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Upcoming Events | |
February 12-13, 2013 - Forum for Cultivating a Sustainable Future: Highlighting Environmental & Animal Welfare Opportunities - Delta Guelph Hotel.
April 2, 2013 - Farm & Food Care Social Media Communications Workshop
April 3, 2013 - Farm & Food Care's 2013 AGM (Hanlon Convention Centre, Guelph)
October 24, 2013 - Ontario Harvest Gala
Watch future newsletters for details on all upcoming events. |
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Find us online | |
On Twitter: @farmfoodcare
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Welcome to the December edition of the e-newsletter of Farm & Food Care Ontario.
If you're receiving this newsletter for the first time, you've likely been added by someone at your respective commodity organizations or company. Many of our members have added their staff and board members over recent weeks. We'll only send you an email monthly - and you can easily unsubscribe at any time if you feel that you're receiving this newsletter in error. Subscriber information is at the bottom.
December marks the end of our first full year as Farm & Food Care and we're pleased with the results of the first 12 months. The year has brought with it new staff, some significant new projects, and many new members and supporters.
Our successes are due, in large part, to the support of our membership who have been inviting us to speak and attend meetings in all parts of the province this year to profile our new organization. By the end of December, our staff will have spoken at almost 80 meetings - to groups of farmers, industry representatives and urban audiences.
Merry Christmas from all of us at Farm & Food Care. We look forward to working with many of you on our projects in 2013. |
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New FFC initiative to promote water conservation and drought management strategies for Ontario farmers
A project launched this fall by Farm & Food Care Ontario will focus on water efficiency, conservation and low water strategies for Ontario farmers. The 18-month Water Resource Adaptation and Management Initiative (WRAMI) will concentrate its efforts on agricultural water use practices in response to climate change.
 | | Bruce Kelly |
The program will be managed by FFC's newest staff member, Bruce Kelly, who joins the team in the role of Environmental Program Coordinator. Bruce has a BSc in Fisheries Science from the University of Guelph (1982), worked 20 years as a hog farmer and recently had six years' experience with the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA) as a project reviewer of on-farm environmental cost-share projects associated with the Environmental Farm Plan program. He joined Farm & Food Care this fall.
The overall objective of the WRAMI project is to increase the knowledge and ability of farmers in Ontario to adapt their water use practices to deal with the growing impacts of climate change. This includes water security issues, low water response and drought preparedness.
WRAMI will be active in two key areas: water efficiency and productivity research, and education activities to showcase results.
Funds will be available to farm and commodity organizations for studies and demonstrations on water efficiency, conservation and productivity, with the goal of ensuring farmers have more tools at their disposal to prepare themselves for low or no water scenarios. Applications for the funding program will be available at the "Farming and Environment" section of the Farm & Food Care website after December 14, 2012.
In addition to getting research projects underway shortly, Farm & Food Care is also interested in identifying farmers or agri-businesses who have already implemented innovative water technologies.
Farm & Food Care is seeking growers who are passionate about water use and have techniques or equipment that are promoting water efficiency. Any growers interested in learning more about this initiative or sharing their water innovation experiences are asked to contact Bruce Kelly at Farm & Food Care at 519-837-1326 or bruce@farmfoodcare.org.
Farm & Food Care is leading this project with the support of funding provided by the federal and provincial governments through the AgriFlexibility program.
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'Tis the season to think about
charitable contributions
As we approach the holiday season and the end of 2012, you may be thinking of year end charitable giving. As such, we'd encourage you to consider the Farm & Food Care Foundation for one of your charitable gifts.
The Farm & Food Care Foundation develops and supports programs that bridge the gap between farmers and Canadians helping to build confidence and trust in Canadian food and farming.
Special projects in 2012 included:
- Partnered with RBC Royal Bank on the report: Growing from Strength: Farmers enhancing productivity with sustainable innovation
- Hosted a public lecture with distinguished author and animal welfare specialist, Dr. Temple Grandin
- Provided agricultural ambassador training initiatives
- Presence at over 10 events doing public outreach and education about food and farming
- Co-hosted the North American Forum on Sustainable Animal Agriculture
- Supported the 2013 Faces of Farming calendar
Funds collected are used to expand and enhance our existing programs as well as build new programs and initiatives.
