Spring 2016 • Volume 5 • Issue 1 - CCA...

The CCA Award of Excellence has been given out at the CCA Conference and Annual Meeting in January since 2004.

This year, there were four nominees. The recipient of the award for 2015 was Dale Cowan, a senior agronomist and sales manager with AGRIS and Wanstead Co-operatives.

The other 2015 nominees were:Sean Cochrane Gabrielle FergusonJason Van Maanen

Dale was nominated for the Award of Excellence by Jim Campbell.

Dale has a Diploma in Agriculture and a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Crop Science from the University of Guelph. Previously, Dale was the owner/President of Agri-Food Laboratories for 18 years and continued with the company for an additional two years as the manager of the transition team to the new owners.

In his current role, Dale works with some of AGRIS’s larger more innovative growers while mentoring 14 CCAs within the company which allows him to also work with smaller growers. Combined, Dale reviews recommendations across 1000s of acres. Dale’s willingness to innovate and use new technology to help farmers grow better crops is what sets him apart from others in the industry. Dale also focuses on 4R stewardship, helping farmers be environmentally and socially responsible, and the efficient use of nutrients with his clients.

The growers with whom Dale works trust and respect the advice he gives. The growers contacted as references valued Dale’s strong technological knowledge and his ability to communicate. One of his clients commented: “Dale stays abreast of new technology and, more importantly, he understands the new technology. This is very important with all of the new young farmers coming into the business.” Another noted: “Dale is down to earth and doesn’t talk over you or below you, he talks to you.”

Dale has been very involved with the CCA program. He was a Board director from 2002 to 2010 which included serving as Board Chair in 2005 and 2006. Dale received his CCA designation in 1997, among the first group in Ontario to be certified. Currently, Dale is the CCA representative on the OMAFRA Soil Health Working Group and is a member of the Exam Committee. Dale has been re-elected to the Ontario CCA Board of Directors for the term 2016 to 2018.

Dale is also a member of the Southwest Ag Conference Planning Committee, a Board member with OABA, and on the Ontario Drinking Water Stewardship Advisory Committee on Funding.

Dale donated the $1000 charitable award to the Bernie Daily Memorial Foundation through Growmark.

Congratulations Dale!

Nominations for the award are taken throughout the year with a deadline of October 31st for submissions. Nomination forms can be obtained by visiting the website at www.ccaontario.com or by calling the office at (519) 669-3350.

2015 Ontario CCA Award of Excellence Winner

Spring 2016 • Volume 5 • Issue 1

CERTIFIED CROP ADVISOR ASSOCIATION® • 39 William Street, Elmira, Ontario N3B 1P3(519) 669-3350 • Fax: (519) 669-3826 • www.ccaontario.com

IN THIS ISSUE

2 2016 Board of Directors

3 2016 CCA

Exam Results

4 4R Nutrient Management

Planning Specialty Exam Details

10 - 11 Industry Updates

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The 2015 CCA Award of Excellence was presented to Dale Cowan, January 13, 2016 at the CCA Conference and Annual Meeting in London. Presenting the award are co-sponsors Deborah Campbell (L) CropLife Canada – Ontario Council and Brad Garlough (R) Syngenta.

2 CCA Chatter ~ Spring 2016

2016 CCA Conference and Annual Meeting

The 2016 conference and annual meeting was another success. There were 286 people in attendance which is our highest turnout ever!

The 2016 CCA conference sponsors were as follows:

Gold Sponsors - $2,000 Contribution• A & L Canada Laboratories• Agronomy Company of Canada• Alpine• Bayer Crop Sciences• CropLife Canada - Ontario Council

Silver Sponsors - $1,500 Contribution• Ag Business and Crop Inc.• Cargill Ltd.• Dow AgroSciences • FieldTRAKS Solutions• Growmark• Novozymes• NuFarm Agriculture Inc.• OSCIA• SGS Agri-Food Labs• Sylvite Canada• Syngenta

Bronze Sponsors - $500 Contribution• Ag-Call Human Resources• C & M Seeds• DuPont Canada• IGPC Ethanol• NutriAg Ltd.• Pride Seeds • SeCan Association• Thompsons Ltd.• Yara Canada

2015 CCA Award of Excellence Co-Sponsors - $1,000 Contribution• CropLife Canada – Ontario Council• Syngenta Canada

Some of the speaker costs have been funded in part through the Agri-food Management Institute (AMI). The AMI is part of the Best Practices Suite of programs for Growing Forward, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative.

AMI contributed $2,500 towards Mr. Dan Gardner’s “Risk: Why We Fear Things We shouldn’t”.

