Messenger News Letter - December 2011

The Messenger

Inside This Issue

Board Decisions / Actions Programs Projects Religious & Ethnic Holidays Programs / Workshops Upcoming Events District Information OSMA Reaching Out

Ontario Sheep Marketing Agency, 130 Malcolm Road, Guelph, ON, N1K 1B1 www.ontariosheep.org Tel: 519-836-0043

THE MESSENGER

D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 1

1st Place in the OSMA AGM Photo Contest

“Up Through The Woods”

Taken by Don Tubb

OSMA and the Industry – Messenger December 2011

NEXT SCHEDULED BOARD MEETINGS

Face to Face Board Meetings January 18 July 11 February 29 Aug 22 April 11 Oct 10 May 30 Nov 23/24 (AGM)

BOARD MEETING – November 30

At its last meeting Christopher Kyle (District 4) was declared Board Chair and Dennis Fischer (District 2) was elected Vice Chair of the Ontario Sheep Marketing Agency. The last meeting also saw the Board approve the following committees for the coming year: Audit, Nominations and Awards, Governance, Research, Breeding Stock, and Predation and Wildlife. These committees operate at the Board level, providing input, and may recommend policy or direction to the Board. For instance, the Audit Committee assists the OSMA Board of Directors in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities by reviewing the Agency’s accounting framework, financial and performance information. These duties also include internal controls and risk tolerance, and compliance with financial legislation. The Governance Committee is charged with the development and review of the Board’s governance framework. This ensures that the Board functions in an efficient and effective manner, supporting the operations of OSMA. Duties include the review and further development of policies, regulations, and by-laws reflecting the current best practices.

The Nominations and Awards Committee reviews any candidate nominations received for OSMA awards or recognitions. This committee may also make recommendations for any external awards. As its name suggests the Research Committee makes recommendations, with the assistance of a research advisory group, to the Board in regards to the setting of research priorities and the funding of such research projects. OSMA is currently working on terms of references for both a Breeding Stock Committee and a Predation and Wildlife Committee. The Breeding Stock Committee may discuss topics such as the availability of replacement ewes, disease and health programs, and genetic and performance testing. Obviously the Predation and Wildlife Committee will concentrate on areas of predation (prevention and compensation) as well as other effects of wildlife in general. These Committees are vital to the effective functioning of the OSMA Board and in turn the operation of the Agency. The committees give good insight into the topics and concerns discussed by the Ontario Sheep Marketing Agency Board.

BOARD DECISIONS / ACTIONS


Ontario’s Risk Management Program (RMP) For Sheep Producers Please visit the Ontario Sheep website (www.ontariosheep.org) for press release and more future information on the program. Producers approved under RMP will be receiving before Christmas an initial 2011 payment cheque to cover lambs shipped Jan 01 – Sept. 30th. PREDATION AND WILDLIFE DAMAGE Ontario has increased the compensation farmers can access for damage caused by predatory wildlife. Through the new Wildlife Damage Compensation Program livestock producers can receive compensation when their livestock are injured or killed by predatory wildlife. The new program expands the current list of wildlife species and variety of livestock that farmers can be compensated for, and

increases the maximum compensation rates for farmers. The maximum compensation is now $1,200 for purebred and $300 for non-purebred sheep. Value depends on assessed animal value.

For more information visit: http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/livestock/predation.htm

WE NEED “EWE”! A new project for an old problem –examining the link between landscape and predation Why do some farms experience many losses despite the extensive use of prevention tools, while others have few losses after implementing only a few anti-predator measures? My hypothesis is that landscape at varying levels – the pasture, the farm or the township – has an effect on the risk of predation. Over the next two years, Trent University, OSMA and the Ministry of Natural Resources will be working together to study the relationship between landscape and predation rates in Ontario. The goals are to determine if there are features in the landscape that may make a pasture more susceptible to predators and to give some guidance to producers trying to choose among the many available prevention devices. There are three parts to this study: an initial survey followed by on-farm measurements and commercial

device trials. The survey will be distributed in the December issue of the Sheep News. We would like to hear from producers anywhere in Ontario, big or small, with or without predation problems! From the pool of survey respondents, I will be contacting specific producers to invite them to participate in the next two stages. This is to ensure that we are comparing “apples to apples” – the farms will be grouped based on ewe flock size and some general management characteristics (i.e. the use of night-time enclosures). To give you an idea of the way we will be working with this data, I have included a general map of the provincial sheep inventory along with claims and total sheep numbers by OSMA district. All of the smaller graphs are on the same scale, which makes it easier to compare between areas. Take District 2 and 6 for instance – they have similar claims rates over the last 10 years, but District 2 has about 3 times as many

PROGRAMS

PROJECTS


sheep. We are going to explore such trends over the course of the project using this type of mapping on finer scales; from township down to the level of the pasture.

