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Agrilink
RIDGETOWN CAMPUS INTRODUCES WATER CONSERVATION TEST PROJECT TO HIGH SCHOOLS
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
From a Release - Ridgetown – University of Guelph Ridgetown Campus, through a partnership with the Thames Sydenham and Region Source Water Public Education and Outreach Strategy Project, launched its “Down the Drain – Water Quality and Conservation” project. Two schools have taken part in this program, Blenheim District High School in Blenheim, Ontario and Medway High School in Arva, Ontario.This program has been designed for grade nine students within the Thames, Sydenham & Region Watershed and has a direct connection to the grade nine science curriculums as set out by the Ministry of Education. The goal of the project is to enable students to become familiar with our area watersheds, increase their knowledge of the movement of water in and above the earth, gain an understanding of the water cycle, develop an awareness of their role in water contamination, water wastage and in the steps towards water conservation.
Each school taking part will utilize in class activities adapted from the Yellow Fish Road project to demonstrate the impact of pollution entering our rivers, lakes and streams through storm drain runoffs. In addition the participating classes will take part in an activity day where they will paint yellow fish next to storm drains and distribute fish-shaped brochures to nearby households to remind residents to properly dispose of hazardous household chemicals and to use environmentally friendly alternatives such as compost in your garden. This program will be continued for interested schools in the spring of 2010.
HOG INVENTORIES DECLINING DUE TO MARKET COLLAPSE
10/28/09
From StatsCan
Hog inventories on Canadian farms declined 7.3% between the third quarter of 2008 and the third quarter of 2009. The main factors in the decline were low market prices, the restructuring of farms and farm closures.
As of October 1, 2009, Canadian farmers had 11.8 million hogs on their farms, down from 12.7 million on the same date last year. At the same time, the number of farms with hog operations declined from 8,500 to 7,700.
The number of sows reported on farms reached 1.3 million, down 4.4% from October 1, 2008. The number of sows anticipated to farrow is expected to continue declining, according to the industry.
Hog producers exported about 1.6 million hogs during the third quarter of 2009, down 27.2% from the same period last year. During the same period, domestic slaughter of hogs increased 5.9% as slaughter capacity improved in some regions.
OFA AWARDED GRANT FOR CARBON AGGREGATOR STUDY
10/27/09
From a Release - GUELPH – The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) has received $126,000 in funding from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's Advancing Canadian Agriculture and Agri-Food Program, which is delivered in Ontario by the Agricultural Adaptation Council. The funding will be used to undertake a feasibility study into how a carbon trading system could become a viable business option for Ontario farmers.
“Farmers are always looking for new ways to increase the profitability of their operations,” says Bette Jean Crews, OFA President. “Trading carbon credits could allow them to do that while at the same time contributing to improving the environment for all Ontarians.”
Experts say this is an ideal time to act on climate change, and agriculture plays a role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions – farmers use their land to trap and sequester greenhouse gases, earning carbon credits. These carbon credits can then be traded or sold to industries that need to offset their carbon emissions. The OFA plans to talk to large ‘final emitter’ companies about their needs from a carbon trading system, and the feasibility of carbon credit purchasing.
Kim Turnbull, a farmer and chair of the Agricultural Adaptation Council (AAC), notes “reducing greenhouse gas emissions is a concern for all Canadians, and it’s exciting that agriculture can be part of the solution to this global problem. We just need to determine how we can best make this work for Ontario farmers.”
By hosting consultations with farmers across the province, the study will identify barriers preventing farmers from participating in a carbon trading market and make recommendations on how to overcome these obstacles. Research into best trading practices in other areas will be carried out.
“The project will also provide guidance on the risks and benefits to Ontario farmers who choose to make carbon credit trading part of their business structure,” says Crews.
RACE ON FOR GM CROPS TO SOLVE SHORTAGES, SAYS MONSANTO
10/30/09
From the The Australian
Agricultural technology company Monsanto hopes to double crop yields by 2030 as well as reduce the amount of fertilisers, chemicals and water used by a third, by combining conventional plant breeding with genetically modified lines.
Harvey Glick, Monsanto's senior director of scientific affairs, said gains made by conventional breeding have slowed down and argues the next step will be "the gene revolution", a combination of conventional plant breeding with biotechnology.
Global shortages of grain last year led to price hikes, food riots and more hunger.
The UN has warned global food production will have to increase by 70 per cent by 2050.
The world population is expected to reach 9billion by 2050, up from 6.8billion today.