Thank you again to all our sponsors. Without your continued support we would not be able to maintain such an informative and collaborative event.

Save the date! The 14th CCA Conference and Annual Meeting has been set for January 11 and 12, 2017.

Note: The 2017 CCA Conference and Annual Meeting will be held at the Four Points by Sheraton in London.

Details will be posted on the website in the near future.

Conference Draw Winner

To change things up this year, the conference draw was for those CCAs whose voicemail stated that they were a Certified Crop Advisor. CCAs could use their business

card as a ballot for the Marketing Committee’s annual draw. During the presentations on day two we started calling voicemails to see if those who entered truly did have CCA in their voicemail. Our winner this year was the sixth business card to be pulled!

This year’s winner of a 3-in-1 jacket was: Bud Nelson from Sprucedale Agromart.

Congratulations Bud!

2016 CCA Board of Directors

As of December 31, 2015 there were three seats up for election on the CCA Board of Directors designated for Ontario CCAs duly elected by the CCA membership in

Ontario. There were eight candidates nominated who agreed to let their name stand for election to the Board: Russell Barker, Aaron Breimer, Dale Cowan, Pat Feryn, Blair Freeman, Jeff Jacques, Greg Kitching, and Ann Vermeersch.

The elected directors were: Dale Cowan, Jeff Jacques, and Ann Vermeersch.

Your 2016 Board of Directors is as follows:Clare Kinlin (Chair) ................................................MacEwen AgKen Currah (Vice-Chair) .........................................Pride SeedsMurray Van Zeggelaar (Past Chair) ...............................AlpineBill Deen......................................................University of GuelphBarry Gordon ....................................................... Agri-Solve Ltd.Leanne Freitag ............................................................. Cargill Ltd.John Hussack ............................................Roy-A-Lea Farms Ltd.Gord Green ........................................................................ OSCIAPaul Wettlaufer ............................Farm & Food Care OntarioBrad Garlough ................................................................ Syngenta Ken Brett ..........................................................Alpine Plant Food Dale Cowan ....................................... Agris & Wanstead CoopJeff Jacques ...............................................Parrish & HeimbeckerAnn Vermeersch ................................................VanMeer Farms

Keith Reid is the liaison from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and Christine Brown is the liaison on the Board from OMAFRA. Deborah Campbell serves as the liaison with CropLife Canada – Ontario Council and Mark Eastman will continue as the liaison from Conservation Ontario.

Obituaries

If you wish to include the name of a CCA who has passed away, contact the CCA office and inform us.

We send our condolences to the families and friends of those who have passed away.

Recent Passing: Jason Crandall, Sylvite Agri-Services

CCA Chatter ~ Spring 2016 3

CCA Conference Auction Summary

A very successful auction was held at the CCA conference on January 13, 2016. An impressive sum of $10,967.50 was raised in support of Ontario Agri-Food Education (OAFE).

The auctioneer, Lee Brien, led the event, and managed to get great bids from the audience.

Sponsors generously donated the following items:Dekalb – Two bags of seedKuhn Kraus – 50 acre rental of strip tillage unit with Kuhn Kraus Gladiator Strip Tillage System Dow AgroSciences – Two cases of eNtrench Nitrogen Stabilizer Salford – 20 acre rental of Salford Independent 5100Salford – 60 acre rental of Salford Independent 5100Syngenta Canada – One case of Quilt Dekalb – Two bags of Dekalb 50-90Merv Erb & Agri-Solve Inc - $250 Cabela’s gift card AgNition – Three ScoutDoc app downloads and Cloud subscriptions Grand River Planters – One planter health check Pioneer – Two bags of Pioneer corn seed The Royal Agriculture Winter Fair – An illustrated history of The Royal, a family pass, and a jar of honey SGS Agri-Food Labs – 100 acres of 2.5 grid sampling Syngenta Canada – Four ticket to the London Knights vs. Sarnia Sting Yuk Yuks – Four tickets to Yuk Yuks London Alpine – Niagara-on-the-Lake weekend getawayPride Seeds – Ten bags of Pride Seeds soybeansMaizex Seeds – Four units of Maizex corn C & M Seeds – Garmin GPS golf watch Bayer CropScience – iPad Air2NuFarm – Two cases of Parasol Flowable CopperPride Seeds – Four bags of Pride Seed cornMerv Erb & Agri-Solve Inc – $250 Cabela’s gift cardDekalb – Four tickets to the London Knights vs. Niagara Ice Dogs Grand River Planters – Three in-field nitrate testsHoneyland Ag Services – 15 pack of soil nitrate testsOABA – six copies of The Fertilizer History Book A & L Canada – 100 acres to be flown with a UAVPickseed – one 25kg bag of Pickseed Forage Mixture Agronomy Advantage – One scouting kit

We thank all of the sponsors for contributing to and making the auction a success.

