A weekly press release prepared by the staff of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. If you require further information, regarding this press release, please call the Fergus Resource Centre at 519-846-0941. Office hours: 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 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
2007 GREAT LAKES DAIRY SHEEP SYMPOSIUM
by Jocelyn Jansen, Animal Health & Welfare, OMAFRA
Ontario is hosting the 13th Annual Great Lakes Dairy Sheep Symposium at the Ramanda Inn in Guelph, November 1 – 3, 2007. On Saturday, November 3rd, there will be a special continuing education session on managing udder health. Dr. George Fthenakis, a world renowned small ruminant mastitis specialist from the University of Thessaly, Greece will be the key speaker. Other topics that day include parlour sanitation and hygiene and lamb health management. A special 1-day registration is available for veterinarians. For the full symposium agenda and registration form, please visit the Dairy Sheep Association of North America website at http://www.dsana.org/ or phone OMAFRA’s Agricultural Information Contact Centre 1-877-424-1300.
LAST REMINDER!!!! PREMIER’S AWARD FOR AGRI-FOOD INNOVATION EXCELLENCE
Innovation is a crucial ingredient in the success of Ontario’s farmers. To recognize and further foster innovation in the agri-food industry, the government established the Premier’s Award for Agri-Food Innovation Excellence in 2006 to reward outstanding farmer-innovators. This five year program will award $2.5 million to outstanding farm innovators.
There will be up to 55 regional award winners annually, with a cash prize of $5,000 each. From these winners a Minister’s Award of up to $50,000 and a Premier’s Award of up to $100,000 will be selected.
Farmers, primary producers, groups of farmers, combinations of agri-food businesses, or an agri-food related organization, are all eligible for recognition under this initiative. However, a farmer must be one of the applicants of any group. In order to apply for the award, the innovation must have been developed and be in use on an Ontario farm or be in the planning stages of development with a business plan towards implementation. The innovation must also have potential for use on a broader basis and demonstrate a positive effect on the agricultural industry.
Only one application/nomination per applicant/nominee can be submitted in any one year. Applications/nominations will not be carried over to the next year. New forms must be submitted.
Examples of innovation include, but are not limited to, the following:
• improved farm practices (e.g. technology, business practices, processes, etc.)
• response to consumer demands (e.g. value added, marketing, strategic alliances, etc.)
• environmental stewardship
• health and safety on the farm
• energy innovations
• education and marketing of agriculture to society.
The following criteria will be used to identify the winning innovations: uniqueness and originality, development, adoption and/or commercialization, impact or benefits, broader use, and on-farm use.
Details of the process, as well as applications and guidelines, are available at: www.ontario.ca/agrifoodinnovation or call: 1-877-424-1300.
To be considered for the Premier’s Award for Agri-Food Innovation Excellence, applications must be submitted to the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs by 5 p.m. on October 31, 2007.
COMING EVENTS:
Nov. 2 Wellington Federation of Agriculture Annual General Meeting & Banquet at the Elora Community Centre. For tickets contact Lisa Hern, 519-848-3774 or jplh@golden.net.
Nov. 2 – 11 Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, The Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place, Toronto. Complete details available by clicking on http://www.royalfair.org/.
Nov. 3 Canadian Young Speakers for Agriculture – 23rd Annual Public Speaking Competition, Royal Agriculture Winter Fair, Toronto. Check on-line at http://www.cysa-joca.ca/.
Nov. 7 Feed Industry Day (Ruminant) – Elora Research Station. This event for feed industry people working with cattle, sheep and goats and will touch on many topics and issues. For more information, contact OMAFRA’s Beef Cattle and Sheep Nutritionist, Christoph Wand, 519-537-8422, or christoph.wand@ontario.ca.
Nov. 13 Minto Farm Woodlot Bus Tour hosted by the Wellington County Stewardship Council. Meet at 9 a.m. at Harkness Farm Equipment and return by 3 p.m. Cost is $10.00 person (includes lunch). To register, please call 519-826-4936 or email larry.halyk@ontario.ca.
Nov. 15 & 21 Wellington two-day Environmental Farm Plan Workshop at Harkness Farm Equipment, north of Harriston on highway 9, 9:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. For more information and to pre-register please call, John Benham at 519-846-3394.
Nov. 19 – 20 Ontario Federation of Agriculture Annual Convention. For further information e-mail perth@ofa.on.ca or visit www.ofa.on.ca.
Nov. 20 Managing Sheep Flock Expansion Workshop will be held at the Atwood Community Centre from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Early registration (up to Nov. 16) $42.40 includes lunch and proceedings; late registration (after Nov. 16) $58.30. Please call the Agricultural Information Contact Centre at 1-877-424-1300 to register.
Nov. 28 Shakespeare Swine Seminar, Shakespeare, ON. Contact: Mary Van den Borre by: Phone: 519-846-3392; Fax: 519-846-8178; Email: mary.vandenborre@ontario.ca.
Nov. 30 Western Region Symposium and Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario Annual General Meeting, Gencor Building [site of Organic Meadow offices], Highway 6 North of Guelph. Speakers will include Wally Seccombe, Janet Duncan on rare breeds and slow food and will also include a renewable energy panel. For further details contact, EFAO, 5420 Highway 6 North, Guelph, Ontario, info@efao.ca.
