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2016-17 Excellence Award for Agricultural
Students is now Open!
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Farm Management Canada (FMC) and the Canadian Association of Diploma in Agriculture Programs (CADAP) announce the launch of the 2016-17 Excellence Award for Agricultural Students, designed to encourage students to improve their critical thinking, communication and leadership skills through a national competition.
How to Apply
FMC and CADAP are collecting submissions from agricultural students across Canada and will award three winners with scholarships towards furthering their education in agriculture. First place stands to win $1,500!
The award is designed to help students develop their communication skills by having the opportunity to voice their opinion on a subject related to farm management.
Students are asked to submit a multimedia presentation, a video, a Twitter chat,
a blog or a Wiki, responding to the following question:
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Check your Organization's Performance
2 min read
Like healthy people, healthy organizations feel better and get more done. When an organization functions poorly, check for signs of trouble by taking your organization's pulse.
Every organization exists for a purpose, but over time this purpose may become lost or irrelevant. The organization and its members also have needs. Organizations quickly deteriorate when they fail to meet a relevant purpose, or overlook the needs of both members and the community. A healthy organization periodically asks the following questions:
- Are we still relevant?
- Do our members, clients, and community people still need us in the way that they used to?
- Are we gathering information from members, clients and the community about their needs, wants and preferences?
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Local Food Conference Back for a 6th Year
2 min read
The annual Eastern Ontario Local Foods Conference, taking place November 22-23 in Belleville, Ontario is fast approaching.
This year's theme of "Mission: Resilience" centers around the importance of forecasting climate trends to create sustainable local food systems. Local food systems are constantly adjusting
due to shifting trade landscapes and social trends. The conference will explore what can be done today to maintain and enhance the resilience of the local food system.
This event will feature award-winning journalist and best-selling author, Sarah Elton, who will discuss how Eastern Ontario local food systems can be part of a solution to serious global challenges.
Read more ...
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Big Stories from Small Places! Community development that works in Ontario's smallest places!
2 min read
Modeled after very successful events in eastern Ontario, this "
Teeny Tiny Summit
" will discuss issues and explore inspiring stories that can help make small communities better places to live, work and play.
Join keynote speakers Deb Thorn and Yvette Moore from Moose Jaw on November 15, 2016 as they tell their story of how volunteers used creativity, resourcefulness, persistence, and hard-driving passion to turn their dying prairie town into a vibrant tourist destination! There will be lots of local success stories to learn from as well.
Read more ...
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5 min read
Disposing of non-nutrient agricultural waste responsibly needs to be a year-round effort.
Burning and burying non-nutrient agricultural waste can pollute the air, contaminate water and can have other potential harmful impacts on the environment, which can harm people and livestock. Consider recycling or reusing your waste instead - recycling and reuse not only lowers your dump costs, it can also help you keep your property waste-free, and protects your soil and local drinking water supplies.
There are different programs and resources in Ontario that can help you dispose of your waste responsibly.
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Tax Credit for Farmers who Donate Food
2 min read
Established in 2014, the Food Donation Tax Credit for Farmers, gives farmers a tax credit valued at 25 per cent of the fair market value of the agricultural products they donate. Community food programs, like the student nutrition program, also benefit by receiving more fresh local food for distribution to Ontario families.
This credit helps to ensure that more locally grown food ends up on people's plates, and that includes the people who need it most in our communities.
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Have YOU thought about planting a windbreak?
2 min read
Windbreaks are a great way to reduce soil erosion and increase crop growth on your farm.
- They reduce wind speeds, which can increase growth of crops for a distance of up to 20 times the height of the trees.
- The taller the trees and the longer the windbreak, the greater the area the windbreak will protect: wind speeds can be reduced upwind for a distance up to five (5) times the height of the trees, and downwind for a distance of up to fifteen (15) times the height of the trees.
- Combine a windbreak with other conservation best practices, such as conservation tillage, crop residue management and cover crops, and you'll obtain optimal wind erosion control.
Fall is the perfect time to start planning for a spring planting. To get started:
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) has many resources to help you with windbreak planning. Visit
our website
to watch our four windbreak videos on planning, planting, maintenance and windbreak successes. Our free Best Management Practices book,
Establishing Tree Cover
provides a step-by-step guide for planning and planting a windbreak.
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