We are now asking for agricultural charity suggestions for the 2017 auction. If you have an idea please email your suggestion to the CCA office and the Marketing Committee will review all suggestions in the coming months.

As well, we will be starting to collect donations for the coming auction toward the end of the summer. Based on comments from

the previous auctions, we are asking especially for consumer goods for the 2017 auction (i.e. sporting tickets, gift cards, event tickets, weekend getaways, gift baskets, clothing, art work, etc.). No donation is too small and we will again split items between a silent and live auction after the banquet.

2016 CCA Exam Results!

February 5, 2016 was CCA exam day in North America. In Ontario, the exams were written at the Quality Inn, Woodstock and at the Brockville Convention Centre, Brockville.

There were 108 people who wrote the Ontario exam and 85 who wrote the International exam.

The number of people who passed the Ontario exam was 51 or 47%. The number of people who passed the International exam was 53 or 62%.

The Ontario results were higher this year compared to 2015 (40%) The International results were a bit lower this year compared to 2015 (67%).

NOTE: When you pass both the Ontario and International CCA exams you DO NOT automatically become a CCA. You can only advertise yourself as a CCA or CCA Candidate once the Ontario Standards and Ethics Committee has reviewed your credentials. You will receive a response (in the form of a letter) indicating the outcome of your review. A CCA Candidate is someone who has passed all the requirements but lack enough experience to become fully certified.

Growing Forward 2 (GF2) Support for the 4R Initiative

The CCA Association has received GF2 financial support to partially fund the development of an Ontario 4R Nutrient Management Stewardship Guide; and the holding of a 4R

information transfer workshop using the Guide as the supporting reference tool.

The guide will be available for sale in hard copy and as an electronic flip book for viewing only via our website. In order to accommodate this book, our website will need to be upgraded. The flip book will also be available to the public, however if anyone, CCA or not, would like a hard copy they must purchase it.

Once the Guide has been completed and the 4R information transfer workshop scheduled, purchase and registration details will be sent via email.

This project is being funded in part through Growing Forward 2 (GF2), a federal-provincial-territorial initiative. The Agricultural Adaptation Council assists in the delivery of GF2 in Ontario.


CCA Representation on External Committees

With the flurry of consultations, reports and discussion documents issued by the provincial government over the past year, there has been no shortage of

meetings and requests for feedback from CCAs. This includes the neonic regulations, broader pollinator health initiative, Lake Erie phosphorus reduction strategy, soil health, 4R initiatives, and on it goes. It is a very positive sign that many CCAs are being invited to join committees and working groups. This is excellent recognition of the CCA designation and also your personal expertise. The CCA Board encourages CCAs to get involved and continue to promote sound agronomic practices. However, when presenting your personal perspective or opinion on a subject, it is important that you clarify that you are not speaking on behalf of the Board or the CCA Association as a whole but as an individual CCA.

Any requests for a CCA Association position statement on a topic or if a committee would like a formal representative from the CCA Association to join them, those requests should be forwarded to the CCA office for consideration by your Board. We want to ensure that any position being attributed to the CCA Board is consistent with the messaging we have been putting forward. If you are personally attending a meeting or providing comments on an issue and would like to know if the Board has key messages on the topic, contact Susan or Sarah in the CCA office.

4R Nutrient Management Planning Specialty Exam Details

The first Ontario 4R Nutrient Management Specialty (NMS) exam will be taking place on Friday, August 5, 2016 at the Holiday Inn, Guelph. There will only be one location for

this first exam.

If you are unable to make this exam sitting, the 4R exam will be offered with the regular CCA exam on the first Friday in February 2017, and yearly onward.

The 4R exam will be made up of 50 multiple choice questions based on five different scenarios. For a copy of the performance objectives, please contact the CCA office. A resource guide is currently being created, please watch your email for further details.

Exam registration will open on May 2, 2016 and close on June 24, 2016, no exceptions. Registration forms will be emailed to all CCAs using the primary email address we have on file for you. Completed registration forms can be emailed, faxed, or mailed to our office.

At the CCA conference, Fertilizer Canada announced that they are subsidizing the first 50 4R exam registrations. Complimentary exam registrations will be given in the order they are received to the CCA office. Phone in registrations will not be accepted nor will an email saying to “save you a spot.” The only form of registration that will be accepted is a completed registration form, including credit card information. You will be notified by email if you are receiving a complimentary registration.

