A weekly report prepared by the staff of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA). If you require further information, regarding this report, 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
GRAIN DRYING AND STORAGE WORKSHOPS
Grain drying and storage workshops are again being offered this year to serve farmers’ needs. These workshops are for you; if you want a better understanding of grain drying and storage principles, if you are planning a new system, if you are expanding your system, or are considering modifications to your grain handling system. Come and get your questions answered. Free discussion is encouraged throughout the workshops which results in good exchange of information among participants. The topics covered in the workshops will include the following:
1)How Grain Dries; 2) Types of Drying Systems; 3) Dryeration/Cooleration; 4) Fan Sizing & Selection; 5) Aeration to Keep Grain in Condition; 6) Locating Drying & Storage Systems; 7) Traffic Flow Considerations and 8) Reducing Drying Energy.
Workshop time: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Instructor: Helmut Spieser, Engineer, OMAFRA. Spaces are limited, so register early; $50.00 (lunch included). To register, call Ag Business Centre, University of Guelph, Ridgetown Campus 1-866-222-9682 or 519-674-1500 ext 63592. Listowel: Friday, March 23rd – First Choice Bosman, 8582 Hwy 23; Woodstock: Wednesday, March 28th – OMAFRA, 401 Lakeview Drive, Hwy 59N and Elmvale: Thursday, March 29th – Elmvale Legion, 7 John Street.
ENVIRONMENTAL FARM PLAN
by John C. Benham
If you are one of the farmers that keeps thinking that they should do their EFP workshop before the busy season, you should sign up for the next workshop in Wellington on Monday, March 19th to be completed on Monday, March 26th in the Elora OMAFRA meeting room 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at no cost to you. Lunch and refreshments provided. To qualify for Cost Share funding, a completed up to date EFP workbook is required.
Several farmers are signed up already. You may sign up yourself by going to: www.ontariosoilcrop.org/workshops/ or give John a call at 519-846-3394.
GROWING YOUR FARM PROFITS
by John C. Benham
If you are a beginning farmer, or have one in your family or if you know of one please let them know about this program. There is very good cost share support for several segments of this program designed for beginning farmers.
The next GYFP workshop will be held in the Elora OMAFRA meeting room Friday, March 23rd to be completed on Friday, March 30th. Lunch and refreshments are provided. Pre-registration is required. You may register online at www.ontariosoilcrop.org/workshops or by calling Liz at 519-638-3268 or John at 519-846-3394. Don’t miss out on this opportunity. There is good financial assistance to help you do a better job of managing your farm business.
RECORD KEEPING FOR ORGANIC FARMING
by Canadian Organic Growers
Saturday, March 10th at 9:00 – 4:00 p.m. at St. Brigid’s Villa, Ignatius Jesuit Centre, 5420 Hwy 6 N., Guelph.
One of the most important aspects of organic certification is the requirement to maintain records which enable the inspector to conduct a field to table audit of organic production. This one-day workshop will help you learn the best way to set up a record keeping system, what types of records you need to keep and how your farm operation can benefit from improved record keeping. This course is targeted to producers who are: 1) already organic, 2) in transition to organic, or 3) interested in transitioning to organic.
Course facilitated by Maureen Bostock, Organic farmer and inspector. Cost includes lunch and a copy of Record Keeping for Organic Growers: $70 ($60 members), $35 per additional person from same farm business (excludes book). Register with Canadian Organic Growers: online at www.cog.ca/shop/ (click “Events”) – by email office@cog.ca – by phone 1-888-375-7383.
The Record Keeping for Organic Farming workshop may be eligible for cost-share funding through the Business Development for Farm Businesses program, one of the Best Practices suites of programs under Growing Forward, a federal-provincial, territorial initiative. For more information on program requirements, call 1-800-265-9751 x64213 or visit: www.ontariosoilcrop.org/en/bdfbhome.
COMING EVENTS:
Feb. 22- Dufferin Feed and Seed Show and Annual Meeting – 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Amaranth Township Hall, 374028 6th Line Amaranth Township. Admission: $25.00 includes membership and lunch. Exhibitor space is available. For information, call Jim Irvine at 1-800-265-2284.
Feb. 22&23- Ontario Cattlemen’s Association Annual General Meeting and Banquet – “Celebrating 50 Years of Strength, Commitment and Determination”, Doubletree Hotel, Toronto. For details visit: www.cattle.guelph.on.ca.
Feb.23- 29th Annual South Western Ontario Dairy Symposium, Woodstock Fairgrounds, Woodstock at 9:00 a.m. Cost is $20.00 and includes a roving hot lunch. For information, check the website: www.dairysymposium.com or email: jrodenburg@xplornet.com.
Feb. 27 & Mar. 5- Growing Your Farm Profits Workshop in Orangeville. To register, contact Jonathan Watchurst at 519-942-1181 or via email at: Dufferin@ontariosoilcrop.org.
Feb. 28 – Wellington County Farm Safety regular meeting at Husky Farm Equipment, Alma at 8:00 p.m. sharp. For more information, call Walter Grose at 519-846-5329.
Mar. 6 – Dairy Housing Design Seminars – Tie Stall Housing – 9:30 a.m. at Milverton Recreation Complex, 40 Temperance Street, Milverton. To register by phone, call the Agricultural Information Contact Centre at: 1-877-424-1300 or email: ag.info.omafra@ontario.ca.
Mar. 7- National Farmers Union Waterloo-Wellington Local, monthly board meeting at 7:15 p.m. at the Husky Farm Equipment, Alma. (They meet every first Wednesday of the month).
