Grey Bruce Farmers’ Week 2016, will run until Jan. 12, starting with Beef Day, and ending on Crops Day.
It is a seven-day agricultural conference packed with an informative lineup of speakers.
Coordinators for this event, Grey County Ag Services, in conjunction with agricultural commodity leaders from Grey and Bruce Counties, have attempted to feature at least one high profile speaker for each day, targeting the issues and challenges facing the farming community today. Each day a GBFW commemorative 50th Anniversary video will be shared before lunch. Audience members will enjoy a celebratory cake each afternoon.
As always, exciting Panels have been developed for 2016. These panels include:
– On Beef Day, producers, including two young beef producers, and the Beef Program Lead from OMAFRA will review Future of the Beef Industry.
– On Dairy Day, two producers will share their perspective on High Lifetime Production Herds.
– On Goat Day, we have asked goat milk processors, a broker, and Ontario Goat to discuss the Future of The Goat Industry (milk and meat).
– On Sheep Day, three sheep producers, and a rep from Ontario Lamb Company, will discuss Marketing for More Profit.
– On Ecological Day, three producers will provide their perspective on Equipment, Tools, Techniques & Tips.
– On Crops Day, two producers, and the Soil Management Specialist from OMAFRA will review Cover Crops in Grey Bruce?
Here’s a glimpse of some of the featured keynote speakers and presentations:
Come early on Beef Day to get a seat! There are two presenters from Alberta on the agenda. Leighton Kolk, Kolk Farms Ltd., Iron Spring Alberta, will deliver If Cowboys Carried Guns, There Would be a Lot Less Cattle in this World. Also, Fawn Jackson, Manager of Environment and Sustainability, Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, will dig into, Proactively Addressing Social License in Agriculture.
For the first time ever, GBFW has a speaker from off of the continent! On Dairy and Goat Days, Dr. Gosia Zobel, Scientist – Behaviour and Welfare, AgResearch Ltd, Hamilton, New Zealand, will be sharing her expertise. On Dairy Day she will be presenting: What is the Behaviour of My Cows Telling Me, and A Progressive Look at Dry Off and End of Lactation Management. On Goat Day she will deliver Kid Rearing Practices: What’s Working, and Giving Goats the Best Start: Colostrum Management for Healthy Kids.
On Sheep Day, there is a great roster of speakers. Dr. Rex Crawford will provide an informative and dynamic review of Thin Ewes: Chronic Disease and Other Reasons.
Horse Day will deliver an abundance of practical tips and information about various disciplines. Dr. Angie Hill owner of Georgian Bay Equine Veterinary Services will share, Modern Equine Dentistry. We will also learn more about Western Dressage, Xtreme Cowboy Competitions and Carriage Driving. Marc-Andre Blouin, will cap off our day with Feeding the Cushing’s/Insulin Resistant Horse.
The Equine Youth Program looks outstanding again this year. It will once again consist of all interactive material. Three Youth Champions will be highlighted: Shania Robinson, Hannah Forget and Emma Webb. The youth will be decorating Cute Horsey Cupcakes. They will also enjoy some Horse N’ Around Sessions: Perfect Pony Picture Pointers, Rachel Wyssen, First Aid, Dr. Angie Hill, Georgian Bay Equine Veterinary Services; Nutrition, Marcia Cunningham, Bluewater Feed Co. Ltd.; Horseless Xtreme Cowboy Challenge, Lantz McLaren, and Much Much More.
The GBFW Committee and producers are pleased that Odette Ménard, ing. et agr., MAPAQ, from Quebec, has agreed to speak on both Ecological and Crop Days. On Ecological Day she will present, Fighting for Soil
Health. On Crops Day she will share, Soil Health, Getting to the Root of It.
Ecological Day has something for everyone. Learn how to Make Organic No-Till Work; and delve into Agroecology 101. Patrick Johnson will discuss Integrating Organic Apple Production.
Crops Day will be exciting, so come early to get a chair. As mentioned above, Odette Ménard will enlighten the audience with her Soil Health wisdom. Craig Klemmer, Senior, Agricultural Economist, Farm Credit Canada, in Saskatchewan, will provide a review of the Impact of Global Grain Trends on Ontario Agriculture. Tracey Baute from OMAFRA, will point out What You Need to Know about the Neonic Regulations for this Growing Season. Perennial favourite, Peter Johnson, Agronomist, with RealAgriculture returns to unpack, Agriculture in the Crosshairs.
And There will be Much Much More………………
For more details on the speakers planned for each day, please refer to the Grey Bruce Farmers’ Week pages on the Grey Ag website. If you need detailed information about any of the presentations, or complete bios, that information is also available on the website (www.greyagservices.ca).
