PROGRAMS and SERVICES Local Food Week is Coming! Food Safety Consultation with Small Businesses Growing Forward 2: What's New!
Want to Learn how to Grow Food in Urban Areas?
Discover how to Grow Lavender TECHNICAL UPDATES Protect your herd from predators!
Scouting - What to look for
RESOURCES
OMAFRA's Local Food Business Retention and Expansion Survey
OMAFRA Economic Development Programs and Services Find OMAFRA Specialists on Twitter Lists
New FactSheets and Publications
Links to Electronic Bulletins and Newsletters
Phone Lines and Websites Dateline: Calendar of Events OMAFRA Advisors Next Issue: June 19, 2015 PROGRAMS AND SERVICES Les programmes, les services et les ressources du ministère de l'Agriculture et de l'Alimentation de l'Ontario et du ministère des Affaires rurales sont également disponsibles en anglais.
The programs, services and resources of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food and the Ministry of Rural Affairs are also available in French.
Local Food Week is Coming! Ontario's second annual Local Food Week is June 1-7, 2015! It's our opportunity to celebrate the amazing food and beverages made, grown or harvested right here in Ontario.
There are already so many great things that individuals and organizations do every day to celebrate local food and beverages. The goal of Local Food Week is to share these ideas with each other and inspire even more celebrations.
Here are some quick tips on how YOU can participate in this year's Local Food Week celebrations June 1-7 and all year long:
Social media: Include #loveONTfood in all your tweets, Instagrams, Facebook posts, and other social media sharing; Join the Twitter party on June 3rd at 8:00 p.m. Websites & ads: If you have a website, blog or advertising options, visitwww.loveONTfood.ca to download and include a local food celebration button so your readers can easily find everything they need to know about Local Food. Barbecues & dinners: Host a local food celebration barbecue encouraging others to do the same, all the while enjoying delicious Ontario food, wine and beer. Signs & posters: Do you or anyone you know have a road sign or counter space to display a local food week sign? Proudly tell those driving by or visiting to "Celebrate local food! www.loveONTfood.ca" by including the website or hashtag. Talk to food partners: Speak with your favourite local restaurant, market, butcher or grocery store and encourage them to join the local food celebration. Talk with friends & family: Let your book club, school group, friends and family know it's Local Food Week and share loveONTfood.ca with them in person, by email, facebook or text. Spread the word: Pass this tip sheet on to others you know who are passionate about local food. Your ideas here...think creative and fun: Share what you did or plan to do to celebrate local food with us too by email at info@farmfoodcare.org or tweeting it including #loveONTFood What you'll find at www.loveONTfood.ca:
Downloadable local food celebration graphics for your use to help spread the news and to show your support Links to fantastic farm sites, information, Q & As, and more Links to great recipes, Ontario food buying tips, resources, and more A link to RSVP & join the #loveONTfood Twitter party on Wednesday, June 3rd A listing of Local Food Week #loveONTfood events around the province; A Local Food Week photo gallery. Food Safety Consultation with Small Businesses
Are you a small business in the food industry? If so, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) wants to hear from you!
Once in force, the Safe Food for Canadians Act will strengthen food safety rules. This new law will focus on prevention and your ability to quickly respond to food safety issues when they arise.
The CFIA is holding a targeted consultation to better understand your food safety challenges and to seek feedback on options that could reduce burden on your business.
Key food safety elements To improve the approach to food safety in Canada, we're considering enhancements based on three key features of international food safety systems:
The identification of food businesses - to know who is involved in preparing and importing food and what they are producing or bringing into the country, and communicate directly with these businesses to share important information. The ability to trace a food product's path one step forward and one step back - to reduce the time it takes to remove unsafe products from the market. Preventive food safety controls - to ensure all businesses preparing or importing food understand and control the potential hazards associated with their products and processes. Get involved
For the purpose of this consultation, small businesses are defined as those that generate $100,000 or less in annual food gross sales.
If you're a small business in the food industry, visit inspection.gc.ca/safefood
Don't miss out. Have your say before June 30, 2015!
Stay informed
Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn and like us on Facebook.