The last great leap in food production was the "green revolution", which doubled cereal production between 1970 and 1995, while increasing the area by less than 5 per cent.
The green revolution introduced high-yielding cereals into developing countries, along with modern agricultural techniques.
The father of the green revolution, Norman Borlaug, is credited with saving more than a billion people from starvation.
Dr Glick said that, for seven of the past eight years, "we have been consuming more of our (grain) stocks than we're producing, so we're in a very precarious situation".
MAIZE RESEARCH REDUCES POVERTY IN WEST AND CENTRAL AFRICA
10/29/09
From http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-10/...2809.php#at
MALAWI -- An analysis of three and half decades of maize research in African farming communities finds big benefits. A multi-country study, in Agricultural Economics, reports the significant role international maize research plays in reducing poverty. It finds that since the mid-1990s, more than one million people per year have escaped poverty through the adoption of new maize varieties.
Key economic benefits from maize research are primarily the result of the productivity gains farmers experience after adopting modern varieties. While notably scant prior to the 1980s, the percentage of MVs found in a maize area grew from 5 % in the 1970s to 60% in 2005. The study results suggest that without research to maintain or increase maize yields, poverty in the region would be substantially worse.
For example, for every $1 million invested in this type of research at The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), at least 35,000 people were lifted out of poverty, reports author Arega Alene of IITA ("The Economic and Poverty Impacts of Maize Research in West and Central Africa").
Alene examines the relationship between variety performance and adoption patterns to estimate the benefits of maize research in West and Central Africa during the past three and half decades. Results are drawn from multiple surveys of research conducted between 1981 and 2005 by IITA, the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), and the national agricultural research systems (NARS). Social rates of return on public investments in maize research in the region were also considerable.
The countries surveyed account for about 85% of maize production in the region. Questionnaire surveys were conducted with managers, breeders, economists, and representatives of maize research institutes and seed production agencies.
Alene concludes that more must be done to enhance the impact of maize research. Affordability and accessibility for farmers to various complementary inputs, such as improved seed and fertilizer, are critical factors for sustainable poverty reduction.
PREMIER’S AWARDS FOR AGRI-FOOD INNOVATION EXCELLENCE
11/02/09
From OMAFRA Connects-Lambton County
Applications are now being accepted for the fourth year of the Premier’s Award for Agri-Food Innovation Excellence program. The deadline for submissions is November 16, 2009. Awards will be announced in 2010.
About The Program
The Premier’s Award for Agri-Food Innovation Excellence was established in 2006 to recognize and foster innovation in the agri-food industry. The five-year, $2.5 million program (now in its fourth year) encourages the development of prosperity in Ontario’s rural communities and on farms by recognizing innovations that add value to existing products, create jobs and drive economic growth. As many as 55 regional awards, valued at $5,000 each, can be presented each year. Recipients of the Premier’s Award (up to $100,000) and the Minister’s Award (up to $50,000) are selected from the regional winners.
Who Can Apply?
A farmer, primary producer, groups of farmers, combination of agri-food businesses, or agri-food related organizations are all eligible for recognition under this initiative. A farmer must be one of the applicants in any group (i.e., eligible to obtain an Ontario Farm Business Registration number).
The innovation must have been developed and have been in use on an Ontario farm, or be in the planning stages of development with a business plan towards implementation. The innovation must also have the potential for use on a broader basis and demonstrate a positive effect on the agricultural industry.
Eligible Innovations
Examples of types of innovations include, but are not limited to:
• improved farm practices
• responding to consumer demands
• environmental stewardship
• health and safety on the farm
• energy innovations
• education and marketing of agriculture to society
• local food
• traceability
Deadline
This year’s applications must be received by 5 p.m. on Monday, November 16, 2009. Eligible applications will be reviewed by two independent panels comprised of a cross-section of Ontario’s agri-food industry. Additional information, guidelines and applications forms are available on the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs website or by calling the Agricultural Information Contact Centre at 1-877-424-1300.
Learn More
Learn more about past award winning innovations by visiting the website at http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/premier_awa...winners.htm
In its first three years, the Premier’s Award for Agri-Food Innovation program has attracted more than 550 applications highlighting on-farm innovations. There are two years left in the current program.
OFA IS CALLING ON THE MINISTER FOR HELP
10/30/09
This week's commentary is by Bette Jean Crews, President, Ontario Federation of Agriculture
A recent letter I sent to the minister outlined the forces at work, threatening the future of the beef, pork, fruit and vegetable, and veal sectors. The letter referred to the role of these sectors in sustaining our rural communities – not just with “healthy locally-produced food” but by contributing to an improved environment and a stable economy.
