/Workshops for more details.
Ontario Farm Innovation Program
OMAF and MRA are supporting the development and adoption of on-farm innovations that can increase the ability of farmers to respond to changing demands and opportunities and improve on-farm profitability. The Ontario Farm Innovation Program (part of Growing Forward 2) will provide funding for applied research projects and on-farm demonstration projects that showcase new on-farm innovations. The program is open to non-supply managed farm organizations and to individual farmers in partnership with commodity organizations. OFIP is delivered by the Agricultural Adaptation Council (AAC). For more information please visit the AAC website: www.adaptcouncil.org
BEWARE – GIANT HOGWEED
– by John Benham, County Weed Inspector
Be on the watch for Giant Hogweed! If you are aware of locations where it was present last year it is more than likely it will be there again this year. The white disk-like flowers of Giant Hogweed are now evident and reminiscent of Wild Carrot or Queen Anne’s Lace but on a much larger scale. These plants are usually five feet or more tall and the flower is 10 – 24 inches across. Be sure to avoid getting the sap from this plant on your skin or in your eyes as it can cause severe skin blisters and even blindness if it gets into your eye. The sap contains a chemical that destroys the skin’s ability to block the ultra-violet rays of the sun, resulting in deep burns. The main stem may reach four inches across and is hollow between the nodes. It will be spotted with reddish purple sharp irregular bumps. Giant Hogweed has very large leaves, up to three plus feet with sharp pointed lobes. The flower head could be compared to Wild Carrot in that the umbel divides into 30 to 50 branches which in turn consist of another umbel of 30 to 40 flowers and later seeds. The whole head is flat on the bottom with slightly rounded top and white flowers and seeds.
Angelica is a plant with a round, greenish-white flower head and is occasionally confused with Giant Hogweed but is not dangerous. Angelica is not quite as tall and its leaves are divided into many leaflets. If you locate a plant with large leaves with the potential to grow to 10 or 12 feet and don’t know what it is, I suggest you call me at 519-846-3394. Giant Hogweed is a noxious weed and must be destroyed. Know it and beware of it.
COMING EVENTS
Aug. 9 – 11 Drayton Fall Fair. For information call: 519-638-2950.
Aug. 17 Calf Show – Grand River Raceway, Elora. For information call: 519-846-8879.
Aug. 19 & 20 Central Ontario Junior Holstein Show – Grand River Raceway, Elora.
Aug. 21 North American Manure Expo – 8am to 4:30pm, University of Guelph, Arkell Research Station – Arkell, Ontario. (Tour Aug. 20 – North Wellington area). Contact: Christine Brown at: christine.brown1@ontario.ca or www.manureexpo2013.com.
Aug. 23 – 25 Palmerston Fall Fair. For information contact: 519-343-3427.
Aug. 24 – Tractor Pull – Grand River Raceway, Elora. www.grandriveragsociety.com.
Aug. 30 – Sept. 2 Orangeville Agricultural Fair. Call 519-942-9597 or refer to www.oaseventcentre.ca.
Aug. 31 – Sept. 2 Mount Forest Agricultural Fair. For information call: 519-323-2272.
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/.
