Farm News and Events

Wednesday, March 23 - 7PM

There is a lot of soil health support available to Central Ontario farmers - but who offers it? And what exactly do they offer? Register now for this free workshop where speakers from a wide range of organizations will provide an overview of how they can help you. Hosted by the East Central Farm Stewardship Collaborative

Free - with optional donation

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/de-mystifying-soil-health-support-for-farmers-tickets-272277026917

On Monday, March 14th at 7 pm - Join the Peterborough County Federation of Agriculture via Zoom for a presentation by Margaret Walton from Planscape to discuss their findings of the Peterborough County draft Official Plan, Agricultural Policies. 

The background to this issue and resources, including the video of Margaret Walton's July presentation to Peterborough farmers, as well as a link to Planscape's new Report, may be found on the Agricultural Roundtable website here: https://ptboagnews.com/land-use-policy-and-planning

Register until Sunday March 13th  here: https://forms.gle/e6axd2ycsppDBLcq5 

For more information or questions, please contact pcfagriculture@gmail.com

Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA) is pleased to have been selected by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) as a recipient organization to deliver the federal Agricultural Climate Solutions – On-Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF) in Ontario.

On February 22, Canada’s Agricultural Day, AAFC announced OSCIA as one of 12 agricultural recipient organizations across Canada that will be delivering OFCAF over the 2022 and 2023 cropping seasons.

Funding will support Ontario’s producers in their ongoing progress adopting beneficial management practices (BMPs) that reduce greenhouse gases (GHGs) and store carbon, specifically for in-field nitrogen management, expanding cover cropping, and implementing rotational grazing practices.

To support projects in the 2022 growing season, OSCIA is planning for a late-spring application intake. Funding will be available to eligible farm businesses to cost-share implementation of a wide array of BMPs to support emission reductions. Examples include professional agronomic planning services, N-fertilizer application equipment upgrades to improve N placement, and cross-fencing materials to support rotational grazing. Producers should watch for programming details to be released by OSCIA in the coming months.

Funding for this project has been provided by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through the On-Farm Climate Action Fund. The Fund is part of the Government of Canada’s Agricultural Climate Solutions initiative under the Natural Climate Solutions Fund (NCSF). The NCSF is implemented by Natural Resources Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada, and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

To get up-to-date information on upcoming intakes, join the program’s email list at https://www.ontariosoilcrop.org/mail-list-subscribe/.

The Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA) is excited to announce the Species at Risk Farm Incentive Program (SARFIP) is back for 2022 with funding support from the Government of Ontario. SARFIP provides funding to farmers and agricultural landowners interested in adopting habitat creation, enhancement, and protection Best Management Practices (BMPs) that support species at risk (SAR).

 Cross-fencing for rotational grazing, watering systems for livestock, native tree planting, improved stream crossings, native grassland plantings, and invasive species removal are examples of projects to support these habitats through SARFIP. Projects that provide indirect and direct benefits to SAR are eligible for 45 per cent or 60 per cent cost-share funding, respectively. An additional 15 per cent cost-share is available for direct benefit projects where applicants agree to enroll in SAR-Watch, a monitoring program that measures the impact of SARFIP projects on the ground for species at risk.

The application intake will open at 9:00 a.m. (ET) on March 14, 2022, and funding will be awarded to eligible projects until fully allocated. Applicants can receive up to $20,000 per farm business and must have a valid Premises Identification Number and 4th Edition Environmental Farm Plan to be eligible for the program.

Applications will not be accepted until the intake opens, but farm businesses interested in applying are encouraged to explore opportunities and requirements before March 14. For more information on eligibility criteria, the application process, and program deadlines, or to sign up to an upcoming EFP workshop in your area, visit https://www.ontariosoilcrop.org/oscia-programs/sarfip/ or read the brochure.

For more information contact:
Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association, SARFIP@ontariosoilcrop.org, (519) 826-4214

Ontario hosted a summit on Food Security on March 1st, 2022.

During the Summit, Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Lisa Thompson announced the launch of an expanded Excellence in Agriculture program to recognize farmers, processors, educational institutions and agri-food organizations and businesses who contribute to the industry’s success and drive innovation in the province’s agri-food sector.

Quick Facts:

• The Ontario Food Summit brought together over 100 stakeholders who play key roles at every stage of the province’s food supply chain. Participants included agri-food businesses, farmers, Indigenous organizations, transportation services, and food service providers.
• In 2020, Ontario's agri-food industry contributed $45.0 billion in GDP to the provincial economy.
• One in every ten jobs in Ontario was related to the agri-food sector in 2020.
• Guidelines and application forms for the Excellence in Agriculture Awards are available at Excellence in Agriculture program | ontario.ca.
• Award categories for the Excellence in Agriculture program include: COVID Agri-Food Innovation Champion, Innovation in Food Processing, Innovation in Agriculture, Women in Agriculture, Youth in Agriculture, Education in Agriculture, Northern and Indigenous Owned Business and Communities.

Applications for the 2022 Excellence in Agriculture Program are open until April 5, 2022. 

Contactless pick-up will be available at the end of April/early May.

For full details, visit: https://www.otonabeeconservation.com/programs/tree-planting/