OMAFRA Report

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

GROWING YOUR FARM PROFITS

by John C. Benham

The Growing Your Farm Profits workshop planned for Friday, March 25 to be completed Friday, April 1 is full to capacity.  So the next GYFP workshop will be held in the Elora OMAFRA meeting room on Tuesday, March 29 to be completed on Tuesday, April 5, 9:30am to 3:00pm.

This workshop has several people signed up already so don’t delay in signing up since space is limited.

This is your opportunity to attend the workshop and complete the Action Plan and then have cost share funds available to ask a qualified farm advisor to help you review your present financial position and explore ways to meet your financial goals.

Cost Share money is also available for computer training, book keeping, financial management, marketing courses, succession planning and business strategies.

Here is your chance to explore niche marketing.  So that you don’t miss out, call John Benham at 519-846-3394 to sign up.    

FACTSHEETS AND PUBLICATIONS

The following free factsheets/publications are now available:

2011 FIELD CROP BUDGETS, Publication 60, New.

10-067: Using Less Energy on Dairy Farms, Agdex 770/400; New.

10-071: Corrosion of Roof Truss Gusset Plates in Farm Buildings; replaces 94-035.

10-075: Canada Pension Plan; replaces 08-045.

10-077: Rodent Control in Livestock and Poultry Facilities; replaces 07-009.

10-063: Nutrient Management Act, 2002, Composting of Cattle On-Farm; New.

10-069: Adjusting, Maintaining and Cleaning Airblast Sprayers; replaces factsheet 00-035.

10-059: Horse Barn Ventilation; replaces 09-031.

10-089: Engineering Requirements for Farm Structures, Agdex 714; replaces 04-013.

2010 SUPPLEMENT, Fruit Production Recommendations 2010-2011, Publication 360SE; this supplement is an update to OMAFRA Publication 360, published March 2010.

2010 SUPPLEMENT, Vegetable Production Recommendations 2010-2011, Publication 363SE; this supplement is an update to OMAFRA Publication 363, published February 2010. 

10-087: Organic Dairy Production, Agdex 410/81; New.

10-095: Feeding Cattle Beyond Optimum Market Weight and Finish, Agdex 425/54; New.

10-097: Pesticide Contamination of Farm Water Supplies, Recommendations on Avoidance, Clean-up and Responsibilities, Agdex 607; replaces 00-099.

10-099: Anatomy, Physiology and Reproduction in the Mare, Agdex 460/30; replaces 88-060.

11-001: Pesticide Drift from Ground Applications, Agdex 607; replaces 88-118.

11-003: Anatomy, Physiology and Reproduction in the Stallion, Agdex 460/30; replaces 88-061.

To order OMAFRA publications and factsheets:

Visit any OMAFRA Resource Centre or check the Service Ontario website at www.serviceontario.ca/publications or call 1-800-668-9938 or contact the Agricultural Information Contact Centre by calling 1-877-424-1300.

CANADIAN ASSOCIATION OF FARM ADVISORS (CAFA) CAFA’S 7TH ANNUAL ONTARIO PROVINCIAL CONFERENCE

Thursday, June 2, 2011 – Quality Inn & Suites, Woodstock; check the website for information www.cafanet.com.

Featured Speakers:

• Dr. Brian Evans, Chief Veterinary Officer, Chief Food Safety Officer, CFIA, Ottawa: Food safety: good is not good enough

• Dr. Lauren Baker, Ph.D., Director, Sustain Ontario: Good food gap – 4-H Ontario

• OSCIA, on Growing your farm profits

• Andrew Campbell, Fresh Air Media: The social shift – and where agriculture fits

Farmer Panel with:

• Martin & Teresa Van Raay: The whole pig

• Patty Thompson:  King Cole Ducks Limited

• Trish Fournier, General Manager Lake Erie Farms

• Dr. Glenn Fox, University of Guelph: Implications of the Green Energy Act for Ontario

COMING EVENTS:

Mar. 21 Grain Farmers of Ontario, March Classic, London Convention Centre: www.gfo.ca.

Mar. 24 Grower Pesticide Safety Course, Elmira.  Course starts at 8:45 a.m.  To register, call Farmers Plus at 519-669-5475.           

Mar. 28 Grower Pesticide Safety Course, Elmira.  Course starts at 8:45 a.m.  To register, call Farmers Plus at 519-669-5475.      

Mar. 30 Grower Pesticide Safety Course, Guelph.  Course starts at 8:45 a.m. and Separate Exam 3:00 p.m.  To register, call Woodrill Farms at 519-821-1018.

Mar. 30 & 31 London Swine Conference at the London Convention Centre, London. The registration deadline is March 16th.  There is no registration at the door.  For more information, check the website at: www.londonswineconference.ca or call Linda Dillon at 519-482-3333 or send an email to: linda.dillon@ontario.ca to register.

Apr. 2 Elmira Maple Syrup Festival. For more information, phone 1-877-969-0094 or website: www.elmiramaplesyrup.com.       

 

 

 

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