Premier’s Award for Agri-Food Innovation Excellence Program
Accepting applications: Have you developed and implemented an innovative product or process within your agriculture or food business? If so, you could be eligible to receive one of the following awards from the Premier’s Award for Agri-Food Innovation Excellence Program: Premier’s Award (one award valued at $75,000), Minister’s Award (one award valued at $50,000), Leaders in Innovation Awards (three awards valued at $25,000 each), and Provincial Awards (45 awards valued at $5,000 each). Eligible applicants include primary producers/farmers, processors and agri-food organizations. A copy of the program guidebook and application form, as well as information on previous award recipients, is available at www.ontario.ca/agrifoodinnovation or by calling 1-877-424-1300. Applications will be accepted until 5 pm on Friday, February 28, 2014.
NOHFC Agriculture program update meeting
The Manitoulin Soil and Crop Association and the Manitoulin Cattlemen’s Association is hosting an information meeting to update producers on the recently announced funding programs through NOHFC. In addition, collection of intent for acreages of tile draining and land clearing will be collected. This meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 19 beginning at 7 pm at the Spring Bay Hall.
Information Day
The Manitoulin Information Day is set for Wednesday, February 26 at the Spring Bay Hall. This meeting will begin at 11 am with lunch provided by BMO. The agenda includes: Barry Potter, agriculture development advisor with OMAFRA; Neil Tarlton, field services representative with OFA (slide presentation on trip to California); Mary Scott, field representative with OSCIA (GF2); Murray Emke, AgriCorp; David Trivers, agriculture development advisor with OMAFRA (handling adverse weather conditions on the farm; recap of NOHFC funding); Bank of Montreal, sponsor of the day; Brent Best, Manitoulin rep to 2013 Ontario Cattlemen’s Association and 2014 provincial Beef Farmers of Ontario AGMs; and Chris Noland, advisory councillor to 2014 provincial Beef Farmers of Ontario AGM.
