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AGRIS CO-OP UNVEILS NEW SOLAR ENERGY CO-OP
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
AgriLinkOn Friday (March 26, 2010)at Ridgetown Campus, Agris Co-operative Ltd launched a new division of their organization called Agris Solar.
In co-operation with Spark Solar of Oakville, this southwestern Ontario farmer’s co-operative plans to install 1,000 so-called Micro FIT (Feed-in-Tariff) 10 kilowatt solar panels on member farms which could power 20,000 homes annually.
“The creation of this new solar co-operative will allow local ownership and our members the opportunity to invest and participate in the development of renewable energy within our local communities,” says Agris Solar Co-op President, Dave Malott of Muirkirk.
Each farm property owner can invest $20,000 towards the capital cost of a solar unit and share in the pooled energy fund that the Co-op will manage by selling power to Ontario Power Authority at a guaranteed rate of $0.802 per kilowatt-hour.
Showing off the panels at the launch was Morgan Cowl of Spark Energy. He explained that the units use German dual tracking technology that rotates with the sun and on cloudy days will lay flat gathering some solar power by reflective light.
Malott says the patrons of the 1,000 solar units will start seeing returns in the first year of operation as they share in the $3.5 million anticipated revenue stream. The Co-op also pays the landowner a $1,500 fee for a lease on the land the panel sits.
Local meetings are planned in the coming week to introduce the idea to rural property owners in south-western Ontario.
April 6 Oaks Inn, Wallaceburg 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.
April 6 Brigden Fairgrounds 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.
April 7 Lakeview Gardens, Eagle 10 a.m. - Noon
April 7 Ekfrid Community Centre, Appin 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
April 7 Pioneer Theatre, Ridgetown Campus 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.
April 8 AGRIS Co-operative, Chatham Branch 10 a.m. - Noon
April 8 AGRIS Co-operative, Stoney Point Branch 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
April 8 St. John’s Parish Hall, Woodslee 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.
MINISTER PONDERS ONTARIO PORK MARKETING OPTIONS
03/23/10
AgriLink
Ontario’s Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Carol Mitchell has asked for an extension in the time frame for her to make a decision on the direction of marketing Ontario pork. February’s Appeal Tribunal decision calling for a dual system of marketing, needs to be either accepted, rejected or varied by the minister and she has asked for an extension for her decision until May 26, 2010.
In the meantime, the Minister has asked all parties affected by the ruling to write submissions directly to her, explaining their position by April 14. She says she wants to hear from all parties wishing to see either a dual selling system, a single on or a variation of both.
In her letter, Mitchell says she has the power to alter, vary or rescind the ruling from the Tribunal but she must do so by the May deadline.
AGRICULTURE AND THE ONTARIO BUDGET
03/26/10
This week's guest commentary comes from Bette Jean Crews, President, Ontario Federation of Agriculture
Patience and perseverance sums up much of what Ontario’s budget outlook offers agriculture for the long term. As expected, there was no new funding announced in the budget, but that doesn’t mean our efforts end here. It simply means we need to continue to fight for the prudent investments needed to pull up our rural economy and preserve local food for the future of Ontario.
Finance Minister Duncan announced a $2 billion contingency fund as part of the budget. That fund is established to provide flexibility to respond to future challenges. The Minister knows now and will hear more that agriculture is in the middle of the massive challenge of staying viable and sustaining its very future.
Minister Duncan didn’t shut agriculture out of his planning for the future. The Minister of Finance included agriculture as a “key sector”, noting the province has invested in such key sectors on many occasions since 2003.
Ontario farmers will work with the minister and the government as it struggles to get through the deficit situation that developed in the past year. We have confidence in the minister’s approach to overcoming the deficit, and it would appear Minister Duncan has a good understanding of the investments needed in AgriStability and Business Risk Management Programs to strengthen and sustain the business of farming.
Hon. Carol Mitchell, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, has talked about her support for agriculture. OFA and its partners in the Ontario Agriculture Sustainability Coalition will continue its lobby work to convince the government to invest in AgriStability and our Business Risk Management Program.
We will be exploring ways with Minister Mitchell to access the $2 billion contingency fund set aside in the budget.