Sign up to our Listserv at http://inspection.gc.ca/ english/util/listserv/ listdsube.shtml
Growing Forward 2: What's New!
Growing Forward 2 (GF2) offers cost-share funding assistance, free workshops and training for Ontario producers, processors, organizations and collaborations.
What's New for GF2?
This year we've made it easier for clients to put together a good project application by making the following changes to the program:
Priorities are clearly identified in the program guides All projects will be assessed on merit Cost-share funding will be capped depending on the project category Some project categories have prerequisites as a required condition before clients can apply Approval of your project is needed before costs can be incurred and paid New Dates for GF2
GF2 cost-share funding assistance application intakes for producers and processors are:
May 1 to May 21, 2015 August 10 to August 27, 2015 November 16 to December 3, 2015 For more information visit www.ontario.ca/growingforward2
Want to Learn how to Grow Food in Urban Areas? Check Out the Grey to Green Conference 2015
Join leaders in the fields of urban design, green infrastructure, and sustainable agriculture for the Grey to Green Conference in Toronto on June 1st and 2nd, 2015. Presentations, tours and training sessions will explore new developments in urban agriculture and green infrastructure that are enabling leading designers and practitioners to integrate food production into the built environment.
See the conference agenda for full program details.
Learn how agritecture [architecture + agriculture] will enable the resilient cities of the future to sustain their populations Discover innovative green infrastructure and urban agriculture technologies at the Grey to Green trade show Learn how to leverage the challenges of resiliency to expand your business with visionary architect and author Eric Corey Freed Explore detailed case studies of North America's leading rooftop farming projects including Brooklyn Grange and the new 17,000 square foot Whole Foods project in Lynnfield, MA Attend leading-edge training courses on rooftop farming, green walls, integrated water management and more Discuss urban food systems and the regional agricultural policies of Toronto with key policy makers and city planners Gain exclusive access to Toronto's rooftop gardens and projects that push the boundaries of green infrastructure via behind-the-scenes tours Learn how developers and architects are using food as a catalyst to design stronger and more resilient communities Connect with the brightest minds and inspiring leaders working to build North America's most resilient cities To learn more about the Grey to Green Conference and to register http://www. greytogreenconference.org/
Discover How to Grow Lavender
This workshop will introduce the basics on how to grow lavender including lavender types, propagation, pest management, weed control, winter hardiness, row covers, harvest techniques, oil distillation, tourism and much more.
June 01, OMAFRA Research Station, 1283 Blueline Rd. Simcoe, Ontario. Register byMay 29.
June 08, Crystal Lake Lavender, 1381 Scugog Line 12, Greenbank, Ontario. Register by June 05.
To register please visit:register@ ontariolavenderassociation.org
The Ontario Lavender Association (OLA) is a not-for-profit incorporated organization representing the interests of the new lavender sector in Ontario. The OLA has the mandate to support the development of the lavender industry in Ontario through market expansion, research and development, training and educating, and mobilizing growers, processors and retailers to grow this industry.
Our vision is to grow the Ontario lavender industry, together.
Membership includes Ontario-based lavender growers and farms, lavender processors, lavender suppliers and retailers, and other businesses that support the development of the sector in Ontario.
To learn more please visit: www. ontariolavenderassociation.ca TECHNICAL UPDATES Never Cry Wolf - Protect your herd from predators!
Barry Potter, Agriculture Development Advisor, OMAFRA
In Ontario, many livestock operations include extensive pastures which feature ravines, scrub land and woodlots. These situations are likely to be attractive to predators such as wolves, coyotes and bears.
