ISSUE 2016-04 | April 4, 2016
April 2016 E-Newsletter
IN THIS ISSUE
SAVE THE DATE
Farm & Food Care Ontario AGM and Conference
Teatro Conference and Event Centre, Milton
April 12 - 13, 2016
 
Canadian Centre for Food Integrity Launch
Delta Ottawa City Centre hotel, May 31 - June 1, 2016
 
Local Food Week
June 6 to 12, 2016
 
Breakfast on the Farm
Oxford County
June 11, 2016
FIND US ONLINE
Ag Ambassador Tip
of the Month
Tell your story. The public is often interested in hearing how someone decides to be a farmer, or what he or she cares about in addition to farming. Even a brief meeting with someone that lasts several minutes leaves enough time to share a few details.
NEW ON OUR WEBSITE
IMPACT Online Modules: 
Animal Codes of Practice
 
Farm & Food Care Ontario's Innovative Management and Practical Animal Care Training (IMPACT) program is offering free online training modules on the care and handling of sheep, goats, pigs, cattle, mink and fox.
 
Based on the nationally developed Codes of Practice, these FREE online modules cover a range of subjects - including transportation, dehorning and general husbandry practices - and are available via the IMPACT website. 



April Environmental E-New:

Farm & Food Care Ontario's April 2016 Environmental E-Newsletter is now available. Click here or the image below to learn more about the Farmland Rental Agreement initiative, Soil Health and Phosphorous reduction Working Group activities , and much more. 



INDUSTRY NEWS
"Six by Sixteen" launched by Ontario Federation of Agriculture
 
Promoting greater food literacy is the driver behind SixbySixteen.me - the new site developed by the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA). 

The new Six by Sixteen site is designed to help Ontario teenagers learn to plan and prepare six nutritious meals by the time they are 16. 

SixbySixteen.me is supported by Ontario commodity organizations and local food groups to spread the word about teaching young people to learn lifelong healthy habits that also support Ontario's diverse agri-food sector.  

**Early bird deadline ends tonight**

Annual Conference and Speakers' Program
~ April 13, 2016 

Digging Into Dinner ~ Perspectives on Food and Farming
 
The discounted registration rate for the 2016 Farm & Food Care Ontario conference on April 13 ends tonight (Monday, April 4). This year's meeting focuses on understanding non-farming perspectives and how to proactively work with them. Highlights include: 

 

Talking to a concerned public about genetic engineering: Dr. Kevin Folta ~ Chair of the Horticultural Sciences Department at the University of Florida. (Sponsored by the Tracey Firth Memorial Fund) 

 

 

 

 

First World Problems: Andy Vance ~ Feedstuffs, Agricultural Marketing, Advertising and Perception Specialist. 

 


 


 

 

What consumers know, what they don't know and why it matters: Dr. Mike Von Massow ~ Associate Professor, College of Business and Economics, University of Guelph.

 

 





The chef, the dietitian and the locavore - a panel discussion on perspectives related to food and farming: Speakers include Carol Harrison, Registered Dietitian, Toronto; Jackie Fraser, Frabert's Fresh Food, Fergus; Chef Brad Watt, Rare Grill House, Peterborough. 

 
Plus highlights of Farm & Food Care's 2015 activities; presentation of the Farm & Food Care Champion award; Farm & Food Care Canada report and more.
 
Cost: $65 early bird registration; $80 after April 1. 
Location: Teatro Conference and Event Centre ~121 Chrisholm Drive #2, Milton 

 
Farm & Food Care welcomes support from other organizations. Click here for sponsorship information.
Environmental Initiatives ~ rental agreement resources & Soil Health Roadshow wrap-up
Resource for sustainable land rental:

When it comes to soil and water quality, how we farm makes all the difference. Long-term perspectives of soil and water conservation, however, can conflict with the objectives of short-term farmland rental agreements.

Farm & Food Care Ontario is launching a resource hub for both landowners and farmer-renters to explore options for sustainable land rental agreements.

The hub includes a sample lease agreement, links to soil health resources and a discussion checklist, along with videos and examples from across the province.  See these and other resources at www.farmlandagreements.ca.

This initiative is funded by the Great Lakes Agricultural Stewardship Initiative, and is in partnership with Ontario Farmland Trust. 


280 farmers attend Soil Health Roadshow

The March Soil Health Roadshow series was a huge success, with over 280 farmers attending sessions in Elmwood, Brodhagen, Delhi, Parkhill, Thamesville and Leamington. 

Each day started with Ontario Minitry of Agriculture staff reviewing the foundations of soil health and going through best management practices to address specific soil concerns in the area. Attendees also heard from local Conservation Authority staff about research projects and funding opportunities, staff at Ontario Soil and much more. 

Videos of some sessions will be made available on the Farm & Food Care Ontario website in the coming weeks. For more information about the Roadshow series, click here. 


Media training workshop ~ April 20

There are only four spaces available for Farm & Food Care Ontario's media training session in Guelph on April 20. The day-long, interactive session will give participants:

  • A better understanding of the media. 
  • The tools needed to prepare to face the media 
  • An interview process that will give each person real interview experience.  
The program is useful for board members and staff at commodity associations who speak regularly about issues related to their sectors, or any grower who is asked to give farm tours or speak on behalf of agriculture at different events. 
 
The cost is $400 (less 25% for Farm & Food Care members). To register, email info@farmfoodcare.org.
Breakfast on the Farm ~ Woodstock
Breakfast on the Farm is coming to Oxford County on Saturday June 11. 

The event will be held at Veldale Farms - a grain farm, dairy farm and seed dealership near Woodstock Ontario

 
As always, Farm & Food Care Ontario is looking for volunteers. Anyone who has questions or is interested in volunteering can contact Sue McLarty at sue@farmfoodcare.org

More details will be made available in the May E-Newsletter. 
Farm & Food Care Canada News
Canadian Centre for Food Integrity ~ Summit
Social license, public trust and transparency are hot topics. People make things happen and the first step to success in a unified effort for the Canadian food system is to get to know stakeholders from across the value chain. The summit, hosted by Farm & Food Care Canada and the new Canadian Centre for Food Integrity, will offer a unique opportunity for food system leaders to gather and delve into current issues related to public trust in food and farming  - both globally and here at home in Canada.

The summit will provide attendees with a chance to learn how to more effectively reach consumers with the right messages and messengers, with practical insights from various leading experts, companies and organizations.

Further details are available here.


Coming Soon ~ NEW Farm & Food Care Canada E-Newsletter 

An e-newsletter, specific to Farm & Food Care Canada, will be published later this month. 

To receive the latest news and industry announcements, subscribe to the Farm & Food Care Canada mailing list. 


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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.

100 Stone Road West, Suite 202
Guelph, ON
N1G 5L3
519-837-1326
www.farmfoodcareON.org
Twitter: @FarmFoodCareON
Email: info@farmfoodcare.org
© Farm Food Care Ontario
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