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
HEALTHY FARMS FOR HEALTHY HORSES
submitted by Jamie Ferguson
A FREE, interactive workshop for the equestrian community will be held on Saturday, June 7, 2008 from 9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. at Caledon Village Place (18313 Hurontario Street, intersection of Highways 10 and 24). Refreshments and sign-in at 9:00 a.m. Each participant receives morning coffee and lunch.
Come join us for a day with:
ª Bronwynne Wilton, University of Guelph: Horse Farms in the Rural Landscape.
ª Susan Raymond – Equine Guelph: “A Breath of Fresh Air” – Horse housing for horse health.
ª Gayle Ecker – Equine Guelph: “Horse Health Check” – Get hands-on and assess how a healthy
farm raises healthy horses with Gayle Ecker, one of Western Horse Review magazine’s top
15 horsepeople of 2007.
ª Your fellow equestrians: Tell us how you want to “Reduce your Hoof-print" and participate in the development of an Equestrian Stewardship Program.
To register, call 416-661-6600, ext. 5660, before May 30th. Space is limited. If you are unable to attend and would like more information about these stewardship topics, please leave your name and address on the registration line.
ONTARIO SHEEP MARKETING AGENCY: DISTRICT 5 MEETING
The Ontario Sheep Marketing Agency’s District 5 will be meeting on Wednesday, May 28th, 8:00 p.m. in the OMAFRA boardroom at Wellington Place, Fergus. The speaker for the evening will be Elisabeth Bzikot. Elisabeth and her husband Eric are proprietors of the Best Baa Farm Store in Fergus and are producers of a variety of sheep milk dairy products. Elisabeth will be speaking on her recent trip to France to further her education in the art of cheese making. This will be an informative travelogue! For further information, please e-mail Daina Hunter, dainaih@hotmail.com or call 519-843-5441.
ENVIRONMENTAL FARM PLAN
by John C. Benham, EFP Program Rep
To qualify for the financial assistance programs a completed Third Edition EFP workbook is required and the completed forms must be the 2008 version or they will be returned. The program has been improved as well.
At your request, I will send out the required forms and information. The project must be completed by December 15th, 2008 to qualify. Please keep in mind there is financial assistance of 30%, 33%, 50%, 80% or 100% up to a generous cap depending on the project.
The next two-day EFP workshop is planned for May 28th and June 4th in the meeting room of Husky Farm Equipment, Alma. The workshop is from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. – No charge. Bring your own lunch! Once again, for more information or to sign up for the workshop, please call John at 519-846-3394.
COMING EVENTS:
May 31 OAFE / Country Heritage Park “Farms Food and Fun” Day – This agri-education venture for Halton & Peel students will also be open to the family on May 20th. Admission is $5.00. For more information, please contact: Lorna Wilson 1-905-878-1510 ext 26.
June 4 Wellington Federation of Agriculture, monthly Board meeting at OMAFRA Boardroom, Wellington Place, Fergus. For information, contact Secretary, Lisa Hern at 519-848-3774, or email: jplh@golden.net.
June 5 Waterloo Federation of Agriculture, monthly Board meeting at Waterloo Ag Centre Boardroom, OLEX. For information, contact Secretary, Richard Cressman at 519-662-2790, or email: rcresman@sentex.net.
June 10 Dufferin Federation of Agriculture, monthly Board meeting at Holmes Agro. For information, contact Gord Grant at 1-877-343-5444, or email: gord.grant@ofa.on.ca
June 18 – 19 Ontario Pork Congress. Watch for details on the 2008 program at: http://www.porkcongress.on.ca/. Check out the Weekend Warrior BBQ competition on June 19th – two classes: professional and amateur, $35.00 entry fee. For more information, contact: Deb Campbell 519-235-1609.