Minimize Risk With Management
Use easy calving bulls. Difficult calvings weaken cows, and big newborns can be slower getting going, increasing predation risk. Take advantage of increased calf vigour and cow maternality through planned crossbreeding. Check cows regularly. Intervene when necessary. Have a defined breeding season. Calving seasons that drag on often see cow checks become less regular, leaving tail-enders at higher risk. Keep pregnant cows and young calves out of bush pastures. Bush = cover for predators. Maintain fences. This keeps young calves from wandering outside of the calving area. Use high-powered electric fences to discourage predators from entering the pasture. Protect your livestock with animal guardians. Llamas, donkeys, and guard dogs can effectively discourage predators. Select cows with high "mothering ability". They will defend their calves against attack. Know The Enemy
Wolves primarily attack young calves, although they can prey on cattle. In a study of wolf kills conducted in Alberta (from 1980-1987), calves made up about 70% of the cattle identified as being killed by wolves. Wolf kills occur most often from July to September, when calves are in the 4 to 7 month old range. The young wolf pups are being trained to hunt at this time, and domestic livestock represent ideal teaching aids. Wolf attacks focus on the hindquarters, including the tail, thigh, and rectal areas. They may also attack the face, front legs, flank and upper shoulders.
Coyotes tend to attack young calves. The Alberta study showed that calves one month old or less make up about 80% of all cattle kills by coyotes. One third of the calves were less than one day old when killed. Coyotes attack the flank of the newborn calf. They rip open the abdomen and devour internal organs. Coyotes may also leave bite marks on the top of the calf's back.
Black bears tend to select calves under six months to kill. They will also kill yearlings and adults. Bears bite and claw the top of the neck and back of cattle. They often wound their prey, leaving claw marks along the shoulder and back, and tooth marks on the back and neck
Ravens like to rake hair out of livestock in the spring to build their nests. They will also attack newborn calves, plucking their eyes out, before beginning to eat them.
Constant vigilance is necessary. If prevention fails, remove offending predators by lethal means. Provide protection for the herd by using solid management practices and disposing of deadstock and afterbirth prudently.
To learn about the Ontario Wildlife Damage Compensation Program Guidelines visit: Compensation Guidelines
Scouting - Learn what to look for!Scouting is always the best method to determine if fields are actually at risk.
Spring time assessments help determine what impact winter and early spring conditions have had on the early season pests. Harsh winters can have a large impact on bean leaf beetles for example, while grubs are well protected from extreme temperature fluctuations by hibernating below the frost line. Spring scouting is also the best time to monitor for those pests that overwinter in the U.S. and migrate here in early spring (eg. black cutworm). Scouting prior to planting informs growers of field conditions that have increased their risk to pests. Some additional cultural control measures could be implemented or decisions made as to where to best target the insecticide seed treatments. Fields found to be at low risk of the major soil insect pests can targeted for planting fungicide-only treated seed in and experience little to no crop loss due to these insects.
The Guide to Early Season Field Crop Pestsprovides additional information on how to scout for other soil insects.
To learn more about how to use baits to find wireworm populations and how to dig and assess for grubs and some of the key root feeding pests refer to OMAFRA's webpage "Scouting for Soil Insect Pests in Field Crops"
RESOURCES There are lots of resources available on the web at the OMAFRA website www.omafra.gov.on.ca/ english/ag.html as well as others to help you with your decisions. OMAFRA's Local Food Business Retention and Expansion Survey
A local food survey is now available as part of the suite of resources available from OMAFRA's Business Retention and Expansion (BR+E) program. The survey was developed after the completion of Ontario's first regional local food BR+E in eastern Ontario.
The project brought together a unique partnership with membership from six counties and three cities. It crossed political boundaries, and worked collectively in a natural agricultural trade and commerce zone. The end result netted an accurate picture of the needs, concerns and strengths of the partnering communities, with recommendations for how to better support the region's local food industry going forward.
Participating communities included Northumberland County, City of Kawartha Lakes, Peterborough, Hastings, Prince Edward, Lennox and Addington and Frontenac Counties as well as the Cities of Quinte West and Belleville, and community partner, East Central Ontario Training Board.
The foundation of the project was based on BR+E principles. BR+E is a community-based, volunteer-driven economic development program designed to encourage growth and stability of local businesses. BR+E works to improve the competitiveness of local businesses by evaluating and addressing their broader needs and concerns. The philosophy of BR+E is that existing businesses are the core of a community's economic prosperity.