It was encouraging for agriculture to at least see that the OMAFRA budget increased by $150 million over the previous year – we hope a reflection of increased program spending.
The budget document also referred to the projected benefit to agriculture of $30 million with the implementation of the Harmonized Sales Tax later this year. That benefit to agriculture comes from additional tax exempt items under the HST schedule for farm inputs.
Ontarians need to be encouraged by the dwindling of the province’s deficit in the weeks leading up to the budget release. Improved economic activity resulted in a decrease of the deficit by $3.4 billion. We can only hope that this trend brings the $21.3 billion deficit to zero more quickly than Minister Duncan’s projected seven years.
The OAS Coalition understands Ontario‘s fiscal situation. It was caused by a deep recession and deepened by infrastructure and industry bailout spending. It is our position, proven by experience that a sound investment in the business of farming will pull Ontario up by its bootstraps, help reduce the deficit, and ultimately pay dividends.
We need to work together more than ever to convince our governments that making agriculture a priority will serve the needs of all of Ontario – now and in the future.
CANADIAN FARMING SCHOLARS PARTICIPATE IN INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURAL CONFERENCE
03/29/10
From a Release - Guelph — It is estimated that by 2050 there will be 9 billion people on the planet. A looming question is how farmers are going to provide this growing population with healthy, safe, accessible and sustainably produced food from fewer farms and with diminished human capital.
This was the challenge issued to participants in the fifth Nuffield Farming Contemporary Scholars Conference in Washington DC and Pennsylvania. The conference held in early March, was attended by Nuffield scholars and farm leaders from Australia, France, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada.
Along with seeing the sites in Washington, listening to speakers about the global agricultural economy, and taking in a Capitals hockey game, the group were the guests of a “Taste of Canada” reception at the Canadian Embassy. Funding from the office of the Honourable Gerry Ritz, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada ensured that the global group feasted on smoked salmon, bison, and cheese, and sampled some of the Canadian beer and wine available.
The Nuffield Scholars also participated in an extensive tour of Pennsylvania agriculture involving – everything from an Amish farm in Lancaster County, to a mushroom farm in Chester County and a large apple packing plant in Adams County.
One highlight was a visit to Mason Dixon Farms, a 2400 head dairy operation near Gettysburg who’s visionary owner, Richard Waybright, installed a manure biodigester back in the late 1970’s, long before anyone else was even contemplating the technology. According to Waybright, “Change is inevitable. Success is optional.”
Through all of the tours, the Scholars contrasted what they were learning with their own farming practices and had many discussions around how their new knowledge could benefit their own country.
"The Nuffield experience is very unique and a fantastic experience, remarked Shane Eby, of under ground organics farm located in Millgrove, Ontario. Eby, one of two current Canadian Nuffield Scholars says “The opportunity to share knowledge and experiences with over 50 other farmers and agricultural leaders from seven other countries is invaluable. The fact that we are all involved in different sectors of the industry, from dairy, to organic vegetables to beef and sheep and even to aquaculture presents an incredible opportunity to learn. Besides the farmers, we were joined with farm policy makers, lobbyists, national park managers, and communications specialists. My own farm practices will improve as a result of what I've learned and I hope to share what I’ve learned with other farmers across the country.”
At a Contemporary Ag Issues Forum, organized by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, speakers talked to the group about many of their local issues, including the rural/urban interface, the environment and the changing definition of agriculture, none of which are unique to Pennsylvania.
Sarah Megens, of Guelph Ontario, also a 2010 Canadian Scholar is using her Nuffield scholarship to explore critical issues surrounding farmland preservation and local food systems around the world. “This week I learned about the innovative legislation and programming Pennsylvania has put in place as an attempt to secure their most valuable farmland for food production. Many of the issues facing farmers in Pennsylvania are very similar to those seen in Ontario – the high cost of land, urban encroachment, the increasing age of farmers, and the consumer desire for more sustainably produced locally grown food. My hope is that through my Nuffield travels I will see more innovative policies that we can adopt in Canada so that we can, in turn, secure our own food supply, support rural economies and end the permanent loss of farmland to unsustainable urban development.”
Leadership was a common theme of the week and Russell Redding, the Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture, who travelled with the group for several days, reminded the Scholars that “leadership can be a very lonely task.” This was very evident during an in-depth tour of the Gettysburg battlefield, where discussions revolved around different decisions, tactics and leadership styles exhibited by various Civil War leaders made.
