New Artisan Agriculture program at Durham College
Durham College is set to launch an exciting new Artisan Agriculture Program in fall 2012. This two year program will offer courses involving innovative niche processing of quality products, and students will work with local food producers to develop and test new products for the specialty market. Visit the Durham College website for more information and for upcoming registration deadlines! |
Jessica Phoenix Wins Gold at Pan Am Games
Congratulations to Jessica Phoenix, of Cannington, who won the gold
medal in the individual eventing competition at the 2011 Guadalajara
Pan American Games in Mexico. Check out Jessica's website to learn
more about her road to the Olympics.
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Mitigate high feed costs with Feedlot Scanning and Carcass Prediction
Used commonly in western Canada and the US for increasing feedlot feeding efficiency and grade quality, Beef Improvement Ontario's (BIO) ultrasound technology is being recommended for Ontario Feedlot Operations in order mitigate high feed costs. The ultrasound technology measures back fat, marbling and muscle depth, and makes use of live weight and feedlot performance, to predict optimal shipping dates.
The cost of a visit to your farm is usually $150 plus $9 per head, however, until September 2012, the per head fee is being absorbed by the Ontario Cattlemen's Association. Contact Jason Koudys of BIO or visit the Ontario Cattlemen's Association website for more details.
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Faces of farming
Check out the new Faces of Farming Calendar for 2012 - you may be surprised to see a familiar face! Cathy McKay of Nature's Bounty Farm has been featured in the month of February. Nature's Bounty, in Scugog Township, grows 18 varieties of apples on 11,000 trees, in addition to raspberries, pumpkins, gourds, ornamental corn and a flock of 40 sheep. Visit the Ontario Farm Animal Council (OFAC) website to find out how you can get a copy of the calendar.
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Durham Farm Fresh Registration 2012
If you wish to become a Durham Farm Fresh Member, or for more information, contact Jenny Carnaghan, jenny@durhamfarmfresh.ca.
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About the workshops:
Conserve electricity...
Conserve your $$
Wednesday, Jan. 25, 9:15-4:30
- Determine how energy savings translate financially
- Determine energy consumption for separate tasks
- Identify opportunities to save electricity on your farm
- Overview of incentives available to farmers
To register for this course, contact Mary Margaret McDonald by telephone: 519-674-1500 ext. 63592 or by email: mmcdonal@ridgetownc.uoguelph.ca.
University of Guelph Ridgetown Campus, Ag Business Centre
On farm food safety
Friday, Jan. 20, 9:30-4
- 3-2-1 Assessment of your farm operation for food safety
- Using food safety to market your products
- Hygiene and sanitation
- Pre and post harvest water use
Wednesday, Feb 1, 9:30-4
- Food safety on multi-commodity farms
- Manure, compost and compost teas
- Animal health products use
- Preparing for an on-farm food safety audit
- Introduction to traceability
Water taking permit
Thursday, Feb. 16, 9-12
- Overview of the regulations
- Step by step guide to filling out your permit application
*A permit to take water is required for anyone taking/pumping more than 50,000 litres per day for agricultural irrigation
Grain drying and storage
Monday, Feb. 27, 9-4
- How grain dries
- Types of drying systems
- Fan sizing & selection
- Dryeration/cooleration
- Aeration to keep grain in condition
- Locating drying & storage systems
- Traffic flow considerations
- Reducing drying energy
To register for this course, call 1-866-222-9682 or 519-674-1500 ext 63592. University of Guelph, Ridgetown Campus, Ag Business Centre.
Contact danielle.sullivan@durham.ca with questions regarding any of these workshops.
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New faces at the Durham Region Economic Development office
Durham Region's Economic Development and Tourism Division has two new staff members focussing on agriculture and rural economic development.
Rebecca Mustard has taken on the new position of Rural Economic Development Co-ordinator. Rebecca comes to the Region from the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville, where she was working as an Economic Development Officer, responsible for strategy and partnership development, marketing, and business investment initiatives. Prior to her work at Whitchurch-Stouffville, Rebecca worked in rural Australia on business retention and expansion initiatives. She has her EcD. designation (a professional certification from the Economic Development Association of Canada), and is currently completing her Masters in Local Economic Development from the University of Waterloo. Rebecca can be reached at rebecca.mustard@durham.ca.
Also new to the division is Danielle Sullivan, who has taken on the role of Economic Development Co-ordinator for Agriculture and Rural Affairs. Danielle studied International Development at the University of Guelph, with a focus on Rural and Agricultural Development, and holds the position for Tracey Werry while she is on maternity leave. Danielle can be reached at danielle.sullivan@durham.ca. |
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As a contact of the Region of Durham's Planning and Economic Development Department, you have been added to our mailing list. If you wish to be removed from the mailing list, please use the unsubscribe link located at the bottom of this e-newsletter. |
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February 2012
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WORKSHOPS
*Additional information included below-left.
Conserve Electricity...
Conserve Your $$
Wednesday, Jan. 25,
9:15-4:30
On Farm Food Safety
Friday, Jan. 20, 9:30-4
Wednesday, Feb. 1, 9:30-4
Water Taking Permit
Thursday, Feb. 16, 9-12
*A permit to take water is required for anyone taking/pumping more than 50,000 litres per day for agricultural irrigation
Grain Drying and Storage
Monday, Feb. 27, 9-4
For more information
or to register for these workshops, please email
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Feedback requested
This e-newsletter aims to be a useful source of information for Durham Region's agriculture industry. If you have any feedback or suggestions on how to improve this e-newsletter, please email tracey.werry@durham.ca or call 1-800-706-9857. What kind of information would be of interest to you? |
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Are you in the Durham Region Agri-business Directory?
The Planning and Economic Development Department has created an online agricultural services directory. If you'd like to be included in the directory, please let us know!
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