cktimes.ca Archives for Agrilink
Agrilink
FARMERS WANT A ROLE IN OPEN ONTARIO PLAN
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
This week's Guest Commentary comes from Mark Wales, Vice-President, Ontario Federation of AgricultureAnyone looking for an at-length mention of agriculture or farming in the recent Ontario Throne Speech were most likely left disappointed or cold.
At the mid-way point of the speech, we heard: ‘Your government will also support growth and expansion in our agri-food sector....because the world needs the good things that grow in Ontario.’
The balance of the speech offered a multitude of opportunities, sometimes obscure, where farmers and other professionals in agri-food can go to work and potentially thrive by using their skills and training to meet the needs of a growing country and a growing world.
Ontario farmers are already tapping into a rapidly expanding field of opportunities for green energy production. We have wind turbines popping up in our fields, we have biodigesters taking shape on our farms, capable of making a contribution of clean, renewable energy to the province-wide grid, solar energy can find a home on our roofs, and we are learning of other new opportunities to enter the green energy business.
We have said many times in the past that agriculture is capable of driving the province’s economy to new heights. We have also said that prudent government investment is necessary to make this happen. In a recent commentary, we said: ‘Our government leaders are not clearly seeing that the economic backbone that is agriculture is beginning to crumble at an alarming rate.’
If our government is serious about relying on agriculture to power the province to new economic levels, it is going to have to make some serious investments in our industry. We will have an opportunity to measure the level of commitment to agriculture’s future when the provincial government presents its next budget later this month.
There should be no doubt about the desire of Ontario farmers to play a role in realizing the dreams expressed for the province in the Throne Speech. We really need to see a greater commitment to agriculture’s future with investments from our federal and provincial governments.
The Ontario Agricultural Sustainability Coalition has developed a comprehensive agenda outlining the urgent economic needs of farmers in the livestock, horticulture and grains and oilseeds sectors. We are concerned with the apparent lack of will by our governments to step up and provide solutions.
We anticipate the next budget will be focussed on job creation. Rural Ontario relies strongly on agriculture for a wide variety of good jobs. The agri-food sector in Ontario has the potential to provide good jobs in rural Ontario, but what can be done will depend on the level of government investment in agriculture in the sectors represented by the Ontario Agricultural Sustainability Coalition.
Health care was highlighted in the throne speech as an essential component of a strong future for the province. Locally grown food has long been identified by the Ontario Federation of Agriculture as a source of nutrition for healthy and productive Ontarians. Our farmers recognize this fact and we call on our government to ensure we are positioned to provide that food.
SYNGENTA REVEALS NEW SCIENCE ON CORN AT LONDON FARM SHOW
03/11/10
From a Release - LONDON - Hundreds of top Canadian corn growers attended the first day of the Syngenta G32 Summit in London to learn how new scientific research can be applied to dramatically increase corn yields. Syngenta called it The G32 Summit, to bring together an expert panel to provide the latest research data to help corn growers maximize yields and grow more from less.
A key highlight was a presentation by Dr. Clarence Swanton, Professor at the Department of Crop Science, University of Guelph and internationally renowned researcher, who shared new science demonstrating that by avoiding weeds before they start, corn growers can get an average of 32 more kernels on every ear of corn.
“Getting more kernels on the ear is the goal of every corn grower because more kernels translate directly into more dollars,” said Nathan Klages, Customer Marketing Manager - Corn, Soybeans and Edible Beans at Syngenta Crop Protection Canada, Inc. “This research is changing the way Ontario farmers grow corn, allowing them to produce more and increase their profits without increasing their acreage. Simply put, this research is helping our producers grow more from less.”
The 32 kernel increase not only means more profit for growers – it means more corn for a world that relies increasingly on this crop for food, feed and fuel. “If every corn grower in Ontario were to get an extra 32 kernels from each cob of corn, this would translate into an additional 170 million litres of ethanol, 480 million boxes (500g size) of corn starch, 225 million Kg of sweetener, or food to produce 35,000 Kg more beef or 220,000 Kg more chicken – all from the same amount of available farm land,” says Klages.