NOTE: Exam registration fees are non-refundable after the close-off date. If you receive a complimentary registration and cancel your registration after June 24, 2016 you will be charged in full using the credit card provided for the exam fee. The complimentary registration will then be given to another CCA.

If you do not provide your credit card information on the registration form, your registration will not be accepted.

Adviser or Advisor... Which is it?

Based on some recent comments, the CCA office would like to clarify why advisor is sometimes used and, other times, it is adviser.

When the CCA logo is shown, the “er” spelling is used as the logo is copywrited with the American spelling. The Ontario CCA documentation will be spelled advisor as that is the proper Canadian spelling of the word.

If you require further clarification please contact the CCA office.

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Certified Crop Advisors (CCAs) play an important role in helping Ontario growers develop 4R Nutrient Stewardship (Right Source @ Right Rate, Right Time,

Right Place®) management plans for their farms. As the leading standard for on-farm nutrient application, the adoption of 4R Nutrient Stewardship Best Management Practices can address environmental concerns caused by the agriculture industry including: climate change, air and water quality, and soil health. Nutrient issues in the Great Lakes are a concern for all Ontarians. The Ontario agriculture industry is working to address this issue through voluntary actions, such as the 4R Nutrient Stewardship program.

To respond to the need for increased 4R Nutrient Stewardship outreach and education, Fertilizer Canada has a unique opportunity for Ontario CCAs.

Eligible Ontario CCAs can apply to deliver a 4R Training Kit at local grower workshops and events. The training kit, Towards Implementing 4R Nutrient Stewardship on YOUR Farm, consists of a presentation, speaking notes, handouts, and a participant survey. CCAs will be contracted by Fertilizer Canada for time and labour costs associated with the workshop delivery.

Are you eligible to deliver the training workshop?

To deliver a workshop you must meet all of the following criteria:

1. Ontario CCA in good standing

2. Eligible to deliver the Great Lakes Agricultural Stewardship Initiative (GLASI) Farmland Health Check-up

3. Completed the 4R Nutrient Stewardship Training Parts 1-3 (5.5 CEUs) through Fertilizer Canada’s eLearning

What is in the Training Kit?Fertilizer Canada is offering a 4R Nutrient Stewardship

Workshop kit for eligible Ontario CCAs to deliver at grower workshops and events. The kit contains the materials necessary to deliver an educational workshop presentation on 4R Nutrient Stewardship and the GLASI Farmland Health Checkup. Fertilizer Canada has also developed a short participant survey to measure feedback and uptake.

• PowerPoint slide deck and speaking notes: Towards Implementing 4R Nutrient Stewardship on YOUR Farm

• Resources and handouts on 4R Nutrient Stewardship and GLASI’s Farmland Health Checkup program

• Workshop survey to collect feedback from the participants

• Presentation tips to deliver a successful workshop

When Should Workshops Be Delivered?The 4R Nutrient Stewardship Workshop kit has been

prepared by Fertilizer Canada and is ready to be delivered. If you are interested, simply contact Nadine Frost, [email protected] and indicate your interest in facilitating the workshop. Fertilizer Canada will then distribute the training kit after confirming your eligibility.

Where Should Workshops Take Place?The workshop content is focused on the use of 4R Nutrient

Stewardship and the GLASI Farmland Health Check-up program. For this reason, workshop delivery is restricted geographically to the Lake Erie, Lake St. Clair watersheds, and the Lake Huron Southeast shores watersheds.

Why Should You Get Involved?Education and outreach are critical to the success to 4R

Nutrient Stewardship in Ontario. Delivery of this workshop enables CCAs to educate their growers and communicate how the 4Rs can increase production and profitability while ensuring sustainable agriculture in the region. After an overview of the

Bring 4R Nutrient Stewardship to Your GrowersWorkshop delivery opportunity: Towards Implementing 4R Nutrient Stewardship on YOUR FarmAmanda Giamberardino, Acting Director, Sustainability, Fertilizer Canada

Continued on page 7.

The eligible geographical region for GLASI Farmland Health Check-ups is shaded in yellow.Image from: http://www.ontariosoilcrop.org/oscia-programs/glasi/farmland-health-check-up/eligibility/


‘4Rs’, the content is designed to give practical on-farm examples of 4R Nutrient Stewardship practices, and information on how the GLASI Farmland Health Check-up program can be of value to producers in Southern Ontario.

