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Issue 2016-05 | May 4, 2016
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New Ontario & Canada websites launched
Farm & Food Care Ontario and Farm & Food Care Canada have new and improved online looks. The organizations have created a more effective virtual platform to both serve the needs of our industry, and answer the questions of non-farming Canadians about food and farming.
These updated and more intuitive websites will continue offering the resources, helpful links and details on specific national and provincial projects.
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| | www.FarmFoodCareON.org continues to highlight Ontario-specific projects, programs and resources for farmers and non-farmers alike. |
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| www.FarmFoodCare.org is designed with non-farmers in mind. Find event resources, answers to questions on food and farming, and details about events happening across the country.
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Animal Care News
IMPACT program wraps-up
The IMPACT program has officially wrapped up with the two year timeline ending as of March 2016. All digital resources are still available and accessible by visiting the website www.FarmIMPACT.ca. Limited quantities of hard copy resources are still available upon request by contacting our office.
Farm Animal Advisory Council meeting
The Farm Animal Care Advisory Council held an industry meeting regarding emergencies involving farm animals - barn fires, truck rollovers, etc - on April 21, 2016. Over 50 farmers, industry professionals, government, and fire fighters participated in this meeting to address this important issue and help set priorities going forward on how industry can work together proactively.
Prioritizing livestock emergencies
As a Farm & Food Care supporter, we want your input. Please help us prioritize and set direction for livestock emergencies in Ontario. The following link will lead you to a series of questions on this very important issue. The survey should not take more than 15 minutes to complete. Your participation is greatly appreciated.
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Environment News
Farmland rental agreements ~ online resource
The www.FarmlandAgreements.ca website has launched, and it's creating a buzz in the media. The website has resources to help farmer-renters and landowners have a discussion on environmental stewardship on rented land; it includes a discussion checklist and downloadable lease agreements, along with a glossary of soil health terms and some videos to kick start this important conversation.
Creating Strategic Partnerships
Farm & Food Care is working to create strategic partnerships in the environment sector, including academia and other NGOs. We are partnering with Provision Coalition on a food waste reduction project and with Innovative Farmers Association of Ontario on a soil health initiative and applying for funding for both projects over the next few months.
Water Smart ~ best practices in water use
The Water Smart project continues to highlight best practices in water use efficiency in irrigation, greenhouses and vegetable washing facilities across the province. Through water use assessments conducted under the project, it helps provide farmers with water capacity and use information that allows them to optimize processes within their farms. This usually results in less water used by the operation and therefore less water that might need to be treated as it leaves the facility, saving energy, water and money for the farmer.
Lake Erie Phosphorous
Farm & Food Care Ontario now sits with two other agricultural organizations on the Great Lakes Guardians Council, and is active in the discussion with commodity groups and OMAFRA in the creation of a domestic action plan for phosphorus reduction in the Great Lakes.
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Breakfast on the Farm: June 11, 2016
- Veldale Farms, 545415 Pattallo Avenue, Woodstock
- June 11, 2016 ~ 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Breakfast on the Farm, coordinated by Farm & Food Care Ontario, provides a unique opportunity for farmers and non-farming Ontarians to have a conversation about food and farming. It gives people the chance to visit a real, working farm. It also provides a showcase for agriculture and gives non-farmers the opportunity to meet real farmers and members of the agri-food industry.
The best thing about the event is that it's entirely free - although pre-registration is required. Breakfast will be served to the first 2,000 attendees.
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| | Take a virtual tour of Veldale Farms |
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Stay connected with the Farm & Food Care Canada Newsletter
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Farm & Food Care Canada now has it's own newsletter. Keep up to date with initiatives from across the country, and help connect Canadians with food and farming.
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IMPACT Mobile App now available
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Now available for download is the IMPACT smartphone animal care app. Accessing animal care information has never been easier!
The current version is available for iOS users, and will be available for Android soon.
Search "FARM IMPACT" in your app-store. |
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2016 Board of Directors elected
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Elections for the Farm & Food Care Ontario Board of Directors were held on April 12.
The organization would like to welcome new directors Dave McEachran from Grain Farmers of Ontario, and Sandi Brock from the Ontario Sheep Marketing Agency.
Re-elected to two-year positions were John Maaskant, representing Chicken Farmers of Ontario, Bruce Christie representing Nutreco Canada and Heather Copland representing Grober Nutrition Inc. Returning directors include:
- Gerald Rollins, Beef Farmers of Ontario
- Jim Gowland, Ontario Bean Growers
- Joe Hickson, Ontario Seed Growers' Association
- Les Nichols, Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association
- Christine Schoonderwoerd, Wallenstein Feed & Supply Ltd.
- Peter van Sleeuwen, Dairy Farmers of Ontario
- Brian Gilroy, Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers' Association.
Retiring directors Leo Guilbeault, Grain Farmers of Ontario, and Beth Clark, Ontario Pork were recognized for their years of service.
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"Two monologues is not a conversation"
Conference highlights practical ways of communicating with the public
The annual Farm & Food Care Ontario conference and speakers' program was held in Milton on April 13, with over 200 agriculture and food stakeholders attending the event.
Attendees listened to presentations given by Dr. Mike Von Massow, Andy Vance, and the world-renowned biotechnology spokesperson Dr. Kevin Folta. Attendees also had the opportunity to engage in a discussion panel featuring a chef, dietitian and local food store owner.
The speakers discussed practical methods of discussing food with a concerned public, and the role of personal stories in establishing a more productive dialogue.
The conference was also a success on social media, with the Farm & Food Care Ontario twitter handle (@FarmFoodCareON) reaching 200,100 twitter accounts. The conference's hash-tag (#FFC16) had a reach of 218,400.
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2016 Champion Award goes to progressive ag-ambassador
Andrew Campbell of Strathroy has been named the 2016 recipient of the Farm & Food Care Ontario Champion Award.
The award was presented at Farm & Food Care's annual conference on April 13. Campbell was nominated for the award by the Middlesex Federation of Agriculture, with letters of support provided by Dairy Farmers of Ontario and writers from www.DinnerStartsHere.ca - a consumer-facing blog site populated by young Ontario farmers.
Campbell received the award for his willingness to engage Canadian consumers, and his proactive approach in tackling challenges through a variety of channels.
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From left to right: Bruce Christie, Stewart Snyder, Scott Snyder, Andrew Campbell, Lucia Lilbourne, Justin Williams. All participated in the nomination process.
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