Dr. Swanton’s initial research showed that corn changes its growth pattern when it emerges in the presence of weeds.
On the basis of this scientific research, Syngenta developed the Foundation Acre™, a yield management program consisting of a pre-emergent application of Primextra® II Magnum®. This practice, not only prevents weeds, but also sets corn on a pathway to achieve maximum yield. This latest research shows that by producing an extra 32 kernels per ear, the Foundation Acre approach can result in an average increase of up to 9.5 bu/acre.
Other presenters at the G32 Summit included Dr. Allan Gray, Professor and Director of the Centre for Food and Agricultural Business, Purdue University, Indiana, who discussed risk management strategies, and Tara McCaughey, Technical Crop Manager, Syngenta Crop Protection Canada, who discussed overall weed management and yield enhancement techniques in corn production.
“We brought the G32 Summit to the Western Fair Farm Show because we recognize the value of this information to our customers,” said Tommy Jackson, Head – Eastern Business Region, Syngenta Crop Protection Canada. “Ontario growers are smart, strategic businesspeople and it is our pleasure to bring them the latest research, information and insights that help them make critical decisions and get the most from every acre they produce.”
FCC ROLLS OUT LOANS FOR ON-FARM RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS
03/10/10
From Farm Business Communications - Farmers and agribusinesses eyeing ways to use renewable energy in their operations can now get federal loans to move projects forward. Farm Credit Canada will offer a new FCC Energy Loan to help farmers and agribusinesses move toward producing their own renewable energy. Available starting Monday (March 1), the FCC Energy Loan is meant to help farms and agribusinesses buy and install on-farm energy sources such as biogas, geothermal, wind or solar power.
For this loan FCC said it will offer an interest term of up to five years at variable or fixed rates and with monthly, quarterly, semi-annual and annual payments available.
"There are sources of energy all around Canadian farmyards and we're helping producers invest in the technologies needed to tap those opportunities," federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz said recently, announcing the program while addressing the Canadian Federation of Agriculture in Ottawa.
FCC cited a recent FCC Vision survey in which 60 per cent of those surveyed are thinking about new ways to find financial value by reducing their environmental impact. The survey, completed in November 2009 by 1,172 farmers and agribusiness operators across Canada revealed that 37 per cent of those looking at reducing their impact are also considering the use of renewable energy sources in their operations.
"We're definitely seeing an increase in the number of people across the country that are interested in renewable energy sources to reduce costs and demand on the energy grid," FCC CEO Greg Stewart said in the same release Monday.
LAUNCH SINGLE TOLL-FREE NUMBER, MAKING IT EASIER FOR BUSINESSES TO GET GOVERNMENT INFORMATION
03/10/10
From a Release - To make it easier for business owners to get the information they need, the governments of Canada and Ontario have collaborated to create a telephone number with business information from both levels of government.
Callers can dial 1-888-745-8888 or TTY 1-800-268-7095 to get information on several topics including financing options, starting or growing a business, federal and provincial government programs, managing employees, regulations, taxes, permits and licences, importing and exporting requirements, and more.
The Honourable Rob Moore, federal Minister of State, Small Business and Tourism was joined by the Honourable Harinder S. Takhar, Ontario Minister of Government Services today, to officially launch the new toll-free Business Info Line.
The announcement was made at the Economic Developers Council of Ontario's 53rd annual conference and showcase.
This new toll-free telephone service is part of an ongoing partnership between Industry Canada and ServiceOntario to provide integrated services to businesses, through the Canada-Ontario Business Service Centre, and other services.
BIC LAUNCHES BLITZ
03/15/10
From FCC Express - The Beef Information Centre has unveiled an aggressive beef brand consumer campaign set to run from March to May.
Focused mainly in Ontario and Alberta, the promotion will use a variety of multimedia to champion the nutritional and health benefits of beef.