CCAs will be contracted by Fertilizer Canada for time and labour costs associated with the workshop and participant survey delivery. Additionally, completing the necessary training and eligibility requirements to deliver this workshop will prepare you well for the upcoming 4R Specialty Exam offered by the Ontario CCA Board in August 2016.

Ontario represents a portion of the Canada’s most viable and productive farmland. The success of the agriculture sector in the province depends on meeting environmental concerns in a sustainable and practical manner. 4R Nutrient Stewardship is a part of the Ontario Government’s strategy to reduce nutrient runoff, particularly in the Great Lakes region.

As a CCA, you play a pivotal role in the education, outreach, and implementation of 4R Nutrient Stewardship practices across Ontario. We encourage you to take this opportunity to engage your growers towards implementing 4R Nutrient Stewardship practices on their farms.

Contact Nadine Frost, [email protected] if you are interested in being contracted for workshop delivery, or if you have any questions about the opportunity.

Learn more about Fertilizer Canada’s 4R Nutrient Stewardship programs at 4R.fertilizercanada.ca. For access to Fertilizer Canada’s eLearning platform and to receive CEU credits for course and exam completion, visit elearning.fertilizercanada.ca.

Thank you CCA! Almost $11,000 was raised in support of Ontario Agri-Food Education’s (OAFE) Teacher Ambassador Program™ at

the 2016 Certified Crop Advisors conference.

OAFE Executive Director, Colleen Smith expressed her appreciation to CCA by commenting, “Our Teacher Ambassador Program™ is a unique approach to agri-food education. We’re delighted that the good people at CCA recognize the importance of this initiative and we’re grateful for their financial support of this innovative program.”

Officially launched in 2012, the Teacher Ambassador Program™ delivers unbiased, fact-based, curriculum-linked lessons to high school classrooms using certified Ontario teachers recruited by OAFE as Teacher Ambassadors. OAFE’s Teacher Ambassadors help students to analyze, understand, and make informed decisions about the types of food they eat, how it’s grown and processed, and the job opportunities available in the agri-food sector.

The program has experienced significant growth with demand for lessons increasing each year. During the 2014-15 school year, OAFE’s Teacher Ambassadors delivered 185 lessons across 20 counties on Ontario.

During Ag-Literacy Week at the beginning of March, OAFE partnered with Virtual Researchers on Call (VROC), to deliver their second annual Live Stream event. In addition to the classes across the country that streamed the event online, students tuned in live from Blessed Trinity Catholic Secondary School in Grimsby, Ontario. In total, 50 unique locations across the country

participated in the live stream event and had the opportunity to listen to Dr. Romila Verma and Dr. Liette Vasseur - affiliates of the Environmental Sustainability Research Centre (ESRC) at Brock University in St. Catharines - speak on the interrelationship between climate change and agriculture, exploring the effects on food production, with a special emphasis on pulses to celebrate the International Year of Pulses.

“The Ontario Certified Crop Advisors are proud to support the OAFE Teacher Ambassador Program™ and the important work these dedicated professionals are doing in Ontario classrooms”, commented Ken Brett, Chair of the CCA Marketing Committee.

OAFE’s Teacher Ambassador Program Benefits From CCA Auction

OAFE’s Catherine Reining, Teacher Ambassador Program Coordinator, interacts with students from Blessed Trinity Catholic Secondary School in Grimsby, ON, during a live stream event on March 3rd as part of Ag Literacy Week.

Continued from page 6 ~ BRING 4R NUTRIENT STEWARDSHIP TO YOUR GROWERS


CEU Centre

Remember to check your CEU report often. Every two years you must accumulate 40 CEUs with a minimum of five CEUs in each of the four agronomic categories. With

some cycles coming to an end December 31, 2016, it is important to check and make sure you have the required number of CEUs.

You can view your CEU statement online at www.ccaontario.com under the Continuing Education tab. Remember, your log-in name is the email address you have provided and your password is your CCA # and the initial of your first name. If you have trouble logging in, please DO NOT create a new account. Call the CCA office for assistance (519) 669-3350.

If you find you are still in need of additional CEUs, check the Event Calendar on the website for seminars and meetings taking place in which you may be able to earn those missing CEUs.

The link for the event calendar is: http://www.ccaontario.com/Event_display.aspx

If those seminars do not fit your schedule, you can check out the self-study quizzes available online at www.certifiedcropadviser.org. Don’t forget, all self-reporting CEU’s are subject to an audit.

To apply for CEUs please go to: http://www.ccaontario.com/document.aspx?catid=138&docid=75. You can also find a step by step presentation explaining how to apply for CEUs, along with the CEU standards document for those unclear what CEUs may be appropriate for their meeting or event.