Nuffield Farming Scholarships are awarded to enthusiastic future leaders, between the ages of 25 and 45, wishing to explore topics of their choice in agriculture, agricultural land management, horticulture or the food chain. They provide individuals with the unique opportunity to:
· develop a global perspective on food and agriculture
· achieve personal development through study and travel
· stand back from their day-to-day occupation and study a topic of real interest to them
· access the world's best in food and farming
· deliver benefits to Canadian farmers and growers, and to the industry as a whole
A key part of the scholarship is the opportunity for winners to study a topic of great personal interest to themselves by carrying out an extensive research and global study tour. Scholars must complete their project within two years of the award and are required to travel and study for a minimum of two months in total. On return from their study tour, Scholars are expected to produce a written report and present their findings at the annual general meeting as well as to others in their industries.
Applications for the 2011 Scholarship are due April 30, 2010. The 2011 Contemporary Scholars’ Conference will be held in late February in New Zealand.
For more information on Nuffield Canada, visit www.nuffield.ca or on the Nuffield Farming Scholarship Trust (the United Kingdom site) - www.nuffieldscholar.org.
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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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AgriLink Upcoming Events
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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
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Event - Ontario Pork Producers' Marketing Board Annual General Meeting Date - March 30, 2010 Place - London Convention Centre Contact Name - (519) 263-5050 Email - ontariopork@bayleygroup.com Website - www.ontariopork.on.ca;
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Event - “Understanding Your Market Pricing” Date - March 30, 2010 Time - 7:45 AM Place - Oungah, Country View Golf Course Contact Name - 519-352-7540.
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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
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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/
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Event - District 1 Sheep Meeting Date - April 1, 2010 Time - 8:00 PM Place - Ridgetown Campus, University of Guelph Contact Name - Bill Duffield
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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
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Event - Agris Solar Co-op Information Meeting Date - April 6, 2010 Time - 2:00 PM Place - Wallaceburg, Oaks Inn Contact Name - Jim Campbell 519-354-7178 Email - jimc@agris.coop
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Event - Agris Solar Co-op Information Meeting Date - April 6, 2010 Time - 7:00 PM Place - Brigden Fairgrounds Contact Name - Jim Campbell 519-354-7178 Email - jimc@agris.coop
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Event - Agris Solar Co-op Information Meeting Date - April 7, 2010 Time - 10:00 AM Place - Eagle, Lakeview Gardens Contact Name - Jim Campbell 519-354-7178 Email - jimc@agris.coop
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Event - Agris Solar Co-op Information Meeting Date - April 7, 2010 Time - 2:00 PM Place - Appin, Ekfrid Community Centre Contact Name - Jim Campbell 519-354-7178 Email - jimc@agris.coop
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Event - Agris Solar Co-op Information Meeting Date - April 7, 2010 Time - 7:00 PM Place - RDC Bldg, Ridgetown Campus, UoG Contact Name - Jim Campbell 519-354-7178 Email - jimc@agris.coop
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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
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Event - Agris Solar Co-op Information Meeting Date - April 8, 2010 Time - 10:00 AM Place - Chatham, Agris Co-op, Park Avenue East Contact Name - Jim Campbell 519-354-7178 Email - jimc@agris.coop
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Event - Agris Solar Co-op Information Meeting Date - April 8, 2010 Time - 2:00 PM Place - Stoney Point, Agris Co-op Contact Name - Jim Campbell 519-354-7178 Email - jimc@agris.coop
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Event - Agris Solar Co-op Information Meeting Date - April 8, 2010 Time - 7:00 PM Place - Woodslee, St. John's Parish Hall Contact Name - Jim Campbell 519-354-7178 Email - jimc@agris.coop
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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
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Event - OIA Conference and Annual General Meeting Date - April 16,2010 to April 17, 2010 Place - Hilton Garden Inn, Niagara-on-the-Lake
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Event - Annual Ontario Pork Congress Date - June 23,2010 to June 24, 2010 Time - All Day Event Place - Stratford Website - www.porkcongress.on.ca
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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
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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/
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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/
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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
