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
RABBIT SEMINAR
The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs in cooperation with the Ontario Commercial Rabbit Growers Association are hosting a Rabbit Seminar on Wednesday, March 26, 2008. This seminar will be held in the Nicholas Keith Room, Wellington Place, 0536 County Road 18, R. R. #1, Fergus beginning at 7:00 p.m. Topics on the agenda include: On-Farm Euthanasia of Rabbits – Round Table Discussion; Euthanasia Options by Dr. Patricia Turner, Ontario Veterinary College and Pasteurella by Dr. Bob Wright. For more information please call Brian Tapscott at 519-846-3400.
COVER CROPS’ ABILITY TO CARRY N (NITROGEN) TO SUBSEQUENT FIELD CROP RESULTS
Taken from the OSCIA News
This project has been funded by the Adaptation Council of Canada (Cord IV Fund) and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. OSCIA is cooperating with the University of Guelph and OMAFRA to address the possibility that where manure is applied to Ontario fields in the summer or early fall, cover crops such as oats could sequester Nitrogen and relay it into the corn crop the following year.
Results summarized by Greg Stewart, OMAFRA, show that while some nitrogen sequestering occurs in the fall, August-seeded cover crops did not appear to: a) increase available soil nitrate the following June; or b) improve corn yields in situations where the crops were relying on manure as the only N source, when compared to a no-cover-crop situation. Cover crops did not appear to have any significant yield enhancement to the subsequent corn crop.
This observation is drawn from a fairly wide range of growing conditions and fertility regimes in 2007.
This project compared manure application on 10 farm co-operator fields across Ontario. Results indicate that the average nitrogen credit for these manure applications was 41 lbs/ac. At a nitrogen price of $0.52/lb, the value of that manure credit would be a savings in nitrogen fertilizer costs of $21.32/ac. Even in the absence of cover crops induced Nitrogen savings, producers should be attentive in taking manure credits into account in order to improve profitability and reduce over application of nitrogen fertilizer.
There may be longer-term benefits to having cover crops in rotations. Benefits may include: soil organic matter additions, soil structure improvements and weed suppression in the post-harvest period. These other potential benefits could not be measured in short-term duration of this project (one cropping sequence).
REMINDER – ENVIRONMENTAL FARM PLAN
by John C. Benham, EFP Rep, Wellington County
If you wish to participate in the EFP Cost Share Programs after April 1, 2008 a deemed appropriate Third Edition EFP Workbook will be required.
The next two-day EFP Workshop is planned for Wednesday, March 19 and Wednesday, March 26, 2008 at Husky Farm Equipment in Alma. Lunch will be provided.
Now is a good time to get the workshop completed before the busy season begins! If you have any questions, or you wish to sign up for this upcoming workshop please call John Benham at 519-846-3394.
THE SOURCE WATER PROTECTION PROGRAM
by John C. Benham, EFP Rep, Wellington County
If you own, lease, rent or manage property within 100 metres of a municipal water supply well you may be eligible for financial assistance to make some environmental improvements. This applies to both urban and rural property. Applications must be process by March 31, 2008. Please call me at 519-846-3394 for more details on this program.
COMING EVENTS:
March 14 – 16 Can-Am All Breed Equine Show, Western Fair, London, ON.
March 15 & 16 College Royal 2008, University of Guelph, Guelph. For more information, phone 519-824-4120 ext. 58366 or www.collegeroyal.uoguelph.ca.
March 18 Grower Pesticide Course – Orangeville – 8:45 a.m. – Separate Exam 3:30pm Call OPEP – 1-800-652-8573 to register.
March 19 Dufferin County Soil and Crop Improvement Association Annual Meeting and Feed and Seed Show from 9:45 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Grand Valley & District Community Centre. Admission is $25.00 per person which includes a 2008 membership and a hot roast beef dinner. For further information please contact: Jim Irvine at 519-928-2100 or Allan Lyons at 1-705-435-9202.
March 19 Grower Pesticide Course – Elmira – 8:45 a.m. – Call F.S. Elmira – 519-669-5475 to register.
March 19 & 26 Wellington Environmental Farm Plan at Husky Farm Equipment, Alma. 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Lunch provided. Please call John Benham for more information or to register 519-846-3394.
March 25 & 28 Waterloo Environmental Farm Plan Workshop at the Linwood Community Centre from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Please bring your lunch. To register, please call Frank Kains at 519-742-4591.
March 28 Grower Pesticide Course – Brampton – 8:45 a.m. – Call OPEP – 1-800-652-8573 to register.
March 29 Grower Pesticide Course – Rockwood – 8:45 a.m. – Separate Exam – 3pm – Call OPEP – 1-800-652-8573 to register.
March 31 Grower Pesticide Course – Wellesley – 8:45 a.m. – Separate Exam – 3pm – Call OPEP – 1-800-652-8573 to register.
April 1 & 2 8th Annual London Swine Conference – London Convention Centre, London. The theme is: “Facing the New Reality”, includes plenary sessions and breakout workshops. Full registration is $200 and deadline is March 18/08. For more information, contact 519-482-3333 or visit
www.londonswineconference.ca.
April 2 & 3 27th Annual Drayton Farm Show, PMD Arena, Drayton. Doors open at 11:00 a.m. For
more information, check the website at www.draytonkinsmen.ca.
April 5 Elmira Maple Syrup Festival, Elmira. Call 1-877-969-0094 or www.elmiramaplesyrup.com.
April 5 Grower Pesticide Course – Orangeville – 8:45 a.m. – Separate Exam – 3:00 p.m. – Call OPEP – 1-800-652-8573 to register.
April 1 & 2 8th Annual London Swine Conference – London Convention Centre, London. The theme is: “Facing the New Reality”, includes plenary sessions and breakout workshops. Full registration is $200 and deadline is March 18/08. For more information, contact 519-482-3333 or visit: http://www.londonswineconference.ca.
April 2 & 3 27th Annual Drayton Farm Show, PMD Arena, Drayton. Doors open at 11:00 a.m. For more information, check the website at www.draytonkinsmen.ca.
April 5 Elmira Maple Syrup Festival, Elmira. Call 1-877-969-0094 or www.elmiramaplesyrup.com.
