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.
19TH DAIRY SHEEP SYMPOSIUM
Attention Dairy Sheep Producers! The 19th DSANA Dairy Sheep Symposium will be held at the Cambridge Hotel and Conference Centre, 700 Hespeler Road, Cambridge on November 7 – 9, 2013. Two days of lectures covering various topics and one day of touring a Nutrition Plant and two farms. Keynote Speaker will be John Ryrie from Dorset, England will be speaking about his 1000 head flock of dairy sheep.
Attendance at this event is a must if you are interested in exploring the world of sheep dairying. To register please call the OSMA office at 519-836-0043 or email admin@ontariosheep.org.
Please check the website at: www.dsana.org for more detailed information.
LOCAL FOOD
Ontario is a strong supporter of local food. Since 2003, the province has invested more than $116 million in initiatives and projects that help promote and celebrate the good things that are grown, harvested and made in Ontario.
As part of a broader local food strategy, Ontario recently introduced Bill 36, Local Food Act, 2013, which if passed, will help increase awareness, access to, and demand for local food in Ontario. Another key component of the strategy is the Local Food Fund
LOCAL FOOD FUND
The Local Food Fund is designed to support innovative local food projects that celebrate local food, and help create jobs and economic growth in Ontario.
The Fund will support projects in four categories:
• Regional and Local Food Networks, Enhanced Technologies
• Capacity and/or Minor Capital
• Research and Best Practices
• Education, Marketing and Outreach
The application and guidebook can be found at: www.ontario.ca/localfood
SOW-THISTLE
by John Benham, Weed Inspector
This week we are writing about Sow-thistles – in particular the two that are on the “Noxious Weed List”. There are several Sow-thistles and a few plants that are somewhat similar. When injured they exude a sticky white juice. The flowers are yellow and similar to a dandelion but much taller.
Perennial Sow-thistle is a perennial, reproducing by seed and from an extensive underground root system. So if you pull it out of the ground you will have a 4 to 6-inch root that has broken off with sticky white juice in the wound. If it is in bud or flower, it will have sticky hair structures on the stem near the flowers. The leaf shape varies; often reminding you of a dandelion but each lobe usually ends in a weak prickle.
Annual Sow-thistle is an annual with a tapering taproot and reproducing only by seed. The leaf has deep lobes and ends in a triangular lobe. Upper leaves clasp the stem with two pointed lobes.
Spiny Annual Sow-thistle is very similar to Annual but differing in leaf shape, with the margins having moderately spiny teeth. The most distinguishing characteristic is the prominent round lobe on each side of the stem where the leaf is attached. When viewed from the side it may remind you of an ear.
It is easy to confuse Prickly Lettuce with the Sow-thistles but it is a biennial reproducing by seed. Its most distinguishing characteristics are leaves that are twisted so they are oriented vertically and often pointing north and south with small but robust spines on the mid rib. The yellow flowers are small and very numerous.
Sow-thistles in the past were a serious problem. With the advent of larger tractors and improved tillage techniques, this weed was in remission. Lately with the changes to no-till and less use of herbicides, these yellow flowers are again gaining in numbers. So don’t forget Annual and Perennial Sow-thistle are noxious weeds that need to be destroyed because of their invasive and competitive characteristics.
COMING EVENTS:
Sept. 28 Fall Wellington Rural Romp – 11:00 am – 4:00 pm. For more details, please check the website at: http://www.guelphwellingtonlocalfood.ca/wellington-rural-romp.
Sept. 28 Colwyn Championship Showcase – 9 – 3 pm – A Fancy Rare Breed Poultry Show will be held at Colwyn Stables on 6104 Wellington County Road #29 (just south-east of Fergus). For more information please call: 519-843-3459 or check the website at: www.colwynshowcase.com.
Oct. 11 – 14 Erin Fall Fair. For more information call 519-833-2808.
Oct. 15 Return Your Unwanted or Obsolete Pesticides and Food Animal Medications at Woodrill Farms, Guelph. For more information call 519-821-1018.
Oct. 18 – 20 Walkerton Fall Fair. For more information call 519-881-1251.
Oct. 23 Return Your Unwanted or Obsolete Pesticides and Food Animal Medications at North Wellington Co-op. For more information call 519-338-2331.