We told the minister that “our industry is in crisis and at a crossroad,” and that “Ontario is losing its competitive position and is giving up its market to producers from other provinces in several important commodities.” There is no doubt in our minds that “without immediate action, our respective sectors will face irreparable harm that will snowball to significant and long-term impacts on our rural economy and communities.”
We reminded Minister Dombrowsky how successful her work of introducing a Risk Management Program for the grains and oilseeds sectors was in the past. “You have demonstrated valuable leadership in the past,” the letter stated. “That was a bold move that has proven to be the right move,” our letter told Minister Dombrowsky.
In that instance, the Risk Management Program designed by farmers worked well, and farmers are still working to secure Federal Government participation. We intend to work with the minister to secure a complete Risk Management Program” that includes federal support.
We told the minister that many Ontario farmers “operate on an unlevel playing field” when programs available to farmers in other provinces are considered. They have “more responsive and generous safety net programming,” than what’s available in Ontario.
Our letter to the minister promised to “work closely” with her “to help convince her colleagues and the consuming public that these investments are necessary to preserve our farm economy.”
We noted to the minister a clear understanding of Ontario’s current fiscal situation – as farmers “we too are directly suffering through the recession.”
We said “a strategic investment in agriculture is known to pay future dividends. Not only will it save our farming economy today, it will also sustain our communities and the critical mass of infrastructure to keep farming alive and healthy in the future.”
The group signing the letter – Gord Hardy of Ontario Cattlemen’s Association, Brenda Lemmens of the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association, Wilma Jaffray of Ontario Pork, Judy Dirksen of Ontario Veal, and myself – called on the minister to meet with us at her earliest convenience.
“Our ongoing contribution to Ontario society depends on bold and decisive action now,” we told Minister Dombrowsky. We said we want to “discuss our circumstances and proposals and map out how we can work” with government to ensure changes are quickly enacted.
OFA is hopeful Minister Dombrowsky will respond favourably to our request. We have a successful record of working with her and believe this success can be repeated for the benefit of these Ontario farmers.
CANADIAN FARM EXPORTS SNAGGED IN WORLD SAFETY NET
10/29/09
From Reuters
WINNIPEG, Manitoba -- A series of trade restrictions on Canadian farm products this year has ratcheted up the pressure on farmers, many of whom say the barriers reflect protectionism rather than genuine concern over food safety.
"A lot of it comes down to recessionary (pressure) that they're under," Canadian Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz said on Wednesday. Export markets "tend to get more protectionist as they safeguard their own folks."
As for the specific restrictions, Ritz said: "Some are based on a bit of reality, some are a real stretch."
* China's ban on Canadian and Australian canola with blackleg targets a disease already present in China. Some analysts believe China is seeking to draw down its supply of canola, which is crushed for use in vegetable oil.
* Four Canadian canola-crushing plants owned by Cargill [CARG.UL], Viterra (VT.TO) and two by Bunge (BG.N) are under U.S. shipping restrictions because of salmonella bacteria in meal shipments. Salmonella is a serious concern in human food, but canola meal is cattle feed. Some believe the Obama administration is scoring political points based on food-illness fears. Even so, U.S. food safety officials maintain that animal feeds can act as vehicles for transmitting harmful bacteria to humans and animals.
* A U.S. country-of-origin labelling law has sharply reduced Canadian cattle and hog exports to the United States. Some U.S. packers and farm groups oppose the law, causing Canadian farmers to suspect reflects effective lobbying by certain cattle groups rather than food traceability concerns.
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To view these articles online, please visit us on the web at
http://www.ridgetownc.com/agrilink/agrilink..._scoops.cfm
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TekTalk
ARS RELEASES FIRST HARD WINTER WHEAT VARIETIES FOR EASTERN U.S. PRODUCTION
10/29/09
From the ARS News Service
The first hard winter wheat varieties bred and developed for production in the eastern United States have been released by the Agricultural Research Service (ARS).
NuEast, a hard red winter wheat, and Appalachian White, a hard white winter wheat, were bred by ARS plant pathologist and geneticist David Marshall, research leader of the Plant Science Research Unit in Raleigh, N.C.
Soft winter wheats, which are used to make pastries, cookies and biscuits, are typically grown in the eastern United States. Hard wheats, on the other hand, are best suited for making bread. Hard wheat has not traditionally been a successfully grown crop in the eastern states because the area's humidity increases the incidence of disease in the field. This in turn affects yield and the quality of the grain.
