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: 8:30am to 5pm. For technical information, call the Agricultural Information Contact Centre at 1-877-424-1300 or visit the OMAFRA Website: www.ontario.ca/omafra
FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR ON-FARM PROTECTION OF SPECIES AT RISK
Cost-share opportunities for Ontario farmers to protect essential habitats
Farmers will be able to access funding for on-farm projects to protect species at risk under a government program that will be available for the 2012 cropping year.
The Species at Risk Farm Incentive Program (SARFIP) provides cost-share funding for farmers to implement best management practices that help protect essential habitats of species at risk that are located on-farm. SARFIP will be delivered by the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA) under an agreement with the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) which represents the Ontario Farm Environmental Coalition. The range of possible activities applies to croplands, grasslands, riparian areas, wetlands and woodlands.
In order to qualify for cost-share funding of approved project costs, eligible Ontario farm businesses must have a peer-reviewed third edition Environmental Farm Plan (EFP), and completed and filed a Growing Forward program enrolment form with OSCIA. They must also have selected at least one of the eligible best management practices (BMP) from the SARFIP list that relates directly to an action identified in the farm’s EFP action plan. Farmers with livestock or poultry as their primary commodity must have a Premises Identification Number for the parcel of land where the SARFIP project is proposed.
Five specific BMP categories are eligible for cost-share funding under this initiative: Upland and Riparian Area Habitat Management (10), Erosion Control Structures (Riparian) (11), Improved Pest Management (16), Shelterbelt and Native Vegetation Establishment (19) and Resource Planning (24). The eligible invoice date for all projects is April 1, 2012 and the claim submission deadline is December 15, 2012. For more details, farmers are encouraged to contact their local OSCIA Program Representative or visit: www.ontariosoilcrop.org.
SARFIP is funded by Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) through the Species at Risk Stewardship Fund and the Government of Canada through the Habitat Stewardship Program for Species at Risk. SARFIP is linked to the Canada-Ontario Environmental Farm Plan (EFP), which is funded through Growing Forward, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative.
For further information, contact John Benham, 519-846-3394.
STRATFORD GARLIC FESTIVAL – Sept. 8 – 9
“Two day event because there’s no such thing as too much garlic”
The Stratford Garlic Festival is a celebration of food, fun and family. Scheduled events include educational talks, interesting presentations about garlic, and of course some delicious garlic cooking demonstrations to tempt your tastebuds.
Complete schedule of events is online at: http://www.stratfordgarlicfestival.com/schedule.html.
CANADIAN YOUNG SPEAKERS FOR AGRICULTURE
Do you like a challenge? Would you like to share your enthusiasm for agriculture?
Does the opportunity to win a substantial cash prize appeal to you? Are you 11 to 24 years old?
If you answered YES to any of these questions, the Canadian Young Speakers for Agriculture competition is for you. The Canadian Young Speakers for Agriculture competition is held annually in November at the Royal Agriculture Winter Fair in Toronto, as part of Youth Weekend.
It’s an opportunity to develop your public speaking skills and a forum to express community concerns. The competition originated in 1985 in honour of International Youth Year, and was originally sponsored by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food. Farm Credit Canada joined as a co-sponsor in 1987.
There are cash prizes for the six finalists in both the Junior Competition (ages 11-15) and Senior Competition (ages 16-24). The Senior Champion will receive $1000, while the Junior Champion is awarded $500.
Registration details, rules and speech topics are all available online at: http://www.cysa-joca.ca.
ON FARM FOOD SAFETY: YOUR BUSINESS ADVANTAGE: TRAINING WORKERS ON FOOD SAFETY
Training workers on Worker Policies is an important part of each growing season, especially when you have new workers. Remember: “if they don’t know it they won’t do it”. Worker Policies cover worker practices, hand washing, clothing and footwear, and injuries and illness.
Worker practices require:
• Workers to make use of designated areas for eating, drinking and storing food.
• Workers to refrain from smoking, chewing tobacco, chewing gum and spitting in or around food handling and storage areas.
• Workers to avoid wearing jewellery, nail polish, badges and pins.
Food safety practices keep agri-food businesses competitive, productive and sustainable. For more information, visit the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs website at: www.ontario.ca/goodagpractices or call us at 1-877-424-1300.
COMING EVENTS
Aug. 24*-26 Palmerston Agricultural Fair, Palmerston. For more information, call 519-343-3427 (*part day).
Aug. 25 Tractor Pull at Grand River Fair, 7445 Wellington County Rd. 21, Elora. Call: 519-846-8879.
Aug. 28 Wellington County Farm Safety regular meeting at Husky Farm Equipment, Alma at 8pm sharp. For more information, call Walter Grose at 519-846-5329.
Aug. 31*-Sept. 3 Orangeville Agricultural Fair, Orangeville. For information, call 519-942-9597 (*part day).
Sept. 1-3 Mount Forest Agricultural Fair, Mount Forest. For more information, call 519-323-4871.