I look forward to hearing from you in December! In the meantime, if you have any questions for me I can be reached by email at [email protected] or 705-748-1011 x 6464.

For more information on the Holidays please click the link below to go to the OSMA website: Religious & Ethnic Holidays - http://www.ontariosheep.org/ - Market Information – Market Reports

CANADIAN AGRICULTURAL LOANS ACT (CALA) PROGRAM

The CALA program builds on and replaces the previous Farm Improvement & Marketing Co-operative Loans Act (FIMCLA) program.

The CALA program is a financial loan guarantee program that provides farmers easier access to credit. Farmers can use these programs to establish, improve and develop farms.

For more information click on the following link: Canadian Agricultural Loans Act (CALA) Program > Programs and Services or http://www.agr.gc.ca/index_e.php - Choose programs & services – Choose Canadian Agricultural Loans Act (CALA) Program.

LIVESTOCK AUCTION TRACEABILITY INITIATIVE (LATI) The Livestock Auction Traceability Initiative (LATI) will provide contributions to assist primarily in the alteration of animal handling structures, which will enhance traceability capabilities at high-risk, high through-put sites where animals from different herds co-mingle.

For more information click on the following link: http://www4.agr.gc.ca/ - Choose programs & services – Sort A-Z then choose Livestock Auction Traceability Initiative

RELIGIOUS & ETHNIC HOLIDAY’S

PROGRAMS - WORKSHOPS


GROWING FORWARD A commitment by Canada's federal, provincial and territorial government that supports the development and implementation of best practices in four key areas:

1) Environment and Climate Change 2) Business Development 3) Food Safety and Traceability

4) Biosecurity

For more information: Call 1-888-479-3931; e-mail [email protected] Or visit their website by copy and paste of the following link: http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/about/growingforward/2011-index.htm

AGRIWEBINAR – LEARNING WITHOUT LIMITS Presented by The Canadian Farm Business Management Council.

Date Speaker Topic

Dec 12 Merle Good, Alberta Agriculture, Food & Rural Development

Looking Forward Through a Rearview Mirror: Planning For The Future

Dec 12 Lance Stockbrugger, CA Top 10 year-end tax planning tips for 2011

Jan 11 David Irvine Working With The Ones You Love: The Human Side of Agriculture

Jan 16 Elaine Froese Why farmers Love Carrots: How to Change Your Family Dynamics to Help Founders Let Go Of Farm Ownership & Control

Jan 23 Andrew Campbell The SmartFarm – How Social Media and Smartphones Are Helping Farms

Jan 25 Karen Wright Good Record-keeping for Better Decision Making

Jan 30 Richard Robert Agriculture Without State Support: The Case for New Zealand Farmers

Visit the website to access over 100 archived webinars, and to subscribe to their mailing list. Website: http://www.agriwebinar.com/

FARM CREDIT CANADA

Where do you want your operation to be in five years? Do you know how to get there?

For information on upcoming workshops visit: www.fcc.ca/workshops or call 1-888-332-3301


ONTARIOFRESH.CA WAS LAUNCHED IN FALL OF 2011 Registration is now open for Ontariofresh.ca, the new free website and online community that is being created to expand the market for buyers and sellers of local Ontario food. The aim is to make connections across the food service value chain, linking bulk

buyers, chefs, restaurants, caterers and distributors as well as growers and producers. You can register your business’ profile at http://www.ontariofresh.ca/ or by calling 1-888-249-9399 or 647-426-8420

. For more information on any upcoming event please visit the OSMA website at: Events (http://www.ontariosheep.org/Events.aspx) CENTRAL ONTARIO AGRICULTURAL CONFERENCE Jan 5, 2012 Georgian College Barrie Campus, Sheep ProgramRegister online at: http://www.centralontarioagconference.ca Note: For further information and details about your District please contact your District Secretary District 1:

Meetings are usually held the first Thursday of every month at Coldstream Community Centre, just north west of London, Ontario at 8:00 PM