The project, though complete, presents a new beginning rather than an end, in that the project identified seven overarching recommendations to guide regional economic development efforts to support the local food sector over the next few years. These recommendations included finding ways to support labour force development, investment attraction, clarifying regulatory processes, and strengthening overall collaboration throughout the region.
"The project highlighted the importance of collaboration, networking and sharing information. It presented an opportunity for partners to work together to develop and deliver best practices, and to work with local food businesses to create new partnerships and networks" said Trissia McAllistar, project lead, Northumberland County.
One of the most significant outcomes of this regional local food BR+E project was the creation of the Ontario Agri-Food Venture Centre (OAFVC), located in Northumberland County. The OAFVC is a 15,000 sq. ft. local food business incubator with a unique and innovative model that will strengthen the local food economy in east central Ontario by providing producers with the opportunity to add value to their products and expand secondary source income opportunities.
The OAFVC will provide expertise and training to ensure the use of industry best practices. With the support of staff from OMAFRA, they will bring safe, traceable local food products more directly to market. In addition to supporting and funding the BR+E project, OMAFRA also awarded the OAFVC $490,000 through the Local Food Fund to purchase equipment for the facility.
To learn more about BR+E visit us at: Business Retention + Expansion
To learn more about the OAFVC visit:OAFVC
OMAFRA Economic Development Programs and Resources
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Regional Economic Development Branch provides economic development services through its regional advisory staff to support agricultural and rural organizations through:
Integrated delivery of agriculture and rural economic development resources and programs Coaching, training and stakeholder facilitation services Program implementation through an array of government resources Networking to build regional economic development collaboration and best practices New program development and research on emerging programs Connecting clients to OMAFRA resources that enable economic growth Coordination of information, resources, tool and programs to a number of client groups including: Rural Municipalities Regional Economic Development Organizations Chambers of Commerce Business Improvement Area Associations Rural Businesses Innovative Agricultural Producers Regional Stakeholder Groups/Local Committees Other Ministries For more information on OMAFRA's economic development programs and services contact your local REDB advisor http://ontario.ca/bglf or visit http://ontario.ca/b83f
Find OMAFRA Specialists on Twitter Lists
Field Crop Team and Livestock Specialists
https://twitter.com/ onfieldcrops/lists/field-crop- team/members
Hort Crop Team:
https://twitter.com/ onhortcrops/lists/hort-crop- team/members
Fact Sheets and Publications
To order OMAFRA publications and factsheets:
Visit any OMAFRA Resource Centre / Northern Ontario Regional Office or ServiceOntario location http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/ english/offices/ouroffices. html
Visit the ServiceOntario website at: www.serviceontario.ca/ publications or call1-800-668-9938 Visit the OMAFRA website at:http://ontario.ca/b83g or call: 1-877-424-1300 Electronic Bulletins and Newsletters
Ag Business Update
http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/ english/busdev/news/index.html
Virtual Beef
http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/ english/livestock/beef/news. html
Pork News and Views Newsletter
http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/ english/livestock/swine/news. html
CropPest Ontario
http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/ english/crops/field/news/news_ croppest.html
CEPTOR - Animal Health News
http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/ english/livestock/ceptor/news. html
ONVegetables (Vegetable Viewpoint)
http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/ english/crops/hort/news/news_ vegview.html
Ontario Berry Grower
http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/ english/crops/hort/news/news_ berrygrower.html
Hort Matters Newsletter
http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/ english/crops/hort/news/news_ hortmatt.html
On Organic
http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/ english/crops/organic/news/ news-organic.html
Specialty Cropportunities http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/ CropOp/en/index.html Phone Lines and Websites
OMAFRA Website: www.ontario.ca/omafra Agricultural Information Contact Centre: 1-877-424-1300 or e-mailag.info.omafra@ontario.ca Foodland Ontario - For recipes straight from our kitchen to yours: Foodland Dateline: Calendar of Events
Dateline provides you with ready access to information on upcoming meetings, training events and workshops. The online calendars - West, Central-West, East, North, Province and All Regions helps you locate information specific to your needs and geographic interest. To access one or more of these calendars go to: OMAFRA Dateline Calendar.