How to Self-Report CEUs

Have you attended a meeting or event, which has not had a sign in sheet, that you feel should qualify for CEUs? If so, you have the option to self-report those CEUs in order to

get credit.

Steps to self-report:

1. Go to www.certifiedcropadivser.org and log in. If you do not know your CCA username (the email you have provided us with) or password please contact Sarah in the CCA office and she can provide you with that information.

2. Once you have logged in, scroll down and you will notice an option to self-report CEUs on the right hand side of the screen. Once you click on that you will then need to click “Report your CCA/CPAg CEUs.”

3. A separate screen with open that will show your CCA number and name along with the instructions on how to fill out the form. Information needed will include: name of event, sponsor of event, speaker contact information, meeting summary, and CEUs allotted.

4. To submit your self-reported CEUs you will need to click “submit and done” at the bottom of the page and then a successfully submitted message will appear. Self-reported CEUs are audited by the CEU Committee and

can be revoked if found to not have enough information or were reported for an event that had a sign in sheet.

If you attended an event that had a sign in sheet, but forgot to sign in, you will need to provide evidence to the CCA office that you did in fact attend, in order to get the allotted CEUs.

If you have any further questions regarding how to self-report please do not hesitate to contact Sarah at the CCA office.

Update Your Personal Information

Just a reminder to all Ontario CCAs; make sure that if any personal information has changed, such as mailing address, phone numbers or email address, please let us know!

Having up to date information is important. Thank you in advance as this is much appreciated.

Coming Soon: New CCA Website

Some of you may have noticed that our website (www.ccaontario.com) is outdated. We are in the process of creating a new website that will be more user friendly,

visually appealing, and able to accommodate our changing needs.

You will be notified once the website has changed. Please note that the web address will NOT be changing, www.ccaontario.com will still be in use.

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Our current Ontario CCA membership is 545 and, for the past three years, we have had over 90 people register to write the CCA exams each February. These

strong numbers are very encouraging as it shows new people are not only entering the industry but also seeing value in the CCA designation and in being part of a professional association. That prompted me to do a quick review of business management literature regarding the recognized benefits of belonging to a professional association. Below is the list I distilled from a number of different sources all of which aptly apply to the Certified Crop Advisor designation and membership in the association.

1. ProfessionalismBelonging to a professional organization

helps establish legitimacy especially when you are first starting out in the field. This is even truer for new independents because you are lacking the reputation inferred through a well-known company name or employer. Being a member of a professional organization carries a degree of respectability when applying for jobs or presenting credentials to potential customers. Some employers look for candidates who either have their CCA designation or are willing to attain it.

2. NetworkingAttending events or functions in a professional organization

related to your field will help you get to know colleagues better, interact with competitors and build relationships with potential mentors. At CEU accredited events or online via Twitter, you can chat about current trends, innovations and upcoming industry events.

3. Career OpportunitiesProfessional organizations can provide stepping stones

into additional career opportunities, especially when linked with networking. You have access to job postings on the CCA website or may learn of jobs before they are officially posted by talking with colleagues working for other companies. Assuming responsibilities within the professional organization such as participating on committees or the Board of Directors can add points to your resume, making you more viable as a job candidate.

4. TrainingProfessional organizations sometimes sponsor training events

and workshops that can help you develop your career skills and keep current on industry issues and new developments, e.g. the annual CCA conference. More importantly, volunteering for various responsibilities within the group (e.g. committees and Board) can provide informal training and experience, plus the opportunity to work closely with respected industry professionals.

The Ontario Board is very fortunate to have interest from CCAs in serving on the Board. There are many Boards that have

difficulty finding directors to fill seats. Our annual elections are a tangible sign of a thriving organization.

5. AdvocacySome people belong to professional organizations because

of a dedication to advocacy within their field. Groups sometimes coalesce around legislation, social causes or scholarships for students wanting to enter the field. Working toward a common goal with professionals in your industry can be a rewarding way to give back.

6. Celebrate ExcellenceThe CCA Award of Excellence recognizes your peers and

supports their professional achievements. I am very pleased to see great support each year from the industry in nominating exemplary CCAs for the CCA Award of Excellence. These individuals are doing great work at promoting the program simply by identifying themselves as a CCA in all that they do.

Benefits of Belonging to a Professional AssociationBy Susan Fitzgerald, Ontario CCA Executive Director

Membership in a professional organization exposes you to new opportunities and people that could help you now and in the future. You’re developing a network in which you’re meeting like-minded people from other companies that face similar challenges and who may be able to provide insights into solutions that have worked for them. In the process you are reaping the benefits of: increased credibility, broadened knowledge, potential career opportunities, and last but certainly not least, lifelong friendships.