Consumers will hear a stronger "call to action" to consider buying Canadian beef through various channels, such as radio, print ads, outdoor billboards, online advertising, contests, recipe booklets, grocery store programs and health professional initiatives, says John Gillespie BIC chair.
The campaign targets the beef consumer who typically eats beef one to two times a week, focusing on mothers aged 25 to 49, since they are generally the food decision makers for the family.
Billboards will use a "Strong on Nutrients" theme, while advertising on Google, Facebook and Yahoo will direct consumers to the Canadian beef campaign website at www.beefinfo.org (under the Bright Idea link).
Key grocery retail partners include 220 Safeway stores in Western Canada, 169 Sobeys stores in Ontario and the Atlantic region and 77 Costco stores across the country.
According to Ron Glaser, executive director of communications with BIC, limited funding means the campaign must "pick and choose" its best target markets.
"Historically this has been southern Ontario, with the highest concentration of consumers in Canada," he explains.
Glaser says the campaign has been expanded into Alberta, home to the largest beef producing sector in the country and also the largest funder through the beef check-off.
"With 40 per cent of the cowherd, and 70 per cent of the feedlots and processing in Canada, we want Alberta producers to know what we are doing with their money."
Glaser estimates the media buy for the current promotion at $1.1 million.
Follow-up surveys will assess the campaign's success. Glaser notes these survey results, and the results of campaigns from previous years, are available by contacting him at 403-275-5890.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To view these articles online, please visit us on the web at
http://www.ridgetownc.com/agrilink/agrilink..._scoops.cfm
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TekTalk
CAN CORN BE TAUGHT TO FIX ITS OWN NITROGEN?
03/11/10
From Farms.com
by: Kaustubh Bhalerao, 217-244-6569, Bhalerao@illinois.edu
Nitrogen fertilization is essential for profitable corn production. It also is a major cost of production and can contribute to degradation of the environment. Is it possible to "teach" corn to fix its own nitrogen, thus eliminating the need for nitrogen fertilizer applications? University of Illinois agricultural engineer Kaustubh Bhalerao believes it may be, through research in an emerging area of engineering called synthetic biology.
"We now understand enough about how genes work and how proteins are produced that we can actually think about reprogramming how living cells work," said Bhalerao, an assistant professor in U of I's Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering. "On one hand, it sounds intimidating. But on the other hand, there are tremendous benefits that may be possible by doing this."
Synthetic biology is a new area of research that combines science and engineering in order to design and build or "synthesize" novel biological functions and systems. Through this new technology, many scientists believe it may be possible to control biological systems to increase food supplies, produce energy, enhance human health, protect the environment, and more.
Bhalerao is leading a multidisciplinary research initiative with collaborators from the University of California, San Francisco; Stanford University; University of Cambridge; and New Castle University aimed at building systems that enable bacteria to spatially organize and communicate with and control plant cells. The research is funded through a grant of about $2 million from the U.S. National Science Foundation and United Kingdom's Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council.
Bhalerao's research focuses on building systems in which bacteria behave like amplifiers. "We've developed the equivalence of an amplifier inside bacteria. The bacteria sense the presence of an amino acid in their environment and produce a protein in response. A positive feedback mechanism in the gene circuit amplifies the production of that protein," Bhalerao said.
By using bacterial amplifiers, the systems become more sensitive. "Because of the amplifier, bacterial biosensors can detect concentrations much lower than would have been possible otherwise. In a system designed to produce a particular molecule or chemical, much larger output levels can be generated," he said.
A specific application being investigated is the design of a system that enables nitrogen fixing bacteria to communicate with the root systems of corn plants.
According to Bhalerao, soybean fixes its own nitrogen by sending a message to a bacterium that encourages it to colonize in the plant's roots. Once the right environment has developed, the bacteria start fixing nitrogen for that plant. This results in soybeans being naturally high in nitrogen and a protein-rich food source.
