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.
FOOD SAFETY AUDITS AND RECORD KEEPING
– by Colleen Haskins
The requirement of having a food safety audit for farm production is increasing, and some of the major retailers are requesting a short turn around time for these to be completed and producers to be certified. Produce commodities are classified into different risk categories, and some retailers are requiring high risk produce to be certified first. Audits are focused on the season in which the commodity is being produced, and typically occur during harvest or packing. Many audits require a minimum of 3 months of records to be completed prior to an audit being conducted. However if nutrient applications were made in the previous fall for the next years production, those records may be considered during an audit as well. With any food safety program, it is imperative to maintain and keep your records as proof of due diligence for your farm productions and often to be kept for 2 years at a minimum. Contact your retailer or customer to verify which food safety program they require and the requirements for record keeping before you schedule your audit. Now is the time to get started and the good News is, we can help! Food safety, questions? Ask us. Visit our website for more food safety information and additional resources www.ontario.ca/good-ag-practices.
GROWING YOUR FARM PROFITS
by John C. Benham
The next Growing Your Farm Profits (GYFP) Workshop will be held in the Town of Erin at Everdale Farms near Hillsburgh from 9:30 am to 3:00 pm on Monday, August 22, to be completed on Monday, August 29. Lunch and refreshments provided at no cost.
On Friday, September 9 the next GYFP Workshop will be held in the Elora OMAFRA Boardroom from 9:30 am to 3:00 pm and to be completed on Friday, September 16. Lunch and refreshment provided at no cost.
This is an opportunity for you to learn about available cost share funding for improved business management on your farm. For more information and to sign up, call 519-846-3394.
ENVIRONMENTAL FARM PLAN
by John C. Benham
If you are planning to do an EFP project in 2012, applications will be available on Thursday, September 15 in the Elora OMAFRA Boardroom. It is expected that the Cost Share money will all be taken up in one day so you need to come early that day with all the information and supplies you will need to complete your application.
A small change has been made to the procedure when you pick up your application, your Farm Business Registration Number along with the application number will be immediately forwarded to Guelph and that places you in the line up for the Cost Share money. So it is very important to be at the OMAFRA meeting room on Thursday, September 15th early in the day. It is not imperative for you to complete the application at that time but the sooner the better.
If you have not completed a Program Enrolment Form please call 519-846-3394 or email me at wellington@ontariosoilcrop.org. I will forward one to you so you will complete it before September 15.
To complete your Application for Cost Share on Thursday, September 15, you need the following:
If you have livestock, a Premises Identification Number Certificate from OnTrace must be sent with the application; Farm Business Registration Number (Farm Organization Membership Number); EFP Workbook; Lot, concession and township; Watershed; Soil type; and Project cost and description of project.
Please note: if you completed a Program Enrollment last year and there have been changes, a new one is required. For information or you have questions, call 519-846-3394 or email wellington@ontariosoilcrop.org.
POST-HARVEST WATER/ICE AND FOOD SAFETY: WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE?
by Wayne Du
Fruits and vegetables can be contaminated by water and ice used during post-harvest stages, if the water and/or ice used, contain human pathogens and contact the food products. Producers can take steps to minimize food safety hazards and ensure food safety. Here are the recommendations:
• Assessing all water/ice sources and the distribution system for vulnerability to potential pathogen contamination
• Testing the water/ice sources periodically at a sufficient frequency and as close to the point-of-use
• Ensuring that water holding or storing tanks, ice containers and handling tools are included in cleaning and sanitation schedules
• Using only approved wash water disinfectants and monitoring wash/rinse water disinfectant levels to ensure that the levels are adequate for effective sanitation and preventing cross contamination.
COMING EVENTS:
Aug. 24&25 Farm & Agriculture Emergencies Training – Grain Entrapment, Grain Bin Entry & Technical Rescue – Emergency Training Centre – Blyth www.estc.ca.
Aug. 26-28 Palmerston Agricultural Fair, Palmerston. For more information, call 519-343-3427.
Aug. 27 Tractor Pull at Grand River Raceway – (Raindate: August 28) starts at 4:00 p.m.; Tickets: TBA. For more information call Grand River Agricultural Society: 519-846-8879 or info@grandriveragsociety.com or Marlin Stoltz 519-669-1561.
Aug. 30 Wellington County Farm Safety – regular meeting at Husky Farm Equipment, Alma at 8:00 p.m. sharp. For more information, call Walter Grose 519-846-5329.
Sept. 1 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 .
Sept. 1-3 Canada’s 1st Fruit and Veg Tech X-Change, Norfolk County, ON. For more information, contact: Donna Powell at donna@fruitvegtechxchange.com or check the website at: www.fruitvegtechxchange.com.