- Julie D. Mulkern, blogger, volunteermaine.org

Felix Weber, T.Ag.Palmerston, Ont. • (519) 343-5454

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Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Update Submitted by Keith Reid

Sustainability Metrics This program is the next iteration of Agri-Environmental

Indicators and is meant to apply the science that has gone into the development of the AEIs. Significant advances include the reporting on an annual basis with a two year delay (i.e. 2016 results released in 2018) rather than only reporting on census years, and including the capacity to provide intensity based measures (i.e. inputs or losses per unit of production). Key indicators that will be developed first are Soil Erosion, Soil Organic Carbon, Indicator of Risk of Water Contamination by Phosphorus (IROWC-P), and Biodiversity. A Reactive Nitrogen indicator is also being developed, integrating indicators of ammonia, nitrous oxide and nitrate losses, which will be added to the second round of Sustainability Metrics.

Phosphorus Losses from Agriculture Work has been on-going to understand the mechanisms

of P loss through tile drains, so that the net effect of tile drains can be properly accounted in risk assessment tools balancing the increased connectivity that drainage provides against the reductions in surface runoff and soil erosion. We are also supplying technical advice to policy groups nationally (Environment Canada, AAFC), provincially (OMAFRA, COA working groups) and internationally (Bi-national P reduction targets and domestic action plans for P reduction).

Farming System Typology It is obvious that farming systems vary in both their

environmental risks and the appropriate practices to mitigate these risks. Despite this, most policy responses have been “one size fits all” due to lack of information about the differences among farming systems. A project at Guelph is seeking to use Census of Agriculture data to develop objective information

about the characteristics and distribution of farming systems in the Lake Erie basin. One eventual outcome will be the current level of adoption of BMPs and the capacity for further improvement in environmental performance.

In April, the AAFC email addresses will be changing to the format [email protected]. Current email addresses should be valid for at least another year.

Conservation Ontario Industry UpdateSubmitted by Mark Eastman

On February 9th and 10th, a Conservation Ontario Watershed Restoration and Stewardship Meeting was held at that Ganaraska Forest Centre in Campbellcroft. This meeting brought together approximately 50 Conservation Authority staff from across the province to share program ideas and success stories.

Mark Eastman delivered a presentation providing background information on the CCA Program, the skills and expertise of CCAs, Board activities over the past few years and recommendations as to how CCAs and Conservation Authority (CA) staff could work more closely with one another to maximize farm productivity while minimizing ecological impacts. More specifically,

it was recommended that CA staff consider hiring the services of CCAs when independent, third party advice is required for the development and/or implementation of watershed management plans that involve the implementation of soil and water conservation, integrated pest management and/or nutrient management best management practices. The skill-set CCAs possess is not widely available within CAs and many farm conservation programs would benefit greatly from CCA involvement.

Great Lakes Agricultural Stewardship Initiative Many of the Conservation Authorities in south-western

Ontario are now in the process of implementing the outreach and education component of the Great Lakes Agricultural Stewardship Initiative. Efforts are being made to work with OSCIA staff and local CCAs so that the details of the Farmland Health Checkup and Growing Forward 2 Funding are presented as well as any funding assistance provided by the local Conservation Authority.

OMAFRA Industry UpdateSubmitted by Christine Brown

The GLASI program is into its second year. There is work being done to make the report card easier for CCAs to complete.

OMAFRA did a series of soil health workshops with great turnout. There are plans to continue these workshops in the future.

Continued top of page 11.

Industry Updates

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Jack Kyle has now retired from OMAFRA so there is a new job opportunity available. This opening has combined the hay, forage, and pasture management duties into one position with the crops team (Forage and Grazier Specialist).

The new Agronomy Guide is in the works with the goal to have it published in time for the Outdoor Farm Show.

Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association Industry UpdateSubmitted by Gord Green

We have seen significant strides in recent years on the acceptance of merit-based investment in the farm community and within government. Targeting funding to projects that promise the greatest return on investment to society, or that clearly demonstrate a farm’s ability to expand markets, share risk and grow profits, will continue to be the trend.

Each of the initiatives mentioned below benefit from funding provided by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs through Growing Forward 2, a comprehensive federal-provincial-territorial initiative.

Growing Forward 2 (GF2)Since being launched in 2013, GF2 alone has committed

funding support to producers in excess of $33 million to more than 3,550 on-farm projects province-wide. All of these project funds have moved through OSCIA.

The Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) is enjoying lots of attention these days with a major resurgence in workshop activity. Participant numbers in EFP over the past 12 months are up more than 100 percent compared to the previous period. This positive trend is apparent also in the other workshop titles delivered by OSCIA: Growing Your Farm Profits, Biosecurity, Traceability and Food Safety.

The number of project applications received from the most recent GF2 intake that closed in late February, significantly exceeded the numbers submitted in any of the previous four intakes. This is great news for the program and demonstrates more and more producers are realizing the significant opportunities associated with GF2. The outcomes will be shared with applicants in writing in early May.

There are two more scheduled GF2 intakes for 2016: June 17 to July 7, and October 14 to November 3.

Great Lakes Agricultural Sustainability Initiative (GLASI)Interest in GLASI is escalating. In its second full year of

availability, the Great Lakes Agricultural Stewardship Initiative (GLASI) is really attracting attention in the farm community. The key components of GLASI are improving soil health, water quality and pollinator health. OSCIA officially delivers the effort, but there are many partnering groups that are also contributing in big ways.

Farm Health Check-UpThere are now about 85 Certified Crop Advisors (CCAs) who

have accepted the task of preparing Farmland Health Check-Ups one-on-one with producers in the Lake Erie and Lake St. Clair watersheds and the southeast shores of Lake Huron watershed. The Check-Up provides farmers a unique opportunity to work with a CCA free of charge to discuss water and wind erosion, tillage erosion, compaction, organic matter levels, soil life, soil chemistry, phosphorus and pollinators. CCAs are compensated $500 through the program for each completed FHCU. More than 350 Check-Ups have been completed to date.

GLASI orientation sessions for CCAs continue to be offered by OSCIA. The one-hour webinar walks participants through the FHCU procedure and is mandatory for CCAs wishing to participate.

Farm Health Incentive ProgramThe Check-Up is used to identify Best Management Practices

(BMPs) that aim to improve the health of the farm, and completing the Check-Up is a prerequisite for the Farmland Health Incentive Program (FHIP). A surge of interest late in the 2015 year led to several hundred applications received from producers and full utilization of the available incentive dollars. Funding for cover crops and equipment modifications are proving popular.

Interest for FHIP in 2016 is expected to be even greater so a couple of new limitations have been introduced. To maximize the number of participants and spread the investment dollars out, there will be a limit of two applications per registered farm to be submitted at one time in the upcoming year, and a cap of $50,000 has been established per business, for the life of the program.

GLASI Priority Subwatershed ProjectThis effort will evaluate the effectiveness of a focused

stewardship approach at achieving measurable improvements in soil health and water quality. By implementing several highly targeted BMPs in a defined subwatershed, reductions in edge-of-field losses of soil and nutrients, with a particular emphasis on phosphorus, may be measured. Three-year projects have been approved in collaboration with four partners: Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority, Essex Region CA, Lower Thames Valley CA, and Upper Thames River CA.

Anyone wishing to receive key reminders and updates on GLASI and other programs delivered by OSCIA can sign up on the FHIP page at ontariosoilcrop.org.

CropLife Industry UpdateSubmitted by Deborah Campbell

The CropLife Ontario Provincial Council will be winding down operations by the end of June 2016.

They have indicated that they will be pre-paying their 2017 CCA conference and Award of Excellence sponsorships.

Continued from page 10 ~ INDUSTRY UPDATES

CERTIFIED CROP ADVISOR ASSOCIATION® • 39 William Street, Elmira, Ontario N3B 1P3(519) 669-3350 • Fax: (519) 669-3826 • www.ccaontario.com

Job Postings

If your company is looking to fill vacant positions within your organization, you can post those opportunities on the CCA website.

Please let your human resource department or the person within your organization who is responsible for hiring, know that this service is available. There are still many companies who post their ads on other recruiting websites. Why not use the CCA website as an avenue for finding the right fit for your company? Rates are available upon request by contacting the CCA office.

Write an Article, Win a Jacket

The Marketing Committee is continuing with its tradition of awarding a 3-in-1 jacket to one lucky person for his/her contribution of an article for the Ontario Farmer column.

Every article written is worth one ballot into the draw.

This year’s winner was Mark Janiec. Congratulations Mark!

We are always looking for articles, so try your hand at composing one. Articles should be 500-600 words in length, deal with any agronomic topic or issue and not contain any company or product specific promotion.

You may view or download previously printed articles from our website: http://www.ccaontario.com/document.aspx?catid=137&docid=70

Spring 2016 • Volume 5 • Issue 1 - CCA...

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