By OMAFRA Ag Rep Brian Bell
Grower Pesticide
Safety Course
Ontario farmers must be certified through the Grower Pesticide Safety Course to buy and use Class 2 or 3 pesticides on their farms. A certificate is valid for five years. Manitoulin course is slated for Wednesday, February 24, 2016 in Little Current. Course/separate exam from 9 am to 3 pm, call OPEP at 1(800) 652-8573 to register or register online: https://www.opep.ca. Sudbury course is slated for Monday, February 22, 2016 in Azilda. Course/separate exam from 9 am to 3 pm, call OPEP at 1-(800) 652-8573 to register or register online: https://www.opep.ca. The IPM (Integrated Pest Management) course is new! It is for the use of Class 12 pesticides (neonicotinoids) if you grow corn and soybeans, this course is for you. It is free this year until August 31, 2016 only! To register, call 1-866-225-9020 or visit www.ipmcertified.ca/index.cfm/courses.
2016 Beef Smart Beef Symposium
The MCA will be shooting this symposium via WebEx at the Mindemoya Community Hall on Saturday, January 23. Agenda: 9 am: Ontario Beef Industry Situation and Outlook – Steve Duff, chief economist, OMAFRA: Understanding how North American market conditions have impacted Ontario’s beef sector now and for the foreseeable future. 10:05 am: The Importance of Reducing Stress During Cattle Handling, Dr. Temple Grandin. Research studies that show clear benefits of good stockmanship. Animals that fear people have lower productivity. 11:10 am: All the Kids Want a Future in the Farm. Now What? Stewart and Blair Cressman, Crystal Brook Farm, New Dundee. What we are considering as we take an unusual approach to farm succession, when there is not one identified successor. Are we setting ourselves up for failure? 12:15 pm: Preparation for Calving: Guidelines, Tips and Tools. Dr. Rex Crawford, Dufferin Veterinary Services Professional Corporation-a successful calving season; tips and tools for preventing problems, but also recognizing and dealing with issues as they arise. 1:20 pm: Communication with Young Consumers and Animal Welfare, Dr. Temple Grandin. It is critical that farmers communicate with consumers. Surveys show that a farmer is trusted more as a source of information compared to a food company. 2:35 pm: Fence Solutions for More Grass – Tim Prior, Brussels Agri Services. Fence options and pricing; pasture layout and how to tie fence, forage and water into a grazing plan. 3:40 pm: Fetal Programming through proper nutrition – Dan Bearss, AgriBrands Purina Beef Consultant. How proper nutrition affects development of the fetus but also the lifetime production of the animal.