To make it easy to donate, the Farm & Food Care Foundation offers two options:
1) by mail: Send your donation, payable to the Farm & Food Care Foundation to: 100 Stone Road West, Suite 106, Guelph, ON N1G 5L3
2) online: Visit www.farmcarefoundation.ca and click on the "Donate now" button.
Note: the donation deadline for a 2012 tax receipt remains December 31st, 2012. The Canada Revenue Agency regulations stipulate that donations postmarked by Canada Post after December 31, 2012 will receive a 2013 charitable tax receipt. |
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Thank you to our Royal volunteers!
Farm & Food Care was an active participant in the education program at this year's Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto.
We're very grateful to the following volunteers who helped us during the 10 day show: Julia Smith, Bruce Sargent, Dianne McComb, Mary Ann Found, Kim Empringham, Henry Swierenga, Wendy Omvlee, Samantha Lynch, Rudi Spruit, Darcy Thring, Amy Wynja and Rebecca Hannam.
 | | Volunteer Julia Smith plays a farm Plinko game with Royal visitors |
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Producer survey to be launched in January
Have you been wondering what your members or customers farm practices are like in 2012? What's changed and what hasn't? Here is your opportunity to get the answers to questions no one has asked before!
Farm & Food Care will be surveying Ontario producers in January 2013 about their practices, attitudes and information sources related to farm animal welfare and environment, with funding support from OMAFRA. Work is underway with producer focus groups across the province now.
Survey objectives:
a. To benchmark what livestock, crop and horticulture producers have accomplished over the past 20 years related to environmental and/or animal care improvements and current practices.
b. To capture what producers are planning related to environmental and/or animal care practices in the next five years.
c. To measure producer attitudes and determine where producers are accessing information, credibility and gaps in information on environment and/or animal care related topics.
d. To utilize this information to improve communications to the public based on current practices, and within the farm community to reach producers more effectively.
How can you help?
1. What would you like to know about environmental or animal care practices or attitudes? Send your comments and suggestions on topics or specific questions to ask producers in the survey to Kristen Kelderman: kristen@farmfoodcare.org by December 18, 2012.
2. Promote the survey to your members. Ipsos Reid is compiling the survey and will be contacting 400 farmers directly through their online agricultural panel. We would like to expand the offering of the survey to more producers to get more data. It will be an online survey with incentives for those who participate. Links to the survey and codes to participate can be provided to your members upon request.
Results & Release:
The results will be compiled and presented at the new "Forum for Cultivating a Sustainable Future: Highlighting Environmental & Animal Welfare Opportunities" on February 12 & 13, 2013 in Guelph at the Delta Hotel.
More details will be provided in the January edition of this newsletter.
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Helpline service available
Farm & Food Care recently updated materials for its Farm Animal Care Helpline service and is increasing efforts to promote it.
There are concerns this fall about both the cost of feed as well as the poor quality of some feed sources. With this in mind, Farm & Food Care would like to get the word out about the Helpline and the importance of calling it early before animal care/conditions degrade too far this winter and into the spring.
Although these animal care issues may not directly affect you or your members/producers, there might be a neighbour, friends or family members who will be affected.
Please visit the following link to see our Helpline information sheet http://farmfoodcare.org/images/pdfs/Helpline2012.pdf
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If you've misplaced a copy of the newsletter or want to check an item from a past issue, they're all archived on our website under the Media Centre section.
We encourage you to forward this newsletter to other members of your company or organization who might be interested. They can also subscribe directly by emailing info@farmfoodcare.org. |
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100 Stone Road West, Suite 106
Guelph, ON
N1G 5L3
519-837-1326
www.farmfoodcare.org
Twitter: @farmfoodcare
Email: info@farmfoodcare.org |
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