But NuEast addresses these problems. In field
tests, NuEast had significantly higher grain yield than the check varieties over four years of testing. It also showed moderate reaction to powdery mildew but was more resistant than some check varieties. NuEast's resistance to leaf rust is good, and it is moderately resistant to stem rust, including Ug99 races.
There are very few hard white wheats grown and produced in the United States. The main challenge with growing hard white wheat under humid conditions in the eastern states is the pre-harvest sprouting typically associated with white wheats, according to Marshall.
Throughout six locations and over three years of testing, Appalachian White had significantly higher yield than the only other variety that could be considered acceptable when grown under weather conditions in the eastern states. Appalachian White also showed a higher level of resistance to powdery mildew, stripe rust, leaf rust and Hessian fly.
According to Marshall, the key to developing a hard wheat for eastern U.S. production is the ability to produce consistently good grain quality, resulting in good milling and baking characteristics when grown in a humid environment.
Millers and bakers that are part of the North Carolina Organic Bread Flour Project, an initiative supported with funding from the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund and Santa Fe Tobacco, have been testing the wheats since their release. So far, the feedback has been positive.
MONSANTO'S YIELDGARD VT(R) CORN TECHNOLOGIES RECEIVE EUROPEAN UNION REGULATORY APPROVAL
11/02/09
A Monsanto Company Release
ST. LOUIS -- Monsanto Company (NYSE: MON) welcomed today the European Union authorization of two of its corn technologies, YieldGard VT Pro(TM) (MON 89034) and YieldGard VT Rootworm/RR2® (MON 88017). The decision covers the import, processing and food and feed use of these products. The final step in the approval process is publication of the decision by the European Commission.
These approvals follow the European Food Safety Authority's positive opinions on the safety of the products in December 2008 for YieldGard VT Pro and April 2009 for YieldGard VT Rootworm/RR2.
Monsanto's YieldGard VT corn technologies deliver important benefits to farmers by helping to increase yields while using fewer inputs, thus contributing to greater sustainability in agriculture.
"We welcome the Commission's decision to follow the independent scientific advice of the European Food Safety Authority," noted Jerry Hjelle, Monsanto's Vice President of Global Regulatory. "These approvals will enable farmers in North and South America to improve productivity in a more sustainable manner. Moreover, these authorizations will provide market access for these products needed by European livestock producers. We hope for timely EU approvals for other existing and pipeline products."
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To view these articles online, please visit us on the web at
http://www.ridgetownc.com/agrilink/agrilink_...tektalk.cfm
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AgriLink Upcoming Events
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Event - Labour Force Development Summit for Elgin County Date - November 3, 2009 Time - 9:00 AM Place - Knights of Columbus Hall, 265 Wellington Street, St. Thomas Contact Name - Jane Kemp, Elgin Middlesex Oxford Local Training Board, 519-672-3499 Email - jk@localboard.on.ca
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Event - MEETING IN THE MIDDLE Date - November 4, 2009 Time - 8:00 AM Place - Holiday Inn, Point Edward Contact Name - Jane Beairsto
Sarnia Lambton Chamber of Commerce,Tel: 519-336-2400 Fax: 519-336-2085
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Event - District 1 Sheep Meeting Date - November 5, 2009 Time - 8:00 PM Place - Coldstream Community Centre Contact Name - Bill Duffield
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Event - Royal Winter Fair Date - November 6,2009 to November 15, 2009 Time - All Day Event Place - Toronto, Exhibition Grounds Website - www.royalfair.org
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Event - “HOW TO START A FOOD BUSINESS” SEMINAR Date - November 17, 2009 Time - 9:00 AM Place - 265 Front Street North, Sarnia Contact Name - Jeanny at 519-332-1820 Email - jeanny@sarnialambton.on.ca Website - http://www.sarnialambton.on.ca/documents/Food_b...1172009.pdf
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Event - 63rd Annual Chatham-Kent Chamber of Commerce Rural Urban Dinner Date - November 19, 2009 Time - 5:30 PM Place - Kinsmen Auditorium, Chatham Contact Name - (519) 352-7540 ext. 21 Email - info@chatham-kentchamber.ca
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Event - LAMBTON FEDERATION OF AGRICULTURE ANNUAL BANQUET AND MEETING Date - November 20, 2009 Time - 6:00 PM Place - Wyoming Fairgrounds Contact Name - LFA office at 519-828-5028