"Why don't we teach corn how to do this?" Bhalerao said. "This would reduce the need for the application of petroleum-based fertilizers, which has huge implications for sustainable agriculture."
Synthetic biology is a fast-growing research area with a wide range of potential applications. Scientists are using this new technology to make biosensors sensitive to light, sensitive to uranium, sensitive to rust, etc. Proven concepts in various stages of development include using bacterial sensors to build bacterial photographic plates, assist with the nuclear mining of uranium, or detect unexploded landmines in the soil.
"These are just a few potential uses that capture the mind," Bhalerao said. "This type of technology allows us to think about interesting, novel solutions to major concerns, such as how we can feed more people, or how we can produce more drinking water.
"Synthetic biology is an entirely new discipline. To compare it with electronics, where it's drawing a lot of its ideas and terminology from, we are at the stage of developing the transistor. We cannot foresee what the Internet of this technology is going to look like."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To view these articles online, please visit us on the web at
http://www.ridgetownc.com/agrilink/agrilink_...tektalk.cfm
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AgriLink Upcoming Events
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Event - Greenhouse Gas Emissions Calculator Workshop Date - March 19, 2010 Time - 11:30 AM Place - Delaware Contact Name - Regional Communications Coordinator Cathy Dibble @ 519-463-6374 Email - cathy.dibble@ontariosoilcrop.org
-------------------------------------------------------
Event - Growing your Farm Profits Workshop, Day 2, March 29 Date - March 22, 2010 Time - 9:30 AM Place - Wyoming Legion Contact Name - Margaret May 519-287-5334 Email - elgin@ontariosoilcrop.org
-------------------------------------------------------
Event - Does It Pay? Tools to Answer Your Own Farm Electricity Questions Date - March 23, 2010 Place - Vineland Station Contact Name - Julie VanMol
ph: 519-674-1575 Email - jvanmol@ridgetownc.uoguelph.ca
-------------------------------------------------------
Event - PERMIT TO TAKE WATER - WORKSHOP Date - March 23, 2010 Time - 10:00 AM Place - Dresden Contact Name - 1-877-424-1300
-------------------------------------------------------
Event - Ontario Sugarbeet Growers Association Annual Meeting Date - March 24, 2010 Time - 9:00 AM Place - Wyoming Fairgrounds Contact Name - Mary Lynn Lister Santavy, 519-352-6710 Email - osga@ciaccess.com
-------------------------------------------------------
Event - Grain Drying & Storage Workshop Date - March 25, 2010 Time - 9:00 AM Place - Sincoe Contact Name - Ag Business Centre, University of Guelph, Ridgetown Campus
1-866-222-9682 or 519-674-1592
-------------------------------------------------------
Event - Ontario Apple Growers Workshop Date - March 25, 2010 Time - 8:00 AM Place - Metawas Station Restaurant, 169 Lansdowne Ave, Kingsville Contact Name - Sarah Marshall @ 905-688-0990, ext. # 232
-------------------------------------------------------
Event - Ontario Agri-Food Education Inc. Annual General Meeting Date - March 25, 2010 Website - www.oafe.org
-------------------------------------------------------
Event - Holistic Management Course: Planned Grazing, Improving Sustainability Date - March 26,2010 to March 27, 2010 Time - All Day Event Place - Ignatius College, Guelph Contact Name - Fran or Tony McQuail, 519-258-2493 Email - mcqufarm@hurontel.on.ca
-------------------------------------------------------
Event - Grain Drying & Storage Workshop Date - March 26, 2010 Time - 9:00 AM Place - Chatham Contact Name - Ag Business Centre, University of Guelph, Ridgetown Campus
1-866-222-9682 or 519-674-1592
-------------------------------------------------------
Event - Chatham Kent Association of Christian Farmers Annual Banquet Date - March 26, 2010 Time - 5:30 PM Place - Chatham, Smitty's Pancake House, Grand Ave. W. Contact Name - Jacques at 519-682-1057 Alt Contact Name - Jim at 519-692-3293
-------------------------------------------------------
Event - “A Taste of Lambton-Kent” Gala Fundraising Dinner & Charity Date - March 26, 2010 Time - 6:00 PM Place - Ridgetown Campus, Willson Hall Contact Name - Dennis Bryson
Chair, Lambton - Kent Agriculture in the Classroom
Phone: 519.828.3311
Email - dline@xcelco.on.ca
-------------------------------------------------------
Event - Local Food Connection: Farmer Food Buyer Networking Event Date - March 29, 2010 Time - 9:00 AM Place - London Hunt and Country Club Contact Name - 519-232-9638 / 1-888-832-9638 Email - kareneatwell@execulink.com Website - www.ledc.com
-------------------------------------------------------
Event - 12th ANNUAL SOUTHWEST BEEF FOCUS Date - March 30, 2010 Time - 5:30 PM Place - Brooke Alvinston Inwood Community Centre Complex Contact Name - Margaret May 519-287-5334
-------------------------------------------------------
Event - “Understanding Your Market Pricing” Date - March 30, 2010 Time - 7:45 AM Place - Oungah, Country View Golf Course Contact Name - 519-352-7540.
