November workshops for beef producers

Four work­shops will be held across the province during the first week of November to offer a plat­form for young beef producers to network and express their concerns and challenges with the Ontario beef industry.

The Ontario Cattlemen’s As­sociation (OCA), in part­ner­ship with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) and The Centre for Rural Leadership will host the sessions that are tar­geted towards beef produc­ers and other young people involved in the industry under the age of 40.

“These workshops are an ideal venue for the young beef producers of Ontario to net­work with other producers in their area, discuss similar is­sues, and offer input for solu­tions,” said Jen Snively, OCA policy advisor. “We hope that these workshops are the start­ing point for a new round of management clubs or other local initiatives that can help increase the profitability of beef producers.”

Each workshop will include dinner or lunch, a presentation from Betty Green, owner of a 1,000 cow herd family farm in Manitoba, and a facilitated dis­cus­sion about the opportunities and challenges young beef producers face.

The workshops will be held in the following locations:

– Sudbury, Nov. 1; 12-4pm;

– Smith Falls, Nov. 2; 4to 8pm;

– Elmwood, Nov. 4 6 to 10pm; and

– Alvinston, Nov. 5, 6 to 10pm.

A pilot workshop was con­ducted in February 2008 in Port Perry. Over 65 beef producers under the age of 40 attended that event. The pilot indicated the need to get input from other regions in the province and offer the same networking opportunities for others across the province.

 

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