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Event - “AGRICULTURAL SOLUTIONS FOR ENERGY: BIOMASS” Date - November 24, 2009 Place - Ridgetown Campus Website - www.research2receptor.com
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Event - Agricultural Solutions for Energy: Biomass Date - November 24, 2009 Time - 11:30 AM Place - Ridgetown Campus Website - http://www.research2receptor.com/ridgetown.html
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Event - Poultry Industry Council’s Producer Update Date - November 24, 2009 Time - 10:00 AM Place - Broadhagen Community Centre Contact Name - Poultry Industry Council, 519- 837-0284 Website - www.poultryindustrycouncil.ca
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Event - Bounty of the County Trade Show, 59th Annual Essex County Associated Growers Date - November 24,2009 to November 25, 2009 Time - All Day Event Place - Leamington Kinsmen Recreation Complex, 249 Sherk St. Contact Name - Associated Growers - 519-326-4481 Email - ecag@bellnet.ca Website - www.bountyofthecounty.ca
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Event - Ontario Sheep Marketing Agency 2009 Annual General Meeting Date - November 27,2009 to November 28, 2009 Time - All Day Event Place - Cambridge Holiday Inn - 200 Holiday Inn Drive, Cambridge ON Contact Name - Bill Duffield
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Event - Environmental Farm Plan Meeting-Essex-Day Two-Dec. 14 Date - December 7, 2009 Place - Essex Contact Name - Ernie Konrad, 519-825-4588 Email - essex@ontariosoilcrop.org
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Event - Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable and Farm Market Expo Date - December 8,2009 to December 10, 2009 Time - All Day Event Place - Grand Rapids, Michigan Website - http://www.glexpo.com/index.php
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Event - 31ST FARM FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT AND TAX SEMINAR Date - December 14, 2009 Time - 9:30 AM Place - Brooke Alvinston Inwood Community Complex Alvinston, Ontario Contact Name - Telephone: (519) 336-9900 Fax: (519) 332-4828 Email - bmacintyre@bdo.ca
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Event - Southwest Agricultural Conference Date - January 6,2010 to January 7, 2010 Time - All Day Event Place - Ridgetown Campus Contact Name - Ag Business Centre
519 674 1596
Website - www.southwestagconference.ca
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Event - 2010 CCA Conference Date - January 13,2010 to January 14, 2010 Time - All Day Event Place - London, Best Western Lamplighter Inn, Wellington Road
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Event - Certified Crop Advisors Annual Conference Date - January 13,2010 to January 14, 2010 Time - All Day Event Place - London, Best Western Lamplighter Inn, Wellington Road
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Event - Environmental Farm Plan Meeting-Lambton-Day Two-Feb. 9 Date - February 2, 2010 Time - 9:30 AM Place - Wyoming Legion Contact Name - OSCIA at 519-826-4214 Email - www.ontariosoilcrop.org/EFP/EFP.htm
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Event - 2010 OSCIA Annual Meeting Date - February 2,2010 to February 3, 2010 Time - All Day Event Place - Sheraton Fallsview, Niagara Falls
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Event - South Western Ontario Pork Conference Date - February 17, 2010 Place - Ridgetown Campus Contact Name - Ag Business Centre 519 674 1596
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Event - Environmental Farm Plan Meeting-Lambton-Day Two-Mar. 9 Date - March 2, 2010 Time - 9:30 AM Place - Wyoming Legion Contact Name - OSCIA at 519-826-4214 Website - www.ontariosoilcrop.org/EFP/EFP.htm
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Event - 4th Annual Growing the Margins Conference Date - March 8,2010 to March 12, 2010 Time - All Day Event Place - London Convention Centre Contact Name - First Stage Enterprises; 416-426-7029 Website - www.gtmconference.ca
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Event - Western Fair Farm Show Date - March 10, 2010 Time - All Day Event Place - Western Fair Grounds, London Contact Name - (800) 619-4629 or (519) 438-7203 Website - http://www.westernfair.com/shows/farm.html
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To view these listings online, please visit us on the web at
http://www.ridgetownc.com/agrilink/agrilink..._events.cfm
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John Jordan
Editor, AgriLink and Farm Market News
University of Guelph, Ridgetown Campus
Tel. 519-674-1577
Fax. 519-674-1530
E-mail: jjordan@ridgetownc.uoguelph.ca
AgriLink website : www.ridgetownc.com/agrilink