COMING EVENTS: Due to weather, we will not be meeting in the month of January 2012. However, meetings will resume in February 2012. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone on behalf of District One"

Contact: District Secretary: Michelle Prudom at 519-845-3998 or District 1 Website: OSMA_district_1.tripod.com District 2:

COMING EVENTS:

Contact: District Secretary - Kyle Harrison 519-369-3954

UPCOMING EVENTS

DISTRICT INFORMATION


District 3:

Contact: District Secretary - Neil Mesman 519-504-3089 or email: [email protected] District 4:

Last Saturday of every month: Breakfast at 9 am at Devine’s in Jarvis. Join us for sheep chat, good people and good food. Contact: District Secretary - Sharon Petheram 519-443-5844 or email: [email protected] District 5:

Meetings are usually last Wed. of every month, Location TBA Contact: District Secretary - Lene Band phone: 905-877-2969 e-mail: [email protected] District 6:

Contact: District Secretary – Grant Cowan phone: 705-436-2236 or e-mail: [email protected]

District 7:

Contact: District Secretary – Donna Aziz phone: 905-852-9252 District 8: December 12 – 7 pm; District 8 Special Meeting; Westdale Park Public School, Napanee, ON District Director Election. All sheep producers welcome. For information, call Debi 613-264-6206

Contact: District Secretary – Linda Huizenga phone: 613-477-1393 District 9:

Contact: District Secretary – David Bentley phone: 613-256-1628 District 10:

District 10 Website: www.osmadistrict10.ca/ Contact: District Secretary – Gary Lapier phone: 613-989-2792 District 11:

Contact: District Secretary – Debra Garner phone: 705-563-2761 or e-mail: [email protected]

Other District Organizations:

Victoria County Sheep Producers.

Third Wednesday every month starting at 7:30 Sunderland Co-op Boardroom at Oakwood Location Membership is $20 per farm per year. Contact: Doug Walden - 705-324-7478

Southwestern Sheep Farmers

Formerly known as Middlesex Sheep & Lamb Producers

Chairman - George Molson, 519-695-2936, Secretary/Treas – Marilyn Walker, 510-287-5637, Grey Bruce Sheep Management Club Location: Grey Gables in Markdale Western Ontario Lamb Producers District 2 and 3 area

Ontario Suffolk Sheep Association


OSMA Website – www.ontariosheep.org Have you visited OSMA’s new website yet. If you haven’t, please take a moment to check it out. The following are just a few of things you will find. - About Ontario Sheep - Messenger - Programs, Services - OSN - Market Information - Locators – Lamb, Guardian Animals, and Breed - Sheep Production Information - Lamb Nutrition and RecipesCurrent Initiatives - Research Projects - Virtual Farm Tour - News - Links - Events - Kids Corner UPDATE YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION It is important for Ontario Sheep to have current contact information for all sheep producers in order to keep you up to date on current events. Do you have a new email address Has your address changed

Please contact us by calling 519-836-0043 or emailing: [email protected]

OSMA REACHING OUT

Important Dates for Mandatory RFID Tags For more details, see attached CSF Notification called “Sheep Industry Continues Toward Mandatory RFID Tags”

Starting July 1, 2011 Ketchum Kurl lock and Allflex dangle tags will no longer be available for sale to sheep producers as Canadian Sheep Identification Program (CSIP) tags. Retailers will have until Oct. 1, 2011 to sell any remaining stock.

All animals born or tagged after January 1, 2012 are encouraged tagged with approved CSIP RFID tags

Approved CSIP RFID tags include the Shearwell Data Ltd SET tag and the Allflex RFID Button Tag.

If you tag an animal which will still be in the population as of January 1, 2013 (i.e. breeding stock) with a non‐RFID tag, that animal will be non‐compliant after January 1, 2013. As a result, you will be required to retag the animal with a CSIP approved RFID tag and cross‐reference with the old identification number if the animal is to leave the farm after January 1, 2013.

After December 31, 2012 the Ketchum Kurl lock #3 and the Allflex dangle tags will be officially removed from the list of approved tags for the CSIP and will no longer be accepted at sales, abattoirs or by CFIA as official CSIP tags for shipping, transfer or sale of sheep in Canada.

For more information, please go to www.cansheep.ca

Messenger News Letter - December 2011

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Transcript of Messenger News Letter - December 2011