by OMAFRA Ag Rep Brian Bell
Cost of Production Budgets
Everyone needs to know their cost of production. The OMAFRA crop budgets are available as 2017 Field Crop Budgets (OMAFRA Publication 60) at www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/busdev/facts/pub60.pdf. They are also posted on the OMAFRA website as Ontario Enterprise Budgets (both in manual and as interactive Excel spreadsheet formats) at www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/busdev/bear2000/Budgets/budgettools.htm
In addition to the field crop budgets, the web version includes budgets for various fruits and vegetables as well as livestock Cost of Production Calculators. In total there are over 70 budgets available. These budgets show default values for costs, yield and expected price. However, they are only useful to you when you put in your own real costs. Your own assumptions may be quite different from those shown. Expected prices for some crops and inputs are significantly different than the past couple years, so crop budgeting is essential to maximize your returns for the whole farm.
2017 Premier’s Award for Agri-Food Innovation Excellence Program
Now Accepting Applications: Have you developed and implemented a unique product or process that helps foster innovation in Ontario’s agriculture and food sector? 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); Provincial Awards (45 awards valued at $5,000 each). Primary producers / farmers, processors and Agri-food organizations are invited to apply. A copy of the Program
Guidebook and Application Form, as well as information on previous award recipients is available online at www.ontario.ca/agrifoodinnovation or by phone at 1-877-424-1300.
Applications will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. on Friday, April 28.