-------------------------------------------------------
Event - Hazelnuts for Ontario Date - March 31, 2010 Time - 12:00 PM Place - Simcoe OMAFRA Resource Centre, 1283 Blueline Rd Simcoe Contact Name - 519-763-6160 x. 116
-------------------------------------------------------
Event - London Swine Conference Date - March 31,2010 to April 1, 2010 Time - All Day Event Place - London Convention Centre Contact Name - Linda Dillon at 519-482-3333 Email - Linda.dillon@ontario.ca Website - http://www.londonswineconference.ca/
-------------------------------------------------------
Event - District 1 Sheep Meeting Date - April 1, 2010 Time - 8:00 PM Place - Ridgetown Campus, University of Guelph Contact Name - Bill Duffield
-------------------------------------------------------
Event - Grain Drying & Storage Workshop Date - April 6, 2010 Time - 9:00 AM Place - Elora Contact Name - Ag Business Centre, University of Guelph, Ridgetown Campus
1-866-222-9682 or 519-674-1592
-------------------------------------------------------
Event - CAFA Meeting Date - April 7, 2010 Time - 7:30 AM Place - Chatham, Satellite Restaurant, 145 King St., W. Contact Name - Ron Vandehogen, 519-676-9849
-------------------------------------------------------
Event - Poultry Industry Conference and Exhibition Date - April 14,2010 to April 15, 2010 Time - All Day Event Place - Western Fair Grounds, London Website - http://www.westernfair.com/shows/poultry.html
-------------------------------------------------------
Event - OIA Conference and Annual General Meeting Date - April 16,2010 to April 17, 2010 Place - Hilton Garden Inn, Niagara-on-the-Lake
-------------------------------------------------------
Event - Annual Ontario Pork Congress Date - June 23,2010 to June 24, 2010 Time - All Day Event Place - Stratford Website - www.porkcongress.on.ca
-------------------------------------------------------
Event - Progressive Agriculture / Chatham-Kent Farm Safety Day Date - July 21, 2010 Time - All Day Event Place - Ridgetown Campus, University of Guelph Contact Name - Sue Kelner 519-674-1584 Email - skelner@ridgetwonc.uoguelph.ca
-------------------------------------------------------
Event - Outdoor Farm Show Date - September 14,2010 to March 16, 2010 Time - 1:00 PM Place - Woodstock Canada's Outdoor Park Website - http://www.outdoorfarmshow.com/
-------------------------------------------------------
Event - International Plowing Match & Farm Machinery Show Date - September 21,2010 to September 25, 2010 Time - All Day Event Place - Elgin – St. Thomas Website - http://www.ipm2010.com/
-------------------------------------------------------
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To view these listings online, please visit us on the web at
http://www.ridgetownc.com/agrilink/agrilink..._events.cfm
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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
