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 Elora 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.omafra.gov.on.ca
AG STUDENTS SPEAK OUT CFBMC LAUNCHES ANNUAL EXCELLENCE AWARD FOR AGRICULTURAL STUDENTS CONTEST
Each year, the Canadian Farm Business Management Council (CFBMC) holds the Excellence Award for Agricultural Students Contest. The Award is designed to help students develop their communication skills by having the opportunity to voice their opinion on a on a subject related to farm business management. Submissions are collected from agricultural students across Canada and three winners are awarded a $1,000 cash prize to help them further their education in agriculture.
The Excellence Award for Agricultural Students continues to be a popular means of connecting with the next generation of professional farm managers while challenging them to reflect on the important issues facing the industry. To keep this contest up to date with social media trends and appeal to a greater audience, the Council is asking for video submissions.
Agricultural students are asked to submit videos, responding to the following question:
As a future farm manager, how will you balance the environmental stewardship necessary for the safeguarding of our water, air and soil with the need to be productive and competitive in a global economy?
The winning videos will be posted and archived on CFBMC’s official website www.farmcentre.com and winners will be announced through popular press. Videos should be 3-5 minutes in length. The content should keep the attention of the audience while being informative and innovative.
Applicants must be 16 years of age as of Dec. 31, 2010 and be enrolled in a field related to agriculture or agri-food at a recognized post-secondary educational institution. All applications must be received no later than March 31, 2011. For more information about the Award and to fill-out the online application form, please visit the New Farmer Section on CFBMC’s official website, www.farmcentre.com.
Students who wish to obtain information about other awards and scholarships can also access CFBMC’s bilingual directory of agriculture scholarships across Canada.
ENVIRONMENTAL FARM PLAN
by John C. Benham
There are still a few spaces left for the next Environmental Farm Plan workshop to be held on Wednesday, March 6 in Arthur at 10am to 3pm. This workshop will then be completed on Wednesday, March 23. Lunch is provided. Don’t put off registering by calling 519-846-3394 since space is limited. Completing your EFP workbook and having it approved will qualify you to receive financial assistance to do improvements that you will note in your EFP Action Plan.
GROWING YOUR FARM PROFITS
by John C. Benham
The next Growing Your Farm Profits workshop is filling up very quickly so don’t miss out. Friday March 25 is the first day of the workshop to be held in the Elora OMAFRA meeting room at 9:30am. The workshop will be completed Friday, April 1. Lunch and refreshments will be provided at no cost. This is a great opportunity for you to upgrade your farm business management with financial assistance. To sign up and for more information, call John Benham at 519-846-3394.
COMING EVENTS:
Mar. 1 Grower Pesticide Safety Course, Elora. Exam starts at 10am. To register, call Ontario Pesticide Education Program at 1-800-652-8573.
Mar. 1 Wellington Federation of Agriculture, monthly Board meeting at OMAFRA Boardroom, 6484 Cty. Rd #7, Elora. Note 7:30pm winter start time. For information contact Secretary, Lisa Hern at 519-848-3774 or email: jplh@golden.net.
Mar. 1 – 3 Ontario Agricultural Irrigation Conference being held at the Elm Hurst Inn, Ingersoll. Contact Mary Margaret McDonald at 519-674-1500 X 63592 or email: mmcdonal@ridgetownc.uoguelph.ca.
Mar. 2 Grower Pesticide Safety Course, Guelph. Exam starts at 10am. To register, call Woodrill Farms, 519-821-1018.
Mar. 3 Waterloo Federation of Agriculture, monthly board meeting at the St. Agatha Community Center. For information contact Secretary, Richard Cressman at 519-662-2790, or email: rcresman@sentex.net.
Mar. 8 Getting Started in Aquaculture, Alma Aquaculture Research Station, University of Guelph. Full-day workshop: key requirements of initiating/operating a fish farm. Pre-registration and further information: http://www.aps.uoguelph.ca/aquacentre/aquacentre/workshops.html or email: aquacntr@uoguelph.ca or phone 519-824-4120 ext 52689.
Mar. 9 – 10 Profitable Pastures “Maximizing Pasture Profits from Another Perspective”, Elmwood and Stirling. Keynote speaker Todd Wallace, Manitoba. Pre-registration required, $35 includes hot roast beef dinner. Call 519-986-1484/877-892-8663, registration deadline: March 4th.
Mar. 9 – 11 Western Fair Farm Show, Western Fair Entertainment Centre, London. Information at 1-800-619-4629/519-438-7203;www.westernfair.com/shows/farm.html.
Mar. 16 Soil Test Clinic, Markdale with Peter Johnson, 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Bring your questions and your soil tests. Pre-registration is required. Call Ray Robertson, 519-986-3756.
Mar. 16 Soil Test Clinic, Listowel with Peter Johnson, 1:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Pre-registration is required – please call Cathy Dibble at 519-463-9737.
