A weekly report prepared by the staff of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA). For more information, regarding this report, call the Elora Resource Centre at 519-846-0941. Office hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For technical information, call the Agricultural Information Contact Centre at 1-877-424-1300 or visit the OMAFRA website: www.ontario.ca/omafra
Free stall dairy housing design seminar
This two-day free stall dairy housing design seminar will be held at the OMAFRA resource centre, 401 Lakeview Dr., Woodstock, on March 4 and 5.
These courses are specifically intended for producers with plans to build or renovate their free stall in the next few years. The focus is on fundamentals of design. The courses will provide practical information needed to build an economical, labour efficient facility that is comfortable for cattle.
Day one begins at 9:30am and the agenda is as follows:
– introduction;
– farmstead and process planning;
– cow behaviour and comfort;
– layout options and housing alternatives;
– planning, building and enjoying our dairy barn;
– isolation, treatment, transition, maternity and handling facilities; and
– building environment and ventilation.
Day two starts at 9:30am with an agenda as follows:
– robotic milking options;
– manure collection, handling and storage;
– handling feed and water;
– traffic and biosecurity;
– choosing a milking parlour; and
– milking centre design.
Cost for the two-day free stall course is: $225 + HST. To register call 1-877-424-1300 or email ag.info.omafra@ontario.ca.
Courses are offered subject to a minimum pre-registration number 14 days in advance. Lunch cannot be guaranteed for registrations made less than seven days in advance.
SoilSmart 2015
FarmSmart agricultural conference presents SoilSmart 2015 on Jan. 23 at RIM Park, Manulife Financial Sportsplex, Forbes Hall, 2001 University Ave., E., Waterloo.
It is a full-day in-depth focus on soil health to support viable and responsible crop production now and in the future.
Speakers are:
– Ray Archuleta, conservation agronomist, USDA-NRCS, Greensboro, North Carolina;
– Jeff Rasawehr, farmer, Birmingham, Michigan;
– Bill Deen, professor of cropping systems, University of Guelph; and
– Earl Elgie and Ken Nixon, Farmers.
Agenda topics include:
– Taking your farm to the next level with better soil health;
– Building better soil health;
– Putting soil health principles into practice;
– Rotational diversity and resilience;
– My approach to soil health on the farm – finding solutions not excuses.
Cost for OSCIA members is $75; non-members (includes one-year membership), $110.
Registration closes on Jan. 21 and there will be no walk-ins accepted.
For more information and registration please visit www.farmsmartconference.com or call: 1-877-1300.
FarmSmart 2015
Now in its 16th year, the main FarmSmart conference will return to Rozanski Hall at the University of Guelph on Jan. 24.
Keynote speakers are Don Schiefelbein and Paul Uys.
Schiefelbein is from Schiefelbein Angus Farms in Kimball, Minnesota. Schiefelbein along with his Dad and eight brothers, farms 4,500 acres of pasture and crops and manages 800 angus cows and a 25,000 head feedlot. Their ‘cowman’s philosophy’ is simple: the cows either work for them or they work for McDonalds. “We do not tolerate open cows, cows with an attitude, cows that don’t raise a calf every year or cows that don’t wean a high percentage of their weight … it’s as simple as that.”
Uys is a retail sector expert. He will provide a retailer’s view of the role of consumers in agriculture. Loblaw Companies Ltd. recruited Uys in 1987, where he became vice president of innovation, fostering several highly successful branding initiatives. Retiring after 25 years at Loblaw, Uys accepted a two-year term as senior director external with the Food Institute at the University of Guelph. Uys states that the phrase ‘from farm to fork’ should be changed to ‘from fork to farm’, recognizing issues like diminishing biodiversity, water security, and the ability to harvest natural capital are now driving consumer trends.
To registrater visit www.farmsmartconference.com or call: 1-877-424-1300.
